Day 3: Mexican wave, Dutch treat - did we miss any other cliches?

COLOGNE, Germany

Sunday’s games

Netherlands 1, Serbia & Montenegro 0. Arjen Robben, best on the field by a mile, gets the only goal, catching Europe’s best defence (in qualifying, anyway) ranging too far upfield. S & M, picked by me to reach the final four, won’t reach the final 16 off this punchless display. If Robben and Didier Drogba played in the Premiership like they did the last couple days here, Chelsea might be actually watchable.

HASAN SARBAKHSHIAN/AP

Didn't see much of the Mexico-Iran game. Maybe that's a good thing.

Mexico 3, Iran 1. Didn’t see a whole lot of this one, but it was 1-1 at the half and the spectre of a visit by the Iranian president and concurrent protests here loomed. But Mexico asserted itself in the second half and pulled away, while everyone in the press room at Cologne cheered, the prospect of covering left- and right-wing protests and being asked to spell the Iranian president's name correctly too much to bear.
Portugal 1, Angola 0. Does this sound familiar? Goal in the first five minutes of play then a slow fade. Yeah, and the common denominator is I've been at both of them. Angola aren't in Portugal’s class, but they gave a good accounting. Good for them and all that, but really, I'd just like to see a game that keeps me awake.

Monday’s menu

Australia vs Japan. The two lesser sides in Brazil’s group square off in a key opener for both of them, the loser almost guaranteed to go out. I really have no idea how this one’s going to go, except Hiddink is a fine manager, witness his work with South Korea in 2002, and Japan can’t score, so I’ll guess: Australia 1, Japan 0.
United States vs Czech Republic. I’ll be at this one, in nearby Gelsenkirchen, so it'll probably be rubbish. But I dunno. Is the USA for real? Are the Czechs too old? And is Timo right – I know nothing about sports, as he suggested in the comments the other day? Yes, yes and yes – but ignorance is bliss, I’ve found out. U.S. 2, Czech Republic 2.
Italy vs Ghana. Before they even played a game I received an email accusing me of anti-Italy bias. That’s a new World Cup record. Italy 1, Ghana 0.

Quote of the day

"Next game is six o'clock and Sweden is nine o'clock. That's very good for us." Sven-Goran Eriksson, teasing the press about his master plan, Wayne Rooney's possible return and happy hour.

Comments

[Carla]

'Is the USA for real? Are the Czechs too old? And is Timo right – I know nothing about sports, as he suggested in the comments the other day? Yes, yes and yes'

--but at least your breath is finally fresh. So it ain't all bad. ;-)

[voislav]

S&M should get better with the return of centreback Vidic, who plays for Man U. He was suspended for this game, causing much reshufling in the defense. Their usual right back, Gavrancic, shifted to centre and his replacement, Djordjevic, is not very good, as shown by him being replaced before half-time. They should play much better against Argentina, especially since now they have to win, so will play more attacking football, not the kind of circus you saw in the first 20 minutes of the Netherlands game.

[Michael Shipley]

Excellent win by Australia, the expats here in Toronto were cheering loud and proud. Despite being biased, i fancy our chances again Croatia, so we could get through to the second round! Good call on the winner Chris.

[Honkers]

Holland Rulz,

this is for all the dutch fans over on your side of the ocean....

Hup....Holland....Hup....

Remember 1974 Germany against Holland, but only Holland will win this time...

From a dutch supporter, who couldn't be at the games.