Spanish stars stunned by Swiss; graveyard of champions grows

Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas, Raúl Albiol, Victor Valdés. Any player would be frightened to face the likes of these players. However, when these stars begin a game on the bench, the opposing side must be quivering in their boots.

Not Switzerland.

Spain had never lost to Switzerland in their 18 previous international meetings.

Until today.

The opening round of the World Cup definitely saved the best for last, just not in the way everybody expected.

Switzerland came out as a team with absolutely nothing to lose and zero expectations beyond finishing as a losing side against Spain.

Spain emerged brimming with confidence, almost assuming the three points before the game even kicked off. Instead, they played, as my dad noted during the game, “like a bunch of over paid prima-donnas”.

After a first half that saw almost perfect control by the defending European champs yet very little action in front of the net, the half-time score reflected very little about the game.

Seven minutes into the second half, fans witnessed what would lead to likely the biggest upset in 2010 World Cup action: a goal by Gelson Fernandes giving the Swiss a 1-0 lead.

The Spanish did not play up to the expectations the world had for them, joining the ranks of disappointing performances seen by England, Italy and Portugal earlier in the tournament.

The Spanish did not play together as a team, and it proved to be detrimental for them.

Let this be a lesson to the big guns in the second round. You can never, ever count anyone out in a World Cup tournament.

Ladies and gentleman: the games begin here.