With the entire English public waking up with sore heads it was pretty inevitable that the following day would serve us some uneventful fayre topped off with out greatest rivals turning on the style in what's easily been the performance of the tournament so far. Our group rivals walked around for a bit before Slovenia won it late, some numbnut for the hotly-tipped Serbs completely lost his head, and in Durban a star was born...Algeria 0 Slovenia 1
Not the greatest game of football, but Slovenia will take confidence from their first win at a major tournament. Robert Koren’s tame shot was allowed in by Chaouchi in the Algerian goal after 79 minutes, with Algeria already down to ten men following the sending off of substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal. There wasn’t much else to report. Slovenia are likely to also need something from their next game against the USA to have a chance of qualifying. (MM)
Thought I'd give it a go. I mean, South Korea - Greece had been decent enough, hadn't it? Terrible idea, especially with a hangover. (DK)
My vow to watch every minute of every game sadly fell by the wayside here as two awful sides played awfully and i decided to have a shower instead and make a fry-up. I do quite like Robert Koren, though. England should see off either of these sets of mugs. (HU)
Serbia 0 Ghana 1
Serbia, my nod for surprise package of the tournament, did me proud by being pretty awful against Ghana, though they could still have nicked even after going down to ten men – Milos Krasic firing a great chance straight at Kingson in the Ghanian goal.
Ghana were industrious and energetic as you would expect but it took an 83rd minute penalty following a daft handball by Kuzmanovic to win it. Asamoah Gyan, their number 3-wearing striker, scored with ease. This loss leaves Serbia needing something against Germany on Friday with confidence low. (MM)
Can't help but think it might be hard for them to get out of the group now, especially as Ghana ought to shoe a Cahill-less Australia all over the place. You can keep that fiver, bet365. (DK)
Quite a nice moment seeing Ghana earn Africa's first victory of their maiden World Cup. As with many, i feel a bit of manlove towards the Serbians, though, and was very disappointed. I actually think Ghana are the best footballing side of Africa, even moreso than Ivory Coast. Tagoe, particularly played very well, and Boateng, too, whilst the likes of Krasic did very little. I think they'll have enough to get through now.
As for Serbia, well. I sincerely hope the rest of their squad drag Kuzmanovic from his bed in the dead of the night and beat him within an inch of a cold with some soggy slippers. What a prick! (HU)
Germany 4 Australia 0
Germany flew out of the traps with the best performance so far – it could have been seven or eight. Australia, set up in ultra-defensive mode, looked very average and Tim Cahill’s loss for possibly the next two games (after a red card early in the second half) could end any realistic chances they had of progression.
Germany’s football was good to watch – quick, incisive passing with Mezut Ozil at the heart of most of their first half moves. Podolski and Klose still look very dangerous at international level despite their troubles in the Bundesliga, both scoring first half goals.
A win against Serbia on Friday ensure the German’s qualification to the second round. (MM)
Now this is what I'm talking about. The World Cup had been mostly trading off its reputation over the weekend, but there has finally been a game to recommend it. Ozil looked great and it's always nice to see the Aussies get beaten heavily. (DK)
What can you say about the Germans that doesn't get wheeled out during every single tournament. How can their 'average' strikers knock in a goal every other game and ours be Emile Heskey? On paper only Philipp Lahm would be sure of a place in our side, yet they'd absolutely fucking tank us on this form. Hopefully Serbia will ruin them. (HU)
Humberto Ulazo, Matt Morrison, Daniel Kelly
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