Consecutive nights of extra time, coupled with the natural build up of the TV viewer's equivalent of lactic acid have meant that I'm feeling slightly fatigued at the moment. Don't get me wrong, the football is just brilliant, but even I am looking forward to the 2 day break later in the week, and again on Sunday and Monday. The tournament catches me out like this every time with group stages and round of 16 both being massively intense; followed by a short break and all of a suddenly it is all over.
This second round has been brilliant. When I left you in the last blog post, Mexico were looking good and were robbed at the death by two late goals, first by Sneijder (with an absolute thunderbolt) and then a cajunas penalty from the greatest player who never reached proper fame, Jan-Klaas Hunterlaar. He is such a clinical and consistent centre forward - just gutted not to have seen him in the Premier League.
Costa Rica then played Greece and amazingly made the Quarter Finals, having held on with 10 men for quite some time. It was a cracking game after a slow first half.
Yesterday I saw France set up their QF berth, in a game where they looked lacklustre and could easily have lost; followed by another lunatic match; Germany vs Algeria, which was just carnage. Germany seem to have been infected by the illness of the tournament - poor defending, displaying none of the solidity you'd normally expect. Algeria were brilliant, pouring forward at every opportunity, but ultimately let Germany have too many chances and bowed out. The highlight of that match surely has to be Glen Hoddle referring to Algeria as "Al-Jazeera". Classic TV moment.
Tonight I am watching my nemesis Switzerland in a surprisingly even game. Argentina seem to not want to be there and if anything Switzerland have looked more likely. I'm not sure I can cope with them staying in the tournament any longer.
This second round has been brilliant. When I left you in the last blog post, Mexico were looking good and were robbed at the death by two late goals, first by Sneijder (with an absolute thunderbolt) and then a cajunas penalty from the greatest player who never reached proper fame, Jan-Klaas Hunterlaar. He is such a clinical and consistent centre forward - just gutted not to have seen him in the Premier League.
Costa Rica then played Greece and amazingly made the Quarter Finals, having held on with 10 men for quite some time. It was a cracking game after a slow first half.
Yesterday I saw France set up their QF berth, in a game where they looked lacklustre and could easily have lost; followed by another lunatic match; Germany vs Algeria, which was just carnage. Germany seem to have been infected by the illness of the tournament - poor defending, displaying none of the solidity you'd normally expect. Algeria were brilliant, pouring forward at every opportunity, but ultimately let Germany have too many chances and bowed out. The highlight of that match surely has to be Glen Hoddle referring to Algeria as "Al-Jazeera". Classic TV moment.
Tonight I am watching my nemesis Switzerland in a surprisingly even game. Argentina seem to not want to be there and if anything Switzerland have looked more likely. I'm not sure I can cope with them staying in the tournament any longer.
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