New Zealand? Are you kidding me? And did you hear about the French team?

[Gerry]

Wow, a tie with Italy is a major victory for the Kiwi team.

Italy is the defending World Cup champions and always considered favorites and a threat.

The NZ goalie was totally awesome.

Italy's only goal came on a one-on-one penalty shot.


And what about France.

A player criticizes some of the coach's decisions after the first game.
The coach dismisses the player and sends him back to France.
France losses the next match.
Today, the French team arrives at their practice stadium.
The coach and the fitness coach get into an argument.
The fitness coach rips off his World Cup badge, throw it down on the ground and quits.
Then the head of the French team also rips off his credentials and throws them on the ground and quits.
What did the French players do?
They got back on the buses and refused to practice.

Wow! A total meltdown of the France team.

[fenomeno]

We all remember the hand in match against Ireland. So i cant say that i feel sorry for France team right now.

It seems that this WC will be marked by Latin America teams. I am from Europe, but really like Latin America football, and attacking style of football, with many great moves.

And need to say that England is one of the biggest dissapointment at this stage. They will go through the group i stronlgy believe but they dont play well. My country didnt qualify this time because we played bad in mathches agains England, but we would beat them if they were playing against us like they play now.

[Gerry]

We all remember the hand in match against Ireland. So i cant say that i feel sorry for France team right now.

It seems that this WC will be marked by Latin America teams. I am from Europe, but really like Latin America football, and attacking style of football, with many great moves.

And need to say that England is one of the biggest dissapointment at this stage. They will go through the group i stronlgy believe but they dont play well. My country didnt qualify this time because we played bad in mathches agains England, but we would beat them if they were playing against us like they play now.

Oh, that hand ball indeed! I had forgotten it was against Ireland.

I agree with the observation of the Latin American teams. The attack and try to make it a half field game. Some of the timing on their passing and set plays are just phenomenal to watch.

Of any of the classes, I honestly expected England to coast through their first set of matches to advance. But now? Not so sure.

But the French...is this an outright mutiny? They refused to train?

France director resigns amid disarray

France's next opponent is host nation South Africa who badly needs a win to stay in the tourney.

This is all turning into quite a soap opera.

[fenomeno]

France have players to beat South Africa 10:0, but i would not be surprised if they dont win at all!
About England, i am pretty sure that they will beat Slovenia very easy, and their first two matches will be forgotten and they will still have chances to become world champions just as they had before beginning.
Latin teams are really phenomal at this WC, Brazil won as expected, and today Chile won too.

As i am from Europe, it would be normal that i support European teams, but i prefer Latin teams, and European Spain and Nederlands.

I cant say how sorry i am because i have not the opportunity to watch Ronaldo at this Worl Cup. I am sure here would be phenomenal even now after all his problems. He is one of three football Gods of all time alongside with Maradona and Pele. Of course i mean on one and only Ronaldo, Luis Nazario de Lima

[Gerry]

Latin teams are really phenomal at this WC, Brazil won as expected, and today Chile won too.

As i am from Europe, it would be normal that i support European teams, but i prefer Latin teams, and European Spain and Nederlands.

The Latin teams are phenomenal.

They are aggressive and never seem to stop running after the ball. I watched Chile today and could not get over how that pursued even errant kicks, even those straight at the goalie. Seemed a couple of times they hurried up the goalie to get rid of the ball which I am sure was part of their game plan.

And Spain just finished up. Could have (should have) been a 5-0 win.

The Renaldo goal was very comical to watch and he knew it. What a fantastic video clip that makes. Someone is going to come along and say "he meant to do that" or "he's been practicing that" (carrying the ball on the nape of his neck, dropping it, kicking, and then scoring).

[dcristo]

Good result for the Kiwis but the Italians were not considered favorites to win this World Cup (and this is coming from an Italian). Spain and Brazil were the two big favorites coming into the WC. Italy hasn't played too bad but England and France have been terrible.