World Cup Game #37

England finally woke up for this game (except for Rooney who continued to nap all game) and hammered Slovenia for about 70 minutes, managing to score a solitary goal. Unfortunately, England then seemed to decide that one was enough so Slovenia streamed back into the game and very nearly scored but it was not to be so England won by that single, lonely goal. It was good to see Gerrard passing with pinpoint precision, Lampard cleaning up everything loose in midfield and the Milner-Johnson double act causing havoc on the left wing. Rooney snored on. Slovenia have to be bitterly disappointed with the result - when the game finished, they were through, only for the US to score a goal seconds later in the other Group C match and knock them out. England are through to the next round and Slovenia were eliminated.

World Cup Game #38

Algeria have to be one of the most disappointed teams in this tournament - they have played exciting attacking football, a solid defence and and have not panicked under pressure. They have also won the "Most Unusual Haircuts In One Team" award and yet they finish with not a single point or even a goal to their name. Tonight it was no different - this was a free-flowing open game with both sides creating many opportunities and yet it was the US who scored the solitary goal in injury time and, in doing so, went through to the next round at the expense of Slovenia. The US are looking increasingly good with a very fast hard-running attack that has menace in the air and at close range. They could surprise in the next round.

World Cup Game #39

Another exciting game with both teams sparking into life - if either lost, it was possible that they could be eliminated, depending on the result on the other Group D game. Both sides clearly decided that attack was the best form of defence so both flung everything into the attack. Numerous chances came both sides' way and both goalkeepers made a number of great saves. In the end, the Germans scored on the hour through Oezil. Surprisingly, they didn't shut up shop but kept attacking - the best defence of a one goal lead is a second goal - but Ghana had no comeback, with the game finishing 1-0 in Germany's favour. A great game and very entertaining, with both teams going through to the next round thanks to the surprise result in the other game

World Cup Game #40

The Soceroos finally played the way they can and got the result they deserved, knocking Serbia out of the next round by 2 goals to 1. If the Australians could have scored another 3 goals, they could even have gone through at Ghana's expense. The first half was tight and with only a few chances but the second half was different with Australia coming out firing, Cahill getting a sharply headed goal just after the hour. This brought Serbia out of their shell and they opened up only to get caught by a long-range shot from Holman, just a few minutes later. There was just a glimmer of hope of qualification to the Socceroos then, two more goals and they could qualify if Germany beat Ghana. However, the Australian defence eventually cracked under repeated Serbian attacks, finally conceding a goal just minutes from time. They held the Serbians out after that until the final whistle. Pride was regaind for the Socceroos and they must really be regretting the melt-down against Germany - if they could have lost that by just two goals, they would have been through to the next round on tonight's results.