Game # 37 - Italy vs Uruguay

It happened! I watched in disbelief - Italy have been in this position before and have always managed to score that vital goal but not this time. Uruguay scored a late goal to win the game. Given that Italy only had to draw to go through, I can't help but wonder if that was the plan - their attack was certainly lackluster and Balotelli was "missing in action" for the first half and was substituted at half time. To have lost Marchisio early in that second half may have also made a difference - I'm not sure that an instant red was justified. It was certainly an ugly challenge but sending off? Probably not. What was remarkable was that it was barely noticeable to be honest (and no disrespect to Marchisio intended) because the remaining 10 picked up their game so much that it was probably their best patch of play. At times it looked like that goal had to happen - and then Uruguay scored, much against the flow of the game. Pirlo impressed as always and tried hard to get something happening in those last 9 minutes but to no avail.

The bite - I can't comment because all the footage here was from the wrong angle. If anything, it looked like Suarez tried to head headbutt Chiellini (in itself a major issue) but misjudged it and got a smack in the mouth from Chiellini's rising shoulder.

Uruguay go through, Italy go home.

Game # 38 - Costa Rica vs England

A game played by two teams who already know exactly what is going to happen to them is not likely to be exciting and this one wasn't. No goals from either side and, when the entire combined shot count from both sides is 12, you know what that game feels like. Sturridge continued to impress but without anybody else alongside who is a genuine threat, he's easy to stop. The Costa Rican goalkeeper had a good game and the few shots that were on target were easily dealt with by him.

The result changed nothing - Costa Rica still went through, top of their group and England still went home, bottom the the group.

Game # 39 - Japan vs Colombia

Despite the fact that Colombia were already through and it was Japan that had everything to play for, it was great to see that Colombia attacked .... and attacked ..... and attacked. Mind you, so did Japan which made this an exciting spectacle. After the first Colombian goal (from a penalty), Japan roared into life and attacked with every ounce of effort they could muster. At times the Colombian goal was under siege (Japan had almost twice as many shots as Colombia: 23-13) but Colombia's wonderful counterattacking style always left the Japanese goal at risk. The Japan did pull one back, literally on the stroke of half time and the second half continued much the same. This time though the Colombian counterattacks were successful and Colombia scored three more times, twice though Jackson Martinez and once through James Rodriguez, who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite players of the tournament. The game finished 1-4 to Colombia.

This meant that Colombia won all three of their games (scoring 9 goals in the process) and obviously going through in first place in the group, with Japan finishing last and being eliminated.

Game # 40 - Greece vs Cote D'Ivoire

This was the game that really counted in this group because whoever won this went through with Colombia. Given the pedigrees of both teams I would have said Cote D'Ivoire, 9 times out of 10 but this was obviously #10 because Greece pulled it off. The stats were remarkably even for this game and it was even for the most part, with the teams being 0-0 for all but the last few minutes of the first half when Greece scored first and then being 1-1 for most of the second half. Cote D'Ivoire must have felt that they were through (they only needed to draw to go through, if Japan lost) and at the 93rd minute, they were, only to concede a penalty in the last 20 seconds of the game. Samaras stepped up and duly scored, knocking Cote D'Ivoire out and putting Greece through.