J.A.W.

Wow, Italy 1, New Zealand 1! A disaster for the reigning world champions...

Sold.

It seems the French have taken over the traditional Dutch role of kicking up a row within their own ranks...

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What Weizen said. Enough is enough.

Are you sure about that? Right now there is no goal differential between Denmark and Japan. However, Denmark have scored more goals. So, if they tie, doesn't Denmark go through on that basis? Results so far: Netherlands 2, Denmark 0 Japan 1, Cameroon 0 Netherlands 1, Japan 0 Cameroon 1, Denmark 2 Denmark's goal difference is -1 (2-3), while Japan's is 0 (1-1), so if they draw Japan will advance to the last 16 (rules, post #165)

With the Cameroon v. Denmark result (1-2) the Netherlands advance to the last 16.

Yep, the Dutch team were going for the points, using "a minimum of resources to get a maximum result". It's more or less how the German team were playing in many previous tournaments, ugly but effective

Another dismal game. Japan deserved a draw. First-round World Cup games are often a disaster to watch (it seems to be a tradition), but this time it's even worse... I wonder why.

Not quite, Argentina have qualified yesterday because they won both their games and therefore can't be overtaken anymore by the two teams they beat, so they'll at least finish second - see rule d) above. There is a chance of a 3 way tie with 3 teams with 6 points if Greece wins and Korea wins and goal differential being the first tiebreaker, there is a very slim chance that Argentina fails if they lose by something like 3 goals and Korea doing something similar to Nigeria. Yep, you're right. I misinterpreted the rules and deleted my post - but not fast enough, it seems

Full time, 0-0. I'd rather not comment anymore. The European favourites are not doing what's expected from them.

Whoa, this is a horrible game with very bad football/soccer. I'm not a big fan of the English team, but I never expected this from them.

Half time: England 0, Algeria 0 England are playing appallingly bad... Could it be that this is an overrated team?

The third American goal was not offside; the referee probably disallowed it because he saw a foul. I think it should have counted. Strange game. The Germans had a terrible off day...

These are FIFA's rules: The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows: a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches; b) goal difference in all group matches; c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows: d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned; g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee. Has 'g)' ever happened? No idea.

These are FIFA's rules: The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows: a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches; b) goal difference in all group matches; c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows: d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned; g) drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee.

Dream on

The next game will be his lasi one. Laurent Blanc will replace him. Forgot about that. I guess Blanc should have taken over two years ago, after France's equally dismal performance at Euro 2008.

It was hard to see, but I think he was not offside - but only just. I also think that the French can book their tickets home. Another very disappointing performance from them. How about letting Domenech go (finally)?

Yep, it could cost them the game - and get them a ticket home...

Germany usually don't play very well in the first round games, only to get better in the knock-out rounds This time they were excellent - so far at least.

Hey, come on, that's not fair; they're only doing their job, they didn't make the rules. Funny, that was also the excuse given by most of the....never mind. My point is that accusing customs of acting like Nazis is way out of proportion and over the line. It's a nuisance when someone's foreign packages are mis-handled by customs, but crimes against humanity, war crimes and mass murder as committed by the Nazis are in a totally different class. Let's keep things in perspective.

See Jim's post dated May 3, 2009, here.

It's a low-scoring tournament: 25 goals in the first 16 games, an average of 1.56 goals per game. The majority (almost two-thirds) of the Swiss population speak German

Full time: Spain 0, Switzerland 1. Another not very good game.