FIFA World Cup group stages

[sussexpob]

Germany are usually slow starters in WCs.

If this was a slow start I'd hate to see what they do when they move up to 5th gear.

They've scored at least 4 goals in their last four opening world cup games.

I think I read this week they have never failed to win their opening game, but might have read it wrong.

[Gingerfinch]

Italy are renowned for starting slow. This may be a myth of course, though they did start slow in 1982 before winning it.

[Aidan11]

Should Rooney play tomorrow?

[Gingerfinch]

Should Rooney play tomorrow?

I think so. I know he wasn't great the other night, but IF he plays well then he is still a very good player. Hodgson will possibly put him inside, with Sterling left?

[mikesiva]

I like Robbie Savage on commentary, he adds something.

I found Robbie Savage so annoying I had to mute the commentary....

A good, hard-fought win for the US.

[Aidan11]

[Gingerfinch]

Bit weird that the Russian game is kicking off after the Brazilian one. Is it due to the European time zone, and that more people will watch the Brazilian game if it's on at 20.00?

[The Waugh Twins]

I like Robbie Savage on commentary, he adds something.

I found Robbie Savage so annoying I had to mute the commentary....

A good, hard-fought win for the US.

Yep is was certainly played out like a soap opera, and terrible for the nails if you were either supporter. The weather is clearly going to be a major factor at these games as both sides looked destroyed after about 15 minutes. Muscles cramping and tearing.

Got to say CONCAFA has certainly had a good first round showing.

[Gingerfinch]

Ferdiand, Shearer, and Henry, have to be the three most boring pundits on TV, and the BBC had them on all at once. Plus Neville as co-commentator. I use to love it when Hansen and O'Neill were on.

[sussexpob]

Ferdiand, Shearer, and Henry, have to be the three most boring pundits on TV, and the BBC had them on all at once. Plus Neville as co-commentator. I use to love it when Hansen and O'Neill were on.

Henry was brillilant when I switched to the BBC for the England game. Very honest!

Going to a bar with a Belgian colleague to watch the game in an hour... praying Algeria do them after the stick he has given me the last few days.

[Gingerfinch]

Ferdiand, Shearer, and Henry, have to be the three most boring pundits on TV, and the BBC had them on all at once. Plus Neville as co-commentator. I use to love it when Hansen and O'Neill were on.

Henry was brillilant when I switched to the BBC for the England game. Very honest!

Going to a bar with a Belgian colleague to watch the game in an hour... praying Algeria do them after the stick he has given me the last few days.

He sounded boring, like the other two, to me. Neville was honest, but plain dull.

Enjoy the drink!

[Durhamfootman]

Henry could barely speak, when Lineker was asking him about the player strike 4 years ago. Practically had to drag answers out of him. Henry clearly didn't want to talk about it, which is unsurprising really given that they were a *modded* disgrace and let their nation down probably more than any other group of players have ever done in the history of the game. And for Anelka as well. Looking back, that must feel like a ridiculously stupid thing to have done.

[Durhamfootman]

Henry could barely speak, when Lineker was asking him about the player strike 4 years ago. Practically had to drag answers out of him. Henry clearly didn't want to talk about it, which is unsurprising really given that they were a *modded* disgrace and let their nation down probably more than any other group of players have ever done in the history of the game. And for Anelka as well. Looking back, that must feel like a ridiculously stupid thing to have done.

probably fitting, though, given the way that they qualified for 2010 in the first place

[Aidan11]

Fellaini scored a good goal there to help Belgium come from behind for what could have been a shock defeat.

[Dilbert]

Belgium have got out of jail here....