Allez Les Bleus it is then.

France were sh*t in their opening two games, you're right. However, you must have missed France toying with tournament favourites Brazil then. Nor did you see their battling display against a talented Spain side. England never came close to producing anything like that kind of football-that's sort of what all the fuss is about... You're right about Portugal though. I hope they go out tomorrow. They've produced some pretty dull stuff (save for the impressive win over Mexico). A player of Figo's ability deserves international success, but overall their lack of cutting edge is wearing extremely thin. Allez les bleus.

We've done well to get Roberts, he was very good last season. Jeffers on the other hand has been sh*te for years. There better be more signings on the way.

I thought Hargreaves was the best England player by a mile yesterday. He ran up and down for 120 minutes and dispatched his penalty with minimum of fuss. England fans see very little of him for obvious reasons, but he certainly undermined some of the mindless heckling he has been given in the past. You don't start in midfield for Bayern Munich without being able to play a bit.

I'm sorry I suppose. Please be calm Bob, you're one of the funniest posters on here. You always get my vote in the Groobys. The awareness of the press's possible reaction was certainly evident in some of the post-match comments-Steven Gerrard's in particular.

Sorry Bryan but I'm anything but a self-satisfied lawyer. I know I shouldn't laugh, but that priest analogy is hilarious. Anyway, in all seriousness, I have no intention of causing a row. There is nothing worse than a bad winner (even though, technically, I've won nothing). If you managed to deduce that from anything I've written since the England game, then I apologise.

I don't buy into the unfounded hysteria. So what? I certainly don't have a 'big problem with England'. I'm not going to rub your noses in the defeat. If you can decipher any putting in of the boot from my messages post-match, then I would be very impressed. And as for Tris's drivel, let's break it down: What complete and utter nonsense. I was not alone in my criticism of the BBC and could you really give a stuff about the WAGS-so what? Are they part of the national furniture or something? I have never once 'slagged off' Wayne Rooney. He is a fantastic footballer, the equal of any 'superstar' on show at the World Cup. However he stamped on the guy's bits. Saying so does not constitute an insult (however much you're drowning your sorrows). It's a shame for the English that he wasn't at the top of his game. Nor do I have any intention of provoking a row. If you've chosen to interpret it thus, that's your problem. I support Blackburn Rovers-that's very perceptive of you. However doing so in no way ties me to the English football team. It's as simple as that. The vast numbers of Irish people who follow English clubs do not support England. This is hardly seditious, off the wall behaviour. I'm Irish. My national team does not play in Belfast. An 'idiot like me'-you don't even know me. This is only a internet message board FFS! Inevitably, your rant has gotten personal. My reasons for still living at home are my own. My job has absolutely nothing to do with the subject of England's World Cup campaign. Catch yourself on. Dragging this into an argument (something my post-match message was in no way designed to do) is pointless and unnecessary. I have absolutely no intention of gloating.

In all honesty, I haven't a clue what that means. Unless it's a semi-clever reference to Rooney's actions.

Whatever. Rooney stamped on the guy's balls. I would imagine Ronaldo was winking at the bench due to Rooney's penchant for losing his cool (as I suggested).

You should be out in Germany. Blinded by logic, so spoiling for a fight. 'Time and place...' JHC.

Germany have played some of the best football in the tournament.

That was a truly dreadful game. England reverted to type once they were down a man, and Portugal offered absolutely nothing going forward. Penalties are a lottery but the fact that England consistently bomb out at such a stage is indicative of a deficiency in this department. The issues regarding the Portuguese conduct smack of nothing more than press desperation. Ronaldo (who was villified, bizarrely, by Jonathan Pearce because he kissed the ball before his spot-kick and had a staggered run-up ) didn't make Rooney grind his studs into Carvalho's balls and he certainly didn't convince the referee that a red card was the only reply. Rooney is a hot-head and may have been targeted for roughing-up but surely in the World Cup any edge that can be legally gained must be gained. How is this any different to some dirty great centre half giving a meek striker a kick in the first minute? England's tepid, dull performances did not warrant a place in the semi-final of the World Cup. I'm not completely convinced that the Portuguese are much to write home about either. They were awful and should struggle once more against a defence as determined as England's.

If he can remember where it is.

I would consider France a better side than Portugal, World Cup performances notwithstanding.

A very interesting game, the know-how of the French squad saw them through against a very well put together Spain team. I was disappointed to see Henry getting up to the sort of cheating that you would imagine him to be above. That display of play-acting was peerless in its blatancy. On the other hand it was great to see the mighty Zidane wrap it up. Yes his team are overly reliant on him, yes his legs are slowly giving way. But as a playmaker and leader by sheer example, the man is unquestionably the finest player I have ever seen grace a football field Yes you're right. The Spanish went out to France (solid, vastly experienced, if unspectacular). England scrapped through against, erm...Ecuador. Of course the history books never show context. However I find it baffling that England fans (though I don't tar all of you with the same brush) can be so supremely smug when their own side seems to be stuck in second gear, performing valiantly against the mightiest South American and Caribbean opponents. Fortunately for the English, the draw favoured them. While their betters have been meeting in various exciting and dynamic encounters, eliminating each other in the true spirit of World Cup football, Svennis and the WAGS could yet lurch into the semis proving that hard-work (and very little else) really does pay off. Good luck to them.

Eh? Terry's one of the best defenders in Europe without a shadow of a doubt.

I'm gutted for the Aussies, it was never a penalty. Grosso didn't dive but tripped over Neill (why was he on the ground?). True to form the jammy Ities squeeze through. Bloody typical.

Coylaldo # 7. I like the sound of that.

Jealous of...? Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Germany perhaps. But it's not really possible to be jealous of England. We may not like them, but we certainly don't envy them. Surely the standard of England's group was irrelevant? Were you not going to blow away all challengers?

From the Guardian article: That just about sums up England's progress so far. They'll play better eventually though. Well...so I'm told. People shouldn't be surprised to see them stumble into the semis though. Last night's brawl robbed the Portuguese of Deco and possibly Ronaldo. With England's superiors eliminating each other, Beckham and company may find themselves in the last four and eventually wake up from whatever prolonged malaise has gripped them.

The ITV crowd are picking off the Portugal players like flies, desperately seeking to rid themselves of their threatening opponents.

Rooney. No question.

It was better than Cole's goal. The ball came to Rodriguez at an angle, at speed and on his weaker foot. Awesome.

That's lucky for you then. You were about to have the News of the World knocking at your door.

The Argies had a nasty scare last night. The winning goal was the most incredible thing you'll see at this World Cup. Messi must start the next game-he was terrifying in extra-time.