Pinolere is one of the biggest and most enchanting craft fairs on Tenerife and is located on the slopes of a hill so steep that just getting from the car to the pavement requires steely thighs and a supply of oxygen.
On the first weekend of September over 230 craftspeople from Tenerife, the other Canary Islands and mainland Spain laid out their wares on stalls and in the shade of the thatched huts that for the rest of the year are part of the Pinolere Ethnological Museum in the highlands of La Orotava.
Under blue skies and with views to die for as a backdrop over 30,000 people turned up to get in some early Christmas shopping.
This is shopping with a difference. Stalls are spread over a series of levels but with vistas like Pinolere’s it can be difficult to take your eyes off the scenery to check out the goodies on sale.
Crafts range from the traditional, such as these wicker baskets…
…to those that you might as well sellotape straight on to your stomach.
And then there are the more contemporary works like these cheeky designs.
Or Canarian classics – hand rolled cigars from La Palma; as good as Cuban cigars…so the people from La Palma will tell you.
As well as hundreds of delightfully unique crafts on sale, the fair has art & craft making exhibitions, live music, rabbits and birds to coo over, demonstrations of traditional life in the hills , these wonderful huts and loads of secret corners to explore…and all for a €2.50 entrance fee.
If you missed Pinolere this year, don’t fret there are other craft fairs and markets around Tenerife, just not in such a spectacular location. Keep an eye on our ‘Happenings’ page for news of a fair in October featuring crafts from South America, Africa and the Canary Islands.
In the second of our series going undercover of the night to check Tenerife’s nightlife, Tenerife Magazine went bar hopping in Costa Adeje.
With the sun casting a golden glow over the land, I knew the perfect place to begin investigating Costa Adeje’s nightlife. Lighthouses usually act as a warning to steer clear, but the one at Faro Chill Art Bar is a beacon attracting the effortlessly cool, beautiful people…well, them and me.
Faro Chill Art Bar – Part One
Über-chic and then some, Faro Chill Art is the type of bar that deserves to be frequented by Hollywood stars. The décor oozes such style and imagination that even if I’d been wearing a carnival queen’s costume I’d have felt dull and conservative by comparison. After being tempted by the Zen terrace and the Mediterranean blue cushions of the Greek terrace, I ordered a glass of vino and climbed to the Ítaca terrace to enjoy the sunset from the rooftop. Drink prices at Faro are higher than average, but a visit is an experience not to be missed – and guys you have to try the bathroom. Feeling like I was being adulterous by simply visiting the loo was a unique experience.
By 10pm, it was time to stop chilling and start rocking.
In & Out
In & Out’s typically beach side tables and chairs can’t match Faro’s style. But you don’t need style when you’ve got heavy metal heroes, Soundchaser wowing the crowds night after night. I’d read rave reviews about Soundchaser, but was still blown away by how good they were. Note-perfect covers of Hendrix, Zeppelin, Dream Theater and Cream classics as well as their own compositions had old and new rockers in the crowd head-banging in ecstasy. Lead singer, Marcos Rodriguez possesses bucket loads of charisma and his witty asides pumped up the entertainment factor; at one point casting his eyes heavenwards in disgust as a woeful version of Sailing drifted down from a karaoke bar above. Again prices were a bit higher than average (€3.50 for a pint of lager, €8 for a spirit and mixer), but good value with a quality band like Soundchaser in the mix.
Captivated by Soundchaser’s demonic spell I’d lingered longer than I’d planned; reluctantly I tore myself away to seek out other forms of nightlife.
I paused outside Moonlight Bar, but strains of Engelbert Humberdinck emanating from inside had me quickening my step again. Following Soundchaser with music that was outdated when I was a teenager just didn’t do it for me. Similarly AJ’s Bar None lacked the buzz I sought and I wondered if I’d been spoiled by Soundchaser. Then the sound of soft reggae weaved its way through the night and I instantly knew my next stop.
