WC Review: Germany, the US and England

Let's do this chronologically. First, Germany. This World Cup's just starting to throw up a few surprises eh? I mean, is there some kind of Franco-German-Spanish thing going on where they contrive to do the lemming thing and throw themselves off cliffs? Well, okay. The French are in a total league of their own in this regard, having already crashed onto the craggy rocks under the cliff. Germany? Well, somehow, they managed to let this slip. Missed penalty, missed chances, silly red card, the works. This is probably just a little slip, all in all, but it's funny how for the next 24 hours, Australia seems back in the thick of things!

More important than the slip itself, can someone, anyone, please tell the Germans and Joachim Low that the matching outfits with his assistant, especially with the jumper/t-shirt ensemble, just doesn't work! I'm caught on TV with my male "assistant" wearing the same matching outfits, my wife's gonna rightly walk out on me man! I'd have have thought the Germans of all people would've known better! But you never know, I suppose. Low must've had such a smashing time matching wardrobes with Klinsmann in 2006...

So it'll go to the last day in Group D. Who would've thought. All Australia need to do now is beat Ghana, and then it'll REALLY get interesting. Go Socceroos!! Actually, it should be Footballeroos.

As some may know, I have a little soft spot for the poor little rich men of the US of A. But when they went down 2-0, I was like...oh well, they looked naive enough, just not quite there, if they could get turned over so easily by the Slovenians in the first half. This was Slovenia! There are twice as many people in Alabama than there are Slovenians. So there we were half time, kinda downbeat, and recognising the reality.

But lo and behold. Who else. Landon Donovan. Then an excellent goal by Michael Bradley, and suddenly, the impossible was on the cards. It happened, actually. Only for the most pathetic refereeing decision so far this World Cup. Perfect goal, disallowed, for reasons even god wouldn't know. 2-2 then, and with a certain other result last night, things look kinda interesting for Group C.

Group C: Made interesting by England. They're kinda intent on doing a pretty accurate French impersonation eh? I mean, I'm sure there'll be all sorts of headlines in the good ole English tabloids , ranging from anger, disappointment, disbelief, the usual hand-wringing, but I wonder if there'll be one that just says: "Oh well, let's not kid ourselves. We did expect this didn't we?" The nice people of England, their media and all (not to mention the sniggering bet shops) have in the last months whipped them up into a frenzy, only for reality to bite. Hard. I'm sorry, I've got to snigger as well.

As with their last game against the US, Pride of the Nation, Hope of a Generation Wayne Rooney did his best Mr Invisible impersonation, Frank Lampard looked on the verge of tears on those few occasions the camera zoomed in on him and Steve Gerrard looked the only one intent on putting in a good show (if only to get himself a good post-Pool contract). But we should look on the bright side. David James put in a good show - clean sheet man! Even looked convincing. If David James stands out in your team, you know you're in deep shit though.

You've got to love England and their supporters. All frenzied, all whipped up, all expectant, and after 90 minutes, you have them booing (rightly) and Rooney whining about them booing. Priceless. I mean, booing would be the least I would do. You pay through your teeth to get to South Africa, follow these twits around for a week or so, and then to have them potter about and let down a nation? Booing? Make Rooney pay for his airfare and accommodation and he might understand. Twit. Utter Twit.

With the so-called bigger lights slipping up of late, Spain, Germany, France...okay, not France, now England, you've got to watch out for my own favourites - Holland.

Can't wait. More later then. Ciao.