Game # 18 - Australia vs Netherlands

The result certainly wasn't a surprise (Netherlands won) but the margin was (3-2). After Robben turned his first goal off such a classic (even predictable) run, I was afraid that Australia would be overrun. Instead, just a minute later, Tim Cahill scored the goal of the tournament so far. For the rest of the first half, Australia were clearly the better team and made all the play. Eye-catching was Mathew Leckie in particular - and I have never even heard of him before this tournament. Stunningly, Australia went ahead in the early part of the second half - from a penalty but I would be the first to admit that it was a very soft one. The Dutch finally got going and van Persie equalized (who else?) and finally Depay scored the winner, beating Ryan (the Australian goalkeeper having had a great game up to this point.) Great game and, even though the Socceroos now teeter on the edge of elimination, their reputation is fine.

Game # 19 - Spain vs Chile

Stunningly, Spain lost 2-0 to Chile and got eliminated, the very first team to do so. I wonder if that is the first time a defending champion hasn't even made it through the group stage and, indeed, been the very first team eliminated? Chile looked great throughout the game and, once that first goal was scored, never looked like losing. The look on the Spanish players' faces said it all - they were playing a vastly better side and they knew it. The Spanish did try later in the second half but it was all too little, all too late despite having twice as many shots on goal and more possession. Chile are looking like a strong team to go far in this tournament.

Just as an aside, sadly, this result also eliminated Australia so Group B got sorted out very quickly!

Game # 20 - Cameroon vs Croatia

Given that both teams lost their first games, this was a make-or-break game for both teams. Only one team stepped up and the other self-destructed. Croatia was the former and Cameroon the latter. Croatia stood up to the extent that they won 4-0 and Cameroon self-destructed to the extent that they not only had a player sent off for punching a Croatian player in the back but they even started fighting among themselves, to the extent that the Assou-Ekotto seemed to headbutt team-mate Moukandjo and they had to be pushed apart by Webo. Perisic's goal in the 48th minute was a stunning piece of running and dribbling that just kept on going ..... and going ..... and going ..... and then he slotted it home, cool as ice! Cameroon did fight back but to no great avail, team coherency rather lost by the later stages of the game. 2 of the Croatian goals were scored by Mandzukic, who was suspended for the first game, just underlining how important he is to this Croatian team.

This means Cameroon is the third team to get knocked out (after Spain and Australia) and Croatia could still get through if they beat or draw with Mexico.