Spain went out in the first round in 1998.

Desailly and O'Neill have been excellent tonight-a world away from Ian Wright and his peanut-sized brain.

They looked pretty god from where I was sitting-certainly the most complete performance of the tournament so far.

The coverage so far has been shockingly bad. ITV has paled in comparison to the hysterical jingoism evident on BBC. Yesterday for example, before the Mexico-Iran tie, we had Gary and Lee Dixon making derisory comments about how unfortunate it was having to watch 'games like this'. It turned out to be a good match but they looked oh so bored. England, England, England...

If Owen is still to reach peak fitness, then what does that signal for Rooney? No doubt the guy will be drafted in well ahead of time to inspire some sort of excitment.

Desperate, unashamed yet predictable back-tracking by the BBC's team as they reflect on a dreary, spiritless perfomance.

ITV is consistently crap however I was most unsettled by the BBC coverage yesterday. The hour's worth of pre-game analysis was focused almost entirely on all things English. While I understand the natural interest in the national team, as a public broadcaster the BBC's jingoistic, cloying attitude (in which Germany, a possible knock-out stage opponent, were consistently criticised despite a good performance) to be very unprofessional. There are licence payers in the rest of the UK who simply want to watch the World Cup without being exposed to the apparent assumption that we all want England to win.

Group E, the second of the tournament's so called groups 'of death', features the hugely impressive Czechs along with perennial heavyweights Italy. However Ghana could prove a stiff challenge for all of their opponents especially considering they qualified over South Africa. They meet the Czech Republic in Cologne on the 17th of June in a game that could decide their respective fates. How they qualified Czech Republic-They finished second in their qualifying group behind the Dutch (losing twice to said team) before cruising through against Norway in the play-offs with a 2-0 aggregate score. Ghana-As stated above, they topped their group, beating African power-house South Africa to Germany. Finals record Czech Republic-As Czechoslovakia they finished second in 1934 and 1962. This is the first World Cup for which the team has qualified since the country split in 1993. Ghana-The Africans are making their debut. Head to head This is the first time that the two teams have met. Star player Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic)-A midfielder of skill, passion, grit and power, Nedved has been one of the best players in the world for the last decade. He may be a fading force, but his inspirational qualities remain as potent as ever. Coming out of international retirement to help his country qualify through the play-offs, the Juventus star is amazingly playing in his first World Cup (he has lit up the European Championships on three occasions). If Nedved fancies it, Ghana won't know what's hit them. He is capable of dragging his team a very long way in this tournament. Stephen Appiah (Ghana)-Michael Essien may be the big name but Appiah, the team captain, is the heartbeat of the side. Strong, skilful and cultured he brings real quality to the midfield and his partnership with the powerful Essien is essential to the cause. Coach Karel Bruckner (Czech Republic)-Previously coached a successful U-21 side, many members of which now play in the senior squad. Very much a father figure, he commands total respect and his commitment to all-out attacking football is popular with both fans and players. His tactics were undermined though at the European Championships as his superior team were stifled and then beaten by the unforgiving Greeks. Ratomir Djukovic (Ghana)-The Serbian (whose name means 'War and Peace' in Serbo-Croat) is a tough disciplinarian who has coached all over Africa. He led Rwanda to the country's first African Cup of Nations appearance in 2004. His tactics are indicative of his character, suffocating and harassing opponents into submission. He has a tendency to fall out with his players, Sami Kuffour and Stephen Appiah have both fallen foul of his temper. Style of play Czech Republic-A whirlwind attack of pace and movement sees Nedved, Jan Koller, the lethal Milan Baros and the veteran Karel Poborksy hit the opposition from all angles. The threat is very real be it in the air, on the ground or from the middle. Add to the mix the talents of the gliding genius Tomas Rosicky along with the adventurous left-back Marek Jankulovski and this is an exciting team to watch. The defence is often left exposed-fortunately they have the best goalkeeper in the world in Petr Cech. Ghana-A high pressure game based on tight marking and suffocation of the opposition, Ghana aren't the prettiest side to watch. A strong defence marshalled by Roma's Sami Kuffour and a mountainous midfield barrier make the side hard to break down. Lacking creativity, they rely on their speed and the industry provided by the strong base in the middle. Key battles Koller-v-Kuffour-The highly rated Kuffour will have his work cut out in containing the giant Czech front man. In spite of their slick credentials the Czechs have no problem pumping the ball into Koller who is unsurprisingly effective in the air yet decent on the deck. The African is a strong, domineering centre-half who will need to be on top of his game to tie up a player whose nuisance value is as important as his goal scoring. Nedved -v-Essien-Despite an often controversial debut year in the Premiership, Essien performed consistently in Chelsea's engine room. Tireless and bursting with power and verve, he is the ultimate modern-day 'midfield general.' He can't be intimidated by the legendary Nedved who still possesses the energy and skill to dominate every opponent no matter how youthful. Essien must be aware of the Czech's ability to collect the ball in deep positions and shoot from almost anywhere inside the opposition half. Rosicky-v-Appiah-The Fenerbahce player is a quality perfomer in the midfield area (see above) but he must use all his experience to counter the threat posed by the Czech Republic's schemer-in-chief. Arsenal's new signing can pick up possession in any area and find space, either with his accurate passing or his tight dribbling skill, quick feet and effortless running style. He was easily the best player in the Czech team that should have won Euro 2004 and is the key component in an experienced side. Other facts Czech Republic Capital-Prague Population-10,220,000 Currency-Czech Koruna Language-Czech Did you know? Tourists stung by public transport inpectors in Prague are subject to a charge of 500 Koruna (£12.50) each. Czech citizens must pay double that. I found this out to my detriment back in April. Ghana Capital-Accra Population-21,031,000 Currency-Cedi (Official) Language-English Did you know? Ghana was the first African country to gain independence from the British Empire. My prediction Czech Republic 2-1 Ghana. The Czech's will have too much for spirited opponents. Good attacking options should out-fox an ultimately limited challenge.

