World Cup- Games 3

Well before we get back to the World Cup, best news of the summer so far was having Seamus Coleman sign a new five year contract this week, amid the usual bullshit speculation linking him with a move away. The new home kit has also been revealed, so might as well have Seamus modelling it I suppose! I like it, despite the lack of white on it, and not especially keen on those dark socks, but its decent other than that. Oh, and the fact it costs £50 so I wont be getting my hands on one for a while most likely.

England 0-0 Costa Rica

England's campaign ended with as much of a whimper as it started, struggling to a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica's squad players, who having already topped the group could afford to relax. Ross Barkley got his first competitive start at least! The less said the better probably! Costa Rica meanwhile have gone marching on, since qualifying for the Quarter Finals to face Holland after beating Greece on penalties, so at least Bryan Oviedo is having a good time!

United States of America 0-1 Germany

The USA however had a much better final day in the group stages, despite losing to Germany, Thomas Mueller scoring a cracker of a winner on the half volley after Howard had already made one great save. It was immaterial for the US though, as Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana wasnt of a great enough margin to trouble the USA's goal difference advantage. It was all a bit uncofmrtable towards the end though with Portugal still level at 1-1 late on, and a late winner for Ghana would have seen the US go out.

South Korea 0-1 Belgium

And the USA will face Belgium in the second round! Belgium's place as group winners wasnt really under much threat going into their final game, with only a defeat, and a win for Algeria over Russia would have really troubled them. Algeria and Russia drew 1-1 to send the African side through as runners up, but Belgium made sure of topping the group on their own anyway, with yet another late win, this time thanks to Jan Vertonghen crashing a rebound after the South Korean keeper had parried, despite the Belgians having Steven Defour sent off in the first half. Kevin Mirallas earned his first start of the tournament. So Belgium face the USA in the final second round game tomorrow. Brazil vs Columbia, and Holland vs Costa Rica are the first two quarter final ties all sorted, while today's second round winners will face each other next, France vs Nigeria and Germany vs Algeria. The winner of USA vs Belgium will face the winner of Argentina vs Switzerland.

World Cup- Games 2

Uruguay 2-1 England

Probably the only time Ill find Phil Jagielka missing a header and allowing Luis Suarez to score...England have officially suffered their worst ever World Cup performance after being eliminated without even playing their final group game. And like the first game, it was a player we are very familiar with in England who did the damage. Suarez headed in his first just before half time with a lovely header from a perfect Cavani cross. Cavani himself should have made it 2-0 early in the second half as Uruguay asserted their dominance, but England came back late in the game, and Rooney tapped in from Johnson's cross for his first World Cup goal. But just a few minutes later, a long kick up from the keeper was flicked on by Steven Gerrard straight into the path of Suarez who smashed it past Joe Hart. England's elimination wasnt fully confirmed until the following day when Costa Rice shocked Italy thanks to a winning goal from another Premier League man, Fulham's Bryan Ruiz. That win guaranteed Costa Rica's qualification, and its them who England play next. With nothing to play for, Roy Hodgson has already said he will use the squad players, so maybe a chance at last for Ross Barkley to show what he could have done given the chance. Uruguay play Italy in the other game in the group in a winner takes all meeting for qualification.

Belgium 1-0 Russia

Much better fortunes for the Belgians, who despite another difficult game, have guaranteed qualification the next round. Kevin Mirallas finally got some time on the pitch and came closest to breaking the deadlock, smacking a low free kick against the base of the post. But just when it looked like Belgium were in for a tough last game for qualification, fellow substitute Divock Origi smashed in from Eden Hazard's cross. Belgium face South Korea in their final game, who need to win big to stand a chance of gaining qualification ahead of Algeria, who will guarantee qualification with a point against Russia if the Koreans fail to batter the Belgians.

United States of America 2-2 Portugal

Meanwhile in Group G, this is where all the excitement in one of the most exciting World Cups ever is happening! After an incredible 2-2 draw between Germany and Ghana on Saturday, the other two sides in the group followed it up on Sunday with a 2-2 classic of their own! Portugal needed to avoid defeat to stay in the tournament, while a win would have guaranteed the US qualification. Nani gave Portugal an early lead after a mistake from Geoff Cameron, but the USA kept at it and had the best of the first half. At the other end though, it needed a double save from Tim Howard, the second being the second best save of the tournament (nothing will ever beat Ochoa for Mexico against Brazil...) to keep it to 1-0 at half time. Portugal did put in the best goal line clearance of the tournament when it seemed Bradley couldnt miss. End to end carried on second half, before just beyond the hour, Jermaine Jones cracked in an absolute beauty for the USA  from just outside the box. And it looked like the Portugal dream was over 10 minutes from time when Clint Dempsey chested in Zusi's cross to lead 2-1. But it couldnt last, Portugal's late pressure finally paid off in the 5th and final minute of stoppage time, when Ronaldo's absolutely beautiful cross was headed in by the diving Varela. Phew...so we could now end up seeing a repeat of the famous game between Germany and Austria when a draw saw both qualify, as a draw between the US and Germany in the last game guarantees both qualification, while both will go through anyway if Ghana draw with Portugal. If either of those win and the Germany game produces a winner, Ghana or Portugal could still sneak through, though given Portugal's goal difference, its unlikely they can do it.

