Rousseau

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.

Latest Standings:

For Peru-Denmark, lenny3k, Franc Ergs, CD, Gaffer, dB, r_s and FS gained 1 point for the Correct Result. Craig, Barebear, UKCrazy, and Malangsob gained 3 points for the Correct Score! Malangsob also gained an extra 3 points for applying his joker to the Correct Score! For Croatia-Nigeria, quite a few picked up points. Onevision, Bill, Whosthedado, Yorkie, Gaffer, buster., Barebear, Johnnyk, Coop, Malangsob, BEARGER and Sindarin gained 1 point for the Correct Result. Rousseau, compo, lenny3k, Craig, CD, UKCrazy and BD gained 3 points for the Correct Score! There were no jokers applied to this game.

When you get your first Correct Score but so does everyone else...

He always finds space, it's his finishing that was the issue towards the end of the season.

Give a 'brotha' a minute... I've not written up those scores yet. I'm in no rush, though, I got nothing...

I think that qualifies as tragic?

I thought the Argentina game would be tight. Iceland are difficult to play against. Messi's penalty was bad, but I think Cuevas has just beaten it for Peru. Terrible penalty.

Only Franc Ergs picked up a point in the Argentina-Iceland game. Latest Standings:

'Mon the Chevrons!

I interrupt this sub-forum for a message: It's 'Tragedy'; not 'tradegy' or 'tradgedy'. Thanks.

Cream always rises...

Argentina-Iceland up next. I don't know about this one. I'm looking forward to seeing how Argentina play under Jorge Sampaoli (fomerly Chile manager at the last WC and more recently Sevilla). I can see Iceland defending like hell, and making it very hard for Argentina, but can also see a real 'hummelling'. I've predicted a small, but comfortable Argentina win.

Ironically, I think they'll do better the further they go, going by the way they play (letting teams come on to them, and breaking with their pace) -- until they come up against a decent side!

All bar one got points. Most predicted the Correct Result, with Correct Scores for onevision, lenny3k, Franc Ergs, Gaffer and TheUKCrazyhorse. compo, Whosthedado, cooponthewing, BEARGER, TB and FS gained an extra point for their joker card. Incredibly, TheUKCrazyhorse gained an extra 3 points for applying his joker to his Correct Score, picking up 6 points from the match! Latest Standings:

We're on for some big score here...

Australia have been excellent. It's the perfect example of the difference between individual quality and set-up. France undoubtedly have much better quality individually, but Australia have the better set-up, in terms of defending, pressing and build-up. Their offensive tactic of long passes is perhaps letting them down. I am annoyed at the commentators moaning about France not pressing - it's a tactic, they want teams to come at them and open up because they want to use the incredible pace of mbappe, griezmann and Dembele. It's not a bad tactic, but perhaps not as useful against teams that are looking to contain. There's a bit of PSG about this France side: leaving three attackers up field all the time. I wonder if any of these Australia players are within our reach? @pete I think has mentioned Sainsbury a few times before; he's been immense, reading the game, passing out of defense.

We have FOUR games today: France-Australia, Peru-Denmark, Argentina-Iceland and Croatia-Nigeria!

For the MOR-IRN game, Rousseau, Malangsob got the Correct Result, with Craig getting the Correct Score. For the POR-SPA game, Bill, TB, FS, Lenny, Franc Ergs, dB and Johnnyk got the Correct Result. No Correct Scores. A couple of Joker cards were used but no one gained any extras. Latest Standings: