Flip

f***ing exactly. I'm not saying he's brilliant but he's not s*** Yeah but you also compared him to Forlan

Samaras isn't a bad player at all. Anyone that has seen Greece or Celtic know he's no world beater, but he's an ok footballer who has found his level at Celtic and for the Greece team.

Japanese side is excellent footballing side, reason I got Ivory Coast to win it is that I think Drogba will score around 10 headers

Its because you said 'Ja' instead of Yes or No Should have read the small print. Clearly invokes the Ja Rule. I went £10 on Colombia, uruguay and Ivory Coast outright. Returns £65. Need some money back after I'm down £100 on Brazil basically.

Apparently he doesn't rate Coentrao either as he has 5 players there as well.

He got +2 for that. Pretty sure they'll fix it before the round is over.

Personally I think they're out. Chile will beat you guys but lose to Spain, and everyone will beat Australia. 6p each. Holland first one GD and Spain home on GD. Louis will deploy the 532 again vs Chile. Personally I think that is giving them too much respect. Either way, having sen Chile's defence I don't think they will be able to cope with Van Persie and especially Robben. No doubt, but if van Gaal does the 2nd half system again, this game will go into double-figures Also think Vidal can stop that midfield from getting balls into the defense. They're not bad on the floor either, it's free kicks in that area that might kill Chile.

Personally I think/hope they're out. Chile will have enough to beat you guys but lose to Spain, and everyone will beat Australia. 6p each. Holland first one GD and Spain home on GD.

Even van Gaal that I absolutely despise got a bit of love form me. He had his team set up to defend, but as soon as the goal went in, he actually did something about it. You could see the fullbacks move up, he went after the equalizer and redeemed himself. Was really disappointed to see them play the first 40 minutes or so with a 5 man defence, but that never came back in the 2nd half as it really turned into a 3-5-2. I probably hate Van Gaal even more than you, but credit to him for his reaction to going down. He mentioned on Dutch television he was already preparing to go 434 in the second half before Van Persie equalised. Also, he has always said his 532 would be a 343 if the situation demanded it without having to substitute players. They spent a lot of time in training on this apparently and it worked fantastically well has to be said. Louis is still a c*** though.. Reminded me of the Brazil in 2002. 3 central defenders, winger ''bombing'' down (not as offensive as Cafu or RCarlos but they were free to roam there at least). Sneijder playing a bit of Ronaldinho's role and Rivaldo RvP while Robben was the Ronaldo. Great set of fans you guys have, especially compared to the spanish, even when down it was the supporters that were making the most noise. Nice to see spanish, dutch and brazilians getting a long as well post-match despite the result.

That was perhaps the most pleasing thing from yesterday, on the fifth goal Robben used his pace without even a shred of doubt about whether his hamstring would hold out. He's been injury free for one and a half season and at full strength. Thanked his physio yesterday for giving him back the confidence to trust his own body. Also, there were huge doubts about Van Persie's fitness. So glad he also looks like he's hitting form at just the right time. If Holland are going to do anything this tournament it will be mainly down to them two. I said before the game that RvP isn't a 'craque' in the car on the way to the game. I said he's an excellent player who is one of the best finisher but he's not a 'craque' (which roughly translates into an 'extremly' good/cool footballer or so'. But fuck me, yesterday, he did everything I expect from a 'craque' so I had to admit my mistake in the car. He was just excellent, really had an Ibra performance about him, was strong in the air, got everyone involved and even went into the midfield to help out. Lot bigger than I thought he was as well, looks extremely strong live. Was interesting too see Robben playing the same role as when I went too see Bayern 9-2 Hamburg. He plays as the furthest man up on the pitch and only really gets back if the other team starts the attack on the left. Excellent. Really hope for 6p all around with Holland and Chile going through.

Even van Gaal that I absolutely despise got a bit of love form me. He had his team set up to defend, but as soon as the goal went in, he actually did something about it. You could see the fullbacks move up, he went after the equalizer and redeemed himself. Was really disappointed to see them play the first 40 minutes or so with a 5 man defence, but that never came back in the 2nd half as it really turned into a 3-5-2.

29p with two players. 15p with Rafa, and 14p with captain Vargas. Decent enough I guess.

Personal moment. The moment when every Brazilian supporter was chanting 'Diego Viado, Diego Viado' which translates into 'Diego Gay, Diego Gay' but rhyming and my dad apparently stands up and tells people to shut up as he will score 3 against Brazil when he gets a chance and then some people start chanting Diego because of it and my dad all proud is going to sit down again but his seat has gone up (it's one of those seats that goes down when you sit on them) and he falls on his ass. I wasn't sitting with him, but they told me the moment was glorious.

