Here's to an exciting game

Alonso to make it 1-0 Spain. 

 

Unfortunate it is a penalty: probably shouldn't have been, but on the first instinct, it did look like one.  Spain have been doing well though.  

 

(and I don't like Netherlands)

 

Edit: The team, that is, nothing against Dutch in general :P

As expected of Van Persie, good goal to make it 1-1. 

I'd like to see the replat again. It seemed like Diego Costa's foot landed on the dutch defender's leg though it might have been right Behind it. I'm pretty sure there was contact but it was probably very little.

Well, another nice goal there for Robben. 

 

De Jong looks like he's ready to murder someone after that headbutt incident with Diego Costa. 

 

On that subject - he needs to come off - get Fabregas on instead of that wet paper bag. 

3-1 to holland wow just got home and tuned in.

brilliant by Robben, though screaming at him to pass PASS.

Spain came undone after RVP's fist goal, they are a complete mess. 

 

Seems like they enjoy the extra challenge of losing their first game. 

hehe spain took a good butt kicking, and got robbed of an essentially empty net! Dutch ftw!

Not the best start for Australia...

Nah its terrible, I put faith in em that they would make sure that Spain was in the bottom of the group for now but its not looking that way anymore

You know I almost feel sorry for Australia being put into this group, its the toughest one imo

Timmy Cahill gets the plucky Aussies back in it, seen him score many of them headers for Everton.

Great game, good show on Australias part

I wouldn't feel sorry for Australia, I certainly don't. The coach did not pick the best side for the Cup. Knowing the draw, he opted to play it strategically and cut the older, more experienced players for young ones in anticipation for the next World Cup campaign. Strategically, it does make sense, but it meant they had given up on any WC hopes this year, which is somewhat cheap for the almost-30,000 Australian fans that travelled to Brasil to see their country. 

 

The match played out much better than I thought, to be honest. 

 

Chile's great start was as expected. A team full of young, inexperienced players - the nerves got to them, and they played poorly. Chile are a good side, and it was easy enough to capitalize on the mistakes. 

 

Making it back into the game and stunning Chile in the second half was an unexpected pleasure. Unfortunately, I think it would have been a possible draw, even a victory if they had just kept an experienced defender in the team instead of going all out with the youth. 

Damn it I fell asleep around the 35th minute. Not that the game was bad, but I was just exhausted and had to get up about 5 hours later... Glad to see Australia went down fighting. Been a pretty good tournament so far, putting aside the refereeing mistakes.

England v Italy tonight, just hope referees dont effect the result.

At least we won't have to worry about goal line tech. I love how they are using it for almost every goal. It's hilarious, particularly when they did it for the Alonso penalty. 

ahah yeah, its ironic the biggest problem fifa had with goal line tech is that they didnt want it to distract from the game. But they seem determined to remind us its there every time someone scores. Not like the PL where the ref wears a band on his wrists that vibrates when the ball crosses the line.

Great show from Australia; it felt like they were in it up until that third goal in extra time.  Honestly felt it could go either way the way Cahill and Leckie were playing.  This is exactly what I want to see during the cup.  Strong showings from the Croats and Aussies, all played tight, attacking better than the score lines suggested.  

ahah yeah, its ironic the biggest problem fifa had with goal line tech is that they didnt want it to distract from the game. But they seem determined to remind us its there every time someone scores. Not like the PL where the ref wears a band on his wrists that vibrates when the ball crosses the line.

 

lol yeah they showed a goal that was pretty ordinary.  They slowed it down as it approached the line, showed it in slow-motion moving over the line, and then a few inches past and that was it.  I didn't see arc or direction or spin speed/direction, or anything remotely interesting.  I was confused why they were showing it at all.  Now, when Wilkinson saved the ball on the goal line and they showed how far it moved over the line, that was a decent application for us viewers at home.

Colombia already ahead.

Not really a surprise there. Colombia has a great line-up. They are similar to Chile in the respect nobody really expects them to actually be any good. 

 

Let's hope Greece unleash some Hellenistic pride to make things interesting. 

Not really a surprise there. Colombia has a great line-up. They are similar to Chile in the respect nobody really expects them to actually be any good. 

 

Let's hope Greece unleash some Hellenistic pride to make things interesting.

I always expect the South Americans to do well, they may be overshadowed by Brazil and Uruguay but still they are all strong teams.

 

Not really a surprise there. Colombia has a great line-up. They are similar to Chile in the respect nobody really expects them to actually be any good. 

 

Let's hope Greece unleash some Hellenistic pride to make things interesting.

I always expect the South Americans to do well, they may be overshadowed by Brazil and Uruguay but still they are all strong teams.

 

 

Definitely. Although Greece has shown some mettle after that goal. They hit back hard and finished the half strong.