italy fail :(

They didn't fail, they drew. They're in the same position as England: a win will send them through.

New Zealand played out of their skins to take a point against the world champions. A late substitute (Woods, I think) was described as a banker and semi-pro footballer, who had to ask for time off work to play. I'll bet they are having one heck of a celebration right now!

But can England pull it together, that's the question. They drew against Algeria, for goodness sake. I'm hoping for them to win, personally. I habitually cheer for the Englishmen when an American isn't present (take Button in F1 for example). And (if I'm honest) I'm not quite ready to hang all my hopes on America's team just yet...I'll be happy if we make it out of the round of 16 :).

Watching Portugal v North Korea. It's soaking, pouring down rain, and Korea is doing it darndest to hold on. Quite an exciting match so far! :D

Well, as the game progresses, it just gets uglier for N. Korea. I'm not sure fearless leader is going to like them being down 4-0 in the 60th minute...

More -- Yikes! Tell me, in Europe, is it okay to just keep pounding the ball in like this? In America it's usually frowned upon to continue scoring when you're winning by this much. But Portugal continues to be aggressive in the 90th minute. Maybe football is different from American sports? It just seems a bit excessive is all...

If Portugal ties with another team in their group, score difference matters.

Yeah, Honduras might feel the same... Score difference decides in some groups.

Ah, interesting. Yeah, we recently had a sports league decide that point difference would be used to break ties in some cases, and they've started running up scores as a result. I suppose I hadn't thought of that. 7-0 though, wow...painful for N.Korea, that's for sure.

And a fun tidbit from ESPN

Just look at the group. If Portugal loses against Spain and Ivory Coast wins their game agaist North Korea (which is likely to happen..), Portugal and Ivory Coast have the same points (4), but the score difference is 9(!). So IC has to win 10:0 against NC...

I'm sure you meant Portugal v Brazil. And it's a very likely scenario. Portugal will be pleased to have all those points in the bag.

Poor France. They have to pray that Mexico beats Paraguay, then score at least 5 against S.A. If the other match ends in a scoreless draw, France go home.

Wednesday, the USA and England will go through after winning their matches. I know, because I HAVE FAITH !!!

(Still, I will probably be watching between my fingers.)

Ermmm.. yes, I meant Brazil.

tbh, I won't miss France this time, their games were boring and the internal trouble in the Équipe Tricolore doesn't sound like a team, more of a kindergarden.

I won't miss their football, but I'll miss the daily soap opera!

Having said that, the England team are having their own dramas: John Terry (the ex-captain) stuck his head above the parapet to announce that the team were unsatisfied with the manager and there was to be a team meeting with everyone speaking their mind.

As it turned out, no one spoke up – or Terry misjudged the situation – and he looks a fool now.

Can't wait to see how they play tomorrow. And if Terry starts.

(Edit: Apparently, the nation have turned their backs on the team and 70% of the French now hope France lose to S.A.)

If England lose to Slovenia, they can expect a pretty cool reception when they get home.

But, HEY! THEY WON'T, THEY WON'T !!!

You British are so polite. In Brazil, if the national team came home in the same fashion as France or Britain seem to be, they'd all be hung from the nearest tree :). Or so I'm told by people who have lived there...

Well, there are some advantages to having low expectations. One of them is that if America for some reason doesn't make it through we'll still see this campaign as a bit of a success. We drew with England, we should have beat Slovenia. If we lose to Algeria, I'm sure we'll do it with some gusto...or something.

Still, if England and America don't make it through I'll personally be heartbroken. France, on the other hand, I'll just laugh at. I keep thinking that this must be Gods way of giving South Africa a chance to break out of the group rounds...there's no other logical explanation for this lunacy. :p

PS -- S. Africa is winning 1-0 in the 35th minute.
PPS -- Now 2-0, France..it's like a bad joke...
PPPS -- And Uruguay is up on Mexico now 1-0! S. Africa might just make it through...

Nope, didn't work out that way. But France did lose 2-1, and that makes me happy. Mostly because I thought the current team was just a bunch of whiners (coach included), so I'm happy to see them off.

Some are. Some in South Africa have been speaking their mind.

Personally, I'm a dual-national. Born in the USA, in London since 1983.

As far as I'm concerned, at the end of the day, when it's said and done, when the fat lady sings – it's just sport, not life or death.

I forgot about the Bruins and Celtics losing in five minutes.

(Okay, I lied. It took longer...)

GOOOOO USA!!!!!!!!!

Awesome game against Algeria today. Had issues finding a free stream and found one and it is great. Going to watch all the games, I mean listen to them in the background, as I work...

The USA were the only team to score against Algeria in open play. The only other goal they allowed was a Slovakian penalty. We're lucky they were no good going the other direction!

England finally got their act together and played like they'd been introduced to one another. They will have to tighten their defense now if they are to beat the Germans.

I like the Americans chances against Ghana.

I think with just a bit of luck both England and the US will make it through the first elimination round. Beyond that it's hard to tell. If England plays up to their talent, they can probably make it further. If America keeps playing with the energy they have, we might have a chance as well. I'm just happy to be where we are :D:D:D.

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Domenech is amazing! What can you say a coach that trashes star players because they were born in the wrong astrological sign?

My heartfelt sympathy to any French forum members.

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On a brighter note: Congrats to the USA! Talk about fine margins!
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When they retracted that first goal for offsides, and then replays showed it clearly was not off sides, I wanted to throw my computer....well not literally, but figuratively.

France out, Italy out.. who's next? :D