Still think Brazil are the most likely winners of the tournament. The teams who've been scoring goals like confetti so far are likely to miss more chances in later matches and/or not make as many because they've peaked too early. 

Even a bent ref couldn't have awarded that, it was so obvious it was a dive.

Saying that, Croatia got done the other night.

I have no idea what lies behind this notion. Yes, some teams get worse. But the idea that playing well early means you are "peaking too early" in a 7-match tournament is, I would think, a bit shaky.

The only way Brazil will win the World Cup on tonights effort is if they give the refs a backhander!!!!!

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Gary

Team of the tournament for me so far is Germany. Well rounded, balanced - even without Reuss.

I don't read too much into the Dutch hammering of Spain last week - just one of those bad days at the office for the waiters, to mix my metaphors.

Now if the Dutch go out and do something similar to a similarly talented team as Spain I might sit up and take notice.

I would put Argentina up there, only won 2-1 but look comfortable and confident.

Argentina and Germany will both be there at the business end of the competition.

Those were my thoughts also.

Akinfeev is normally a good goalkeeper, but he has looked well dodgy throughout the game. The mistake for the goal though has to be a fix.

The Artificials look sound and agree with you about Holland. Nonetheless, a European team has never won the World Cup in South America!

Cheers for the suggestions, chaps. Picky I know, but I like to watch my highlights package late evening when I'm mellowed out, and preferably without me knowing the result.

Mornings for me are a case of snatching every last second of sleep before rushing round to get ready, and help with the kids, then out by 8am.

I can sympathise with that entirely, for me though it's my bit of solace between 6 and 6.30 usually whilst eating toast before the horrors awake and the madness that is morning rush hour begins!

I just hope that the mostly high quality of games seen so far is maintained throughout the knockout phase once it starts and right through to the final. Germany 2006 saw an exciting group phase with many high scoring matches but many teams became more defensive from the 2nd round onwards. The last World Cup four years ago was a total snoozefest from beginning to end.

What do you make to that response by Australia!? One of the goals of the tournament! 

This is the Dutch I've come to expect - they go and score and immediately concede.

1-1. And a fair reflection of the match.

Great goal from Cahill.

I need the Dutch to win though, just to really crank up the pressure on the waiters for this evening's match.

The Dutch defence is a shambles. Good portents for United in the PL.

Contraversial - but 2-1 Oz!