Lisboa Bar
An unassuming bar whose mock Tudor beams seemed unusual for somewhere with a Portuguese name. It turned out that it was under new ownership and had only been open in its current incarnation for two months. There was nothing particularly special about the bar except that Grinder Circus, the two guitar playing musicians who formed the bar’s band, were creating some damn fine music; a quasi-acoustic mix of reggae and hip-swaying Cuban sounds with some U2 thrown in for good measure. It was simply a friendly bar in which to knock back a beer (€2).
Eleven thirty and time for pastures new. Onwards and upwards took me past Harley’s. Having a cocktail in the back of an open topped Cadillac looked fun, but I was seeking something livelier. A few steps more and I found it.
St Eugene’s
The perfect holiday bar, St Eugene’s (or Eugen’s – the website has two different spellings) was a revelation. An attractive bar with soft lighting and greenery giving it a warm and welcoming ambience. It was packed with people who weren’t just having a good time; they were having a party. Eugene’s was buzzing and that set it apart from bars I’d body swerved. This was clearly helped by the act, IS who kept the dance floor filled with crowd pleasing tunes ranging from Mowtown favourites to the Black Eyed Peas and Kings of Leon (note to other bars churning out Please Release Me & Little Old Wine Drinker Me – everyone from 16 to 60 year olds sang along to The Kings of Leon). Bar service was quick (just as well as the table service wasn’t) and prices were reasonable given the entertainment (€3 a pint of lager). The atmosphere in Eugene’s was such good fun that I was sorry when IS finished their set.
By 1am bars seemed to be winding down and I was about to call it a night when I noticed that cars were streaming into the area.
Faro Chill Art Bar – Part Two
A botellón (open air party) was in full flow in the plaza outside Faro and hundreds of young Canarios downed JD’s and Coke before joining a massive queue snaking towards the entrance to Faro.
The queues were too long and I felt way too old to re-enter Faro’s world at this point anyway. So, as bars aimed at visitors wound down and those aimed at Canarios filled up, I decided I’d hopped my last bar and it was time for a meeting with the sandman.
Factfile: All bars featured are located in the area around and above Puerto Colón. Soundchaser perform nightly from 9.30pm at In & Out: There are different acts each night at St Eugene’s from 10pm: Faro Chill Art also regularly features theme nights and live music – keep an eye on their website for details
Lean closer and listen very carefully for I’m going to share a magical secret with you. I’m going to tell you how to create a time machine.
It’s very simple. Go into any rent-a-car office on Tenerife, hire a car – it doesn’t have to be a DeLorean – and, instead of bumming it at the beach, head inland and into the mountains. If you’re very lucky you might even stumble across fascinating little agricultural fiestas like the Dia de la Trilla (threshing day) which took place on the site of the planned Eco Museum in El Tanque at the end of July.
Life in Tenerife’s hills is very different from that in its popular tourist resorts. Across much of the island, the land is farmed using agricultural practices that haven’t changed greatly in a hundred years. The Dia de la Trilla celebrates some of the most ingenious of these.
The first thing that anyone attending a fiesta in the hills during the height of summer should know is that temperatures are often hotter than at the coast; a hat is an essential accessory. Almost everyone at Dia de la Trilla sports a straw sombrero to avoid being fried by a vengeful sun. In July’s searing temperatures, the hat didn’t exactly keep a person cool, but it did stave off death; the probable alternative.
With a soundtrack of Latino and traditional music blaring from speakers beside stalls selling handicrafts, breads, jams, cheese and the lifesaving straw hats, the main focus of the fiesta takes place around the era ( a large stone threshing circle).
First, El Tanque’s male elders filled the era with wheat using pitchforks one of which was a wonderful, traditional three pronged wooden affair. Then, when the wheat was waist high, horses were brought into the arena and ‘encouraged’ to race around it, threshing the wheat in the process. The final part of the threshing process was clearly the highlight for the local children. Two pairs of seriously big oxen were hooked up to a wooden threshing board, a sign was given and hordes of children raced to try to secure a prized spot on one of the boards.
