Two top rated European soccer giants, Spain and England, have in all likelihood been given matching orders out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil due to dismal performances in their first two matches.
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| Robin Van Persie's Stunner |
Spain who were totally humiliated in a 5-1 rout by Holland in their opening match against the same Dutch team they had defeated in 2010 to claim the World Cup final in South Africa, were again humiliated 2-0 in their second match by the South Americans Chile in Rio De Janeiro's Maracana stadium to be given an early ticket back to Spain where they are bound to face tough questions from the citizens of a football crazed nation. The Segbwema blogger has dubbed the first game as the "Dutch Revenge"
In the second Spanish match, it was two Chilean stars, Eduardo Vargas and Charles Arranguiz, who put the final seal of doom on the Spanish side in a tournament in which they had conceded 7 goals in just two games. The Spanish humiliation was sealed on the same day their King Juan Carlos abdicated the Spanish throne to his son the Crown Prince Felipe. As the king gave up his throne so did the Spanish soccer champions symbolically hand over their title in Brazil following a week of embarrassment and humiliation.
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| Luis Suarez |
In group D, both England and Uruguay had to win their second encounters to keep their hopes of staying in the competition alive. These two teams first met in the 1954 World Cup in St. Jakob, Switzerland where England lost 2-4 to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. There was therefore both history and the prospect for advancement on the line. In the Thursday June 19th encounter Luis Suarez who is feared striker in England netted twice in the 39th and 85th minutes with a lone reply from Wayne Rodney in the 75th minute to effectively put the brakes on an uninspiring English side. England who had lost 2-1 to Italy in their first game are now all but mathematically eliminated from the competition Their only chance now lies with a win or draw by Costa Rica over Italy and their scoring a win over Costa Rica in their next encounter. Most people believe this is not going to happen. Though England played some respectable soccer in the two games, their defensive lapses have all but doomed their chances and their hotel rooms will soon likely be vacant.
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By Sheku Sheriff
Minneapolis |
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