No posts from the host? Must still be reeling from that U.S./Slovenia result. Comedy defending aside, the Cameroon/Denmark match could well help "grow the game" in this part of the world. Eto'o the egotist vs Nicklas Bendtder, the man whose favorite footballer is Nicklas Bendtner, made for one hell of a spectacle. The Danes bore absolutely no resemblence to the team that lost so hopelessly to Holland. Tomasson was preposterously unlucky not to score, and Cameroon had no answer for Rommedahl down the right side. Denmark/Japan is clearly the match to watch next week. Shame about Cameroon though. Webo had some quality chances.

Last night's England/Algeria match left me feeling despondent about the state of the game in my mother's home country. I find myself in the previously impossible position of cheering for Slovenia to beat them. U.S.A. showed real resolve, passion, and belief in forcing a tie in their last match (the fact they were robbed of a win is obviously well documented here and elsewhere). Based on what I've seen so far, England will be lucky to draw the Slovenians, but something deep inside me says they will prevail and, ultimately, advance. Rooney stinks though, and is a shadow (to this point) of the player who burst onto the scene in Euro 2004. Where is the new young team? Is England's go to alternative seriously Peter Crouch? I'd be interested to know who was left off this squad at forward. Anyway, the group remains wide open at this point, particularly if you consider the fact that an Algeria win against the U.S. could put the African side through.

Tomorrow's late game between Brazil and Ivory Coast, on paper, is worthy of a World Cup final match. I can only hope it lives up to the hype. Go Elephants! Go Kiwis!