Auteur: Andrew Palczewski

Ecuador (2-1) Honduras

Honduras vs. Ecuador: The Case of the Coach Swap (UPDATE: Rueda Leads Ecuador to Victory)

By Andrew Palczewski   |


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Suarez and Rueda embrace in 2012.

UPDATE: This year, it looks like Reinaldo Rueda might be leading Ecuador to the second round. After beating Honduras 2-1, Ecuador is in second place in Group E; Honduras, meanwhile, is in last place, having yet to win a match at the 2014 Cup.

Teams don’t get much more intertwined than Honduras and Ecuador, who have met 14 times in competition. This is perhaps most apparent with their coaches. In 2006, Luis Fernando Suarez led Ecuador to the second round of the World Cup, while Reinaldo Rueda coached Honduras in the 2010 World Cup.

This year, they’ve switched: Suarez is the coach for Honduras, and Rueda coaches Ecuador.

How will Suarez and Rueda do against their former teams? Find out at 6 PM ET (10 PM UTC).

For play-by-play, minute-by-minute coverage of every ball touch, throw-in, direct kick, indirect kick, yellow card, red card, corner kick, goal kick and every other possible football feat in every World Cup match, tap into VOA’s multilingual, multinational analysis.

Click here to follow the action live, or follow along on Facebook, or on Twitter with #WorldCupVOA.

And for even more exclusive VOA coverage with a special focus on Africa’s national teams, check out VOA’s Francophone blog.

France (5-2) Switzerland

France vs. Switzerland: Swiss Say French are Favorites (UPDATE: And They Are)

By Andrew Palczewski   |


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Switzerland during their first round win over Ecuador.

UPDATE: The Swiss were right: the French were clearly the favorites, walking away with a 5-2 victory and the top spot in Group E.

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Who are the favorites to win the Group E match between France and Switzerland. Depends on who you ask.

As AFP reports:

Sixth-placed Switzerland are 11 places higher than France according to FIFA’s rankings, but insist those standings mean nothing.

“Favorites? You like that word in France, eh?” Switzerland central defender Steve von Bergen said. “It is France who are the favorites.”

Switzerland assistant coach Michel Pont, who celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday, said 1998 World Cup-winners France have the upper hand.

See who comes out on top at 3 PM ET (7 PM UTC).

For play-by-play, minute-by-minute coverage of every ball touch, throw-in, direct kick, indirect kick, yellow card, red card, corner kick, goal kick and every other possible football feat in every World Cup match, tap into VOA’s multilingual, multinational analysis.

Click here to follow the action live, or follow along on Facebook, or on Twitter with #WorldCupVOA.

And for even more exclusive VOA coverage with a special focus on Africa’s national teams, check out VOA’s Francophone blog.

Costa Rica (1-0) Italy

Can Italy Beat the Heat…and Costa Rica? (UPDATE: Costa Rica Wins & Advances)

By Andrew Palczewski   |


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Can Italy Beat the Heat...and Costa Rica?

UPDATE: Whether or not the heat was an issue for Italy, Costa Rica got the best of them, winning 1-0. With their win, Costa Rica not only advances to the Round of 16, but knocks England out of the World Cup.

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It seems pretty obvious that the biggest challenge Italy will face in their match against Costa Rica will be…well, Costa Rica.

But not according to Italian coach Cesare Prandelli, the biggest challenge for his team may be the steamy Brazilian heat. He told the Associated Press that he’s “certain his players will suffer” from the conditions.

Midfielder Daniele de Rossi is also worried about the weather: “Last year we played Japan in Recife at 9 p.m. and we were dying. [Costa Rica are] more accustomed to this climate but I think both squads would accept time outs.”

Will the heat beat Italy? Or will Italy keep their cool and win over a tough Costa Rica squad? Find out at 12 PM ET (4 PM UTC).

For play-by-play, minute-by-minute coverage of every ball touch, throw-in, direct kick, indirect kick, yellow card, red card, corner kick, goal kick and every other possible football feat in every World Cup match, tap into VOA’s multilingual, multinational analysis.

Click here to follow the action live, or follow along on Facebook, or on Twitter with #WorldCupVOA.

And for even more exclusive VOA coverage with a special focus on Africa’s national teams, check out VOA’s Francophone blog.