It’s an inspired technique. The wheat gets threshed and the local niños get to enjoy the equivalent of an agricultural white knuckle ride – the white knuckle part being when the tank-sized beasts of burden, travelling in the opposite direction from the ones pulling your board, stray far too close for comfort and faces with wide smiles change to faces with saucer wide eyes.
By early afternoon, with the wheat well and truly threshed, everyone drifted away from the era towards either the grub tent for a plate piled with hearty rustic fare, or the sanctuary of the shade provided by the cerveza kiosk’s awning.
There’s no flash, bling or pomp and circumstance at these types of agricultural fiestas, just a wonderful sense of community, an infectiously laid back atmosphere and an insight into what rural life is like outside of Tenerife’s resorts.
Some people describe the neighbouring island of La Gomera as being like Tenerife before tourism. The truth is that you don’t have to travel as far as La Gomera to discover what Tenerife was like Tenerife before tourism and you definitely don’t need a time machine.
With summer’s sultry nights heating up the nocturnal scene on Tenerife it seemed the perfect time to have a look at what Tenerife nightlife has to offer visitors and residents. To begin, this Saturday we went in search of lively bars in the centre of Puerto de la Cruz
Standing on Avenida Generalisimo at 10pm on a Saturday night revealed why nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz sometimes earns the reputation of being low key. Plenty of bars lined the avenue, but none had many customers.
Bar Cimaï
Chosen because it was the only bar in the avenue that was remotely busy, but that was because a birthday party was taking place on its upper floor; something I didn’t discover till I accidentally gate-crashed it. Still, the French owner was friendly, a bottle of beer cost €1.50 and the music was nostalgically 80s.
Moving to Avenida Colón at 10.30pm revealed a much livelier scene. The pavement cafés were full and hordes of Saturday night strollers provided a roaring trade for African hair braiders and the caricature artists.
Café de la Noche
The liveliest bar on the promenade; entering past Marilyn Monroe holding down her billowing white dress revealed an interior of art deco mirrors and Tiffany lamps. The dance floor was full, but a tad Strictly Come Dancing. A litre of wine was under €10 but although no spring chicken myself, I felt as though I was there twenty years too early.
By 11pm, it was time to try the old town. En route, singing from Molly Malone’s near the harbour sounded promising. The bar, popular in winter months, was almost empty, so I decided to give it a miss. Same thing with the Jardín Karaoke Bar.
Arriving at Plaza del Charco it explained why a lot of bars were quiet; everybody was there, enjoying the bubbling atmosphere around the palm and Indian laurel tree-lined plaza. At one end, the Plaza Café overflowed with a mix of mature visitors and locals being serenaded by a female Spanish vocalist whilst at the other, in the Frigata, Tasquita and Hannen bars, a younger clientele chattered animatedly above an MTV soundtrack.
As midnight approached it was time to follow the in-crowd to the hottest night spots in town around Calle Blanco and Calle Iriarte.
Blanco Bar
Blanco Bar oozed style and über-chic décor from sleek white walls and ultra violet lighting in the bar and concert area to rattan settees in the outdoor terrace situated on four levels. The bar’s patrons were mainly in their early thirties, but there was a mix of ages. Service was exceptional and I was served quickly even though the bar was heaving. A bit pricier than other bars, a bottle of beer cost €2.50, but then the entertainment is free.
At first I thought the band, Supertrópica, were a comedy group in frilly shirts and Elton John style sunglasses. The lead singer’s curiously cartoon-ish voice didn’t help dispel that assumption. But their infectious performance, an energetic combination of summery pop and R&B riffs had me grinning and chanting ‘otra, otra’ with everyone else at the end of the set.
