Top Two Trump Tothers - Day 18 Round-Up

The good old fashioned drubbing. I love it.

First today were the Netherlands vs. Slovakia. Now Slovakia surprised many by getting to the position they were in anyway, but they didn't really stand a chance against Holland. A classy Dutch team got the best start possible, with Arjen Robben scoring a great goal built by himself thanks to a 10-second counter attack. Top top stuff. It stayed like that until there were only 5 minutes to play, and Dirk Kuyt played the ball across the box for Wesley Sneijder to slide the ball home, and earn me another 8 fantasy points. Good lad. Robert Vittek scored his fourth goal in four World Cup games with what ended up to be the last kick of the game, thanks to a penalty conceded by the keeper. It finished 2-1, and if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

The next game was between Brazil and Chile, a game that was sure to show some brilliant attacking, and be a very quick game. Obviously, Brazil came in as favourites, but Chile had already shocked us with how well they were playing, so why not? They didn't really look at their best, and after 34 minutes, Juan headed home a bit of a bullet to put Brazil 1-0 up. It only took 4 more before Luis Fabiano scored a great goal into an open net, and all looked over. And it indeed was. Robinho's curled effort put an end to everything with half an hour to go, and it gave Brazil an excuse to show just how good they can be. With the game finished 3-0, it sets up a brilliant tie with the Netherlands in the quarters. To watch the match highlights, click here.

Shocks Galore - Day 14 Round-Up

Well that was a turn for the books!

We actually began today with the culmination of Group F - yeah, I know, confusing, but hey, what Sepp Blatter wants, he gets. With matches between Slovakia and Italy, and Paraguay vs. New Zealand, it was certainly going to be a bumpy ride. One was very dull, one was the best of the tournament. Can you guess which one?! We had a dull 0-0 draw between Paraguay and New Zealand, but wow, the other game was incredible. Robert Vittek put one goal in for Slovakia in the 25th minute, and then scored again in the 73rd minute to give them a shock 2-0 lead. Antonio Di Natale pulled one back for Italy with 10 minutes to go, and it began to look an even better possibility that Italy would go through... Fabio Quagliarella scored a fabulous goal, for it to only be ruled out for offside. But Kamil Kopunek scored a further goal for Slovakia, and it killed the game... Or did it? Qualiarella then scored properly in 2 minutes of injury time, before having a strike scraped off the line with seconds to go. The game finished 3-2, which means Paraguay are group winners, with Slovakia going through as runners-up, and Italy, reigning world champions, finishing bottom of their group... For the highlights of Paraguay vs. New Zealand, click here, and for Slovakia vs. Italy, click here.

That meant that Group E finished off the second week, and finished off the third games. Matches between Denmark and Japan, and Cameroon and the Netherlands would decide who would follow Holland into the next round. It was first blood to Japan, after two absolutely stunning free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo, and then the Netherlands went ahead through a brilliant goal from Robin van Persie. It stayed like that after the break, but after 65 minutes, Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon equalised through a penalty. Then, with 10 minutes to go, Jon Dahl Tomasson pulled a goal back for Denmark, before Klass-Jan Huntelaar scored another goal for Holland in the other game. The last goal of the day was from Japan, with Shinji Okazaki scoring a goal brilliantly teed up by Honda. He's gotta be a big player next season. It meant the Netherlands finished top, with Japan going through as runners up. To watch the highlights, click here for Denmark vs. Japan, and here for Cameroon vs. Netherlands.

The Controversial Couple - Day 10 Round-Up

A bit of an odd one, if I'm honest. It was a bit of a scary day, if you were a player, and a good day, if you're a ref who likes the colour red.

Today began with Slovakia vs. Paraguay. It was probably one of the best games of the tournament - it was attacking, it was quick, and it was very entertaining. Paraguay took the lead in the 27th minute through a beautiful goal from Enrique Vera, who curled the ball into the bottom corner of the net with the inside of his boot. It continued the period of play where everything was Paraguay. There weren't many more shots, just some very skillful football, but Carlos Riveros finished the game off with 4 minutes to go, with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box. The game finished 2-0, and if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Next for us were the delights of Italy vs. New Zealand. Now this game would normally have Italy written all over it, but after their poor performance in the first game, and New Zealand's renewed efforts, it was gonna be close. And it was. Having gone ahead through a Shane Smeltz goal in the seventh minute, New Zealand lost their attacking abilities, and became very defensive. This allowed Italy to fight back, and the world champions converted a penalty in the 29th minute, after Daniele De Rossi was hauled down in the box. The game finished that way, but only after Chris Wood very nearly gave New Zealand an unlikely win over the reigning world champions. To watch the highlights, click here.

