Rousseau

I'm not sure, were they not training in that top too? I don't like it whatever it is.

They look like 4-3-3s.

Couple of good scores in this one. onevision, compo, Craig, Gaffer, r_s, johnnyk, UKCrazyhorse and Coop gain 1 point for the Correct Result. Barebear, Malangsob and BEARGER gain 3 points for the Correct Score. Malangsob pulls away but the pack are bunching up! Latest Standings:

Fixed that for you. I've enjoyed Switzerland, so I'd like to see them progress. It'll be a tight one.

I've just seen the teams for the first game, and Switzerland have 2 defenders missing through suspension. My prediction's taking a hit already.

Kenny Miller's first half-time team talk:

I'm looking forward to the Sweden-Switzerland game; I've been impressed with both, for different reasons. It should be a very close match, with a good tactical display.

Yes, I'm also surprised Portugal got out of their group without Dalcio.

Brazil? Yes, their decision-making was poor; they failed to trouble them too much. Belgium should trouble them, but I see Brazil really troubling the Belgium defence, which is rather poor. It should be a good game. Fair enough, RE James. It's no surprise, though, that in the game they (Columbia) struggled, James went off injured after 25 minutes...

I didn't see the Columbia-Senegal game, but I have been impressed by how they play. Very few of main contenders have actually been tested. Perhaps Brazil-Mexico was the only game that through up a decent test. James is their main man; he is one of the best midfielders in world football.

I think Columbia have been good thus far. A lot depends on James.

When's the TNS match?

This WC has been fabulous.

Which paper had labelled the figure "huge"?

That second Japan goal screwed almost every prediction! All except one gained 1 point for the Correct Result. Latest Standings:

Under-promise and over-deliver... #GPLIsComingHome

Absolutely; no need at all for the little dig -- a stamp, really. Neymar is still a t*t. Marvellous player, but I can do without the histrionics.

I'm not wrong in saying UKCrazyhorse and Malangsob have been the best thus far. I've snuck in there with a couple of Correct Scores recently, but that won't last.

Danny Ings? Sure...

It was a red on Neymar, if the Referee notices, but my, you wouldn't get tired of slapping that. Absolute t*t of a player.

The majority gained points for this one, except those that didn't predict, and, interestingly, the 2 main contenders! All except Malangsob and UKCrazyhorse gained 1 point for the Correct Result. lenny3k and r_s gained 3 points for the Correct Score. It's really heating up now! Latest Standings:

I predicted a Brazil win, but I wouldn't mind seeing Mexico win this. Oh... 3 minutes in and Neymar is rolling around.

Denmark are interesting: they play with a Target-man in Cornelius, then also have another wide right, Poulsen, in a 4-2-3-1, which allows them to play long diagonals to him. Eriksen as the #10 drifts over to that right side to link-up play and create. They don't play with natural wingers at all. Braithwaite on the other 'wing' is a forward, who likes to drift inside. I wonder why it's only Rangers that seem to need two out-and-out wingers to be successful...

Croatia were shot, mentally and physically; they just couldn't string two passes together. Denmark weren't great either, but they made it work tactically. Croatia did this last time too: looked like real favourites, rest players in the third group game, then lose the plot in the knock-out stages. They were very fortunate to get through. Let's hope the real Croatia turn up; that wasn't it.