Neil

Very good.

Damn, it's really less than 24 hours away. Guaranteed to be a s*** 0-0 draw. We all know that, right? No. That bomb that you guys keep singing about is gonna burst big time. I believe in Tim Howard. If we believe the Sun's WC guide, which I think we can safely say we all can with 100% confidence, Howard is the 3rd best keeper at the tournament, behind Julio Cesar and Casillas, and ahead of Buffon. Nee arguments here.

I can see Heskey starting to be honest mate.

Lodiero did more in 20 minutes than Nacho did in 60. Admittedly, it was getting sent off, but still...

I can't remember it exactly but he seemed intent on making his commentary as dramatic as possible. "GOOOOOOAAALLL BAFANA BAFANA!!!" or something like that? Oh aye, that was it. "A goal for South Africa, a goal for Africa!" Cringe.

By the way, our flat when we heard that Heskey had injured Ferdinand joked that he probably fell on him or something equally daft. Yet that's exactly what happened, fucking hell.

I have no idea what the hell to do after tomorrow. I've spent half the year being a dick. I don't remember what kind of poster I used to be. You've gone too far now. You can't go back. Just enjoy the moment when Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey slots home the 5th.

I thought Gourcuff was pretty poor. But again it may be me, every time he gets the ball behind the strikers I can't stop thinking that it used to be Zidane there. Relatively he wasn't great, no, but I thought first half he was easily one of their best players - quality delivery, at least. Shame he's French.

Ghana will probably illustrate the classic case of breaking with pace, looking dangerous, but minimal end product. In fact, Gyan illustrates all that himself.

You serious Spence? Thought he was one of their better players. Gourcuff did well first half, Diaby made some decent runs, Gignac looked handy (out of position) when he came on. Sagna got forward plenty. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, it was atrocious.

Mike man, you have a rather large stash of similarly themed avatars it seems.

Aye, should be canny. Will be interesting to see if, and how quickly, Argentina click.

South Korea v. Greece will probably come across as spectacular all-out attacking carnage compared to that dross. The highlight was Domenech plunging to new tactically incompetent lows, mind.

The less said about that game the better.

They really are a mess. He insists on playing one of their best players, Malouda, out of position and shockingly realises that isn't working... then drops the player. Barthez wept man.

Abidal CB I think.

I get angry watching France play. They're just so shit as a team.

Holland to stroll into the quarter finals and then go out to Brazil. Can see it coming from a mile off.

Knowing our luck yeah, Germany will finish 2nd, and the vital moment will come 6 minutes from time as Klose falls over in the 6 yard box, 2 yards offside, and fumbles it in.

I've actually already lost track of my bets, got so many group-stage based ones on.

Decent enough opening game. Felt a draw was a fair enough result - Mexico as per usual not offering much end product. As has probably been said already, great first goal, the play before that and the finish itself. Ultimately though, it's a bad result for SA as I reckon that was their best chance of a win; not out of contention though. Also, I wasn't particularly fussed about the vuvuzelas, got used to them pretty soon. Doesn't hamper the watching of the game. Howay Uruguay for later!

It's heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere! :celb: :celb: :celb: :celb: :celb: :celb: In a bit, anyway.

Beil's Brilliant Betting Bonanza Badonde Not including all, but put on before any matches: ...OK, there are rather a lot. Main ones: To qualify (Y/N) Chile Y Algeria, Aussies, Japan, Greece N £15 returns £78. Bottom of their group Algeria Aussies Japan NZ Honduras £5 returns £71. 7 or 9 points Argies Brazil Holland Spain £10 returns £83. Same teams to get exactly 9 points: £1 returns £147. Team top scorer RVP Villa Rooney Sestak £2 returns £81. There are more which I can't be arsed to post now.

Ghana ahead of Germany and Serbia?

Fuck these bullshit rules, I will emerge victorious through ignorance.