Game # 21 - Colombia vs Cote d'Ivoire

This was an exciting game that could have gone either way - Colombia took it 2-1 in the end but they were under tremendous pressure in the last twenty minutes, with Gervinho getting one in that time but the elusive second proving beyond them. Both Colombian goals were nicely crafted team goals that showed just how well this team can string their passing and running game together. The result means that Colombia is definitely through to the second round and Cote d'Ivoire can get there if they beat Greece, given that it seems unlikely that Japan can beat Colombia.

Game # 22 - Uruguay vs England

I could have been mean and paraphrased that famous headline to read "Suarez 2 Turnips 1" but that would be unduly harsh on England, I think. Suarez's goals were both great examples of his skills and, given Hodgson's comments about him a few days ago, particularly ironic but both really were well-deserved after an excellent Uruguayan performance. England did play well too and Sturridge, Sterling and Cahill all played great games, the first two in attack and the latter in defense. It was Rooney, of all people, who scored the sole England goal, his first ever World Cup goal but nothing else was successful. Despite having the Uruguay goal virtually under siege for about the last ten minutes of the game, there was no equalizer.

England are eliminated and Uruguay have kept themselves in the running.

Game # 23 - Japan vs Greece

This game was fairly dull for a good chunk of the first half, really only waking up after Greece's captain Katsouranis was sent off and it was Greece, ironically who burst into life. No goals resulted in the first half and the second half pretty much started up where it let off with Greece in the ascendancy. Eventually Japan did wake up and came painfully close through Okubo and Uchida but both missed. It finished a 0-0 draw.

Both teams are now bottom of their Group and both will need to beat their third round opponents (Colombia in Japan's case and Cote d'Ivoire in Greece's) to go through. Given that Greece have scored no goals in the tournament so far and they would have to beat Cote d'Ivoire by at least three more goals that Japan beat Colombia (to compensate for their poorer goal difference), I think that we can safely say that Greece are eliminated and Japan only have a slight chance to go through. Never say never though - you never know in the World Cup.