Over And Out Africa - Day 22 Round-Up

After two days of emptiness without football, we're back with a bang. And what a bang it was.

The first quarter final of the day was between the Netherlands, and Brazil. Very nearly one of the best games of the tournament so far. After an absolutely incredible ball that sliced the Dutch team in half, Robinho got on the end and slid the ball into the net after 10 minutes. It began a lot of brilliant, flowing, Brazilian attacking play, and all throughout the first half, they played some beautiful stuff. But after half time, it became a Dutch revolution, and some amazingly poor defending allowed Wesley Sneijder's cross ended up in the corner of the net, after a very poor Felipe Melo brushed header. It continued all the way, and after 15 more minutes, Sneijder reaped his rewards, and scored a brilliant flick header to put the Oranje in the lead. Melo then decided it was alright to stamp on Arjen Robben, so with 17 minutes to go, Brazil were down to 10 minutes, and that was that. 5 times world champions Brazil are knocked out, and the Netherlands go through to the first semi-final. To watch the highlights, click here.

The next one of the day was Uruguay vs. Ghana, and it was Africa's last hope at their World Cup. It was quite a slow start, and the first half was a bit of kick-and-run football, but Sulley Muntari, the poster boy for Ghana, and making his first start for the team after a fallout with manager Milovan Rajevac, scored a curling stunner from about 40 yards in the first minute of added time. The half time break revitalised Uruguay, and a beasty free-kick from Diego Forlan curled through Richard Kingson's arms and put the game back to where we started. It stayed that way until the end of 90 minutes, and then the same until the 120th, but that's when it got interesting. In the added minute of extra time, a long throw started pinball for Ghana, and a bullet header forced Uruguay's Luis Suarez to shove his arms up and stop the ball going into the net. The striker then received a straight red, and the resulting penalty would be the last kick of the game. Asamoah Gyan stepped up for Ghana..... and missed. Hit the bar. Shocking. So we went to penalties, for the second time in the tournament. Gyan scored the shootout penalty, but obviously not the most important one! John Mensah didn't, nor did Dominic Adiyiah, but Uruguay scored all of theirs, leaving Sebsatian Abreu to chipped the ball very calmly over the keeper, win the shootout 4-2, and put Uruguay into the semi finals to face the Netherlands next Tuesday. To watch the highlights, click here.

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.

Worst. Day. Yet. - Day 15 Round-Up

So, the final day of group games left us with a sense of 'loss', I guess...

The penultimate group to play were Group G, with a game between North Korea and Ivory Coast, and a mouth-watering tie between Brazil and Portugal. It was going to be a good game... No it wasn't. It was a 0-0, bore draw, and I nearly slit my wrists. It was poor. The game between North Korea and Ivory Coast was the best of the lot. Yaya Toure put the ball in the Korean net after 14 minutes, with Romaric doubling the lead after 20 minutes. Salomon Kalou put a goal in with 10 minutes to go, to finish the game 3-0, but it wasn't enough for the Ivory Coast, and Brazil went through as group winners, with Portugal runners-up. To watch the 'highlights' of the Brazil-Portugal game, click here, and for the North Korea-Ivory Coast game, click here.

So after that debacle, we expected a treat from Group H to really top off the group stages. We had Chile vs. Spain, and Switzlerand vs. Honduras, with a goal from both Chile and Switzlerand knocking European champions Spain out the tournament. It was all poised so nicely. We had another bore draw from Switzlerland and Honduras, and it meant everything was down to the other game. Spain took the lead through a stunning goal from David Villa - the best of the tournament so far, in my opinion. Andres Iniesta then doubled the lead, and then sent Spain through. Chile pulled one back through Rodrigo Millar, but it wasn't enough, but it did still however send both teams through - Spain as winners, and Chile as runners-up. To see the highlights of the Chile vs. Spain game, click here, and for the Switzerland vs. Honduras game, click here.

Knockout Games
Brazil vs. Chile
Spain vs. Portugal

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.

Never Mind Favourites....

The favourites to win the World Cup before we kicked off were Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and England. Only two of the teams have actually shown they could win the thing, but even thern, there are flaws right across their team.

Spain lost to Switzerland. England drew with USA. Germany even lost today to Serbia. It throws the groups completely open, and could lead to some shock exits come the second round.

Brazil looked a brilliant team, but against Korea DPR, couldn't string a set of passes together, and the defence looked quite weak. They didn't seem to be playing the beautiful football we're used to.

Even Argentina looked incredibly dangerous to back. Yes, they have three of the best forwards in the world, and yes, they will score bags and bags of goals, but their chink in their armour is the defence - gaps appear everywhere and things could go bad for them.

So who do I back?

Just wait and find out.....

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 G - Brazil

I'd actually consider Group G as my 'Group of Death' - tricky teams in this one. Not to mention 5-time World Champions Brazil.

Many have tipped them to be the underdogs this time around. I see them as firm favourites for the final - the draw has treated them well. With the ability they have in their squad, and with everything seemingly going their way, watch this space for number six.

Capital City: Rio de Janeiro

Captain: Lucio
Manager: Dunga
Star Man: Kaka - the man's big move to Milan last summer was meant to make him the best player in the world. Many believe he's flopped, but wouldn't you if you're overshadowed by the £80m man?! It's inevitable he'll move after the World Cup, but where to? We'll see.
Group Games: Korea DPR (15th June); Ivory Coast (20th June); Portugal (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: Got to be seen as favourites for the group. Should ease through second round and quarters, and win in the semi, but I think they may suffer heartbreak in the final. 1st in Group G.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg)

Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg)