By Frans van Hees | www.AboutBrasil.com | Week 26, June 2014

Rio de Janeiro —

Switzerland

got whacked by France (2-5), but in the third and final match of the World Cup 2014 Group stage, the team is through to the second round anyway. In Manaus, city in the heart of the Amazon, the Swiss national soccer team was too strong for

Honduras

, thanks to a hat-trick of Xherdan Shaqiri: 3-0. It was the

50th hat-trick in World Cup history

.

The next challenge for Switzerland seems almost impossible. In the second round next Monday, Argentina will be awaiting. Although not playing briliantly yet, the soccer team of star player Lionel Messi cried victory three times in Group F. Xherdan Shaqiri guided Switzerland into safe haven in the first half. The Bayern München striker opened the scoring after six minutes with a superb shot into the top corner of the Honduran goal. Half an hour later he scored again after a nice attack.

Shaqiri! Shaqiri! Hat-trick against Honduras

After the break Shaqiri scored ​​his third goal of the match against the Honduran soccer team.

With the win against Honduras, Switzerland took revenge for four years ago. In 2010, the soccer team of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld began with a great victory over Spain: 1-0. However, in the last group match his team did not beat Honduras (0-0) and Switzerland was eliminated from the World Cup in South Africa.

At World Cup 2014 in Brazil, Switzerland will play against group winner Argentina and France, winner of

Group E

, will play against Nigeria. Together with Ecuador, Honduras is out of the tournament.

Matches & Standings Group E - World Cup 2014