Segun Oluwaniyi

The 2008 side was pretty class, an attacking side that absolutely dominated everyone. Then Del Bosque comes in and Spain grind their way (with some luck) to shitty 1-0 wins in the World Cup. They were fortunate to even get past the group stage, they should have conceded more goals in the knockout stages (and would have been f***ed because of it), but fortune favoured Del Bosque and now we have Spain a goal away from getting knocked out again. Don't want to hear any nonsense about luck, frankly. The closest thing they've had to luck is beating Italy on penalties in 2008. If you believe conceding two goals in a seven game tournament where you had to face the likes of Portugal, a rampant Germany, and Holland, then I don't know what to say for you. It might be luck over the course of one game, but after this you just have to credit them. This group is also much more difficult than the ones they defeated in 2008 and 2010.

Spain are the most dominant national side in recent memory. Regardless of any discussion about aesthetics or even effectiveness, they are not going to change even a little bit until they stop winning every single thing available to them.

Head to head is a rubbish way of deciding things, in both leagues and groups. One measure takes all the matches into account, while the other does not. If we are measuring which team has performed at a higher level over the course of the tournament or league, (which is the point, imo) goal difference is the way.

This is the third tournament in a row that France have been horrible to watch. People complain of Spain, but this is actual purposeless passing. All of the players on the pitch are creative and exciting for their clubs. Something isn't working with either chemistry or at the levels above the players.

Ninety-nine percent of this forum spent the weeks before this tournament orally pleasuring them.

The Ben Arfa bias on this place is absurd at times. He has similar flaws to almost all the players you criticise on the French team.

Balo's physical age is 27 and his mental age is somewhere between 4 and 5. If he cannot mature until at least adolescence, he will not ever become the player that he is capable of.

Aye. I understand the arguments about Spain playing "beautiful football" and all that but it's boring as f*** for the majority. What exactly do you want them to do? Play with a purpose, have a shot, be less boring. They are winning. If the other team wants the ball it should take it. Why give it to them for free with silly, wasteful shots and hollywood pass.

Is it that bad? There are so many mini-movies on here. I'll remove it, if people are experiencing performance issues. Ireland are surprisingly bad at sitting back and defending in numbers. They are constantly carved apart.

Be another 7 or 8 teams padding it out at the next one It is a limited side who were fairly competitive in their last match and are now going to be eviscerated by the World and European champions. It is something that will happen at every tournament. I do actually agree with the 24 team format being poor, but this is not indicative of that.

Ireland has an unbelievably boring group of players. I don't mind rubbish teams, but there is nothing interesting about them. Zo's face in that, man. It is the same face he made on Tuesday when the camera found him.

I saw parts of the first half, and Italy were dominant. Stunned they've managed not to win. The reports are saying they conceded possession and sat back in the second half, though. Something that is suicidal in a match where you have firm control.

You think that was a great match? I found most of it quite tedious, tbh.

Aye, they've got a surprisingly good chance of making it if they can get the job done. Just like Nigeria in the last World Cup. They have most likely been given a reprieve. Of course there is a reason they find themselves in this position and will probably bottle it, as we did.

All his chances were fairly difficult. The problem is that they have six primarily defensive players on the pitch, and the Germans are still cutting them open like a razor through skin.

I'm quite sure they usually produce the anthem with real instruments. I suppose Mauritania could be the only country advanced enough to have a digital anthem, but this seems unlikely. I cannot imagine any man asking that question to another. It is something worthy of a vicious slap in most countries.

I like any anthem that is not just the same European orchestral tracks everyone uses. Nigeria's for example, is essentially stock music. Nothing unique.

It is from a song by T.O.K. from the early '00s. I've never used the term in real life, so I thought this was an ideal opportunity. I apologise if it is disliked. Anyway, my point is that Cassano's response is not bad at all. My issue is with the person who thinks it is prudent to "expose" the privacy of another man's sexual life and then have the audacity to criticise Cassano's response as if this is the issue at hand.

The Russian anthem makes all the others seem s**** in comparison. Italy and Mauritania are better. The last thing chichi footballers need is for people to be exposing the fact they exist. If they are comfortable showing everyone their true selves, than let this happen. If not, then let this happen. A country like Italy should be at a point where it is not an issue.

Derek Rae is the best commentator you will ever see. Listening to him is an edifying experience.

I don't it is any better. There have been a fair number of tedious matches. The one advantage, which is something that I enjoy about all intercontinental tournaments is the familiarity between the countries and the rivalries that are so rare in the World Cup.

Czech-Poland should be a fantastic final game. Not overly impressed with either side today.

The answer for bigmanism is to actually take control of the team, properly discipline it, and institute a true team ethic. Look at a team like Zambia that has actually built a team instead of discarding players. This is a symptom of the chaos, disorganisation, and corruption of the people around our football. The answer to bigmanism is not to get rid of all the "big" players because you need talent to win. The shame of it for me is that we were actually playing good, entertaining football under Siasia and were building something positive. Instead of building on this and supporting a decent manager, we've promoted more chaos and eliminated all the players, replacing with locals who are not likely to materialise into anything. Brilliant. More change and more failure.

Couldn't agree more. Thought France were awful. Not being talked about much in the media either. Honestly not sure they will get out of the group if Blanc persists with this team through the remaining games. As you say it is astonishing that the likes of Menez and Ben Arfa are on the bench and Malouda starts. Can't imagine what the hell Blanc is thinking. I think they will make it through because of the sheer amount of quality they have in the team, but they had similar issues in 2008 and 2010 that proved fatal. The defence is an issue as well, imo. I have no faith in Mexes or Evra. Alou Diarra was rather poor all season as well. Quite a weapon in the air, but he is not what he was some years ago. Btw, Kaka, what do you make of this madness Keshi is pulling? It clearly isn't working I am happy for some players based in Nigeria to get some much needed exposure and experience, but I really would prefer we didn't try this in actual World Cup Qualifiers. I hope he brings the real players back sooner than later.

France were absolutely terrible. They looked like a team that has failed to win a match in a major tournament for six years. Why did Blanc not change anything for 80 minutes? Why is Malouda anywhere near a team that is gifted with several athletic wide players. Do not forget that his form was so poor in the season that Chelsea preferred to start a leftback with no continental experience to playing Malouda in the final. I also question why Giroud could not get on the pitch. The numerous crosses did nothing unless Alou Diarra happened to be in the box. England aren't bad, but they are not a good side, either. They have to hope they can survive against Sweden, because Rooney is the central point of the team.