A slight tactical move has  helped spur Switzerland into the second round and Xherdan Shaqiri in his country’s history books after a 3-0 win against Honduras in Manaus.

Shaqiri was moved to a more center forward role this match by  Head Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. This move allowed the midfielder to complete the first Swiss hat-trick in a World Cup since 1954. He also added to the number of goals by Bayern Munich players in this World Cup to 11. This leads the tournament.

The 22-year-old Shaqiri opened the scoring for Switzerland in the 6th minute with a viral-video worthy goal. Shaqiri started at the top corner of the 18-yard box, taking the ball with his left across the field but dribbling away from goal while dragging an Honduran defender on the back of his shirt. The midfielder blistered a 25-yard shot to the far post, the ball slamming against the crossbar before hitting the back of the net.

Honduras, who needed a miracle to advance, did not lay dead despite the long odds. The game opened up as both teams sent players forward after the early goal, not necessarily creating chances but increasing the pace of the game and intensifying the tackles.

Shaqiri completed a quick Swiss counter in the 31st minute to double Switzerland’s lead. Josip Drmic received a 40-yard laser-beam of a pass from his defense and dribbled the ball to the outside of the box. He played an easy ball across the face of goal for Shaqiri to bury into the goal.

The second half had Honduras pushing even farther up to put themselves back in the game. Jerry Palacios almost pulled one back for Honduras in the 51st minute, his shot beating the Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio but Ricardo Rodriguez was in behind clearing the ball off the line.

But Honduras’ pressure left them exposed for counter attacks and it would be Drmic and Shaqiri punishing them again in the 71st minute. Drmic took a ball along the box a slowed up play while Shaqiri made his way towards the box. With a few step-overs, Drmic beat his defender, dribbled into the box and found a wide open Shariqi who sent in a one-timer for the third and final goal of the game.

Both teams entered the match with dreams of advancing to the next round. Switzerland secured second place in group E with the win coupled with Ecuador’s nil-nil draw with group leader France. Honduras needed to win and flip a four goals combined with an Ecuador loss to advance.

Honduras will head home while Switzerland will get ready for Argentina in the second round. The two have faced each other six times with the Swiss unable to come away with a win.

One chance, one goal. Clint Dempsey’s life has been about seizing chances.

Less than a minute into their match on Monday, the United States had a 1-0 lead thanks to an adventurous run, matched by a masterful Dempsey finish. His first opportunity near goal was taken head down, full speed ahead. Nothing was going to stop him. Not an oncoming defender and not a helpless goalkeeper. Nor will a broken nose from playing against Portugal.

The same could be said about his path to becoming “Captain America.”

Unlike some of his American teammates who grew up in suburban surroundings, playing at glitzy soccer clubs, Dempsey had a rocky path.

He grew up in a trailer park with two sisters and a brother in Nacogdoches, Texas, and was playing the wrong kind of football. Outgrowing the talent pool in his recreational league, his brother Ryan went to try out for the Dallas Texans, an elite youth soccer club. Ryan’s age group had already selected their team but Clint was noticed by Zeph Badii.

“I said ‘Listen, you need to make sure this boy is playing this level,’” Badii said. “I saw the talent in him and thought, ‘We just have to keep this kid going.’”

It was 170 miles, roughly a three hour drive, from Dempsey’s home to training sessions with his new team. But soon financial difficulties forced Dempsey’s family into a tough decision.

Eldest sister Jennifer was a rising tennis star. Seeing as Clint was still young, his parents opted to support Jennifer financially with her tennis career, leaving 12-year-old Clint angry and upset, and his passion for the sport faded.

Sadly, in November, 1995, his 16-year-old sister Jennifer suffered a brain aneurysm and died. Reinvigorated yet devastated, Clint found new purpose in his pursuit of a soccer career that has led him to MLS, Europe and the captain’s armband in this World Cup.

Dempsey is the X factor in the United States formula of attack. His goal against Ghana sums up what he brings to the pitch — the flair with his cheeky step over before his first touch, the fearless nature with which he ran at his defender, the deadly “no doubt about it” finish, the “don’t mess with Texas” demeanor he carries. No other player on his team brings that.

Then he was lost for the remainder of the match.

With Jozy Altidore leaving the match injured, the teams ability to hold up play disappeared, a role Dempsey either can’t or doesn’t know how play.

