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Germany undeservedly infront.

Neymar hattrick. Eat that CRonaldo and Messi

What a goal from Fernandinho!

Neymar 2-0. Finally he does what I've been asking for in his latest matches. Just shoot with the left when you get the chance.

Looks like a South African player got his knee cap dislocated or something bad. Didn't look right.

Excellent goal from Oscar. Great pass from Hulk and perfect little chip from Oscar. 1-0.

Some really interesting games today. South Africa v Brazil at 6PM (GMT+1) last game before the final squad for the World Cup for Brazil. So time to shine for players like Fernandinho and Rafinha. Belgium v Ivory Coast at 8.45PM (GMT+1) Two teams that are good enough to reach a quarterfinal at the World Cup. Germany v Chile same time as above. Two teams that play excellent football and Chile will get the best preparation before playing Spain and Holland in the World Cup. France v Netherlands at 9PM (GMT+1) Two teams that aren't in their best moments footballing wise but that have players good enough to play a World Cup semifinal. Spain v Italy at 10PM(GMT+1). Diego Costa debut as well as a game between the Euro finalists. Will be heck of an interesting game.

Honestly didn't even know we were playing tonight. Apparently we've just got a bunch of A-League players out there.... and Chris Wood. Who scored. 4-1.

4-0. I realize New Zealand aren't very good but 4-0 after 18minutes is quite impressive.

Japan solidifying their reputation before the World Cup. 3-0 up against New Zealand after 11minutes. Okazaki, Kagawa and Honda might prove dangerous in that group. Think it's going to be heck of a group if Greece can stop the other teams. Can see everyone finishing on 4 points or something or any 3 on 6p.

I'm not that much in Rio, spend all my holidays lately in Salvador so when I'm in Rio I'm mostly spending time with family that I haven't seen for a while. When I get a real chance I'll go to Lapa. If (when) I go back to Brazil it'll be Salvador and the NE i'll be going to like. Looks ace and most Brazilians I've spoken to always say you've not been to Brazil properly 'til you've been there albiet most were from Bahia. Bahia is great, friendly people (although if you want high service you're screwed, lazier people is hard to find), beautiful scenery and very cultural. Salvador was the first capital of Brazil and also where the slaves came from Africa, so there's an enormous amount of african influence so the food you get is excellent with 2000 different spices. (this is becoming more like a food thread I noticed) Luca. I like you, but fuck you.

I'm going to be slaughtering and then cooking and eating a lamb in Porto Alegre! If you like lamb this is a must: http://www.newcastle-online.org/nufcforum/index.php/topic,36191.20200.html Mint jelly with lamb man, it's gorgeous. Don't know how they do it in Porto Alegre but in Sao Paulo, Rio and Salvador they usually have mint jelly so you just have to ask for it when eating lamb in churrascaria.

I'm not that much in Rio, spend all my holidays lately in Salvador so when I'm in Rio I'm mostly spending time with family that I haven't seen for a while. When I get a real chance I'll go to Lapa. Yeah was going to recommend Fogo de Chao in Rio for Churrascaria, but knowing you'll be in meat coutry there's no need to eat meat in Rio. Do enjoy the meat in Porto Alegre, they say you won't find better in a big city, not even in Argentina. In Rio for restaurants try getting some sushi, some really good fish going on there and we have sushi ''rodizio'' basically as much sushi as you can eat and it's not buffet so the fish don't rot it's made at the time that you order it. (basically pay a fix price and order the amount of sushi you're going to eat, in as many rounds as you want. Just make sure to eat it all as every piece left they'll charge you extra). That's if you like sushi obviously Otherwise feijoada on a sunday is a must or seafood. In Sao Paulo you have to get some pizza. Best pizzas in Brazil. Food will be quite expensive so don't look for the cheap places for good food, pay up and eat well

And they weren't necessarily wrong back then tbf. He really grew in the Championship for us and he only did that because no one wanted him off our hands due to how poor he really was in that relegation season.

