I'm not expecting much from this. The Portuguese were rubbish against Iran-they have no cutting edge whatsoever.

Every other team has three goalkeepers. That's why the size of tournament sqauds was increased to 23 so that an extra specialist player could be included.

So which is it? Anyway, Lee Dixon is convinced that England will murder Ecuador. Though he also maintained that England played flowing football ('at their best'). He must have had a few jars with the drunken English woman who, before tonight's game, loudly proclaimed "Oo's Ecuador?!"

Sweden pull it off again. England and Rooney looked knackered, although the reliably brilliant Gerrard dug them out. Already, the pundits are discounting a tasty looking Ecuador side who have the edge over England in as far passing the ball from A-B is concerned. As for Cole's goal-what an absolute pearler.

Can anyone explain the reasons for half of the last round of group matches being shown at the ridiculous time of 3 o'clock? It was understandable that there would be a early afternoon kick-off during the three matches per day run (otherwise, they'd be playing for two months). However now that we have moved on to two broadcasts per day, why drop the 5pm start and continue to play in the middle of the day when audiences are at work and the heat on the pitch is still suffocating? The host nation for instance will be seen by only a fraction of those viewing their previous two encounters. Talk about a farce.

He was out of the last game as he was suffering from piles. *snigger*

What's the reaction like in the French press Eddie?

The French have just p!ssed their World Cup up the wall. Again. Dear oh dear.

I thought the Portuguese were appalling yesterday. They lacked any sort of cutting edge and, Deco's goal aside, they never looked like troubling the Iranian back-line. Holland or Argentina should deal with them easily enough.

Ghana 1-0 up.

Once? Their games are on TV all the time.

Don't worry. You'll still win it.

The Argies are 3-0 up and looking like world-beaters. The second goal was a work of art.

Yes indeed. Celtic's right-back is Paul Telfer...

On what basis can you put England on a par with Brazil and the Argies?

I shouldn't have to. As for the French, they have even less reason to be optimistic. God that was a load of dreary rubbish yesterday.

I'd have to agree.

Yeah but Cafu's past it. You'll run rings round him. It's all looking good for England. They were quite good in the first half you know. So I'm told anyway.

It's missing a 'sick as a parrot'. Shoddy.

A brilliant game. I thought the Saudis had won it but Tunisia came right back at them. Exciting stuff.

The Ukraine walked their group. They may not be world beaters but they are a solid European outfit-certainly not deserving of an 'it's only Ukraine' label. It was only Paraguay.

That would be the Ukraine that qualified first out of UEFA? And their squad is patently better than England's. Indeed the Spain squad is consistently superior to most rivals. The problem is that they never perform. I can't see them breaking tradition this year. It was a good start but they'll soon bomb out as usual.

Hansen's Scottish apparently. Although it's probably a vicious rumour.

Indeed. Those people who pay the licence fee in NI, Wales and Scotland couldn't give a monkey's about England's chances at the World Cup. Yet, there on their TV screens every night-hype, hype, hype, hysteria, hysteria, hysteria. Oh and they play at potato throwing in the Republic of Ireland. Not Northern Ireland.

Exactly.