Brazil vs. Ivory Coast topped things off tonight, and it was a brilliant, brilliant spectacle. Luis Fabiano kicked things off with a beautiful goal for Brazil in the 25th minute - chipped, kicked, flicked and struck his way into the net. It stayed like that till half time, until Fabiano scored again, with a lovely little effort into the net. Elano picked up goal number 3 in the 62nd minute, and all looked lost for the Ivory Coast. That was, until, Didier Drogba stuck one in the back of the net with 10 minutes to go, but Brazilian coach Dunga shut up shop, and stopped everything from passing. Kaka picked up two yellows, to equal a red, after a shocking and blatant dive and feint from Abdelkader Keita, who ran into Kaka's shoulder, and went down clutching his face. Appalling, and I hope FIFA look into it. But anyway, 3-1 was enough to secure Brazil's place in the second round, and if you want to watch the highlights, you can find them here.

Bored Bored Bored - Day 5 Round-Up

I think the title sums up the day - boring. Every. Single. Game.

We began with New Zealand vs. Slovakia, and you could tell why it was made the lunchtime kick-off. It's like asking if you want a Netto own burger, or a piece of New York steak. This was the burger of Group F. It was quite a slow-paced game, with very few shots on target - 3 each, I believe. Robert Vittek gave Slovakia the lead in the 50th minute, and with seconds remaining in stoppage time, Winston Reid popped up to equalise for New Zealand, and earn them their first ever World Cup point. Quite a special moment really. To watch the highlight, click here.

Next up was the first game in Group G - Ivory Coast vs. Portugal. It was meant to be one of the highlights of the group stages - emphasis on the 'meant to be'... What a shocker. Absolutely appalling. I watched the game, and actually fell asleep in the 50th minute. It was that dull. The best bit of the game was Ronaldo's flick, cutback and shot that struck the post. That was the lot. Ronny even attempted to get players booked at every opportunity to spruce things up a bit - thanks Ronny, but you're still a knob. For the shortest highlights in WC history (it has to be...), click here.

Finally, we had Brazil vs. North Korea. Now, with Brazil ranked number one in the world, and with the North Koreans ranked 105th, we expected an absolute rout. How far from the truth we were. Brazil couldn't put a chain of passes together in the first half thanks to Korea DPR's zonal marking, which worked brilliantly. It meant they went in at 0-0, but once the break was over, it was game over. Maicon scored a freak cross/goal that beat the keeper at the near post, and Elano finished the game after 72 minutes with a great goal. Ji Yun-Nam scored late on for the North Koreans, but it was too little, too late, and the game finished 2-1. To see the highlights, click here.

We're now all hoping for a better day tomorrow, seeing as most viewers fossilised during the games today...

Group F - Slovakia

For the first time since independence in 1993, Slovakia are competing in the World Cup. Having won only one friendly before the tournament, they don't look favourites to go through. But I'm gonna throw a spanner in the works.

I think that they have a very strong squad, and with their group the way it is, could qualify. That's my prediction anyway...

Capital City: Bratislava
Captain: Marek Hamsik
Manager: Vladimir Weiss
Star Man: Marek Hamsik - captain of the team at just 22, he's tipped for big things. Playing for Napoli, he's been scouted by big European teams, and could be heading to Arsenal, Liverpool or Man United, if rumours are to be believed. Could and should hold the squad together. 
Group Games: New Zealand (15th June); Paraguay (20th June); Italy (24th June)
Adam's Prediction: I really can see their first time being quite successful. Gonna go through, and lose in the second round. 2nd in Group F.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United) 

Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Jan Durica (Hannover), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West Brom), Kornel Salate (Slovan Bratislava) 

Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Zdeno Strba (Xanthi) 

Forwards: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Moscow), Filip Holosko (Besiktas), Stanislav Sestak (Bochum)