Limbo Bar
Further up Calle Blanco, a wooden staircase in a colonial courtyard led to Limbo’s huge terrace. By 1.20am it was sardine tin busy and manoeuvring anywhere involved getting intimately close to people. The bar staff were fast workers, but not great at spotting who was next in line, so a couple of ‘oigas’ were essential.
A spirit, the equivalent of three or four UK measures, and mixer was €6.
The young clientele, mainly in their early 20s, included a surfeit of stunningly beautiful girls, many with stiletto heels longer than the hemlines of the chic dresses they wore with the poise and elegance of fashion models.
Azucar
Opposite Blanco, Cuban bar Azucar looked empty at 2.30am. But streams of people were entering and…disappearing. Further investigation revealed a soundproofed glass door which opened as I approached and Puerto was swapped for downtown Havana. The atmosphere inside was beyond hot; it was steamy, and bodies that brushed against me were wet with sweat. One part of the bar was in a courtyard overlooked by an old wooden balcony – straight out of a Bacardi advert. In the dark shadows, figures gyrated sensually to thumping salsa. It felt deliciously illicit. I ordered a mojito (€5) and marvelled at dance moves I’ll only ever achieve in my dreams.
By 3.30am a return to Avenida Generalisimo revealed a very different animal. Clubs that were invisible in daylight hours were filling up, their neon lights attracting clubbers from all over Tenerife’s north coast. Call me lightweight, but by then the only bright light I was interested in was the green one on top of a taxi.
Tenerife Magazine plans to be bar hopping all over Tenerife in the future, so if you know of any great bars, please share them with us…we’d hate to miss out on some secret gems.
A promised feast of football turned out more like a mixed serving of tapas as nervous stunted play took over from the stylish playmaking everyone had expected. Thirteen yellow cards and a sending off says it all but Spain have proved over the last two years to be easily the best team around. All the fine print will be forgotten tonight, the fire crackers and bangers are popping along with the corks here in Tenerife and the car horns will be blasting into the early hours.
Holland 0 , Spain 1
Spain started strongly with Villa pushing to break his country’s all time scoring record. Xavi was busy too with a floated free kick that Ramos bravely got a head too but Stekelenburg turned it aside. Holland seemed overawed but Kuyt decided to try his luck after Busquets lost the ball in midfield, nice idea but no power to threaten Casillas in goal. the best chance of the half fell to Ramos, he looked odds on from the right only to see Heitinga clear his shot.
The game became ragged with both sides failing to produce their trademark passing style and the tackles became loose and niggly as English ref Howard Webb gave his yellow cards an airing. The ref didn’t have a clear view of the worst challenge, De Jong went in on Alonso with his foot high and studded him in the chest, it should have been a sending off. Sneijder looked dangerous from free kicks but Casillas was equal to him, the keeper was caught napping though when he miss judged a back pass and failed to stop it going out for a corner. Robben and Sneijder both tested the Spain defence down the right and the lively Pedro managed to shake off four markers before shooting wide of the goal. Robben nearly sneaked in just before the break with a low shot that was heading for the corner of the net before Casillas got a hand to it.
The second half was little better, Puyol opened with a good header down that fell just behind the feet of Capdevila in a great scoring position. Sneijder broke for Holland but Ramos made a vital tackle to stop him in his tracks. Robben was looking threatening and had the clearest chance going one on one with Casillas but waiting too long and Casillas stuck a foot out to deny him. Navas had come on for Pedro and he breathed some life into Spain but Villa was not on finishing form. Ramos was unmarked when he had a free header but sent it over the bar. Extra time was calling Iniesta looked on for goal but a perfect tackle by Sneijder cleared the danger.
So extra time and Zavi and Heitinga clashed in the Holland penalty area but despitr claims for a spot kick, ref Webb said no. Van Bronkhorst in his final game showed his defensive qualities with a supreme tackle on Iniesta and a deflection of a Navas shot before going off to begin his retirement. Fabregas could have nicked the lead, this time it was the Dutch keeper to the rescue saving with his legs.
