Match day 4 of the 2014 world cup served us with both of Group E (France, Switzerland, Honduras and Ecuador) matches and the first of the Group F matches.
The first game of the day had Switzerland take on Ecuador in what was a quiet and even game. Ecuador took the lead after the in-form Enner Valencia headed in from a set piece. It was end to end stuff from then on with the teams heading into the break with Ecuador in the lead.
The Switzerland made what would be an inspired substitution during the halftime break as Admir Mehmedi brought the Swiss back into the game scoring three minutes after the restart. Both teams went in search of a winner and it seemed like we would have our first draw in the world cup before another sub Haris Seferovic scored in the dying minutes of the game to give the Swiss all three points.
The second game of the day had the French take on Honduras in a match they were expected to easily win. The French team had a lot to prove following their disastrous showing in the 2010 finals and would have made matters worse for themselves if they lost.
However it was Honduras’s indiscipline that would prove to be their undoing as Wilson Palacio was given his matching orders following a challenge on Pogba in the box. Benzema stepped up and didn’t make any mistake to give France the lead going into the break.
The second half was all about the French attack as they used their one man advantage to put Honduras on the back foot. We would get our first taste of goal line technology, though with a bit of controversy, three minutes into the second half. Benzema’s shot hit the post and was judged to not have crossed the line but the ball ricocheted off the goal keeper to cross the line and France was awarded the goal.
Benzema put the result beyond doubt with a lashing shot into the roof of the net in the 72nd minute and from then on it was France all the way.
France look in line to book their slot in the round of 16 and only need a result against the Swiss.
The last game of the night had Argentina taking on Bosnia. Most of the pre-match talk was about how Messi would perform in this year’s world cup and the formation Argentina was taking in to the game. They were favorites against a Bosnian side that bolstered a rich attack but had a few questions with regards to their defense.
Argentina took the lead after the ball hit Kolasinac from a Messi free kick to give us the third own goal of the world cup. However, the Argentines didn’t look to be in full control of the game as the Bosnians launched several attacks to keep the game balanced. It took us till the 65th minute to get another goal after a moment of magic from Lionel Messi doubled Argentina’s lead.
This proved to be the winner despite the fact that Bosnia pulled one back in the 84th minute through Vedad Ibisevic.
The talking point from match day 4 will be the goal line technology controversy during the France game. Replays shows that the ball crossed the line and it was given as an own goal against the Honduras keeper but the confusion leading up the goal being given will leave a sour taste on the tongues of the Honduras players and staff.