World Cup 2014

I thought Portugal looked the better team in that game with 22 on the pitch tbh

They had a couple of chances early on but were 2 nil down when Pepe got his red card. Bit generous to say they were the better team.

Chile looked excellent. Spain did some decent battle in the middle with them in terms of possession, but collectively there was no sharpness whatsoever. Nice that they seem a genuinely interesting prospect (apart from Brazil or Argentina, with the former often overrated but they are playing at home so..) Looking forward to getting a closer look at Colombia later. Only saw the 2nd half of Bosnia - Argentina. Just happy that it looks like Messi will make an impact at a World Cup.

On the European side Italy, France, Holland and Germany look focused and well managed.

thought they were only 1 down at the time but its been a whirlwind

Yah Chile are a pleasure to watch. Bielsa is the Velvet Underground of football managers.

Altidore out (shocker), Besler and Dempsey OK for USA v Portugal

I do love the way Chile play and am rooting hard for them (I'm from there after all), but I'm a tad worried that they'll make too much of this win and not focus on some things that need to tighten up. Spain had some very clear chances in the box, and just didn't finish. We might not be so fortunate against sides with more deadly strikers.

xxp I like the VU analogy

rip Jozy :(

Were belgium any good? Didn't watch thr game

Or were they mostly ROFLs?

stodgy first half, lukaku couldn't operate in tight spaces, ball movement too slow. Once chadli went off de bruyne moved to the 10 and fellaini and mertens came on they perked up. 5/10.

Vertonghen in particular looked like he could get eaten alive by any decent right winger going after him with intent. They need big Christian, there's a guy who can hold the ball up with minimal room. Was so disappointed that he couldn't make it.

nice to see hansen has arrived in brazil in time to be on hand in case the bones need picking out of an england failure.

vertonghen is a liability in attitude if not ability

which ivorian was in tears there?

it was serey die

oh mercy howard webb skulks into view

aw man that would have been cool

my loyalties are really torn in this match :-/

is there something i should know about either team to make them more or less inherently likable?

FAKE CORNER ALERT

denied by webb

knew that fake corner was coming before the entire CIV team did

what a miss after some fantastic football

classless finish

I love a fake corner.

refs never allow them though

how did i know lawro would make a cake reference with regard to yaya toure? He is yet to add 'not' to the end of a sentence yet however so maybe he's changing up his game.

guys no one answered my question

Ivory Coast are the underdog. Doesn't that make them instantly likeable?

Gbx: Colombia because Yaya Toure is a dickhead. That's all I got

Oh yeah, that too. Go Colombia!

ooh from cuadrado, he's been amazing

i forgot that CIV was actually the underdog here, have been thinking of it as evenly matched

tbf i've always rooted for CIV and can't help but like drogba even though i probably shouldn't

i remain on the fence :-/

BOOMING HEADER

HAM-EZ

ok that dance might've won me over

dodgy free kick webb slurping ex prem players as per

he was a yard away from it too

bang 2-0

Awful defending.

all from a shitty aurier corner

Great counter

one of your boys coming on

this is a great game

yeah this is a fun one

love to see cuadrado vs left side of england defnce in the knockout

GERVINHO

Yep, Arias had a p good season, glad to see him get some minutes.

Oh Gervinho!

gervinho, nice!!!

Yes!

great goal

Oh ffs