Spain and Ukraine reign, Togo to go

Spain and Ukraine reign, Togo to go
THE DAY REPLAYED: In a gathering of all the world’s finest international teams, the competition is among individual nations and not confederations. If it were different then Europe would have cause for celebration at the end of a day in which Switzerland, Ukraine and Spain all won to put the so-called 'Old Continent' in charge of Groups G and H.

Today also saw the end of the sparring – if the first 11 days of intense and fascinating football can be so described. Starting tomorrow, and running for the next four days, it is do or die for many of the participants including Ukraine and Switzerland who look handily placed, but can still miss out on the next stage.

Spain are definitely through after their three late goals overturned Tunisia's early advantage while Togo join those heading for home after the group stage. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, require a victory in their last group game against Spain to progress.
In Group G three teams will battle it out for the two qualifying spots and even leaders Switzerland can still fall by the wayside should they lose to Korea Republic on Friday. Crucially, however, they know that a draw will be enough to put them in the Round of 16.

Moment of the Day: Barnetta hands Swiss vital advantage
Ahead 1-0, Kobi Kuhn’s team were vulnerable and not only because Togo were working desperately hard to force an equaliser and therefore maintain an interest in the competition. With the Koreans holding a superior goal difference, the Swiss knew that Dick Advocaat's men would have held the advantage going into Friday’s key fixture between the two sides in Hanover.
Then Tranquillo Barnetta took the lead, directing a fine angled drive past Kossi Agassa, a goalkeeper who between the 16th and 88th minutes had looked virtually unbeatable. Earlier in the second half he had denied Barnetta while another crucial intervention had stopped Hakan Yakin from putting himself on the scoresheet.

Togo possess a pair of strikers capable of giving the strongest defence problems. Emmanuel Adebayor, tall and strong, was dominant in the air and never stopped working and probing for a goal. Alongside him Mohamed Kader, small and pacy, showed a different form of attacking menace. It is a shame the tournament will not see much more of this dynamic duo.

Player of the Day: Maksym Kalinichenko
At 27, Maksym Kalinichenko might have thought his chance of appearing on the big international stage had gone. First capped by Ukraine four years ago, he was not used at all in the qualification campaign but played a starring role today as his team found just the performance to help them draw a veil over their 4-0 defeat by Spain.
The Spartak Moscow midfielder laid on two goals with free-kicks and corners and then scored the fourth himself. Before that there was a first FIFA World Cup goal for Andriy Shevchenko and it all added up to more disappointment for the Saudis.

The most exciting game was still to come. The predictions were that Spain, so impressive as they comfortably defeated Ukraine in Leipzig, would be far too good for Tunisia. So imagine the reverberations when Jaouhar Mnari gave the African team an eighth-minute lead following sterling work by Zied Jaziri who had held four defenders at bay.

A Spanish siege hemmed Tunisia in their own half. But the equaliser refused to come. Xabi Alonso headed for the corner of the net but Anis Ayari denied him. At the break Raul came on and he made the difference, stabbing home the equaliser with 19 minutes remaining.

Goal of the Day: Fernando Torres 2-1 Spain
Substitute Cesc Fabregas was also influential for Spain as it was his shot that Ali Boumnijel could only parry at Raul’s feet. Five minutes later the Arsenal youngster drove an exquisite pass into the heart of the Tunisia defence where Fernando Torres was already powering through. The goalkeeper was tempted off his line and the tall striker went around him before finding the empty net. Torres' second and Spain's third came from the penalty spot after the Atletico Madrid man was fouled. With three goals to his name he is leading the race for the adidas Golden Shoe. So, a day of goals, the most in one day in this edition of the FIFA World Cup, saw Torres sit comfortably atop the Golden Shoe tree with three to his name.