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

10 in 3?! - Day 11 Round-Up

Well there's something we weren't expecting!

Lunchtime kick off was Portugal vs. Korea DPR, and bloody hell, what a game. Raul Meireles started the scoring after some beautiful build-up, and the teams went in for half time at 1-0. We didn't expect the second half though. Simao with a belter; Hugo Almeida with a tricky finish; Tiago with a thump. 4-0, within 15 minutes of the restart. Liedson headed one in with 10 minutes to go, and Cristiano Ronaldo broke his two-year duck for an international goal with 3 to go. Tiago then topped things off in extra time by scoring Portugal's seventh. 7-0. The North Koreans aren't going home to a warm reception.... To watch the highlights, click here.

Next up were Chile vs. Switzlerland, and if you like your football aggressive, then this was the game for you. The first half had Valon Behrami sent off - after two consecutive elbows. And he protested his innocence. Plank. But it was truly Chile's game, and they look a really good package this time around. It was with 15 minutes to go that Mark Gonzalez scored the only goal, thanks to a brilliant cross and a header down. It means Chile can go through with a point against Spain on Friday. Fancy watching the highlights? Click here.

The last game of Day 11 was Spain vs. Honduras, and on paper, it was a walkover. And it was. David Villa put the Spaniards ahead with probably one of the best games of the tournament so far - a jink in from the wing, tickling it round the defenders and putting it straight in the net. Just beautiful. He then scored a second in the 50th minute, but later missed a penalty by a good foot, and missed out on his hat trick. Spain looked really good, but Fernando Torres looks a waste of space... Click here to see the highlights.

And We Start Again... - Day 6 Round-Up

Today was the day we got to see the last of the 32 teams for the first time, and also began the second games. And it was a bit of a shocker.

The lunchtime job today was Honduras vs. Chile, and it was quite a straight-forward affair. With 20 shots throughout the game, Chile were the stronger team, but Honduras did have some very dangerous attacks. It was Jean Beausejour's shot that gave Chile their first World Cup win since 1962, and it remained that way till full time. Quite a poor match, but hey, better than some of the stuff we've seen so far. If you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Next up was Spain vs. Switzerland, and it was looking to be a big walkover. Oh how wrong we were. Even with 67% of the possession, Spain were the second best, and after Gelson Fernandes 52nd minute goal, Switzerland won 1-0. How? We may not ever know, but it really throws Spain's plan off. The Swiss also caused 18 fouls - with only 4 yellow cards. Weird.... For the highlights, click here.

Last game of the day was South Africa vs. Uruguay - first game where we've already seen the two teams. Teams looked good from the start, but very evenly matched, so I for one, thought we may very well be in for a draw. Diego Forlan looked to have finished that idea with an absolute thunderbolt in the first half to make it 1-0 Uruguay, and it proved that the uproar over the World Cup ball doesn't always end in mishaps. Second half was a little more open, but with Luis Suarez diving everywhere, things began to swing to Uruguay, and Itumeleng Khune, the South African keeper, was sent off, and Forlan then converted the penalty to make it 2-0. It was in fact the 5th red card of the tournament - and seeing as we've had 17 games, that's quite a few. The game finished with Alvaro Pareira heading in a third, but if you want to watch the highlights, click here.

Just cross everything that we have more games and more goals like what we've had today.

Group H - Chile

I like that flag too - plain and simple.

Chile are my underdog team. I can see them qualifying in the group they've got. Pace and energy is bubbling over from the team, and they look good in friendlies. But can they match it in South Africa?

Capital City: Santiago
Captain: Claudio Bravo
Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Star Man: Alexis Sanchez - 21 years old, and playing for his future in South Africa. Very speedy, but having played for Udinese, he could very well be putting himself in the shop window this time around.
Group Games: Honduras (16th June); Switzerland (21st June); Spain (25th June)
Adam's Prediction: I have pinned my hopes on Chile. Can see them qualifying. 2nd in Group H.

Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola)

Defenders: Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina)

Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jean Beausejour (America)

Forwards: Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)