VIDEO: Neymar sent off for putting on mask of himself

Brazilian teenage sensation Neymar seems to be the next big thing in football, but he did most probably a first in world football this week in a Copa Libertadores for his Brazilian club side FC Santos against Colo Colo from Chile.

The 19 year old, who is sought after by FC Chelsea and FC Barcelona, scored a brilliant goal off a solo effort to make it 3-0 for his team in the Copa Libertadores home match which ended 3-2 for Santos. During the celebration Neymar runs towards the crowd, who hand him a mask of himself, which he puts on but upside down. The referee isn't interested in any nonsense, gives Neymar his second yellow card of the night and off he had to go.

Santos' manager Marcelo Martelotte said afterwards, "Neymar was sent off for not knowing the rules. We need to know the rules."

A really weak excuse in modern-day football then it is known that taking off jersey's, written messages underneath or put on something external are all punishable by the referee. And if you do not know things, then better cross-check...


Here the video of the goal, the crazy celebrations & the expulsion

VIDEO: Player hits out at himself

This is one of the curious situations in world football. What happened?

Chilean defender Bryan Carrasco is expecting a throw-in from the rival Ecuadorian side in a South American Under-20 World Cup qualifiers. Bryan is in a tussle with Ecuador's Edson Montano, suddenly he grabs Montano's arm and hits out at himself, but the referee waves play on. Watch and laugh...

Mario Gomez & his lucky number 3

Footballers are a superstitious lot and often believe in things which cannot be explained, but it somehow seems to work for them. Just remember "Paul the Octopus" during the 2010 FIFA World Cup or footballer who take with them their good luck charm onto the field or wear their socks and shoes in a certain ritual. Now we have the story of striker Mario Gomez.

For FC Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez the number three was his own lucky number over the weekend. The German international, who wears the number 33 jersey at his club, scored all the three goals for Bayern Munich in a 3-0 Bundesliga win against Hanover 96 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. And Gomez scored a goal for his club in the Bundesliga after more then six month's.

You think there are too many number three's in there already? It actually isn't the end of the story, which gets even more superstitious as Gomez after the match talking to the media said he was motivated by the rescued Chilean miners, who also believed in the number three! How? There were 33 miners stuck underground and the final rescue mission started three days before the match on Saturday after 69 days and there was a miner with the exact name of Mario Gomez, also saved amongst those 33 miners. 'Mario Gomez', the miner, was brought out as the ninth miner from the shaft and nine can only be calculated as three times three.

I know it sounds somehow funny and peculiar, but often we hear of these kind of stories which just cannot be explained and they seem to happen again and again...

PQF: Brazil & Netherlands set-up clash

Will the favourites Brazil and Netherlands move on and beat the minnows or can Chile and Slovakia cause an upset.

(to be updated after the second game)

Netherlands 2-1 (1-0) Slovakia
Goals: 1-0 Arjen Robben (18'), 2-0 Wesley Sneijder (84'), 2-1 Robert Vittek (90+4').

The Netherlands moved on into the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by beating Slovakia 2-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. But again it was a more pragmatic Dutch side which didn't show the flair which they possess in this squad.

The Oranjes were the better of the two sides in the first session as they mainly dominated against the Slovaks. But the Slovaks had the first chance of the match through Erik Jendrisek, but thereafter it were Oranje attacks. The Dutch took the lead through their star player Arjen Robben in the 18th minute. And it was a typical Robben goal as he sprinted up on the right flank, then moved in and in-between three defenders could get his shot through which landed in the net behind keeper Jan Mucha. But after taking the lead the Dutch became complacent, but the Slovaks couldn't utilise this in their favour.

Coach Bert van Marwijk seemed to have found the right words in the break as the Dutch came out in search of a second goal. First Robben's shot was just about cleared by Mucha, then Joris Mathijsen's shot hit Mucha's head. But the Dutch again became complacent with the Slovaks towards the middle of the half finally sensing that they had a chance in the game. First a Miroslav Stoch shot was just about cleared by Maarten Stekelenburg in the 67th minute and then Robert Vittek's shot was again cleared by Stekelenburg which the Slovak striker should have scored. And in the 78th minute again Vittek had a chance, but this time he shot the ball over. The Dutch realised that the match wasn't sealed upped the tempo and through a quickly taken free kick scored their second goal through Wesley Sneijder. The ball was played to Dirk Kuyt, who beat the onrushing keeper Mucha and played it back into the middle to Sneijder who pushed the ball in. In injury time the Slovaks got a penalty when Martin Jakubko went down, but the striker went down rather then keeper Stekelenburg bringing him down. Robert Vittek would score to reduce the deficit, but the referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco from Spain would blow the final whistle after the penalty.


Brazil 3-0 (2-0) Chile
Goals: 1-0 Juan (35'), 2-0 Luis Fabiano (38'), 3-0 Robinho (59').

