The group of death??

Group D
Being bold here, 1. Germany, 2. Australia, 3. Ghana, 4. Serbia

Not sure why but just think that will be how it is.

Getting up for Aus will be good too.

Flashback
I think the form guide is still right for Groups B and C.  Greece and Algeria may as well be going home now.
The only question is whether the US or Nigeria can get a result to go further.

Group A is a bit touch and go.  I really thought Mexico would dominate, but if they play like they did the other night again, they might not even get through the group v France and Uruguay.  Oh well, interesting times ahead.

Group B and C - a guide

My tips are looking decidedly shaky after last night... but just for fun, lets do this again. 

Group B - 1. Argentina, 2. Nigeria, 3. South Korea, 4. Greece

If any group deserves to be the group of death, it is probably this one and Group G.  It has a South American powerhouse and arguably the best teams in Asia (they beat us in a friendly a few months back) and Africa.  And the fourth team won the European Title a few years ago (which is more than can be said for England - see below group C).  These games should be incredible, and worth watching all the way through.

Also I have an incentive to like Nigeria here, if they make the semis I will get some money back from my office sweep.

The outcome of this group probably turns on South Korea v Greece tonight.  What happens there will shape what can happen otherwise.  Thankfully they kick off at 9:30 PM.

Group C 1. England, 2. USA, 3. Slovenia, 4. Algeria

England v USA should decide who wins Group C and earns the right to play Australia in the Round of 16 (see I'm bullish).  USA are in form, have lots of players even only taking a small group from a massive athletic talent pool, and probably need this if they are ever going to break into the big time.  I still think England has the goods over them though.

Slovenia and Algeria will probably be making up the numbers, but I might be being slightly unfair.

Sth Africa v Mexico

Welcome to Group A: South Africa, Mexico, France, Uruguay.  

Tips for the next round: 1. Mexico, 2. France, 3. Uruguay given the way France qualified, I guess it depends on whether they handle themselves well for the three games.  But this is running against history, with all host teams making the second round.
It is probable that a lot more will ride on the second game overnight... France v Uruguay will go a long way to indicating the end outcome of the group, though France are notoriously slow starters (eg. 2002 loss v Senegal, 2006 draw with Switzerland).

45 mins 0-0 half time.  Seen enough to know the World Cup is on, time for some sleep.  Mexico are a bit clunky on timing the runs in attack (with a few offsides) and also vulnerable at the back to high balls.  South Africa are at risk from playing too narrow a defensive line, giving Mexico plenty of attacking space.

42 mins pressure build up from South Africa, highlighting how vulnerable a short Mexican keeper is, and only just missing an open header, followed up by another two corners... France and Uruguay might salivate watching this on tape later as they prepare for the next two games.

37 mins ball in net from Mexico, but good precise call on offside, second touch from the corner after the keeper went out to try to get it.

32 mins great save by South Africa's keeper, keeps them from letting the game get away from them.

26 mins Momentum time for South Africa, but as with most things it begins to change quickly.

20 mins loopy ball bounces over a South African attacker's head.  Lots of random comments on this new techo ball...I'm 100% sure that I'll be sick of hearing about the ball by the end of the tournament.

18 mins Poor South Africa set play gives Mexico the chance to hit back on the rebound, almost scores.

14 mins Mexico getting quite a lot of space out wide, opportunities to create, but just not quite the necessary execution.

12 mins No big surprise, Mexico seems to have more class than the boys "Bafana Bafana".

Things can change though, but it seems after such a short time that this game will probably go one direction.  The crowd noise is slightly irritating though.

Back to the World Cup

This blog had its glory days in Australia's last World Cup Campaign. 

On 11 June 2006 I relaunched the blog to allow live blogging coverage of the World Cup and all that is football.

Have a look back through the archives to relive those glorious achievements.

After a few dormant years, this blog will be firing again for the next four weeks.  You will see it all here, so strap yourself in and get ready to go!

Had a Badd Day

It only takes a few mistakes to ruin a dream tournament.

Unfortunately for Baddeley, they all came at once.

Watching seasoned professionals struggle with the US Open course was fun though. Made me feel less bad about my regular struggling on any golf course.

Happy Birthday to my Outspoken Sports Blog

Sports blogging is overrated.

I've been doing this for a year, and all my faithful readers have decided to leave this site for something more interesting.

Well, on the eve of remembering Aloisi and Cahill correcting one of the greatest injustices in Australian footballing history against Japan (and then finding that more injustices were to come), I thought that it might be worth calling those faithful readers back for one last celebration.

The blog has gone downhill since Australia were bundled out of the FIFA World Cup, with only a minor resurgence for the Ashes, but we shall never forget that precious day, nor the person who rang my mobile twice at 1am to wish me a happy birthday and share the excitement of such an amazing final 10 minutes.

Those sorts of memories are much better than the ones that come from wankers who stop you watching Australia play Uruguay by putting up signs in front of your view during the play.

So thank you all, and if you are one of my faithful readers that I haven't seen in the flesh for a while, let's catch up.

St Ives FC

For those of you who may be interested in my sporting exploits, The Emerald Green has been updated for the 2007 season (I am playing Division 7).

They also have an Emerald Green Blog, which I may occasionally contribute to.

Well worth a read.

Too busy to care

I guess that sums up my attitude to the World Cup Cricket, and it looks a fairly popular one.

At the moment I have noticed that following it is too much of a hassle, and blogging it seems pointless.

Oh well, leave a comment if you want me to blog some more sport. Even the NRL looks a bit funny at the moment, without too much worth saying.