Pre-Tournament Update: June 4th

Yesterday's Results

Switzerland defeated Peru 2-0 in Bern

Another slow start for the Swiss who pulled out a victory with a pair of goals in the 78th and 84th minute, against a Peruvian team that was handed a 3-0 defeat by England days earlier. Peru was able to get some of the threatening runs they did against England, but Diego Benaglio was able to clean up everything around him in goal. Josip Drmic was given the start upfront, but proved unable to generate much offence, as Ottmar Hitzfeld will have to continue his quest to find some combination at forward that can get his squad some goals in Brazil.

Brazil defeated Panama 4-0 in Goiania

It was a very sluggish opening 20 minutes for Brazil against Panama. Too many turnovers and missed assignments in the midfield. Then Neymar's wicked free kick from 22 yards opened the floodgates so to speak. All Brazil from that point on, they ran Panama off the field in the first pre-tournament game for the hosts. Hardly perfect for them, and yet 4-0 over a team narrowly missing out on qualifying will do. The fouls and turnovers will bite them against stronger competition, and they'll have 1 more tuneup game to figure those out before the opener against Croatia.
 
Greece tied Nigeria 0-0 in Philadelphia, PA, USA

I have this recurring magical dream where Greece advance from the knockout round with 3 scoreless draws, and it's amazing. Theoretically of course, I have no interest in watching that actually happen. Greece is what everyone expects at this point. A 3-forward team that somehow finds itself with 9 or 10 outfielders behind the ball in the defensive zone, and rarely extending themselves up the field. Tough warmup for Nigeria who outshot the Greeks, but couldn't turn those shots in to quality scoring chances. Greece's style makes it an interesting warmup test for Nigeria, as they're a polar opposite of the teams they'll face in Group F.

Bosnia defeated Mexico 1-0 in Chicago, IL, USA

If their victory over Ivory Coast last week didn't wake the world up to the danger Bosnia poses then this surely did. One of the hottest teams leading up to the tournament, Mexico found themselves losing for the first time in 8 games, falling to an Izet Hajrovic goal late in the first half. The better team in possession, Mexico did manager to find some chances, hitting the post and forcing Begovic in to a pair of quality saves late. Bosnia will be happy with the performance on-field, less happy with rumored in-fighting that has developed in their camp. This is a team with tons of potential, and it would be a shame to see them throw it away.

Today's Games

Viewing Recommendations: England-Ecuador is the only game between 2 Cup teams today. Argentina also open their pre-tournament schedule against Trinidad/Tobago.

Netherlands vs. Wales at 2:30 p.m. in Amsterdam
Algeria vs. Romania at 2:30 p.m. in Geneva, Switzerland
Italy vs. Luxembourg at 2:45 p.m. in Perugia
Ecuador vs. England at 3:00 p.m. in Miami, FL, USA
Argentina vs. Trinidad/Tobago at 6:30 p.m. in Buenos Aires
Uruguay vs. Slovenia at 7:30 p.m. in Montevideo
Chile vs. Northern Ireland at 8:00 p.m. in Valparaiso
Ivory Coast vs. El Salvador at 10:00 p.m. in Frisco, TX, USA

June 6th

Russia vs. Morocco at 12:00 p.m. in Moscow
Ghana vs. Guatemala at 2:00 p.m. in Guatemala City
Germany vs. Armenia at 2:45 p.m. in Mainz
Brazil vs. Serbia at 3:00 p.m. in Sao Paulo
Colombia vs. Jordan at 7:00 p.m. in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Japan vs. Zambia at 7:30 p.m. in Tampa, FL, USA
Costa Rica vs. Ireland at 8:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Greece vs. Bolivia at 8:00 p.m. in Harrison, NJ, USA
Mexico vs. Portugal at 9:30 p.m. in Foxboro, MA, USA

June 7th

Belgium vs. Tunisia at 2:45 p.m. in Brussels
Argentina vs. Slovenia at 3:00 p.m. in La Plata
Spain vs. El Salvador at 4:00 p.m. in Landover, MD, USA
England vs. Honduras at 4:45 p.m. in Miami, FL, USA
USA vs. Nigeria at 6:00 p.m. in Jacksonville, FL, USA