Shaqiri...Shaqiri...Shaqiri...

Day 14. What happened today in Brazil. What do you need on the day that comes after the day that was yesterday? Bad defending, that's what. That will lighten up the day and give us lots of goals. Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2, with both teams moving on, but both coaches and supporters will be hoping they don't keep up the "it doesn't matter how many we concede, we'll just score more" strategy. Argentina's winning goal is a classic in "oops, I didn't mean to that, but wait, it's a goal...sure, planned it all along". As Rojo was coming down from his leap and missed attempt at a header the ball hit his knee and in it went. Nigeria still made it through after Iran's game plan fell apart....lose to Argentina, draw with Nigeria, beat Bosnia and hope that will be enough. Bosnia's determination to leave with a win overcame Iran's confusion as to how to try to attack and win.

Switzerland and France were the other winners today. Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 to finish second and France drew 0-0 with Ecuador to win the group. Xherdan Shaqiri scored a hat-trick for the Swiss, but take a look at the first goal. Yes, it was a beautiful curling shot, but on the many replays, from many angles, it looks like the goalkeeper is waving the ball in. Really. He seems incapable of jumping to the right and halfheartedly stretches out a hand, and just seems to say..."well, that one's gone".

France couldn't keep up their great scoring run. On the other side Ecuador got nothing from the man who I have nominated as the winner of the category "looked good for average side at World Cup, fooled middle of the pack teams in England willing to spend money to reach the holy grail of top 4, bought by one of them and was playing second division in Spain within a few months". Yes, the winner is Enner Valencia. He scored 3 goals, including 2 against the mighty Honduras and all of a sudden "three teams in England are showing interest". Remember Asomoah Gyan, winner of this category in 2010. Sunderland were the transfer record suckers, some team in the UAE were his employees after a few miserable months in wonderful North East England. I'm sure it's lovely.

Really, nothing very inspiring today apart from the quality of Shaqiri's hat-trick and Messi's two more goals. The more important update today is the number of coaches who have resigned, the ones who are smart enough to go before the inevitable firing. Unfortunately, just getting to the World Cup means nothing any more for some of the smaller countries. Even Honduras expect second round action. Costa Rica have spoiled all the fun for the minnows. Gone so far are:
Prandelli (Italy)
Lamouchi (Ivory Coast)
Zaccheroni (Japan)
Luis Suarez (no, not that one....this one was Honduras' coach)
Still there. Roy Hodgson.

Tomorrow is the day of justice for Algeria. Thirty two years after beating West Germany, but the falling foul of the agreement between the Germans and the Austrians, they have the opportunity to make it to the second round. Only Russia stand in their way. A draw could be enough, but let's hope Algeria go for it, if only to see the look on Capello's face when his team is knocked out by....Algeria.