Rousseau

And when you realise you have the same predictions as Gonzo for those matches...

Belgium-Panama up next! My joker comes into play for this one...

Quite a few scores from the Sweden win against S. Korea. Rousseau, compo, Whosthedado, lenny3k, Franc Ergs, Yorkie, Gaffer, dB, UKCrazyhorse, coop, BEARGER, TB and Sindarin gained 1 point for the Correct Result. buster. and Barebear gained 3 points for the Correct Score. No Jokers applied. Latest Standings:

For me, the foreign pundits are the only ones who know what they are talking about.

I was impressed by the Swiss! After a bad start they got themselves sorted and never really looked troubled.

Joker card? @Gonzo79

Well, from those latter two games, only one player gained points. Incredibly, Franc Ergs gained 3 points for the Correct Score in the Brazil-Switzerland game. Latest Standings:

Surely we paid Melbourne to take him?

Russia 2 - 1 Egypt Portugal 2 - 0 Morocco Uruguay 3 - 0 Saudi Arabia Iran 0 - 3 Spain Denmark 1 - 1 Australia France 2 - 1 Peru Argentina 2 - 2 Croatia Brazil 3 - 0 Costa Rica Joker Nigeria 0 - 1 Iceland Serbia 1 - 2 Switzerland Belgium 3 - 0 Tunisia South Korea 0 - 3 Mexico Germany 2 - 0 Sweden England 2 - 0 Panama Japan 0 - 1 Senegal Poland 1 - 2 Colombia

Sorry about the timing, but Russia play their 2nd round match on the same day Group H plays their first! Anyway, here are the fixtures for the second round of matches: Russia vs Egypt Portugal vs Morocco Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia Iran vs Spain Denmark vs Australia France vs Peru Argentina vs Croatia Brazil vs Costa Rica Nigeria vs Iceland Serbia vs Switzerland Belgium vs Tunisia South Korea vs Mexico Germany v Sweden England vs Panama Japan vs Senegal Poland vs Colombia You have until 19:00 on Tuesday 19th June to get these predictions in! Remember to apply your Joker. @Malangsob @Franc Ergs @craig @TheUKCrazyhorse @Whosthedado @lenny3k @Crimson Dynamo @johnnyk @Gaffer @forlanssister @onevision @buster. @Sindarin @Bill @der Berliner @BEARGER @Bluedell @compo @Barebear @Tannochsidebear @cooponthewing @Yorkie Bear @ranger_syntax @Gonzo79

They weren't great, but I think they were made to look poor by a Mexico side that (a) wanted it more, as you said, and (b) were tactically superior. Germany did what they always do -- at least recently -- which works: possession-football, high-fullbacks, fluid front 3/4 looking to run in-behind. Mexico nullified them tactically: outnumbered them by switching between a back-3 and back-4. Kroos, Ozil and Muller were marked out the game, and their runners in-behind were covered with their back-3. They were also really brave in the counter, leaving 2/3 players up the field -- especially for corners!

Easiest write yet! No one got anything. As you were LG x

I read somewhere that it was a fitness issue? Not sure, though.

Like I wrote elsewhere, Mexico are a very impressive side, tactically. Their fluidity is brilliant to see, switching from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3, to 3-3-1-3. They got it spot-on today. Germany weren't bad, albeit they were slow, but Mexico had them sussed tactically; they just couldn't play.

Germany-Mexico up next!

Some good scores from this game. Rousseau, onevision, Bill, CD, dB, Barebear, r_s, BEARGER, BD, FS and Sindarin gained 1 point for the Correct Result. Whosthedado, Franc Ergs, buster., Johnnyk and Malangsob gained 3 points for the Correct Score. No one had a joker applied to this game. Latest Standings:

And... it's gone.

What a goal from Kolarov! 0-1 Serbia

And both look quite good going forward. I think Serbia's better quality may be the difference.

How can you dislike Evra?! He's just a likeable guy. (I mute the woman.)

This Serbia team looks really exciting on paper.

When you fully intend to hate Henrik Larsson but he speaks quite well...

Of course, but that would be unfortunate. A Correct Score or two propels anyone right up the table; it's quite close.

Three games today: Costa Rica-Serbia, Germany-Mexico and Brazil-Switzerland. It's always interesting to see Brazil get started. Germany-Mexico could be interesting; Mexico are a talented side with intriguing tactical flexibility -- they start with a 4-3-3, then switch mid-game to a 3-4-3, or even a 3-3-3-1. Very fluid, with some exciting talents. They are up against Germany, though. Interesting game.