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Just watched the France v South Korea game. The game finished 1-1 with the goals from Henry and J.S.Park. It was a scrappy goal from Korea and actually Barthez should have done better.France scored early on but it was only 1 goal. Korea did really well and deserved the goal. The South Korea fans were absolutely amazing cheering, screaming, jumping, dancings throughout the match even when they were behind.

Apparently 300,000 fans are on the streets of Seoul – just imagine what it will be like! 300,000 people on the streets at 4 in the morning!! South Korea have so much energy and run constantly for 90 minutes.

France did have a goal which was disallowed. It looked like it was over the line and replay pretty much showed it. For some reason the French players didnt protest or anything. However France didnt deserve it, they scored 1 goal and thought they swagger along to a victory.

In the Brazil game they beat Australia 2-0. Brazil didnt really play that well and once again Ronaldo was poor. He was a lot better than the first match though. Australia did really well and well very well organised.

Over the weekend there was an amazing game Italy v USA. The game finished 10 players (Italy) v 9 players (USA). The game ended 1-1. At one point the Italians were effectively playing with 9 player also with one player injured. All the red cards were pretty much justified especially the one for De Rossi – he elbowed McBride and had the cheek to protest his innocence. An amazing game – both goals were actually scored by Italian players – the USA goal was a wild slice into his own goal by Zaccardo.

England beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 yesterday but it wasnt convincing. Once again we just didnt perform. We started off too slow and didnt play with enough pace. When Sven made the substitutions it changed the game. In particular when Lennon came on, he gave the team lots of pace. The last half hour was a lot better.

We scored right at the end with our first goal coming about 10 minutes before the end. Crouch scored with a header after a great cross from Becks. (Whos crossing and freekicks were rather poor). However looking at the replays it shows that Crouch grabbed the T&T defenders dreadlocks.

Our second goal from Gerrard was a typical Gerrard goal. About 20 yards out a screamer into the top left corner. Not quite as good as his one in the FA Cup final but against the same keeper (Shaka Hislop).

Give Sven credit, his substitutions worked. For once no defensive option e.g. Hargreves. All his subs were attacking ones and he actually took a defender off for an attacking player. He actually changed it to a 3-5-2 formation. It was good to give Rooney a run-out. He didnt do too much but it would have done him no harm. He had 1 or 2 tough-ish tackles on him and he was fine. I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson was not too happy watching!!

From the last 2 games it shows we need a holding midfielder. Gerrard and Lampard, although play well together, just not as well as they are for their club. It will be interesting what Sven decides for the next match because Owen is just not match-fit and Lennon really deserves to play. It would be good to see Rooney and Owen start but Crouch has played well and Rooney himself is still not fully fit.

Once again the ref made some poor decisions. Lampard got a yellow card when he didnt touch the player. T&T played really well (in particular Yorke) and cancelled out the England play. Their manager really knows his stuff and in his post match interview told us how England could improve. He actually said its some free advice – he wont be charging for it

We need to play a lot better or else we will be back home very soon. Looking on the positives we have not conceded any goals and we have 6 points and in the knockout stages.

Other World Cup stuff – Argentina beat Serbia and Montenegro 6-0. I have only seen a little bit of it but from what I have read they played really well. Holland, also in the same group (aka Group of Death) beat Ivory Coast 2-1. There was an amazing goal for the Ivory Coast. I have just watched Mexico v Angola which finished 0-0. Angola did really well – most of the team are semi-professional and some are actually unemployed and dont have a club. This is only their 2nd EVER game in the world cup and there first point. In fact there goalkeeper hasnt actually played for a club this season! Mexico are a pretty good team and would have expected to easily beat them. They are ranked something like 4th in the FIFA ranking. Although the FIFA rankings a rubbish – teams like USA (ranked 5th) and Mexico are ranked higher than Argentina (9), Spain(joint 5th), England (10) and Italy (13) -this is because they play loads of games.

