I thought you might like to know that, referring to the readiness of referees stopping play for free kicks in this tournament, one of our commentators said that this World Cup would be remembered for the 'number of times that referees have blown up'.

A charming image.

Ooh, Ghana have just been denied a penalty...

How sad...

Well Italy have capialized on one of those gaps...

2-0

...and Ghana are getting 'frustrated', to use commentator parlance!

FT, Italy 2 - 0 Ghana.

Another good game. In terms of fast, end-to-end football, maybe the best so far.

Ghana are good - better then expected - but Italy were a class apart. Fast, skillful, athletic, aware of each other's movement (on the whole - they failed to pass to Toni on a few occasions when he was in excellent position) and totally committed.

Ok, so I'm done pouting now, and I'm trying hard to be positive. After all, it was only one game. Few teams would have beaten the Czechs today. I'm not giving up on them yet...

Italy - Ghana was entertaining. I lost track of how many times Ghana should have scored. I'm not sure why someone would think the African nations have been impressive on defense though, after all they've given up five goals. You expected worse?

Picks for tomorrow:
Togo over Korea!
Switzerland shocks France!!
Croatia....beats Brazil!!!!

UPSET TUESDAY!

Brasil and France should be able to get a decent enough start today (although the Swiss know ow to keep tight defensively), and I'm personally hoping that South Korea will be able to repeat their success from four yeras ago, at least in part.

I left work to work from home yesterday, so that I couldalsokeep an eye on hings - today's afternoon game is a BBC one, so I can watch it at work on the computer. The modern world has it's benefits...

South Korea vs Togo in half an hour. South Korea will be keen to prove that the fourth place in the last World Cup was more than just a one-off. To do so they will have to play well, and be confident in the final third (so often their problem). A good start against Togo is vital - on paper, Togo are posibly the weakest of the African presence at this tournament. However, they do have speed, fitness and strength on their side - they are physically stronger than anyone the Koreans usually encounter, so the Premiership experience of players like Park Ji-Sung will be especially important today.

Togo qualified ahead of Senegal, but they've had a lot of trouble in their camp, and their team has been somewhat huurriedly thrown together (5 or 6 of them had never met until very recently!). Will that distract them or focus them?

3:30 missing and counting...
waiting for the soccer machine crush your rich countries...heheheheh(cruel laugh)

I didn't get to watch S Korea v Togo live, but I've seen the highlights and all three goals were great.

France v Switzerland is boring me to tears though.

I thought Togo did well. Their goal was amazing. I only saw the first 30 minutes or so, but it looked like a really good game.

Two contrasting games from group G: Korea vs Togo was full of good attckig football, Korea doing well to come back; France vs Switzerland harkig back to the days of Italia '90 and Sweden '92, dull football with no real focus.

It's only 6 years since France were champions. They have Zidane, Ribery, Viera, Henry. In the squad they have players like Chimbonda and Trezuget - yet they enter a football match already settling for a draw. How can such a squad of players, most of whom are real stars at top clubs, be that way? What a shame for their fans. One can only hope that some amount of passion and a will to win are discovered by the time they play on Sunday.

my captain for today just scored a wondergoal! I didnt get to see the games earlier but heard france - switz was boring

Well done, johnnywinternoshow. I don't think any of my players have scored yet!

It was an excellent goal. Croatia have mostly kept Brasil at bay, but the Brasillians have looked the better team overall - more likely to do something special. I hope Croatia press hard in the second half, as they look capable of getting back in the game.

That said, I have to add that even by Brasilian standards, Kaka and Ronaldhino are a class apart.

heh from football365.coms media watch section...

Mediawatch has never before stumbled across the States-based twincities.com, the website of the leading newspaper for the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in the heart of middle America, but the opening lines of its World Cup editorial suggests that it is redder than the sunburnt cardinals standing in front of the Red Sea eating tomatoes:

'If the government really is serious about identifying illegal immigrants, it soon will be provided a unique opportunity to record their whereabouts.

