Albert Tatlock

Not a penalty - unlucky. Ghana have Essien on 2 yellow cards and he will miss the next game, so if they progress they will have even less chance. Czechs have a man off, so Italy will probably just close things down for the second half.

Italy 1 CR 0 (Good game - I'm watching) Ghana 1 USA 0

If playing sound AND vision counts, then http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TogqH-3pt3A (early Bob Dylan on Canadian TV show) followed by http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=6050602 Elbow at the Double Door

More important in topiing the group was the fact that they now avoid Argentina for a bit longer. However, it all looks pretty hopeless for England now. Beckham contributed little. Crouch ditto. Walcott the wunderkind is all that we've got left to hope for up front.

You know about Granny-gate? http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article...04?source=Metro Got to admire his attitude on the pitch though, even though he seems to be a few sandwiches short of a full hamper.

OK, I'll do my best to stave your appetite then. Here's Rooney in a new Nike ad.

Do they serve bangers and mash? Or a more traditionally English curry?

Deutschland uber alles. Meanwhile, here all the cars are running round with England flags on them and everyone is knocking off early to get home in time for this evening's match (not that it's on early enough to justify that, but everything goes to pot during the World Cup). I, of course, have the best of both worlds, in that I do generally get behind England, but if they lose I can enjoy the next day taking the mickey at work.

'fraid not, a little bit muddy and so nothing like the audio quality of the Hammersmith show last year. It was a good show though - I was there too, so that's why I enjoy hearing it from time to time.

All seems so long ago now ... (Artwork courtesy of Donna!)

Someone gave me a spare copy last week. What do you think? I know it's one of those touchstone records, but I just plain don't like it, apart from one track. Oh well ...

I am going to try and see him sometime - he plays small venues in London every few months - though in truth this particular album isn't too good actually. Edit - second half is much better.

I was picturing the scene across many parts of the east coast: junior in front of the TV chanting U..S..A..U..S..A.., whilst granddad spits and shuffles out to the kitchen muttering in the language of the old country.

Nice to see Maradona going beserk in the stands too. I had the usual view on him until I saw a documentary about him a while back. He was living in Cuba and watching a match featuring his old team Boca Juniors on TV and going absolutely mental. You just have to like that kind of passion for sport.

Wow - Argentina are on fire!

Thanks for making that clear on my behalf. It was generally a bit too quiet if you ask me (quieter than Brian Wilson last year), but the sound was good quality. As you can see, it's a nice place to be beside the Thames of a sunny evening. Update: I didn't go to listen to Van Morrison last night as I wasn't feeling so good. But he's there next week so I hope to try then. Plus Jools Holland Big Band. Plus Art Garfunkel - will not go there as I don't think I could handle the emotion of a rendition of Bright Eyes - hazy tearful vision on the bike ride home could be catastrophic!

They both did - the 2 countries were joint hosts. Korea got to the semi finals. They look a bit lost this time around - none of the buzz they had then. African sides often play with an exuberance and desire to attack that is great to see. They typically are less disciplined and/or skilled in defence, which can be their undoing. Edit: Case in point. Togo have a player sent off for last ditch foul. Korea score from free kick.

It's a pretty scrappy game, neither side putting much together.

Wait until you see Brazil on a good day! Maybe later today.

I am primarily a rugby fan, and our world cup (next year!) is not so all encompassing, but the world wide mass appeal of the Football World Cup as an event makes it very special - much more so than the Olympics or anything else. It is a shame that Americans in general miss out on this greatest of sporting carnivals. Football is so universal it is a real ice-breaker all around the world. All the places I have been there have been kids who when they learn you are from the UK will smile and say "Manchester United!", "Liverpool" etc. I also had a conversation about Samantha Fox with a guy in Syria

I had the pleasure of the ccompany of a very drunk crowd of Aussies on a tube home last night. This is the final straw - the one big sport they have never been too good at ...

Isn't there some way of fooling IE as to your origin? I have heard of it but can't remember. Someone here must know.

I don't know of any. BBC has a link from here labelled as real time video http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/default.stm but I can't check it out as streaming media is normally blocked here. At least you could get some BBC radio coverage from that page too which woul dbe better then atext updates (and get you slang up to date!).