This world cup has been really good so far with some great goals. One of the best was actually the very first one from the Germany player Lahm. Teams which done well so far are Argentina, Czech Republic, Holland and Spain. England have been pretty poor. France have been a big disappointment. Germany have been good in attack but rubbish in defence. Ecuador could be the dark horse. Italy of course have done well. Brazil were rather disappointing especially Ronaldo. He hardly ran at all in the match and looked well over-weight. It was a good fight back from Australia with about 3 goals in 12 minutes. They are actually on top of the table in their group above Brazil on goal difference. It is early days and most teams have only played 1 game.

England beat Paraguay 1-0 yesterday. The first have was OK but the second half was really poor. Once again Sven’s substitutions are ‘unusual’. Owen was taken off after about an hour – apparently tactical so that we could get more possession in midfield and Sven thinks it worked. I dont. Paraguay had lots of possession in the second half and if they equalised we wouldnt of had too much to complain about. With Owen off it just showed what lack of cover we have up front. We really should have Defoe in the squad. For some reason Sven didnt bring on Walcott. If he wasnt going to bring him on now when?? Maybe he has realised he is not good enough???? Thankfully Rooney is on his way back to fitness – he could play in a group stage match more likely against Swedan – Fergie wont like that!! He may even play against Trinidad and Tobago.

Once again Hargreves came on – he really does rate him and seems to think he is better than Carrick and Carragher. I hope he proves me wrong but whenever I have seen him play (he is almost always a sub) he has been poor with poor passing and control.
at least its 3 points – england usual start slow in tournaments. Also Paraguay are a well organised team and I think have had good results against Argentina and Brazil. Also Swedan draw against Trinidad and Tribaco so that was a great result. If we beat T & T now we are through. It looks like it could be Ecuador instead of Poland based on their first game – Poland were really poor.

However at the end of the day we have got 3 points. Also with the heatwave in Germany, England tired a lot in the 2nd half so we did well. During the match the referee didnt like players having drinks during breaks in play. Madness!! I read that the players lost between 5 to 10 lbs and they went through 70 litres of water – normally its 20 litres.

The referee was really poor. We got 2 yellow cards – gerrard and crouch – they were for nothing! Gerrard went to a tackle and didnt touch the player, Crouch I think got the yellow for raising his hands up on the players shoulders or something – not really sure!!

You can check out some photos from the Chris Moyles show who are in Germany for the world cup. Also check out their blog.

I played football today in the warm weather – it was around 28C so i sure I have lost some ‘water weight’. We did training which I felt went well. We played a half hour game against some guys there and we drew 3-3. I almost scored but it hit the post. It was just sooooo warm!!!

Sven has said he may play Rooney in the group stages. Fergie is apparently furious and I think its justified. Rooney is not quite 100% fit and he should be given as long as possible until he plays. I hope Sven doesnt play him unless he is really needed – I hope he just doesnt play him because he wants to. Rooney could get injured and it could potential effect his playing career (worse case scenario).

Sven recently seems to be a lot more passionate and outspoken. Would have been nice if he was a bit more likely this earlier.

Rooney is not “injury free”. He will apparently play when he is match fit. There was apparently some dis-agreement with The FA and Manchester United. Of course United dont want Rooney rushed back and then get injured. However in training today he challenged heavily with John Terry and was fine.

Sven has said that the final decision is up to him and Rooney. I personally think its best left to the medical staff completely. If Rooney was asked he would of course say yes. He is desperate to play in his first world cup. He is young and think he can play (even if he isnt properly fit). Its likely that he will miss all the group stage matches and assuming England get that far will be ready for the first knockout game. I think he will come on as sub in that game if needed. Hopefully he isnt needed and then he can play in the quarter finals. This will mean he wont need to play until the 30 June at the earliest.

Unfortunately Steven Gerrard is not only rated as 50-50 to play. He has a sore back. Fingers crossed he is fit. Only 1 more day to the world cup!!!