Mexico took the advantage early in the game through Marquez, only to hand the Argentineans a path back in to the game holding after only holding the lead for five minutes. Until Hernan Crespo levelled with what looked like an own goal from Bolton’s Jared Borgetti.

Manchester United’s Gabrielle Heinze was lucky to receive only a yellow card when he brought Fonseca down, the referee ruled that he was not the last man although replays showed that he would have been through on goal.

The game was the first of the tournament to have extra time, during which Maxi Rodriguez put Argentina ahead through a magnificent strike similar to Joe Cole’s effort against Sweden only on the opposite side of the pitch.
 

In the first game of the business end of the tournament the Germans set a blistering pace to the game. This helped the Germans establish a two goal lead within 12 minutes, both goals scored by Lukas Posolski, who started this game where he left off from the last group game.

The turning point in the game was when Teddy Lucic was sent off after only 35 minutes for two silly yellow card offences.  The Swedes had few opportunities to test Jens Lehmann, until a rash challenge gifted Barcelona’s Henrik Larsson a penalty kick.  Larsson duly placed the kick over the bar, and Swedish fans knew it was time to pack their bags for home.

Liverpool have signed Craig Bellamy only one year after he left Newcastle to be replaced by Liverpool Legend Michael Owen.

The offer of Champions League football next season was too much to resist as was to possibility of playing for his childhood heroes.

Bellamy’s time at Ewood Park appears to have helped him with his temperament, his goals also helped the Lancashire outfit secure UEFA Cup football.

The transfer could lead to another little and large partnership when he plays up front with England World Cup sensation Peter ‘robo’ Crouch.
 

After only two minutes of the third group game Owen crawled from the pitch after what looked like a very nasty knee injury. An injury that will no doubt re-open the club versus country debate again.

Owen has not played many games since joining Newcastle United from Real Madrid at the beginning of last season. A series of niggling injuries and the broken foot he suffered at Tottenham on New Years Eve have allowed the striker to make just 11 appearances for the magpies.

Should the players be paid for playing for their country? Surely not they earn enough money and should play for the honour of representing their nation in battle against other national teams.

Should that money be spent on insurance to cover their clubs in the event that the worst should happen? Possibly, but how would compensation be paid? Would it be a percentage of the players value? Then how would the minnows like the Ivory Coast afford to play someone as expensive as Didier Drogba. Should the compensation cover the players wages for period they are out injured, even this could cripple the finances of some football associations. Some Clubs could even want compensation for the loss of earnings of from competitions, every position Newcastle drop down the Premiership costs the club £500k.

The issue will rumble on for a while and there is no doubting that the over opinionated omnipotent leader of the sports world governing body Sepp Blatter will have much to say on the subject.

Serbia and Montenegro who had not conceeded a goal during qualification for the finals, suffered a massive defeat at the hands of Argentina.

Every argentine player was on top of their game from the outset. By half time the argentinians were 3-0 to the good with Maxi Rodriguez scoring either side of Cambiasso’s contribution.

Argentina won the second half by the same scoreline as the first, Chelsea’s Hernan Crespo scored the first goal of the half. He was joined shortly after by Tevez. Lionel Messi came off the bench wearing boots with a logo honouring Diego Maradonna’s “Hand of God” in the 1986 finals in Mexico. In his first game of the competition he opened his account scoring the final goal in this majestic performance.

The hosts were pushedall the way by Poland. Not even the polish born goal machine Miroslav Klose could help his adopted country get one over their local rivals.

Podolski the othe polish striker who plays for the hosts rather than his home country missed a hat full of chances. Poland who had a number of chances themselves were reduced to ten men with fifteen minutes to go when Sobolewski was shown his second yellow card.

 The deadlock was broken during the additional time when Neuville slid to convert Odonkor’s cross.

 Ecuador had no trouble dismissing Costa Rica in the groups other game, winning by an impressive three goal margin. Which puts them in in a solid position to make it through to the last sixteen.

Spain the perennial underachievers in World Cups gone by started this campaign with the dominant performance that Spanish fans have dreamed of for years.

They controlled the play for the total 90 minutes, Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso opened the Spanish scoring. Followed by a goal in both halves for David Villa. Villa’s second came from the spot, following a suspect penalty decision, Torres was infringed outside the box when he had his shorts pulled but he managed to stay on his feet and scuff a shot at the Ukraine keeper.

Shevchenko appeared to be a spectator for the Ukraine with minimal impact on the Spanish defence. 

In the groups other game Tunisia came back from 2-1 down to draw with Saudi Arabia 2-2 with the equaliser scored by Bolton’s Radi Jaidi.

Arsene Wenger must be counting his lucky stars, or at least the millions of pounds he saved David Dein, as Arsenal’s new signing scored two goals which will have increased his value and the expectation at the new Emirates Stadium next season.

The scoring was opened by Jan Koller who put on a fantastic display of ‘tormenting defences’ for dummies. If England’s Peter Crouch watched the game he may have learned just how to keep a certain Wayne Rooney on the bench or at least how to be more effective when he comes on for plan B when Rooney returns. Unfortunately the big man was stretchered off after what appeared to be a nasty hamstring injury, any future appearances in the rest of the competition are a major doubt.

The USA did not play like a team that are fourth in the FIFA rankings, which demonstrates just how unrealistic they can be. Bruce Arena’s men looked almost desperate at times finding the Czech defence impossible to breakdown. The game finished 3-0 and the USA have a mountain to climb if they are to make the round of 16.  

Group F kicked-off with the game between the Socceroos and Japan, both teams have ageing squads and this was demonstrated when Middlesborough Keeper came to take a tame cross come shot. He was easily challenged off the ball which sailed past the mass of players in to the Australia goal.

Japan led through their fortunate early effort until the Aussie’s staged a fightback in the last ten minutes. Another Premiership player joined the list of World Cup goalscorers, this time it was Everton’s Tim Cahill who scored the Socceroos’ first ever goal in the World Cup finals, he added a second just a few minutes later. The comeback was complete when Aloisi put his name on the score sheet in injury time.

The hosts got off to a dream start as they adopted a shoot on sight mentality that hasn’t been used since the war. They beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a fixture that was not as one sided as the score makes it seem.

Poland suffered the first shock defeat of the tournament being comprehensively beaten by Ecuador who have the same goal difference as Germany winning the game 2-0.

England struggled to overcome Paraguay, the fastest ever own goal in World Cup history was all that separated the princes from the paupers. Group B is far from settled as Sweden were held to a 0-0 draw by plucky Trinidad and Tobago who had only 10 men for the majority of the second half. If England continue to play as they did against Paraguay they too may only get a draw from TnT which would blow the group wide open. Especially if Sweden win against Paraguay.

The Ivory Coast were unfortunate to be beaten by Argentina, they must not have watched Germany’s opening game, or they might have tried shooting from outside the box. Their connection with Arsenal was evident as they tried to walk the ball in to the goal, and spent most of the time playing down the wings. Chelsea had both of their strikers on show and both scored for their respective countries, however Drogba’s effort was not enough to inspire the comeback the africans needed. The other match in group C was decided by another player from the Abramovich All-Stars, Holland’s Arjen Robben scored the goal that separated them from Serbia & Montenegro.

In Group D the games went the way that the bookmakers expected with Mexico and Portugal, beating Iran and Angola 3-1 and 1-0 respectivley.