'All the Department of Homeland Security has to do is monitor the city-by-city television ratings of this month's World Cup soccer tournament. Agents should be dispatched to any area in which the ratings reflect an unnaturally high level of interest. That likely signals a concentrated pocket of illegals.'


also on football365.com's mediawatch
From Canadian TV's coverage of Mexico v Iran:

Anchorman: "Craig, how will the Mexican goalkeeper approach this game, given what's happened to him this week?"

Craig Forrest: "Well, his father passed away on Thursday - he'll be disappointed with that..."


What The Rest Of The World Is Saying
From ESPN's coverage of Portugal vs Angola:

"Portugal, a nation of just over 10 million, it's capital is Lesbian...erm, I mean Lisbon."

No wonder it's such a popular holiday destination.


What The Rest Of The World Is Saying, Part Two
From ABC's commentary of England v Paraguay:

"There can't be a player with more hype surrounding them than Michael Beckham."

I was too busy to see much of anything today.

Believe me, I need the business bad right now though as my shell game is breaking down & I'm headed towards certain bankruptcy if things don't pick up soon. I've been in this same spot many times though & it's always worked out, so I'm hoping things will do just that.

I have THURAM Lilian in for France & he cost me a point.
I have ZIDANE Zinedine in for France today & he cost me four points.
I have MALOUDA Florent in for France & that result was a zero.

For the Brasilians I have Kaka, Ronaldinho, & Ronaldo in & I'm not sure what the points are just yet. Finally, one of my players scored a goal in Kaka, but, dang it, I had Ronaldo as captain.

The good news is that there are still many games yet to be played, I suppose.

Hello again. Some random misplaced thought about this world cup:

There have been no penalties so far.

Togo vs France will match two teams with 51 places between them in the FIFA world rankings.

Mexico vs Angola will match two teams with 55 places between them in the FIFA world rankings.

Some of the refereeing has been shocking.

None of my fantasy players have scored a goal yet.

But tomorrow I have Shevchenko (Ukraine) and Santos (Tunisia).

The French could have won today, if they'd gone for it.

I have Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, too, with Adriano. Ronaldhino was definitely the star of the first half. I kind of fell asleep at half time, heh. But the ball seemed to come back to him every 3 seconds, no matter where it went. I don't know how many shots I got but I probably won't get many points. Ronaldo apparently didn't feel like playing today.

The points are already up mate.

Ronaldhino netted me 5.5 (doubled to 11, due to captaincy).

He's f****** awesome. As is Kaka.

You picked up 7.5 points today.

Oh, that was fast. Thanks. I should have captained Ronaldinho, too.

Did everyone know you can set up each day ahead of time, including a new captain for each day? I already have my whole week picked out. I'll make adjustments accordingly, of course, but it's helpful.

It looks like my predictions were off, but it could have happened. Give or take a few moments and it would have.

I figured with all the distractions with their coach, Togo would look flat. Not the case. Good for Korea though, nice win.

Did anyone else realize Switzerland probably would have that game if the Swiss player would have just knocked the ball in with his head, rather than try and cheat with his flying fist? Morons. France looks like they're about to implode.

What a great atmosphere for the game in Berlin.

I need to pay more attention to my fantasy team...

I had Ronaldinho as captain & then changed it to Ronaldo yesterday thinking that he might score a goal or two possibly. I did pick Kaka over Cafu at least as my third Brasilian.

I'm playing the Ghana-born German striker ASAMOAH who I guess may see some time on the field & may not & I'll have CASILLAS from Spain in as goalkeep for the games later today, & that's it.

If Shevchenko has a good performance for Ukraine, then I'm liable to lose points today.

Why don't you put Shevchenko? I believe you'll have the opportunity of removing a striker that isn't due to play.
I worked that way and it didn't end as bad as yesterday - I can't believe the sadness I feel, for the French team & for that non existant team of mine. To think that I was 0.5 behind o o o then... At least you guys haven't catch up with me yet, but I only have 3 players for today's games, and you've got Ukranian & Spanish strikers dying to kick it in.
Don't forget that you can change your team captain every day. Very useful. Quite disgusting to see your name attached to junk food but it ain't for real.

