@ Kochevnik, i can see from your words that you didnt looked at the game Holland - Denmark. The 0-1 was a big surprise if you looked at it.

Azzuri looking good in the first half. Got to keep tabs on Iniesta.

Don't sleep on the Irish. They are fully healthy and Hrvatska is missing Olica. They need to attack, though.

Croatia is not very good when it has to attack from the start....the best performance from Croatia is against stronger opponent when it can play with counterattacking strategy. When playing against "weaker" opponent who is letting control of the field to opponent and waits for their chance, Croatia usually has great problems.

Heh, Croatia are wearing their ugly blue jerseys.

Oh boze, Irish defense is awful.

South America underachieving in the World Cup? Every South American team in the last cup made it to the knockout round, and the first one eliminated was eliminated by another South American team. Also, South Africa beat the completely melting down French and very nearly made it to the knockout round, and no one would argue they were not technically the worst team there.

Da. :)

"Every South American team in the last cup made it to the knockout round"

And how many made it to the final four? None. Who cares about the knockout round. Brazil was outplayed by North Korea. Yes, *North Korea*. Argentina's defense looked like swiss cheese against Germany.

"South Africa beat the completely melting down French and very nearly made it to the knockout round"

Yes, they beat a team in meltdown mode. Meanwhile, what have Nigeria, Cameroon, and hugely talented Cote D'ivoire done? Nothing. Ghana is the only team who does anything for Africa.

"And how many made it to the final four? None."

Or in a fact based world, one. As much as you want to decry Suarez' actions, it still got Uruguay fourth place in the tournament.

Oops, touche, forgot about them. Uruguay did play well. In 2006 none of them got there. Perhaps I was conflating the two.

What's the deal with the dude with the white towel who runs onto the field and drops it on the players head every time one of these sissies has a boo boo on his leg?

Croatia's surprising two-striker formation was actually exciting to watch. I wish more teams would use more strikers. Spain used zero strikers and played their usual snooze-fest style.

Fernando Torres was painful to watch when they finally put him in. Missed open net twice.

Balotelli got screwed by the refs the whole game.

And he was racially abused the entire game.

England have two hopes in this tournament ...... No and Bob !!
There is no point the English FA whining on about racism when they pick John Terry and leave Rio Ferdinand at home, even after 2 defenders drop out.
Sadly England will get what they deserve ....... nothing !!

You guys still have not told me why the player runs away from their teammates when they score.

@goldfinger didn't see that anyone answered your question its on espn2

Germany is my favorite to win but, I would like to see Croatia or Greece in the finals. Greece got screwed by the refs but, still managed to pull the draw.

I can't wait until Russia steamrolls Poland.

Don't be too sure. The Poles will put on a special effort against Russia. I don't expect it be pretty, but it could well be close.

Putin33 just hates Poland. He can't help it, it's a combination of his Stalinist appetites and his deeply repressed Orthodox Christian instincts. It has nothing to do with football.

Nice ball from Nasri. England trying to lull me to sleep until some actual action happens and I miss it.

This is pretty boring stuff.

Two faded powers of the footballing elite saluting their respective mediocrity. It has its moments though.

Bit of pressure now from the French, good defending though.

My god do I hate Alexi Lalas. What an insufferable commentator.

Anyway don't the Swedes have Ibrahimovich? This kind of defensive football isn't going to work for too long.

Ukrainian juggernaut.

Forza Sheva!
miss his days in Milan