Meenzer

No, no, it does. Any distraction from the football is welcome right now, don't want to jinx it by actually starting to hope.

OK, it's the Guardian blog, but still.

And that was five hours before they gave up for the night...

Surprised at how happy I am for Team YouEssAy actually. That's a very tasty part of the draw, too - one of Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana and Merka is going to be a semi-finalist.

Yeah, if a tie-break is good enough for every other set, it should be good enough for the final one really. Mind, still a great bit of publicity for the game.

Happy to place a large bet on Germany to get through to the next round (specifically not only to win in 90 minutes) - there's no money I'd be happier to lose.

Famous last words, but I wouldn't be particularly scared of any of the teams in the Germans' group, to be honest. Even with us not in top form.

Meanwhile, a match at Wimbledon is at 25-24 in the final set.

Might get sent off from the bench yet

He fell into the man.

I think it's one of the conditions of them flogging the TV rights for silly money that they don't.

I'll steal Ritchie's word - cringeworthy. There'll be letters from Daily Mail readers about this.

Not to mention a terrible liar. I quite like him.

I was going to say, 20/1 on PaddyPower, very tempting. He'd have to actually move his lardy arse first though.

The whole thing reeks of France. By which I don't mean garlic.

Probably for the other three countries to withdraw due to illness They need Ghana to beat Germany, basically. (Or Germany to stuff Ghana by a cricket score.)

That fella in the States who chose death by firing squad recently should totally have requested "death by Creosote".

Aye. And that was just the singers.

Scottish & Newcastle don't make footwear, but if they did...

Went to the CMA Music Fest in Nashville t'other week and half of the acts were Blokes In Hats. All pretty interchangeable music-wise, too, though I do like a good twang. Off to see one of them (Brad Paisley) in Shepherd's Bush tomorrow night actually. Ever had an urge to sleep with your siblings, or excessively praise God? I'm an only child who grew up listening to Cannibal Corpse. Frankly, I'm conflicted. The god (and blind patriotism/pro-military) stuff is quite amusing to see up close, if only as a form of social observation. Country also seems to attract an awful lot of fat people among its fanbase, even by American standards, so that's good for a giggle too.

I can understand it before/after the game, but when they cut to a five-minute report on England at half-time in another game it's taking the piss a bit.

Being anti-Greek is plain common sense though. It's just a shame it's the Argies who benefit.

Just missed a golden chance to win it for them.

Went to the CMA Music Fest in Nashville t'other week and half of the acts were Blokes In Hats. All pretty interchangeable music-wise, too, though I do like a good twang. Off to see one of them (Brad Paisley) in Shepherd's Bush tomorrow night actually.