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Quarters

Well the last couple of nights have been highly unnerving. Last night I had a normal evening in. The night before I took the missus out. All highly regular and not a marathon football-fest in sight. Luckily, normal service is resumed this evening.

As France and Germany played out the early part of their game I was on a boat drinking a few beers with a crowd of Germans. This was inevitably a very real threat to my immaculate 100% media silence record in the tournament to date. As the whoops and cheers rang across the deck, I knew of course that Germany had scored - and so it proved once I'd raced home and got the TiVo into action, Hummels glancing a very nice header, which of course sunk the French. I was disappointed with their efforts, their campaign ending in a whimper after such an explosive start. In truth the game was dull.

The entertainment was seemingly all saved for the late game, which I am watching now. Two South American teams doing what they do best - gung-ho attacking and blatant fouling. It really is carnage. Columbia, as I feared, look to be running out of luck against a Brazil team steadily growing in confidence. David Luiz has just walloped a free kick in to give Brazil a deserved 2 goal lead.

The game of the round tomorrow is Argentina vs Belgium, which is a huge game; and of course everyone assumes that Costa Rica will expire against Holland.

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Tshalabalalalala

Martin Tyler had some kind of seizure this afternoon Stateside as he disappointingly tried to spring into a song as he announced one of the more memorable opening goals of a world cup finals....... I agree Birchy, not quite Cameroon v Argentina, but lets not burden the lowest ranked hosts ever with such lofty standards...... It does seem that we've both been watching the same games today, and I'm in agreement with a lot of your observations... South Africa: The most nervous and apprehensive start to a football game since Graham told Carlton not to do that Brilliant opening goal Less than sublime offside trap and the appearance that they had never defended a set piece in their lives Khune the goalie - I can't make my mind up. He treated the football as if it was made of molten lava, yet his hasty distribution would turn out to be the best defence splitting pass of the day Stevie P very quiet. Maybe that puts him closer to signing that Everton contract. Mexico: A very dodgy k