World Cup Group G - France Scrapes Thru Along With Switzerland.

France 2 - Togo 0

France needed a 2-0 victory to advance to the second round and they did just enough. For half the game it look as if it wouldn't happen. France showed attacked with purpose but simply couldn't get a goal in the first half. Most of the best chances fell to a poor David Trezequet who either couldn't find the target or found the keeper. On the occasion where he found the net, he was flagged offside.

It took birthday boy, Patrick Vieira to open the scoring for the French in the 55th minute with a superb turn and shoot. After that, it seemed the burden had been lifted for the French team and they added to the score with anHenry goal minutes later. Although there were no more goals in the game, the French spirit seemed lifted. They had ensured a passage to the last 16.

The next game for the French would be a tough one as they face a surprisingly mentally strong Spanish team. And what makes it really interesting is that the winners of that game will face the winners of the Brazil - Ghana game in the quarters. Mouthwatering games coming up!

Switzerland 2 - South Korea 0

The fightback kings of the competition finally couldn't find a goal in this game. In the previous 2 games, the South Koreans came back from a goal down to win and draw against Togo and France, respectively. This time their luck deserted them against a disciplined Swiss side.

Switzerland scored in the 23rd minute via a header from Philip Senderos from a freekick. The header left Senderos and the Korean defender with bloody heads. In all honestly, the Koreans have themselves to blame for the goal. Giving freekicks in dangerous areas time and time again will get you punished eventually.

Given the kind of fighting spirit the South Koreans have shown in both the previous and this World Cup, it was not surprising that the Koreans gave it their all practically camping in the Swiss half for most parts of the game, except for the occasional Swiss counter attack. But they were let down by poor finishing and even poorer tactics. For some inexplicable reason, they kept pumping long balls into the Swiss penalty area and hoping their shorter players would get to the ball.

Then a moment of controversy in the 77th minute, Frei, who was flagged offside by the linesman, skipped past the keeper and scored. The referee allowed the goal to stand. I frankly have no idea why that goal stood, but I suspect the ball must have deflected to him by a Korean defender. I can't think of another reason why the offside was overruled.

The result meant that the South Koreans are out of the World Cup. This also means that there are no Asian teams left in the competition (unless you include the Australians who are under the Asian FA now).