First half over. Chile should have scored three or four by now (but it's just the one). In other news, West Ham are going to sign...RIQUELME!!!!!

^^ Not in this game. This is even more one-sided than Germany's game, badow yaho. (Chile just scored - one of many to come I bet).

^^ Chile are playing with three at the back but when they attack even those three are found beyond the half way line. War ragga wa la haysta.

The only surprise so far is that Chile have not scored, Norf. Are you watching this game?

^^ I shall remind you about your Hunduras comment. Chile are good and Hunduras are REALLY bad.

^^ That means Cowke's kings couldn't put humpty together again. Naga daayaa.

Horta wax fahan, I am not saying that Ivory Coast played a bad game. They actually played one of their best games ever at the world cup. They were given instructions by their manager and followed them to the letter (none of the crazy African antics from them). However, these tactics also prevented them from attacking more. Erikson's first goal was defence. Portugal were also cagey but looked like the team that wanted to attack more (forget chances and statistics, look at the positional play and feel of the game). When Ivory Coast attacked it was clearly COUNTER ATTACKS (horta do you understand what that means?). Kubbada baro, adeer. A&T, Kaka will come good, saaxib. It was not his fault that the North Koreans blocked the areas he usually plays in. The Brazil wingers and full backs needed to stretch the Koreans to create the space for him to run into. Plus, your beloved Robinho was moving all over the place and blocking the runs of the left back one minute or Kaka the next (and it worked, but not for Kaka of course).

^^ Adiga ka daran. Where is Seeker, she might understand this (even though she is a girl ). She was captain of her school football team and one hopes they taught her about tactics. Not a good enough reason, Norf. This is not park football, it's the world-bloody-cup. If you can't work out a formation or tactics while watching a game dee you don't understand football, saaxib. I was right, kubbada baro. Attempts on goal come from positional play and tactics. Wax fahan. Portugal had the posession and were the more attack minded team there but they could not get past the wall of Ivorian defence. WAX FAHAN. WAX FAHAN. WAX FAHAN. Grrrr.

^^ Now you're just making noise.

Quiroz is describing the game ya badow. This is how it was played. IC counter attacked. War dee this is basic stuff that every watcher of football (other than those in SOL) can and did see. P.S. Robbie Earle sold world cup tickets (50 I think). Heh.

Ma wada? Queiroz blasts Ivory Coast gameplan Carlos Queiroz has blasted Ivory Coast's approach to the game in their goalless draw during the Group G opening match. "We wanted to win the match, but as you saw, this was a game between two favourites, a very hard encounter. The Ivory Coast did not want to take control at the start, they were just at the back defending, trying to launch counter-attacks," he told RTP 1 after the match. "We tried to attack but it is always hard against a team that do not try to take control of the match. In the second half we exchanged passes faster, we grew on the pitch, but it is always hard to play against a team that were always waiting for a mistake to score." Despite being upset over their opponents' tactics, the Portugal coach is happy with the point earned but believes his side have to step up in their next game against North Korea. "In the second match, the teams will have to take more risks. "We got a point against one of the favourites, now we have to win the next match," he concluded. Portugal take on North Korea next on 21 June and round off their group fixtures against Brazil on 25 June.

Norf, here is more: Ivory Coast and Portugal kept their beautiful games under wraps as the World Cup's "Group of Death" got off to a stalemate. Not even the world's most expensive player, Cristiano Ronaldo, or the second-half introduction of Chelsea's Didier Drogba could spark the contest into life. Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, who joined the La Liga side for £80 million last summer, came closest to breaking the deadlock with a free-kick that struck the post. But Sven-Goran Eriksson's Elephants held firm to earn a share of the points ahead of their matches with Brazil and North Korea. REACTION: Although the match saw few chances for either side, Eriksson felt his team should have snatched all three points from the encounter. He told ITV1: "Portugal is a good team but I'm not completely happy with one point but it is one point. "It was a good game. Tactically, no-one wants to lose. Ronaldo had a good chance for them but we also had some good chances and half chances." The Swedish manager was in charge of England at the 2006 World Cup when Portugal won on penalties. And the 62-year-old was keen to avoid another defeat to the Portuguese. He added: "I think we were organised all 90 minutes. It's a point, it would be better with three, but we played well and handled it well. "Both teams played like they didn't want to take big chances and lose. If you start to attack frantically against Portugal, they will kill you." Portugal midfielder Ronaldo bemoaned the Ivory Coast's tactics and accused them of spoiling the match. He told RTP1: "We knew the Ivory Coast would not attack much and would stay at the back more. They were afraid of us in the first half. "In the second half they got their game a bit more loose, but we played well and did not win only because we did not have any luck."m HOW IT HAPPENED: The decision not to start Drogba could have implied the Ivory Coast were playing for a draw but they did make the early running, although Ronaldo had the first effort with a dipping effort that hit the woodwork. Eriksson's plan to thwart Portugal's attacking threat worked wonders but his tactics did make for a dull match. At times the Ivorian system saw the Africans with all 11 players in their own half, allowing Portugal to keep possession, albeit away from the danger area. Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou should have done better with his chance in the second half but planted his shot straight at Eduardo, while his opposite number, Boubacar Barry, pulled off a stop to deny Liedson. WHAT IT MEANS: The group is wide open with Brazil and the unknown quantity of North Korea still to play both these sides. Portugal can be stifled by the right system. Eriksson would have gone into this match with memories of England's defeat to Portugal at the 2006 World Cup on his mind. At the time, the Swede opted for a 4-4-2 system but here he changed his tactics to try and prevent a defeat. Portugal have been tipped as outsiders to win the World Cup, but on this evidence they looked decidedly ordinary, particularly up front. Source

^^ Here goes vision express! Kubbada baro.

