Day Six

Did I say cagey already? Bloody hell today’s games were as tight as those that have gone before.

New Zealand were probably the main news as they managed to secure their first ever world cup point. North Korea ran them close with a superb effort against a team ranked 103 places higher and with all their history, but Brazil did run out winners in the end.

The All Whites scored a stoppage time equaliser to dash Slovakia’s hopes in Rustenburg earlier. The Slovak’s thought they’d done enough to take all the points following Robert Vittek’s 50^th minute header but Winston Reid’s late, late goal sent the Kiwi’s delirious. It leaves Group F dead level.

North Korea put up a great fight, holding off the favourites for fifty minutes until Maicon’s astonishing effort from the acutest of angles. ITV’s Clyde Tyldesley did himself no favours when he suggested it was an own goal by the keeper, but ITV keep ballsing it up this year, Robbie Earle has been axed, after ITV discovered tickets allocated to to him, for family and friends, have been passed to a third party, in breach of FIFA rules. Brazil secured the win with a lovely goal from Elano after an inch perfect through ball. Ji Yun-nam scored the North Korean’s consolation goal in the final minute which made this only the second game in fourteen to contain three goals or more.

The Portugal v Ivory Coast game was a massive disappointment, I understand that whoever lost would face elimination if defeated by Brazil but still I hoped for more attacking play with all the forwards available to both teams. Ronaldo was up to all of his old tricks and I wish FIFA would take a stance against all players who blatantly dive and go to ground so easily.

Yesterdays wild guess’ mean I have a woeful five correct results from fourteen games but none 100% right.

Lets see how these do

Honduras 0 Chile 2

Spain 2 Switzerland 0

South Africa 0 Uruguay 2

My wild statement of the day is that I think FIFA should not award a point for a goalless draw. Maybe that would liven up this world cup? So far we have seen 28 teams and 11 of them have failed to score.