Villa gave way for Torres at the start of the final 15 minutes in a last throw of the dice. There was always going to be at least one sending off and Heitinga was the man for Holland for pulling back Iniesta but Fabregas wasted the free kick putting it over the bar. Robben, already on a yellow could have gone off as well for dissent after putting the ball in the net after being called offside. Iniesta saved us the lottery of penalties nipping in from a Fabregas pass and hooking the ball into the Holland net with just 2 minutes left on the clock. The hero was nearly burried under an avalanche of bodies as the Spain bench emptied and started to celebrate.
Everything stopped for Spain’s vital semi final game tonight. In Tenerife capital Santa Cruz, the Beach Boys even put their concert back an hour to allow fans to see the game on giant screens. Now the car horns are blaring and the parties have started. Maybe they will win the final on Sunday “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
Germany 0 , Spain 1
Two notable striking changes before the game, Torres was dropped by Spain and Tenerife born Pedro replaced him while Germany’s suspended Mueller gave way for Trochowski. Pedro made an instant impression with a run down the left that was halted by Lahm. The new boy followed up with a tempting ball to Villa that was smothered by oncoming keeper Neuer. Spain were stroking the ball around but couldn’t find the end product, Germany sat back and soaked it up like their teams of old. Iniesta set up Puyol with a well drilled pass across the goal but he couldn’t make his diving header count as it sailed over the bar.
Germany started to be more adventurous, Trochowski let go a long shot that Casillas turned away with his finger tips and Ozil caused problems down the left flank. Pedro was relishing his first start for Spain and forced a corner but it came to nothing, much of Spains work was just a bit too intricate and Villa was well bottled up by the German defence. The half ended with a penalty appeal from Germany, Ozil ran through into the box and went down after brushing with Ramos. The ref didn’t blow for anything so the last few minutes drained away.
Pedro was a livewire again as the second half started, his showed all his trickery on the right before setting up Alonso but his finish wasn’t quite good enough. One of the best passing moves of the game came from Capdevila to Xavi and Pedro who forced a save. Germany looked subdued but managed a break from Podolski that Piquet did well to clear. The chances kept coming for Spain, Ramos missed twice and just when it looked like they might regret the spawned chances Puyol came to the rescue. Iniesta buzzed around at trhe byline and forced a corner, Zavi fired over an outswinging cross and Puyol drifted in and rose high to head the ball powerfully into the net.
Germany woke up and were forced to finally push forward, substitute Kroos looked lively and from his free kick Klose had a sniff but Casillas made a clean catch. Villa having a quiet game by his standards was through on the Germany defence but Friedrich made a strong tackle. Spain took a big gamble and brought on Torres for Villa, Pedro should have gifted him a goal but tried to go it alone. As the clock ticked down Torres had a good chance but Friedrich was there again and the whistle signalled a first World Cup final for Spain.
The future is now for Germany, their emerging young side was seen as one for the Euros in two years and the World Cup in four. Well look out they are impatient.
Argentina 0, Germany 4
There was no council notice, no early call, the demolition crew started from the kick off. Sweinsteiger may be a writer’s nightmare but what a player. His floated free kick after three minutes found Mueller who headed down past the flailing leg of keeper Romero. Mueller set up Klose soon after but his shot couldn’t find the target. Messi couldn’t get into the game, Sweinsteiger had him in his pocket and Argentina were out marked and out fought.
The half time mauling from Maradona seemed to wake Argentina up and they produced something nearer their best play. Di Maria let fly from just outside the box and saw the ball go wide, Tevez took on Messi’s creative mantle and forced good saves out of Neuer. The Germans soaked it all up and then sprung forward, Podolski raided down the left and squared for Klose who had the easiest of finishes for a 2-0 lead. That man Sweinsteiger got in on the act also choosing the left channel before laying the ball on for Freidrich. Ozil was having a quiet game by his standards but put in a telling cross to give Klose a last minute goal to complete the rout.
