Profound, profane or pedestrian

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.

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.

Just to show that I am not prejudiced against draws (and a goalless one at that), I really enjoyed this game. I thought that that Brazil were even better in this game that their first but they just happened to encounter a man playing out of his skin - the Mexican goal keeper Ochoa. It wasn't just one game-saving save, it was a whole string of them. Just to give you an idea, the Brazilians had 14 shots at goal, 8 on target, for no result. The Mexicans themselves created fewer chances (with just three shots on target) but played a good game too. I think both teams are now in with a good chance to go through.

Ghana was another side that I hoped were going to really make an impact, given their excellent 2010 World Cup record. This side just took too long to get into rhythm, probably at least a little disconcerted by the first US goal, coming after only 29 seconds. When they got into that rhythm at last, they certainly troubled the US repeatedly in the end of the first half and then start of the second half. Eventually Ghana got their long-deserved equalizer and that looked to be it, only for the US to score their winning goal just minutes later. Both sides looked good in the game with the US running a very slick passing game and Ghana all power and speed. If Ghana settles faster, they will be a really force to be reckoned with.

Almost from the start, it was obvious that this game was only ever going to go one way - the controlled restraint of the German play was going to overcome the erratic flashes of Portuguese brilliance. That the score was "only" 4-0 was one of the few surprises. This is not to say that Portugal were awful because they weren't. It is simply to say that the Germans walked on to that pitch and they were simply GOING to win regardless. It wasn't rampant flashy football despite getting 4 goals, rather it was utterly confident, steady football that was intimidating in its restraint. If this team unleashes itself later in the tournament, I suspect some team is going to have a whole bucket load of goals scored against it. Very impressive - Germany is my pick to win the World Cup (followed by a very close Netherlands).

Sadly this was the game at its worst - a grumpy spiteful game with one Honduran player sent off and 6 yellow cards handed out. At times there were more bodies on the ground than upright and the referee very nearly lost control, particularly after the Pogba/Palacios incident. Just add to that the very epitome of how NOT to use technology to review on-field decisions and it became an ugly, awkward mix. The scoreline was very flattering for the French (3-0) and I am sure that the Hondurans feel that it should have been 1-0 for all their effort. However, the French were harsh in front of goal and the Hondurans weren't. You don't win World Cup games by doing that.

Definitely a game of two contrasting halves with Japan dominant (and scoring) in the first and then Cote D'Ivoire dominating in the second (once Drogba came on) and scoring twice to win 2-1. Considering that he came on in the 62nd minute and four minutes later Cote D'Ivoire were suddenly two goals to the better, you could argue that Drogba had an impact and I suppose he did but it was much more in the nature of a psychological one than a physical because the Japanese seemed to spend so much time waiting for Drogba to move that they barely noticed many other players moving and shooting (and indeed scoring). Given their dominance in possession, shooting (especially shots on goal at 10-4) and corners, the result was definitely in line with Cote D'Ivoire's stats.

It all looked like it was going according to plan - half-time and Uruguay (who so many have mentioned as their dark horse pick for the Cup itself) were a goal up and seemingly very comfortable. Clearly Costa Rica were having none of that because two quick goals knocked the heart out of Uruguay early in the second half with a third just completing the rout. Just to top it off, the Uruguayan Pereira got himself sent off, the first of this competition. It put Costa Rica top of their group and Uruguay on the bottom - that goal difference is always important.

If I am 100 percent honest, I am not surprised by the final result (3-1) but I am disappointed by the way it happened. Australia simply fell asleep for the first twenty minutes of the game and Chile made then pay for that. It is the World Cup and top teams will punish lapses like that harshly. Sadly, once the Socceroos did actually wake up, Australia pretty much matched Chile kick for kick and definitely matched them goal for goal. It was a real shame to give away that third goal in time added on because, as always, goal difference is important. Still, against a very highly rated side, the Socceroos help their own and hopefully can play some more good football against two even more highly rated teams.

Not a very smooth game overall - I felt that neither team really hit their stride but Mexico did finally get the winner, having had two goals ruled offside the in the first half (as did Cameroon have one too). The driving rain seemed to have little effect because I didn't see many slips or falls which was good. Cameroon did fight back at times but Mexico just had too much experience to let slip, though Cameroon did come perilously close in the dying moments. Still, it leaves both teams in good positions because Mexico get the three points but Cameroon only lost by a single goal and goal difference can be absolutely vital, given that teams only play three games in the group round.