Originally posted by SeeKer: Tim Howard cleared to play for next US game (against Slovenia). NG, what happened? you actually see US making it thru their group Only because the other two teams in the group are as rubbish as you. Now stop being a dreamer and be realistic. This US team is not even as good as North Korea.

A&T, I think Brazil will struggle to beat Ivory Coast (judging by last night's games that is). With Sven Goran Eriksson at the helm, the Ivory Coast have become much more defensive than they usually are. In yesterday's game for example, they played on the counter attack and (yes Norf) kept eleven men behind the ball at all times. Now, if Brazil could not cope with little old North Korea, how in the world are they going to cope with the big bullies of the Ivory Coast? Add to that the fact that when Ivory Coast do counter attack they actually have much better players to do so with. Marka, A&T, if Brazil don't up their game and work rate I really don't see them beating the Ivory Coast. Though I can see them beating Portugal.

Originally posted by Maaddeey: ^There's a reason aanan Adiga & kan kaa korreeyaba ula hadleynine ha is daalin!. NGONGE, wax perfect ah sidaad u rabtoo kale baan u rabaa, lakin lama helaayo e Adiga you have chosen inaad iska diiddo and I have chosen inaan iska xum-xumeeysto, ashraarta afkooda xun ku soo taagayana ka difaaco أقلّوا على الشباب لا أبا لأبيكم _**_ من اللوم أو سدوا المكان الذي سدوا Fair enough. Can't really argue with such a position.

^^ Ya akhi, ya dhagax, ya abu el muran. Dee naga daa. Qoladan wax ka roon ma jiro wa sida kuwa odhan jiray "haada ma wajadna aabaa'ana caleeh". Wax lagaa aqabalayo maaaha. You have a choice and when you make that choice (as you already did), you have to ensure that you made it because these guys will do the following: 1- last in the job (unlike the Courts). 2- Ensure continual peace (other than what Allah has in store for us of course). 3- Show wisdom in their dealings. 4- Have a plan rather than a moto. I see none of the above so far. Adigu maxaad argta?

Nope. I'm watching the same game, Norf. As ever, you got excited by a couple of brilliant attacks.

^^ When Portugal have the ball, Ivory Coast have eleven in their own half. Good defence but does not help much counter attacks nor keep the Portugal defenders back. Trust SGE to come up with such a plan.

^^ With Al Shabab, it IS Burco too, saaxib. Wax fahan. As for what you said next, dee ii mad fahmin. Markaad qolo tageertid, micnoho muxoo yahay? So total support maha? Anigu waxan ku leeyahay total support iyo qaladaat isma raacan. Raggan aad taageerayso xamaasad ba kuu gaysa (ha cadhoon warya). Ileen ila hada xigmad, caqli ama in ay wax xukumi karaan ina may tusin. Waxan ka argna kaliya wa qaladaatka. Teeda kale, anigu saan wax o qiyaaso wan kuu sheegay. In caqli hadaan kugo arko wan ku tageeraya (like I do with you here but not with Kashafa, much as I like him). Hadaan qaladat badan kugo arko na, dee xaq ban ku leeyahay in aan idhaahdo "kuwaano waxbaa ka orayaa". Sanka fur oo qiiqa orso ya tacbaan.

^^ So'aashada 'wax ka fiican ma heysaa' waligeed yaanay noqon, saaxib. View each group on their own merit. In this case, even though the Ahlu el Sunna are better than the TFG but Hizbu El Islam are better than both and Al Shabab are better than the entire lot, they all remain rubbish. Wa anigu ku leh wadaad ayaa whore house tegy and said "give me the one with the most akhlaaq". Macqool maaha dee.

Thanks Jacpher. I'm watching it now. Now fireworks it seems.

Any one has any streaming links?

^^ Hada anigu ma ciyaalkaan wax ka sheegay? So dadkii waaweynaa maaha? At any rate, my argument is not about soldiers (young or old). Mine is about the wisdom of the leadership of Al Shabab and if I believe they can run a country or not. Aduunko qiyaas ayuu ku socda, Maaddeey. Hadaad is tidhaahdo qof shaqa sii, so horta ma qiyaasaysid ino shaqadaan ka adkaan karo iyo in kale? Hadaad is tidhaahdo gabadh sii, so kuma qiyaasaysid ino nin rag yahay iy in kale. Hado warkiisa bato oo meel walba qaldaad lago sheego, waxa dhici karta in aad qof caaqil noqotid oo aad tidhaahdid "proof" i tusa inoo qofkaan qalad galay, lakin (oo wa tii aan kuu sheegayaay, Mr Xamaasad) wala shaqo, wala gabadh bad siin laheed. WAX FAHAN.

I spoke too soon. It was 'thrilling'. New Zealand equalised in the 92 minute (eat your heart out Australia).