Paraguay 0, Spain 1
Maybe Paraguay are not the flashiest team but they have steel and quick forwards and they were straight at Spain from the off. Santana warmed Casillas’ hands in the first minute and a wild free kick from Morel should have been a lot closer. Torres again looked sluggish and Paraguay wouldn’t let Spain settle on the ball to play their crisp passing game. Alcaraz couldn’t quite connect with a free header from a smart free kick as Spain struggled to throw off the chains. Xavi had a quick witted attempt, turning and firing in a long shot that went over the Paraguay goal and a Capdevila free kick at the other end was cooled down as it took a deflection for a soft pick up from Villar. The South Americans finished the side stronger, Valdez put the ball in the Spain net but was just offside and then he curled a shot just wide before the break.
Again Spain toiled in the second half, Torres was off again, this time for Fabregas and on the hour the game exploded into life. Piquet held Cardozo and wouldn’t let go of his arm, a clear penalty for Paraguay but Cardozo hit it softly and Casillas saved. Villa broke away and Alcaraz clattered him down in the other box to give Spain an instant spot kick reply. Alonso despatched the ball into the net but the ref made him take it again and this time Villar saved. Spain used that to spur them on, Iniesta and Fabregas made a great incisive raid that Villar ended. It was looking like extra time but Iniesta conjured up a late attack, sub Pedro could only hit the post from his pass but Villa was on hand to score off the inside of the post. Spain were through but it was hard going.
There’s an extra bit of local interest for CD Tenerife fans in today’s Paraguay v Spain game. Not only is Pedro, the boy from Abades, on the Spain bench hoping to come on for some goal glory, the Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino is a former Santa Cruz player. The mastermind of this Paraguay campaign played 15 games for CD Tenerife in 1991, I’m sure he remembers it fondly.
Debut For Twin Strikers?
She has become the “face” of the World Cup, Larissa Requelme is a top model in Paraguay and always seems to catch the camera mans eye a she celebrates on the terraces with their army of fans. The young lady, who famously keeps her mobile phone tucked in her cleavage, has promised that if Paraguay make the semi finals she will do a full strip. That’s something to look out for, John Motson may even lose interest in his endless stats and take an interest.
Harry Bungs In A Good Delivery
The pundits are all jostling for top billing but Harry Redknap leads the way with the best one liner so far. After Japan midfielder topped a great game with a stunning free kick, Harry’s BBC colleagues teased him that he would have the cheque book out and be making a bid. The Spurs boss quipped back with “yes i was thinking of doing a swap , Honda for Bentley” David Bentley being one of his out of favour strikers.
Fernando Torres is a genuine pin up boy in Tenerife, well his fashion poses adorn the posters for El Corte Ingles, but he and several other top names in this World Cup have looked like they need at least a month relaxing on the beach.
Spain 1, Portugal 0
Like a raging bull, Spain came charging out at the start of this game, Villa forced an Eduardo save and Torres forced a tip over from a corner. Portugal said is that it and took hold of the game with tight marking and strong possesion. Tiago had a great chance and found Casillas in uncertain form shovelling his long shot up into the air and scrambling it clear as he was charged at. Ronaldo put in a testing free kick and again Casillas seemed to panic, catching the ball as if it was a red hot potato. The keeper and captain did make amends running out 35 yards to deny Simao as he bore down on him.
The second half had barely started before Almeida tried a goalmouth cross and Puyol got in the way, his deflection causing the ball to bounce threateningly in front of Casillas before going out wide. As Ronaldo blended into the background, another great player Torres was taken off, a pale shadow of his best form. Replacement Llorente made an instant impression getting into a clear position before heading it straight at Eduardo. Villa is always lively and after putting a shot wide he came back for another go forcing a strong save from the Portugal keeper but snapping up the rebound for a Spain goal. Ramos nearly doubled up, flashing his shot across the Portugal goalmouth. Portugal should have upped the pace but didn’t , Llorente had another headed chance for Spain, this time flicked wide. There was a bit of controversy near the end as Costa was sent off for Portugal after a passing glance of players saw Capdevila rolling around with his hands over his face, when he got up there were of course no signs of contact. Alves squared up to him briefly but it was a distraction from Portugals lack of playing ambition and the overall quality of Spain.