The Brazilians weren't really tested by their South American rivals Chile as they beat them 3-0 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Brazilians will now face the Netherlands in a game which will be high on expectations of the fans with both teams being more clinical in their finish then showing their potential flair.

It started as an open game as Chile once more tried to have a go at their opponents from the start, but the Brazilians were not really tested as Chile couldn't play the final pass, while Chile's defence also looked better organised not allowing the Brazilians too much space. But things changed in the 35th minute as Juan headed in a Maicon corner. And then only three minutes later Luis Fabiano would score of a counter attack in which Robinho, Kaka und Luis Fabiano combined with the striker going around the keeper to score. Chile looked shocked, became once more desperate as they had been against Spain a few days ago and they didn't really have a look at goal.

After the break Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa brought on two fresh players, but it didn't work as Chile still couldn't find a way through the Brazilian defence. Brazil allowed Chile to combine up to the 16 metre box and then looked for counter attacks. One such attack came in the 59th minute when Ramires intercepted a ball and went straight towards the Chile goal, he squared for Robinho and he curled a beauty into the net. The match was sealed as Chile were too harmless infront of the Brazilian goal. Brazil did get chances to score even more, while Chile got some chances goalwards and should have been rewarded with a goal.

Group H: Spain beat Chile, but both move on

The last match day leaves all options open with all sides having a chance to move on though Chile have the best chance and Honduras the least.

(matches to kick off simultaneously)

Chile 1-2 (0-2) Spain
Goals: 0-1 David Villa (24'), 0-2 Andres Iniesta (37'), 1-2 Rodrigo Millar (47').

Spain beat a fighting ten men Chile 2-1 in an entertaining match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. But still both sides moved on into the knockout stage.

If one thought that Chile would mostly defend to get the necessary point to ensure their passage to the pre-quarterfinals, then one would be surprised as coach Marcelo Bielsa's side would play an open game against the European champions. Fernando Torres would miss the first chance for Spain in the 4th minute, while Mark Gonzalez did the same for Chile six minutes later. It was an open game, but Spain was forced to often play counter attacks as Chile were going at them full throttle. And one such situation came in the 24th minute when a Spain long was cleared by the Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo, but the ball only went as far as David Villa on the left and with an open goal he chipped the ball into the net. A brilliant strike which gave Spain the needed lead. The match gained even more pace with chances on both sides before Spain had a perfect build-up Villa with the final pass into the middle to Andres Iniesta and the Barca player nicely pushed the ball into the net past the keeper. In the same move Torres is brought down by Marco Estrada and the defender who had earlier gotten away with a rough tackle did get his second booking and had to leave the field. An efficient Spain were leading 2-0 at the break against a Chile which seemed to be playing for their lives.

After the match restarted Chile went all out to reduce the deficit as they knew if Switzerland would score in the other match, then could be out. And Chile did reduce the score in the 47th minute when substitute Rodrigo Millar's shot was deflected into the Spanish goal by Pique. Chile thereafter were all over the Spanish who seemed to loose their way, but the substitution of Cesc Fabregas for Torres brought stability and new organisation into the Spanish game. And the Spaniards started to combine like only they can, only not moving goalwards but trying to keep possession against the agile Chileans. But the Chileans tired towards the end and in the last 15 minutes it was more of Spanish combination with no interference as both sides looked content with the result. In the end Spain won 2-1 and both sides made their way into the pre-quarterfinals.


Switzerland 0-0 Honduras
Goals: none.

Switzerland were held to a goalless draw by Honduras at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. Both teams bowed out of the tournament.

Honduras once more played their style of football, standing deep in defence and waiting for counter attacks, while the Swiss just couldn't up the tempo as the Spaniards and Chileans had done to beat the Central American nation.

Switzerland did have the better chances in the first session. First stand-in captain Inler's shot just went wide then Eren Derdiyok's header just missed the mark. It stayed goalless up to the break.

Swiss coach took off Gelson Fernandes and brought on the experienced Hakan Yakin, but even this substitution didn't change things as the Swiss couldn't up the tempo and their final pass didn't find their man. And after the break Honduras became more adventurous and had chances to actually win the match. First striker David Suazo's headed the ball wide, then Adgar Alvarez's shot was excellently saved by Diego Benaglio in the Swiss goal. Both sides had their chances towards the end of the game, but it ended goalless.

Group H: Chile go top, Spain return to winning ways

Group H after the opening day shock is wide open and there are chances for all sides.

(to be updated after the second game)

Chile 1-0 (0-0) Switzerland
Goals: 1-0 Mark Gonzalez (75').

Chile overcame ten men Switzerland with a lone goal victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. And once more there was a questionable expulsion had its influence on the game.

Both sides in the first half played like sides who knew that a win today could be a big step towards a pre-quarterfinal place, but it didn't result in good football as it meant loads of midfield action and numerous fouls which didn't allow the game to gain any pace. And in the 31st minute Switzerland's Valon Behrami was send off by referee Khalil Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi from Saudi Arabia for hitting out at Chile's Arturo Vidal, who goes down as if he had been terribly hit. One of numerous cards the referee handed out without need. But Chile couldn't utilise their one man more in the first session as it ended goalless.

