Switzerland 2, Togo 0

Togo got totally hosed when the ref missed a blatant PK call in the first half. How bad has the refereeing been in this tournament? Missed penalties, missed goals and, most of all, a plague of unnecessary yellow and red cards.

The truth, however, is that the Togolese have only themselves to blame as they scuffed some good chances in front of goal. And, down a goal and essentially needing a win to avoid elimination, they still refused to throw caution to the wind and send more players forward. Someone should have told them that goal differential doesn't matter when you're in last place. Where was the urgency? Their suicidal clinging to their original gameplan and stubborn unwillingness to adapt to the reality of the situation reminds me of something...oh yeah, the Bush Administration's war in Iraq. The Swiss got the clincher in the 89th minute regardless.

Togo's legacy in this World Cup, unfortunately, will likely be the drama surrounding the pay dispute. First, the coach quit. Then he returned. Then the players threatened to boycott the game against Switzerland if they didn't get a ludicrous raise to $200,000 per player for the tournament. This for a country where the per capita income is less than $1,000. Nice going, guys.

The Swiss, for their part, are disciplined, precise, calculating. In other words, boring. After grinding out this win, they have four points and sit in a tie atop Group G with Korea Republic. That leaves France in third place with just two points and Togo bringing up the rear. A France win over Togo coupled with a tie between the Swiss and Koreans would leave three teams with five points, all potentially with the same goal differential. Not sure what happens them.

I'll be rooting for France and Korea Republic to win and advance. Not that I have anything against the Swiss people, per se. But their team is dull and one of their defenders looks like Sen. Joseph Lieberman. I'd rather see Zidane in the next round, thank you very much.

Goal scorers:

Alexander Frei (16'), Switzerland (1-0)
Tranquillo Barnetta (89'), Switzerland (2-0)