Take your point griz, but there's been no one that's done the magic dribble, taken a team apart, that's mesmerised an opposition. It's taken a good hit. OK 24 passes from the Argies, could be classed as flat defending from their opponents, but I appreciate keeping the ball for that long. What about the one bloke touch and volley, the one guy beating three/four and having a hit, it's not been there this time yet. There have been games that have been close, but for me, they've been lacking.

Cards, red or otherwise can be given at any point, before, in, or immediately after a game. In fact, if player came out of the sheds after a game and abused a ref, then he/she could(just could) be given a card.

As long as the number 16 for Milan doesn't come to Ewood park to ply his trade, except as an opposition player.

And don't we know it, philipl. Kalac is woeful. I'm sue the only reason he sits on the bench at Milan is to stop another player getting splinters.

Sorry den, I thought you were referring to the penalty that was given. The Viduka incident was more of a rugby tackle, and yes it would have been harder for the ref to miss it. Now we come down to the business end of the tournament. There are no second chances from herein. I can't see Australia progressing much further, I think the Italians will have too much class. What the Aussies miss is someone who can turn it on. We have a team that can run all day, but lack that player who can do something to change the course of a game by some insperational play.

What are peoples opinion of the standard of the play to date? For me, it's been a bit ordinary, there doesn't seem to have been many spectacular moments. Maybe things will improve as the quality teams play each other in the knockout stages. Your thoughts.......

Fife, If, as a player, I made three or four mistakes in a game I'd be happy. Seeing it on TV it looks oh so easy, but he could have been unsighted, we just don't know. I think that Poll got a bit rattled late on when that Croatian laid his hands on him. Did you see his reaction to that? Kalac must go. A disaster. Should never have been on the park.

I thought Poll was going OK until the last 20, then he seemed to lose it completely. Don't get me going about Kalac. The guy is nowhere near an international keeper. Bert had to go for his 2nd booking, bit unlucky though, it looked like a reaction thing. Lucas is having a great tournament.

We live another day. That 2nd half was mayhem towards the end.

What is Kalac doing on the park? disgraceful keeping. Penalty was for handball, den.

There are three. I was unsure, that's why I put the "Is it" in brackets. Whatever, I predict this game to be a cracker. Might not be the most technical of games, but should be a proper football match.

Cart before the horse springs to mind. Where was Rooney when Owen "burst onto the scene"? Rooney has a lot to do before he really proves himself. Yes, he's good, consistently good,at this stage, maybe not.

Den, I'm not sure that that is his problem. He does seem to move into space. My problem with him is that he doesn't attack the ball, ala Shearer; he waits for it to come to him. If he were getting to the ball at pace and heading it, he'd be unstoppable.

I noticed that. What have things come to? Isn't there the confidence in the defence? Beckham was ordinary, and sorry boys, can't say I'm a fan of Crouch. I wasn't that impressed with Sweden either, maybe the problem with England is that they can only play as well as their opponents. Maybe they will rise to the occasion if they play an oppositon that is playing well.

He was talking Swahili with a bit of Portugese then.

SR didn't get thrown out, did he Clare? He's good at that

Oklahoma, are you sure about the card situation? I thought that the cards were withdrawn at the end of the group stage.

Don't you hate "heroic" losses. That was a game that could have had another result quite easily. Still it's a loss and can't be turned around. I could say that the Brazilians have had a close shave, but I won't The next game against the Croats will be an interesting one given that there are (is it ) four Australian born players in their team. Expect some fireworks.

Going to be a long night. Might hit the sack now, and get some sleep before the game

Got to agree with you Lubez. I play with a few guys from that region, great players, great skills, but when it goes t1ts up, for them, it's who on my own side can I blame. Chemistry, or lack of it, sums it up.

Fraud! No photo's, no name!

Well, the Aussies ground out a great win, but realistically there's a lot to do. A team with any organisation about them would have murdered us today. In truth, the Japanese were very one dimentional, their "finesse" was non existant, their last pass bad. What got the Aussies over the line was determination, nothing less. It will take a bit more than that to advance much further. Hopefully against Brazil they will be able to nullify some of the true stars of world football, it is just a hope; but I can't see any points coming our way. It will need a result in their last game. I'm trying not to be too pessimistic, I think that we should be able to get to the 2nd round, but some players are going to have to play out of their skins. Prediction: Bert will not start in the next game.

SR, saw you on the ABC news the other day, next to a guy being interviewed. You are becoming a media slut, aren't you? :ph34r:

Sorry IHD, Lucas will have a stormer. He'll play centre mid. X fingers crossed

Must admit that the SBS coverage in Australia has been fabulous. We've had Martin Tyler and a few others and they have been even handed, informative and descriptive. All I need now is some information on how to stay awake for the night games. The wife and daughter are in Hong Kong, so who is there to get me out of bed in the morning?