After the break Chile upped their tempo and it would cause problems for the Swiss. Chile scored in the 49th minute through Alexis Sanchez, but he was offside and the goal was disallowed. A few minutes later Sanchez should have given Chile the lead, but Diego Benaglio and Steve von Bergen deny them the lead once more. But Chile score the winner in the 75th minute as Estaban Paredas send the ball across to Mark Gonzalez who headed home the ball, but it was earlier offside so the goal should have never been given. Chile thereafter could have sealed their win, but they couldn't seal the match and Switzerland nearly got the equaliser at the end, but substitute Eren Derdiyok's shot went just wide of the goal.


Spain 2-0 (1-0) Honduras
Goals: 1-0,2-0 David Villa (17',51').

Spain returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win against a weak Honduras at the Ellis Park in Johannesburg. David Villa was hero and villain in one as he scored both the goals, missed a penalty and hit out at an Honduran defender which should have resulted in a red card.

Spain control the game from the beginning, but after the loss against Switzerland the team looks nervous and isn't able to play its free flowing football. Honduras is ultra-defensive and are never in the situation that they could bother the Spanish defence, while Spain test the Honduran goal before David Villa scores in the 17th minute with a beauty of a goal. Villa himself moves with the ball into the centre from the left and lets fly a shot which Honduran keeper Noel Valladares can get his finger tips to, but the ball flies into the goal. Spain thereafter could double the lead but Xavi and especially Fernando Torres can't score of their chances. Then David Villa is lucky not to be send off. The Valencia striker before a corner has his hand in the face of a Honduran defender, who goes down but the incidence is not seen by the Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura.

Things don't really change after the break though Honduras are more attacking minded after their substitutions, but this gives more space for Spain who double their lead once more through David Villa in the 51st minute. In the 62nd minute Emilio Izaguirre brought down Jesus Navas, but David Villa puts the ball wide from the resultant penalty. Thereafter Spain were to playful, trying to play the ball into the goal, but this would not happen tonight. Maybe this will haunt the Spaniards as they could have demolished Honduras and strengthened their case with a better goal difference to move on from their group.

Group H: Chile win, Swiss upset Spain

Finally Group H has come into action as the last of the eight groups at this World Cup.

(to be updated after the second game)

Honduras 0-1 (0-1) Chile
Goals: 0-1 Jean Beausejour (34').

Chile beat Honduras 1-0 to score their first World Cup win since 1962 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nespruit. And they did it in style.

Chile showed in the first half why they could be a candidate to surprise everyone at this World Cup. The South Americans allowed the ball to circulate amongst their players and had control of the midfield against a Honduras side which struggled against the pace of their opponents. And deservingly took the lead in the 34th minute through Jean Beausejour after a nice combination. Honduras could have equalised at the stroke of half time with a freekick from Ramon Nunez which was tipped over by Chile keeper Claudio Bravo.

After the break Chile should have consolidated their lead, but the Chileans left many good chances unused while Honduras was just wasn't dangerous enough to threaten the Chilean goal. Around the hour mark the Chileans could have sealed the game but Alexis Sanchez and Waltr Ponce both wasted good opportunities. Towards the end substitute Mark Gonzalez wasted a few good chances.


Spain 0-1 (0-0) Switzerland
Goals: 0-1 Gelson Fernandes (52').

Top favourites Spain were upset by a fighting Switzerland in their opening game of Group H at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It was the first ever win by a Swiss football team against the Spanish.

Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld continues his impressive caoching career which made him one of the most successful coaches in club football, now he has won his first World Cup match as a coach against a superior opponent.

Spain were in control from the start, but their finishing was either not up to the mark or a Swiss defender or their goalkeeper Diego Benaglio was in the way. The Swiss put in a lot of effort, discipline and passion; which in the end did pay off.

The Spanish weren't as dangerous in front of goal as they would have liked to be and their first big chance was wasted by defender Piqué who failed to beat Benaglio. But the Swiss weakened themselves when Philippe Senderos had to be substituted due to an ankle injury which he sustained while hitting an own team mate. Spain did have a few more half chances, but it remained goalless at the break.

After the break Spain came out with an urge to finally go ahead, but the opposite happened. In the 52nd minute the Swiss on the break went forward Eren Derdiyok got the ball past Iker Casillas, who brought him down but Gelson Fernandes got the ball on the two rebound past Piqué and Casillas into the goal. The Swiss were ahead and the Spaniards where shocked and coach Vicente del Bosque brought on Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas to regroup upfront. The duo would play a big part in the Spanish attack until the end. The best chance was a long range effort by Xabi Alonso in the 71st minute which hit the crossbar. But the Swiss would try once in a while to counter the Spanish pressure and in the 75th minute Eren Derdiyok nearly doubled the lead as his effort hit the post. Spain continued their attack, but couldn't break the Swiss wall which held until the end.