Yet ANOTHER team in white who can PLAY!!

The appropriately named All Whites in their first World Cup since 1982 summoned the spirit of the haka to hold the soon-to-be ex World Champions to a very creditable 1-1 draw - this result serves to illustrate just how much of a leveller sport can be.

TANT PIS!!

surtout Ribery - obtenez bien bientôt. Ainsi il est au revoir à Claude Makele et Lilian Thuram. J'espère que Titi continuera jusque à 2010.

Allez Espagña!!

La Hollande 4 France 1 mais pas de probleme

Pourquoi? Parce que France a joué très bien, surtout Titi et Ribery. La Hollande étaient très chanceux, même leur entraîneur a dit ainsi. Je prévois que la France battra l'Italie.

Allez les bleus, arrivederci l'azzuri.

Welcome BACK!!

It is almost 10 years to the day since the Oranje put on an exhilarating display of total football and annihilated South Korea 5-1 in a group game at the 1998 World Cup. The geometry of their passing in that game was something to behold - one could see their fluid triangles all over park. Last night with a breathtaking display of counter attacking football, they made Italy look their age. If Italy are to progress, then Del Piero needs to start because his impact was immediate when he came on. The Oranje's second goal was reminiscent of that goal scored by van Basten in the final of Euro 88, the angle was equally acute.

It looks as if a vast number of commentators are not as au fait with the rules of the game as they should be - how else can one explain the outcry that greeted van Nistelrooy's opening goal. Clearly, Panucci had played him onside - DUH!!!!

Arrivederci l'Azzuri!!