SWITZERLAND failed to grab the win they required to reach the World Cup last 16 after playing out an unappealing 0-0 draw with a limited Honduras that left both teams out in the cold. The Swiss needed a 2-0 win to overtake Chile into second place in Group H.
They had several chances in Bloemfontein, but it was the Central American side who came closest to scoring when Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio produced a wonderful agile save to tip Edgar Alvarez’s effort over his bar in the closing 20 minutes.
The Free State Stadium was not full for the match. That turned out to be no bad thing as these teams contrived to produce one of the worst games of the tournament.
Spain beat 10-man Chile 2-1, but it is they who progress in the top two places from Group H.
Honduras and Switzerland, who beat European champions Spain 1-0 in their opening match, will not be missed in the knock-out stages.
Honduras went into the match as the only team without points and goals at this World Cup, but they have at last registered one in their second appearance at the finals.
They had only hit the target with two of their 16 shots in the opening two group games, which was the poorest record of any side at the tournament.
They managed two shots on the Swiss goal in the opening half with none on target, but the European side were not exactly overflowing with solutions about how to slice them open.
The best chance of the half fell to Eren Derdiyok on 17 minutes but his diving header flew wide from Tranquillo Barnetta’s cross.
Derdiyok was involved again four minutes before the half-time whistle when he whipped a devious little ball across the Honduran box, but Blaise N’kufo inexplicably decided to chest rather than stick his head on it and the danger was cleared.
With Chile two goals behind and reduced to 10 men against Spain in Pretoria, the Swiss knew one goal could do the job for them.
The door was open to reach the second round, but the Swiss were not even knocking at it.
The introduction of Hakan Yakin at the break seemed to stimulate the Swiss, but despite some desperate attacks they could not find a way through some towering Honduran defenders.
Derdiyok and Alexander Frei both passed up good opportunities for the Swiss, but the best three chances of the game fell to Honduras.
Alvarez’s late effort followed his cross into the box that David Suazo contrived to head wide on 52 minutes, while substitute Georgie Welcome narrowly failed to convert with the Swiss frantically chasing goals that would never come. (Eurosport)