I thought Togo was better than expected. I had never heard of Salifou, midfield, but he was really great.
Korea was shy.
France and Switzerland...
Croatia had something. Cafu gave a good performance.

Shevchenko is in the starting XI - Go Sheva!

Apart from the obvious reason ie he's in my fabtasy team, I hope Shevchenko does well, becuse he really is one of the greats - when he left Milan for Chelsea, his Milan team-mate Kaka said the Milan 'will never have a better player'.

i'm not doing very great..
i was hoping to win, dammit..


*sigh*

I should have made Casillas captain, because the usually undelivering Spain is routing Ukraine 3-0 near halftime.

I'm saving my transfers.

spain are looking the most effective team in the first set of matches, they've been a bit lucky but their midfield and attackers look dangerous, particularly torres and senna

fantastic! puyol (on my team) just got an assist for torres (my captain for today) major points coming my way

Well done.

Ukraine have been decimated - at two-nil down, their manager had no idea how to cope, and was just screaming at his players. When the referee made that very bad decison to leave Ukraine with a 3 - 0 and down to ten men, their confidence went through the floor. They can sill get two wins from this group though - they have to just put this down to experience.

Finally, Spain come to a tournament and play to their promise, even if it is only one game so far. Could this be Spain's year to replicate at international level what they do so well at club level?

Yes, it's hard to highlight a specific player from this game (apart from Puyol's action, but that's partly dued to the the guy's personality).
Could you tell who's the best striker in the team?
Sergio Ramos did well too.
A huge huge difference in the attitudes. Poor Ukranians.

Meanwhile, on a German field, two teams strive to get out of a 1-1 draw.

Saudi Arabia have gone 2-1 up!

edit: Tunisia pull it back - it finished 2 - 2. Good news for Ukraine.

A bad day for my team - 0 points, or thereabouts. :(

The Saudis scored at the 84th minute.
Tunisians saved their asses at the 92nd.
This must have been something (just read the comments on the net).

an exciting finish as well in the GER-POL match-up

but it would have been nice for the Poles to win after, as was mentioned, 85 years of losing to Germany.

a lucky late goal in 2 matches today. I guess lahm probably did best for me out of all my germans

THe Poles defended well today; they intercepted and tacled all game long (especially Bak) - if only they'd backed that up with some positive attacking they might have got a point. To defend for 90 minutes is always dangerous.

I thought Germany played better overall today than on the opening day. They were better organised and looked incisive and aware of their teammates - sometimes, it's just hard to finish things off. If they progress again for the next game then they could be a strong threat.

England could qualify for round two tomorrow, if we get our act together a bit...

Man, I can't possibly forget to change my line up again, can I? Not only did I have Casillas and Puyol, but I also had Jaziri who scored a goal today. Coupled with the clean sheet for Germany. Missed out on a lot of points today. My national team and I suck.

Oh well, the games today were great!

Shame on Ukraine though.

well, I'm not forgetting to put in Lampard & Terry today like I did last time, missing out on 21 points. Time will tell if they do anything today to affect the outcome against Trinidad & Tobago; that's going to be one to watch. Even though T & T is ranked as the tournament's biggest underdogs, Edwards was great on defense as was Hislop at goalkeep.

I brought in Ljungberg & Ibrahimovic from Sweden.

fingers crossed for stevie gerrard, my captian for today. Last two days my captains have scored so i'm on a hat trick.

I'd be surprised if ibrahimovic doesn't score today, atari

Same for me, except no-one has scored for me yet!

Ecuador are doing well again - it could well be England vs Ecuador in round two.

wonder how many crazy svensubs we'll see today

actually, england vs. germany seems the most likely to me at the moment... which would be a cracker. :)
ecuador only need a draw against germany to finish before the hosts, since they have a better goal difference than germany. england also have a big chance of winning their group, because they're the only team so far with 3 points and are likely to get another 3 tonight against trinidad and tobago.

the only players from my yahoo team to have scored so far are lahm and kaka; neither of them are strikers. i'll have to transfer nemanja vidic. he was suspended in s&m's first game and got injured right after that. :rolleyes: