Some random observations after the first group fixtures:

Honduras 0-1 Chile: Up-tempo start from both sides, with Chile having a bit more possession and quite a few more offensive chances in the final third, but the possession was largely frenetic than organized because of a certain lack of midfield control. Lots of pace with both teams ready to run all day, the game had the more back-and-forth feel of a basketball game or tennis match rather than a football match. Both sides were more reactive than pro-active when it came to defense, not really closing down anybody, not showing very good anticipation skills and not cutting off the passing lanes. Decent use of width on both sides. About 30 minutes in Chile started to put some sustained attacks together. All the early Chilean furious possession is rewarded by a goal from Jean Beausejour on one of the few excellent buildups. Chile used their quickness and speed to find space and take advantage of the outside backs on Honduras. Honduras did not get possession in the Chilean penalty area at all in the first half. Much more confident combination attacks from Chile thereafter, keeping Honduras on their backheels and making them have to take long, inaccurate through balls into the attacking end, keeping Honduras unable to sustain any kind of attack. Playing with much more confidence as the game wore on Chile found more and more ways to attack the Honduran goalmouth, keeping them under siege. Gotta give it to Chile, they did not just sit on their lead; they kept attacking. Solid win for a surprisingly entertaining squad.

Spain 0-1 Switzerland: Of course the best was saved for last. Size and physicality was the name of the game for the Swiss. They were going to tackle hard and put a body on every Spanish player all game long. Great combination passing and sustained possession by Spain but they couldn’t get through the disciplined, organized Swiss on the attacking end. Switzerland did such a good job of closing down space that Spain was left with very few options to get the ball through. To their credit, the Swiss didn’t stay back in numbers, but they were so quick to transition back when they lost possession, even when Spain tried quick direct passes into the box. In the 36th minute, Philippe Senderos, the defender most responsible for the side not giving up a single score at Germany 2006, had to come off due to a foot injury. Spain confidently built a head of steam and made a few more advances into the Swiss penalty area, but still ran into a Swiss brick wall. Teams like Switzerland wait for a fatal error in the back to take advantage of. On a Route One kick a miss-hit by a Spanish defender sent the ball into the path of Derdyok, who managed to run the ball into the box and evade a diving Iker Casillas, where Gelson Fernandes got onto the end of it and put it away. In the process of furiously trying to get back that goal, Spain’s backline began to lose their shape and allow the Swiss counter attacking advances into Spain’s penalty area. The last 30 minutes of this game were the best on this tournament so far. No matter how hard the European champions tried the ball just would not go in – and they took an obscene number of shots on goal. Fantastic upset by a very well organized and disciplined Swiss squad.

– daveydoug