Fixtures Out

...and its one of the worst fixture lists for years!

First, last and Boxing Day arent too bad. Away at Leicester opening day, at home to Stoke Boxing Day and at home to Spurs on the final day. All the in between though, not so pretty with a couple of terrible runs. Liverpool and Man United away either side of a European game, a killer set of away fixtures over Christmas and New Year, with Southampton the week before Christma, then Newcastle and Hull in the space of 3 days over New Year, a lovely little midweek trip to Chelsea away, and the second half of the season will just be a financial killer, with 5 out of 6 London games and Swansea away, with no North West aways all from January onwards. Four of our games that follow the European group games too are away from home, so all guaranteed to be silly kick off times.

Who cares though eh? Roberto had a dream...

World Cup- Games 1

England 1-2 Italy

Both Jagielka and Baines lined up in England's defence for their opening game, while Barkley came on as a second half sub. Baines received a lot of criticism for being beaten by Cadreva for Italy's winner, but it was ultimately a game where none of the defence, the full backs in particular, were given absolutely no protection from the players in front of them. Jagielka had a more positive impact however, clearing a brilliant chip from Balotelli off the line in the first half. Overall though, England didnt really do enough, and Italy always held them at arm's length. Marchisio gave them the lead in the first half with a long range shot worked from a short corner, but Sturridge equalised almost immediately from Rooney's cross. Italy hit the post and had that shot from Balotelli cleared off the line to keep it level at half time, but Balotelli had the last laugh heading in the winner five minutes into the second half. England play Uruguay, on the end of one of the shocks of the tournament so far when they lost to Costa Rica. Defeat for either side will effectively send them home.

Ghana 1-2 United States of America

One of the most dramatic games of the World Cup so far, Tim Howard started in goal  for the US who took just 31 seconds to take the lead through a lovely goal from Clint Dempsey. The longer the game wore on though, Ghana wasted chance after chance, and it only looked a matter of time, and so it came with less than 10 minutes left through Ayew. And while Ghana looked the more likely to then carry on that momentum and grab a winner, USA won a corner chasing a lost cause, and 21 year old defender John Brooks headed in an emotional 86th minute winner. Given the circumstances, a famous win for the US, and likely to be one of their more memorable World Cup results. The States can qualify for the next round if they beat Portugal in their next game on Sunday if Germany and Ghana's result goes in their favour earlier in the day.

Belgium 2-1 Algeria

Belgium also got off to a winning start, though it was anything but the easy win a lot expected. They indirectly relied on some Everton influence too! Kevin Mirallas played no part as an unused sub, and Romelu Lukaku endured a frustrating game before being replaced with Belgium trailing thanks to a first half penalty put away by Sofiane Feghouli. And Algeria looked comfortable with their lead as Belgium toiled. At last though it was a couple of subs who turned it around, first thanks to who else but Marouane Fellaini, heading in his first goal in 10 months, since his winner for us against Stevenage, with 20 minutes to go. And 10 minutes later, fellow sub Dries Mertens smashed in a winner. Belgium play Russia, who play South Korea tonight, on Sunday in their next game.

FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014

Less than a week until the World Cup kicks off at last with the hosts taking on Croatia next Thursday night, and I cant wait! Everton have five players playing in the tournament who Ill be keeping an eye on. Would likely have been six but for Bryan Oviedo's leg break. As well as of course the progress of a few popular ex Blues like Tim Cahill, Nikica Jelavic and Romelu Lukaku.

Group D

Long time since England had so much Everton representation at a tournament! John Stones was also in the squad on standby. Jagielka and Baines will be definite starters in the first choice back four, while Barkley has featured heavily lately, and impressed in his performance against Ecuador this week where he set up Rickie Lambert to score. 

England kick off against Italy on Saturday 14th June at 11pm UK time. They play next on Thursday 19th at 8pm against Uruguay, before finishing off against Costa Rice at 5pm on Tuesday June 24th. They are paired with group C, so should they progress to the knockout round, they will play one of Colmbia, Ivory Coast, Japan or Greece.

Group G

Tim Howard will play in goal for USA again. The States are in what is probably the group of death, starting against at 11pm on Monday June 16th, before Portugal at 11pm on June 22nd, and finishing up against Germany at 5pm on Thursday June 26th. Qualification will certainly be a big ask, but if they do, they will face a side from group H...

Group H

...which is where Kevin Mirallas will represent Belgium. Whether or not he starts is uncertain, partly due to Belgium having other players in his position, and also because he missed the end of the season after getting injured in the win over United at Goodison in April. Belgium are fancied by quite a few to do well at the tournament, and a kind group has certainly helped that fancy. The Belgians kick off against Algeria at 5pm on June 17th, before facing Russia at the same time on June 22nd. They will finish against South Korea at 9pm on June 26th.