Paraguay 0, Japan 0 (Paraguay win 5-3 on penalties)
Sadly a game where a bit of a gamble could have tipped it for either side but both played safe and penalties ruled the day. Barrios threatened to turn on the light in the first half, beating two Japan defenders with a clever turn before hitting the crossbar. Even the highly skilled Honda couldn’t fire Japan’s imagination in the second half, his best being a low shot that was easily saved. So penalties were needed to split the sides and Komanos miss off the crossbar proved to be the turning point.
It wasn’t always pretty but I suppose you can’t blame teams for not taking risks. Now the final 16 are known and the dreaded knock out stage can begin.
Chile 1, Spain 2
For long spells Chile seemed to have Spain bottled up but great teams will always find a way to break free. Torres headed over in the first minute and then latched onto a long pass but saw his shot defect high off a Chile defender. Chile clamped down and gave Spain no room to play their natural neat game, good organisation is very well but you can’t plan for a wreckless goal keeper. Bravo rushed out of his area to stop the oncoming Torres, he got the ball but it bounced into space and Villa lobbed it perfectly into the open Chile net. The second Spain goal was well worked with Torres and Villa exchanging passes before the final ball to Iniesta who finished cleanly. During the move Torres went down, the replay showed a slight tripknock but the ref gave Estrada a red card and left Chile short for the rest of the game.
Chile must have had a red hot half time talk, they came out fired up and sub Millar hit a hard shot that took a sizeable deflection from Piquet on its way into the net. David Villa had two decent chances the first bringing a good save from Bravo and the second, a good pass from sub Fabregas proved a little too much to control. Torres, again looking well off the pace was taken off and the game fizzled out in the final 20 minutes as both sides knew they had what they needed to progress.
Brazil 0, Portugal 0
It was like the Bore War in South Africa this afternoon as two of the flair sides played out a dire goal less draw. Portugal only needed a draw to march on and with Brazil already through they didn’t seem bothered to break sweat. Nilsen could have put Brazil ahead in the opening minutes but Eduardo made a great save. Maicon went on a run down the right and crossed from the byline for Fabiano to head down for Brazil but he failed to score.
Ronaldo seemed content to try long range speculative blasts for Portugal, he tried to run the Brazil defence but Lucio kep a tight reign on him. The longer it went on, the less chance there seemed of a goal. Oh well maybe they are saving it to dazzle us later.
North Korea 0, Ivory Coast 3
It was all too late for the Ivory Coast, they finally found their goal touch but the other group game had sealed their fate. Guk had to use his legs to repel a first minute surge from Ivory Coast’s Keita. The ref was bang on in dissallowing a Drogba goal for offside but Yaya Toure did better from the edge of the box. A few mintues later Drogba stung the post , Romaric was alert though and scored from the rebound.
Tae Se could have equalised just into the second half but Toure blocked him bravely and Ivory Coast took control again. Boka sizzled up the left and crossed to Kalou who had the satisfaction of adding a third to his winning but departing team.
Switzerland 0, Honduras 0
The Swiss still had a decent shot at going through but they would need goals and on this display that wasn’t going to happen. Honduras were tough and keen to keep a clean sheet, Barnetta was the Swiss player who showed any real urgency, he set up Inler who stubg the Honduras keepers hands with a long range shot but it was a rare attempt.
Honduras had their best moments in the second half, Suazo headed wide and Alvarez thought he had a certain goal but Swiss keeper Benaglio denied him with one hand. So despite that surprise win over Spain, Switzerland were unable to build on it and go home dissapointed.