This poses the question for the match against Portugal: what do you do with Dempsey?

He has an unsuccessful history playing lone striker and no one on the US bench can play with their back to goal like Altidore can. Aron Jóhannsson’s inclusion didn’t change things much but that could have been due to Ghana not giving the Americans many chances to link the strikers and midfield.

The team will look to USMNT striker (aka rap singer Deuce) to replicate his magic against Portugal to put them through to the second round. It’s too bad they can’t just bank on his mad flow.

Controversy over concussions has taken flight recently over the collision between Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku on Sunday. Lloris, who suffered the injury in the 78th minute, continued through the nine added minutes for injury time and the final whistle, even after stating he did not remember the collision. Lukaku was substituted, unable to continue after hitting his knee on Lloris’s head.

Sam Borden of the New York Times recently wrote about this incident and made two comparative suggestions to how the NFL handles concussion issues.

The first suggestion was allowing for a temporary substitute to replace the injured player while he is thoroughly examined for eligibility to return to the game.

In the article, Borden mentions the NFL’s concussion exam, which takes roughly 15 minutes away from the field and in the presence of an independent doctor not associated with the team.

That suggestion spurred images of players flopping all over the pitch, clutching their heads and being carried off the field only to sit up immediately while the temporary sub looks to change the pace of the game.

Flopping and faking injuries is already a prevalent distraction and annoying interruption to the flow of play and this suggestion only seems to increase the incidents.

Take this upcoming weekend’s game between Arsenal and Manchester United with the suggestion applied. Note, as respected as these two clubs are, one would hope the scenario that is about to unfold is well beyond them.

A draw is looming at Old Trafford as both teams seem unable to create anything in their opponent’s half. Arsenal has settled in a bit at the back and it looks like United have given up trying to penetrate Arsenal’s back line. Arsene Wenger likes how his team is defending but wonders if maybe he can steal three points away, but hesitates to make a substitution as not to compromise his defense.

Suddenly Arteta takes a hard foul in the 72nd minute and rolls around clutching his face in agony. Wenger finds a chance to make his move.

Arteta comes out “temporarily” to be examined by doctors to decide if he’s fit enough to return. Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, who did not start because he has been out for weeks, makes his first appearance since having surgery. Aaron Ramsey drops back to take Arteta’s spot and Walcott comes in on the outside.

Arsenal steal a goal due to Walcott’s blistering pace seven minutes later and wouldn’t you know it, Arteta seems fine to come back in.

Arteta’s return shores up the back for the waning minutes of the game and the temporary sub has given Arsenal a goal and a win at Old Trafford.

This is a slightly exaggerated scenario but it must be noted this would be a strategic attribute waiting to be taken advantage of. Coaches would be able to “test out” a substitute and gauge his immediate impact if a player who suffered a head injury has to be examined for 15 minutes.

But Borden may be on to something.

Leagues could add an extra roster spot to teams. The roster spot would be occupied by a Designated Injury Substitute. This player is decided on before the first whistle and may only come on when a player is being examined for a head injury and will not count as a substitution. If the injured player is deemed unable to return, the DIP then has to be substituted for.

The DIP may not come on as a substitute. He is only on the field for the time it takes doctors to decide if the injured player is fit or not. The only exception would be a goalie for a goalie like in Lloris’s case.

This would keep a team from playing with a man down and trying to rush the diagnosis on a player.

No professional athlete wants to come out of a game and let their team down. That was the case with Lloris. Brad Friedel was ready to come in. The stretcher was out on the field. He had no reason to continue but the decision was left to the player, a player who had just been knocked out cold by a knee to the head.

If the DIP had been implemented, André Villas-Boas would have had the time to determine Lloris’s health without compromising his team. He should have probably made the substitution regardless, which leads to Borden’s second suggestion.

An independent doctor should be present to diagnose the head injuries. Villas-Boas is not a doctor. Lloris had his brain still bouncing around in his head. The doctor tells the coach whether a player is fit and the coach decides how to react.

Borden’s main point is recognizing acts like this should not be hailed as heroic. Franz Beckenbauer’s arm in a sling was heroic. Lloris playing through a head injury is reckless. An injured limb will not leave you with dementia, suicidal or a vegetable.