World Cup 2006: a field day
For the first time this World Cup, I watched a game round somebody's house. Mary and Steve's in Ewell. They have a massive telly, which really brought the Argentina Mexico match alive, I must admit. It was rather idyllic. Steve was outside manning the barbecue, while I sat inside, keeping him abreast of developments.

Germany 2 Sweden 0
Watched this one at home. This was what I believe they call a rout. It could have been a much higher score for "the host nation", as we must respectively refer to them, were it not for some steadfast work throughout by Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson, who kept about three dozen likely shots out of his goal using all the tricks in the goalie's book, most of them from Michael Ballack, who looks a bit like Ziggy from Grange Hill. But it was all over from the 4th minute, when Lukas Podolski converted a splendid set-up from Miroslav Klose (they're a bit like Beckham and Owen used to be in the good old days), only to galvanise the lead in the 12th: same duo, same hit. Actually, even if it wasn't all over for the off-form Swedes in the 12th, it was again in the 35th, when the Brazilian ref seemed to smile as he presented Teddy Lucic with his second yellow card and off he went, for brushing past Klose's shirt. Bad decision, but worse facial expression. It's not quite Graham Poll, but grinning can't be good form for a ref surely? I expect Lars Lagerback drained the spare tank of hope at half-time and sent them back out with a "You can do it!" - but holding England to a 2-2 draw is easy, and Germany are literally in a different league. Sweden were given one last chance, when Larsson stepped up to the penalty spot with a near-certain equaliser in his sights. But Lagerback decided instead to commit tactical suicide and made a substitution at that very moment, thus delaying Larsson's penalty and making him "sky it", as commentators like to say. Then, it really, really was all over. The Germans spent the rest of the match passing the ball about, testing Isaksson occasionally and dreaming of the real version of the plastic trophy one German fan was seen waving about. Sweden deserved to go out. That may sound harsh but I'd have been saying the same thing about England, had they drawn their nemeses.

Argentina 2 Mexico 1
Well, the best goal of the World Cup so far, from the boot of Maxi Rodriguez, in the 98th minute. It really was a wonder, and nice to see a goal actually scored by an Argentine at last. Mexico went one-up just as the smell of sausages started to waft in through the patio doors: Marquez, 5th minute. Then, five minutes later, Mexican defender Borgetti equalised for the other side with his head. To be fair, it would have gone in off Crespo's left foot without any cranial assistance, but let's chalk it up as a Mexican own-goal for the pure melodrama. Actually, after this barnstorming start, the game settled into a kind of highly-charged, international-level stalemate for the remainder, with only a disallowed Argentinian offside goal by Messi to enliven things, leading to a 1-1 final score and the first instance of extra time this World Cup. Both teams visibly tired, but once Rodriguez had done his bit, there was no way back for the North Americans. I think I prefer the golden goal option. At least it didn't end on penalties.

So, Germany had a "field day", in the words of Martin O'Neill. "A shooting session," in the words of Alan Shearer, whom O'Neill called "the England No. 2", just to break his balls, which it seems to. And Argentina, still capable of genius, play Germany. Our minicab driver tonight was Italian, and said that if you cut his veins he would "bleed blue". We had a throughly nice, animated chat about international football all the way back to Reigate and the fate of the three Italian sides caught up in the corruption business. Our driver doesn't think Juventus, Fiorentina and Lazio should be kicked out of Serie A, just have their points docked so that they have minus points at the beginning of the next season and have to claw their way back up into the league. A very wise plan, I think. Football: it's social glue.