Wednesday 25 June 2014

SUPER SHAQIRI , FRANCE TOP GROUP

Xherdan Shaqiri's hat-trick helped Switzerland progress
Xherdan Shaqiri netted a clinical hat-trick asSwitzerland beat Honduras 3-0 to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.


The Swiss took full advantage of France's 0-0 draw with Ecuador to secure second place in Group E, qualifying with six points from three games, with the French finishing in top spot.
Bayern Munich playmaker Shaqiri got his first goal of the night after just six minutes, when he outmuscled Maynor Figueroa and curled a sublime left-footed strike in off the underside of the crossbar.
It was 2-0 to Ottmar Hitzfeld's side on 31 minutes when Josip Drmic laid the ball on a plate for Shaqiri, who took two glorious touches before coolly stroking the ball home.
Jerry Bengtson had a goalbound shot cleared off the line by Ricardo Rodriguez after the break and Honduras were denied a penalty when Johan Djorou got away with bundling over Jerry Palacios in the 18-yard box.
But Shaqiri put the icing on the cake for the Swiss with 19 minutes remaining by completing a World Cup hat-trick he shall never forget.
France confirmed their place at the top of Group E after playing out a 0-0 draw with Ecuador in the Maracana.
The French were virtually assured of progression barring a huge goal-swing, but a win for Ecuador would have given them a real chance of making the last 16.
A frantic encounter in Rio de Janeiro ended without a goal - but it was not down to a lack of chances with both sides missing good chances, whilst Ecuador also played most of the second half with 10 men when captain Antonio Valencia was sent-off just after the interval.
Valencia, also sent off for tangling with Raheem Sterling in the friendly against England in Miami earlier this month, went over the top of the ball on Lucas Digne, leaving the referee in no doubt.
Ecuador's Alexander Dominguez was by the far the busier of the two goalkeepers, pulling off excellent saves from Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Karim Benzema - but the South Americans also had some good opportunities to win the game.
But in the end, France did enough to finish top and now take on Nigeria in the last 16.
Switzerland have booked a clash with Argentina.

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