FIFA WORLD CUP POST 19

i stayed up till 3.30 am.. well i kinda switched off once it was clear that the Czechs couldn't buy a goal against the most famous defence in world football, i.e. the Italians.. really they were trying to cut through a pumpkin with a butter knife - a lone striker who is at best 5' 8" up front, down to ten men from late in the 1st half.. of course this and the Ghanaian victory meant that the Czechs, who i did tip to finish top ahead of Italy in their group and have played some really good football until now, are going home early.. football is the loser, even though the Ghanaians do play some good, tough, battling, Bulldogs-themed football..

now this will be the only time i support an Australian team, but i did feel a bit emotional when the "Socceroos" got the result they needed against the Croats to reach the 2nd round for the first time in their history.. it was an exciting game, probably the most dramatic in the tournament thus far, thanks to some rather dodgy English refereeing and migrant v origin rivalry..

just 8 more games tomorrow to decide the last 4 teams of the last 16.. tomorrow morning before i go do a job, there's France v Togo, Switzerland v South Korea to decide who goes through from Group G.. France despite being World Champions 8 years ago, are certainly not guaranteed a place in the last 16, and must beat their former colony to even have a chance of going through.. will prob come down to goal difference, with Switzerland ahead of South Korea on that count at present..

prediction: Switzerland and France.. having lost the Czechs, may just need one more big team in the knockouts to make it good.. Spain should be in there too..