Is Italy vs. Czech Rep taken? Edit: It is.

Ramos's last club was Seville.

Sven claims Rooney is 'injury free'.

I don't disagree with your stance one iota. They may not have won the league in a while but they're still scum.

Priceless. 'Irresponsible AIDS spreading bi-sexuals.' You just couldn't make it up. By the way are there heterosexual 'pillow-biters' we should be worried about? Or are they just poofters who don't know it yet?

Terrible to see this news. Hopefully Giuly will now get the place he deserves.

Rooney.

That would be Just Fontaine at the 1958 World Cup.

I had a deprived childhood. My father is a sports journalist and a big football fan and my brother and I railed against it to a certain degree. Up until the age of 10 I had no interest whatsoever in the game. I started following Rovers at the end of 1993/94 yet I had little concept of the World Cup. Consequently I remember almost nothing of that year's tournament save for Ireland's meagre participation and the final (which my dad, my brother and I stayed up late to watch while on holiday in France). A lot can change in four years. By the time France 98 rolled round I was a fully fledged football geek-watching it, playing it, memorising it. I watched almost every game (minus for the couple that were on during school hours & the final group games that were played in tandem). My memories of the 1998 World Cup: -The opening game between Brazil and Scotland. It was actually rubbish but the hype and excitment was unbelievable. The hysteria surrounding Ronaldo will certainly effect a 14 year old and I was in awe of the guy (I still rate him). -Mustapha Hadji's performance in the second game of the tournament; a 2-2 draw with the dreary Norwegians. -The Brazilians' destruction of Morocco in Nantes. Ronaldo scored an absolute pearler. They looked as if they'd stroll the whole thing. -The French opener against South Africa. I was struck by how bad the Frogs were. -Anderton's belter and Beckham's free-kick, both against Columbia. -The Morocco keeper (Benzekri) wearing trousers. And he was sh*t. -Baggio redeeming himself against Chile and the brilliant perfomance of the much hyped Marcelo Salas in the same game. -The Brazilians losing to Norway (somehow). The realisation that this Denilson chap was really rubbish. -Chilavert taking freekicks . -Spain beating Bulgaria 6-1 and still going home early. -Bergkamp's masterpiece against the Argies. -Ronaldo's second round dismantling of a quality Chilean side in Paris. -The Croations blowing away the opposition. -The abject crapness of the Germans. -Owen's wonder goal against Argentina. Then England went out. -France's semi-final against Croatia. Lilian Thuram scores two goals to put the French in the final. -Brazil scraping through on penalties against the Dutch. Ronaldo and friends really weren't all they were cracked up to be. -The awesome French triumph, spear-headed (pun intended) by the great Zizou. By the time Japan and Korea 2002 started I was doing my A-Levels. I chose France-Senegal (the opening match) over a cosy seat in the deserted library with the only girl I ever really fancied in school (she broke my heart but that's a very long story ). It was a good game and a huge shock, reminiscent of Cameroon's amazing victory over the dirty Argies at Italia 90. My memories of this one: -Just how bloody good the Senegalese team was. -Rivaldo's theatrics after our very own Hakan Unsal kicked the ball at him. -An outrageously talented Portugal team's determination to self-destruct (including a loss to country whose citizens call the sport 'soccer'). -Edmilson's spectacular over-head against a decent Costa Rican side in one of the best games of the tournament. -The Saudis getting mauled 8-0 by Germany. -The French. WTF!? -Matt Holland's scorcher against Cameroon. -Robbie Keane's last minute beauty against the Germans. -Our thumping of Saudi Arabia. -Our exit (gloriously Irish). -England's exit (glorious) -Ronaldinho's wonder goal in the same game. -The South Koreans' march to the semis. -Brazil restoring the rightful balance. -Ronaldo being fat, unfit and still the best player in it.

It took Gary Neville 21 weeks to recover from a metatarsal injury. Michael Owen broke the same bone on New Year's Eve. He still isn't fully fit.

There are reports in today's papers that Rooney was doing some pretty rigorous training yesterday. The bloke has two fractures in his foot, there is no way that the injuries could have healed sufficiently. It may not be hurting but will the affected area be able to withstand sustained match pressure?!

If that piece is straight up then it's rather typical of the US attitude to the world outside its vast border. Belittling the fact that 1 billion people will watch the tournament is clearly based on the premise that America is the centre of the world. Who cares what one billion non-Americans do in unison for a month? Will that amount of people watch the poxy 'Super' Bowl, the 'World' Series, the NBA finals (the winners of which are proclaimed 'world champions') the Stanley Cup? I doubt it. Maddening.

Of course you would. And it was a foul. The type that gets called every week in the Premiership. Goalkeepers may be overprotected but them's the rules.

The one where Terry fouled the goalkeeper-that's the one.

1994.

It was a foul.

Hardly. Maradona was clearly a cheat when it came to the 'Hand of God' but such discrepancies are unlikely to undermine his status as the second greatest player ever.