It just feels much safer and I mean I've never been robbed or anything. Might be luck on my side but haven't heard complains much and there's always police patrolling. Just be careful with cab drivers as they're bunch of dicks, since the demand is bigger than the supply they can tell you they don't feel like driving you to that place since they'll pick up a passenger in the next five minutes that will go somewhere they're willing to drive too. Been in Rio before Greg? For me hands down the most beautiful city in the world. When you stand at the Arpoador looking over the Ipanema and Leblon beach you see what Rio is really about. I've never been to Brasil. I only have 2 days in Rio! You're in for a treat in Rio then. Best beach hands down is Ipanema and Leblon. Skip Posto 9s northern parts (every don't know how many meters of the beach have a station (posto)) which is numbered. Think 9s northern parts is purely for men who like men so unless your into that kind of stuff be careful not to walk into the middle of that crowd as they're ruthless predators when it comes to good looking men It's better to take the street to Arpoador. Anyways no doubt you'll enjoy Brazil although Sao Paulo has nothing of worth to look at unless you want to shop expensive stuff or look at bunch of buildings. Haha what are the must see things in Rio then if I only have 2 and a half days? As for Sao Paulo, I am sure I will enjoy it, it is a mega city and I'm an urban planner. I mean for two days you obviously have to try and go into one of the touristic traps of the Christ or Sugarloaf just so you get the view and touristic images. Otherwise I'd spend a day around Ipanema/Leblon. Leblon is a bit more upperclass (well the neighbourhood not the beach as it's basically the same beach) and just enjoy the day and maybe watch some of the games in nice bars and walking around. It's just a perfect city to just stroll around doing nothing but enjoying the beach and restaurants. If you have time Lapa (never been there tbf) is a great place for live music and a locals nightlife with a lot of tourists. The beaches basically begins from Barra to Sao Conrado to Leblon/Ipanema to Copacabana and only worth really seeing is Leblon/Ipanema. At the end of Ipanema there is arpoador which for sunset is magical, and you'll have the best view from below of Rio. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C61Cmb2gZSc/UDwRdk5PdMI/AAAAAAAALIE/VuMTHpqSae4/s640/por_do_sol_arpoador.jpg

He's surrounded by technically excellent players, no wonder he looks good. Looks the worst of the lot in my opinion and he's an average footballer. If anything, Sterling has impressed me the most, kid is looking better every day.

Portugals kit confirmed http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/784/085/dbe969613057289d82331609971ff56e_crop_north.png?w=498&h=332&q=75 It's ok on the players horrible in the first image. Hope they fail with them.

Been in Rio before Greg? For me hands down the most beautiful city in the world. When you stand at the Arpoador looking over the Ipanema and Leblon beach you see what Rio is really about. I've never been to Brasil. I only have 2 days in Rio! Looks like thaey have plenty unfinished buildings from that video In a way yes, it's a lot left to be done, but on the other hand Brazil have always been under constant construction so that video doesn't tell anything new.

Been in Rio before Greg? For me hands down the most beautiful city in the world. When you stand at the Arpoador looking over the Ipanema and Leblon beach you see what Rio is really about. I've never been to Brasil. I only have 2 days in Rio! You're in for a treat in Rio then. Best beach hands down is Ipanema and Leblon. Skip Posto 9s northern parts (every don't know how many meters of the beach have a station (posto)) which is numbered. Think 9s northern parts is purely for men who like men so unless your into that kind of stuff be careful not to walk into the middle of that crowd as they're ruthless predators when it comes to good looking men It's better to take the street to Arpoador. Anyways no doubt you'll enjoy Brazil although Sao Paulo has nothing of worth to look at unless you want to shop expensive stuff or look at bunch of buildings.

Yeah don't walk around with wallets and stuff of value. I mean there's no need to. Money and possibly a credit card in the pocket is great as long as you remember to . Leave the watch at home, obviously iPhones exists everywhere so no problem walking around with them either. It's common sense in the end.

Hate the dutch, but that kit is classy as fuck.

Been in Rio before Greg? For me hands down the most beautiful city in the world. When you stand at the Arpoador looking over the Ipanema and Leblon beach you see what Rio is really about.

Do you think it will kick off? No doubt about it, but will be handled by the police in the rightful manner for once. If they do it the pacific way sure, but they're talking about making blockades so players don't get to the arena and fans don't get in which quite frankly will only cause havoc and killings rather than what the primary goal is which is show the true colours of this Lula/Dilma governments. Blimey, glad I am going to the games I have tickets for with locals! Don't think there'll be any problems like that, it will be fine, police will use measure of violence to stop anything. I don't think you'll have to worry about any major events yourself, it's more the people who will demonstrate that most probably will get there asses kicked. How much over budget is it? Hard to say but unofficial figures are talking about more than the last three world cups combined. Problem here is that tax money was never going to be spent yet ended up being more like half of the budget for the World Cup. All this while education, healthcare, public transports and roads are in terrible condition. I'll be the first to admit that I never expected the World Cup to bring any investments into healthcare or education, but a World Cup isn't only about football stadiums. Infrastructural problems such as badly prepared airports, old busses, no metro's and terrible roads were something that the government should've had ambition to improve and made part of their preparation for the World Cup. But that's all forgotten and it seems the only city that is going to be really ready might be Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics. It will still be a big party (hopefully) and I think most people will forget about all the problems when it begins. It's the only thing we're really best in the world at and we have to keep at that. It will always be a poisonous government as long as we as people do not change.

Do you think it will kick off? No doubt about it, but will be handled by the police in the rightful manner for once. If they do it the pacific way sure, but they're talking about making blockades so players don't get to the arena and fans don't get in which quite frankly will only cause havoc and killings rather than what the primary goal is which is show the true colours of this Lula/Dilma governments.