Just got back from the game. Just turned a bit orange myself. Robben and van Persie, especially the first one, fucking hell. They won it for them. Match started as I expected, Spain dominating possession and got a first goal (haven't seen replay but apparently not a penalty? looked like one in the stadium). Then something happened, van Persie equalizes right before half-time (and what a fucking goal it was). From there on Spain looked lost, 2nd half was not great until another long ball found Robben who had so much to do and still did it brilliantly. 3rd goal was never to have stood, everyone knew it, van Persie knew it, the dutch fans sitting next to me knew it (sat right in the middle of the orange support, great atmosphere, spanish fans were dead) and the spanish players knew it. They kept pointing to the screen as replay showed and were livid and rightly so, dutch fans were laughing and kept saying ''that was lucky''. Goal stood, maybe consolation for Holland since it was never a penalty apparently. Then it just kept coming, I couldn't stay down, kept standing up and applauding van Persie and Robben. What a performance from those two. The dutch don't have a very good team, but when you've got those two and a tactical intelligent manager (who I despise) anything can happen. Unbelievable (the poster), I think I'm a bit dutch until next round. What a great set of fans, I thought I'd despise them but I just couldn't stop laughing and jumping like a child at moment like RvPs bar hit and Robbens volley, which btw was near impossible to get a hit, the ball was spinning like a motherfucker. Excellent start to the World Cup, but terrible refereeing, which maybe takes the light away a bit from the ''corruption'' claim from some ridiculous people. Mexico robbed of two goals as well. Also watched Chile - Australia and while I'm impressed by Chile's offensive play, their defenders will be eaten up by Diego Costa, van Persie if they don't attack. Think Group B might end up in 6 points for all and goal difference be the difference. Chile team have a good enough team to beat the dutch on a decent day despite the start by Holland to the tournament.

There's so many funny going around.

Yeah before the game I'd said Oscar and Dani out for Maicon and Willian. As for Hulk, he's not a central player, he doesn't have the intelligence and Fred will get better as the tournament goes as shown in the Confed. Fred is also a big leader in the squad and always pushing his teammates. I rate Paulinho higher but there's no denying that he's still unfit, he didn't look the part at all yesterday and if he doesn't get better one of those two should get ahead of him for the Cameroon game and then stay there if they do well. The only change I'd for the Mexico game would be Maicon in for Dani at the moment, but Scolari will want them to gel. Lucas and Coutinho didn't go because neither are good enough. It's really as simple as that. Bernard is the same as Lucas but better for occasions like this, has more passion for the game. Coutinho is like Hernanes, shows up when he feels like it and until he can play conistently well for months he won't even be considered for the national team. I'd have taken both of them over Hernanes any day of the week and hope Hernanes doesn't get another minute in the world cup. Almost gifted them a goal yesterday.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty. I expect him not to make a complete fool out of himself, and not delude himself, his team or his fans in thinking the win was 100% deserved/a present from the heavens for good behavior/par for the course/etc... Brazil could have easily been embarrassed last night by a determined Croatian team, and it should have served as a reminder that neither Scolari nor his team can be complacent if they are serious about the tournament - and they can win it. Scolari said that had it been reversed roles he'd be saying the same as Kovac. He said Croatia were excellent and should qualify from this group with ease. Also, Brazil were the better side all game, Croatia were unlucky but let's not make it like they dominated Brazil and draw would've been the fairest result. 'Embarrass' Which part of the word "could" is difficult to understand? That was clearly not Brazil at their best. If that was the best they could do in this tournament, then they haven't got a chance. Moreover, had the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the Brazilian fans would have seen it as an embarrassment. Regardless of opposition, they would have expected to win the opening game of the world cup they are hosting. There's no telling what could have been had the ref not awarded a penalty for that blatant "miracle" dive. Up until that point, Brazil were struggling to create anything, and would have got more frustrated as the half wore on. Yeah sorry about that. I thought you meant that Croatia were much better. I think the game looked like a typical opening bore fest. Referee saved us from that. No denying that Croatia deserved a point, I expect much better from us as the nerves should be gone now.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty. I expect him not to make a complete fool out of himself, and not delude himself, his team or his fans in thinking the win was 100% deserved/a present from the heavens for good behavior/par for the course/etc... Brazil could have easily been embarrassed last night by a determined Croatian team, and it should have served as a reminder that neither Scolari nor his team can be complacent if they are serious about the tournament - and they can win it. Scolari said that had it been reversed roles he'd be saying the same as Kovac. He said Croatia were excellent and should qualify from this group with ease. Also, Brazil were the better side all game, Croatia were unlucky but let's not make it like they dominated Brazil and draw would've been the fairest result. 'Embarrass'

Huh? He saved two excellent shots and couldn't do anything in the goal. He did everything that was asked for him? Or are you one of those putting the ''Olic clatters over him'', on him?

Him, Hulk, Fred and Paulinho were horrible. Dani was pretty bad and Thiago had to cover for two all night long. The defenders on that flank had bad games in my opinion Vrsaljko & Dani. Luiz Gustavo is the man, such a class defensive midfielder. No wonder Wolfsburg fans love him despite being sent off 3 times this season. He is just everywhere, and is so calm on the ball.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty.

Intersting for stats from the game. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186456/statistics.html Olic ran the most. More than 11km. Impressive. Only Luiz Gustavo reached above 11km as well.

I think his sprint to the refs in the 2nd half suggested else by the way. 3-4 times he took a 30-40 yard run to go complain to the ref. Was really impressed by his stamina.