... Three games, three completely different feelings when they were done. Welcome to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where five days in, it's hard to know what the hell you're going to see next.
Tuesday's matches gave us some results that maybe differed from what some (including me) saw coming, both in terms of the results and the goals (or lack of them) that got us there.

Rafa haters keep walking it's luck and bad officiating that have left Anfield ruing what might have been.

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A famous quote from a sports psychologist : "The New York Yankees do not win because they have the best team, but because of their stripes" – well the same applies to Manchester United!

The World Cup is here; there is nothing better than watching the games with friends, having a few drinks and watching a game of football.

In case the football is not quite enough on it's own to entertain you, this World Cup bingo/drinking game could possibly make things more interesting.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the last 12 months have been the most miserable in the life of England's young striker Wayne Rooney. An ankle injury at the end of last season forced him out of the UEFA Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, and as a result, led to a period of inactivity leading up the World Cup Finals in South Africa.

"The club is not for sale" is the response to a hostile takeover bid by the Glazer camp! Surprise, surprise! Did anyone expect any other? It's the typical statement made by any business facing a...
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Jason Leigh

The Stade De France, Paris, 18th November 2009

It's the second leg of a World Cup qualification Play-Off and Ireland are 1-0 up thanks to a 33rd minute away goal by their captain Robbie Keane, taking the game into extra time. Then, in the 103rd minute, the French are awarded a free kick.

In less than eight hours, the 2010 FIFA World Cup begins in South Africa. Mexico takes on the host nation in the ceremonial first match while France and Uruguay later in the afternoon. The moment you have all been waiting four years for is finally here! The only question left now is not who will win, but who will you root for in the tournament?

So now the World Cup is on and all of Australia's focus is on the Socceroos, although, after the first game, I think there is probably a few broken hearts around the country. But anyway, what is means is that the Matildas are out of the worldwide spotlight.
But that doesn't mean girls have to be completely, and it's today I'm going to ask you to do a little something for me, and sign up to the 1GOAL campaign.

Abracadabra: Even Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo was unsure where the ball had gone before scoring the sixth goal today in a 7-0 rout of North Korea that sent the Asian nation crashing out of the competition (AGP Photo).

*It seems pretty clear what you think of the sound of the vuvuzelas judging by the results of our poll here, but there's still time to vote.

Chile's Mark Gonzalez scores a winner against Switzerland

Portugal 7, North Korea 0

Christiano Ronaldo finally scored for a Portuguese side who will almost certainly move on to the round of 16 following an absolute blowout of North Korea in Monday's early game.

(Summary is not available.)

The second part of my breakdown of the summer extravaganza will focus on more of the teams and players that were on stage in South Africa, but if I get on a rant here, which is very likely, I may end up doing a Part 3 !

6. KAKA, MESSI, ROONEY AND RONALDO .

Heute gibt es was für die weiblichen Fans auf Fritten, Fussball & Bier. Ich werde ja immer wieder geschimpft, dass ich nichts für euch schreibe und ja ihr habt verdammt Recht. Ich bin halt auch nur ein Mann und kann auch nicht viel über Muskeln und Haut schreiben, denn davon verstehe ich nicht viel.

Die isländischen Torjubler sind immer noch in aller Munde und sogar zu einem Auftritt im ZDF Sportstudio haben sie es letzten Samstag geschafft. Die Idee, Tore etwas ausgefallen zu feiern, ist jedoch nicht neu, denn in einem Werbespot zeigten uns schon vor Jahren einige Hobbyfussballer wie so eine Choreografie aussehen könnte.

Union

A story on the Union website offers a sobering look at the efforts being made to keep Michael Orozco Fiscal and Roger Torres, both of whom are on loan to the club, in Philadelphia. The article notes "that very well may happen," but cautions, "As with any roster decision, however, there are a number of considerations, both financial and other.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

It was a big day for Spain's top two teams as Barcelona and Real Madrid put on offensive clinics ahead of next week's El Clasico.

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as Barcelona routed Almeria 8-0. Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, kicking off a torrid 19 minutes in which Barcelona scored five times.