Some good matches coming up later today...

Portugal v Iran
Czech Republic v Ghana
Italy v USA

Anyone care to make any predictions?

For me....

Portugal 2v1 Iran
Czech Republic 3v0 Ghana
Italy 2v1 USA

Portugal-Iran is a potential slaughter but so were all the other matches in this group and look what's happened. 3-1 Portugal I reckon.

Czech Republic-Ghana... the Czechs were impressive against the US, but Ghana won't make it easy for them, and I think they'll only come through 1-0.

Italy-USA... the Americans aren't on form, the Italians have Luca Toni, this'll be a stroll. 3-0 Italy.

Italy vs. USA

I'm keeping my blind faith on my nation! USA will win with a score of 2 - 1!

Will someone ship me off to the sanitarium now?
-Joe R.

I've got the straight jacket standing by Joe

But also have the champagne on ice if your prediction comes good

Or would you prefer claret?

I wont predict Iran vs. Portugal as it's on now but i'll go for:

2-0 Czech Republic
2-1 Italy.

My predictions

Czech Rep 3 Ghana 0
Italy 2 USA 2

I may have been wrong about USA-Czech, but they [the Czechs] look in for a humiliation of even worse standard if they don't pull their fingers out.

Well, 2-0 and it's thanks to Cech it wasn't 4 or 5.

I think the Czechs have had it. Next match - no Koller, no Boros and the forward that replced them has got two yellow cards!

Ghana were a bunch of diving hackers, but the Czechs didn't play well either. An appauling display!

WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! WE TIED ITALY!!! THATS FINE IN MY BOOK!!!!

WE PLAYED TOUGH!!! INCREDIBLE GAME!!!!

Even with a reduced team thanks to a biased cheating referee, we played great Soccer against a very difficult Italy.

I'm very happy right now!

-Joe R!!!

*cough*IT'S FOOTBALL*cough*

De Rossi, who elbowed McBride, in the Italy - USA game ruined it for everyone, and he should be suspended for months.



It looks nasty

I think he'll get a ban on top of the normal suspension. I think it could be the end of his tournament - horrible challange.

Oooh, that really POed me when that happened! Good he recovered quickly!

-Joe R.

JR, I'm afraid to say I thought the ref had no option with any of the 3 red cards. He had a good game and was fair to both sides.

Probably, but I'm just biased right now!

-Joe R.

I thought the ref has absolutely no alternative at all. Maybe the US players should instead learn some discipline so they wouldn't be in the position of playing against a top side with 9 men. Some people I spoke to, who didn't even see the match, thought that Mr Larrionda must have had a 'mare because he sent off three players - unfortunately, he had no option but. The match needed a strong ref and it got one - I say full marks to the Uruguayan!

Yes, the ref had a good game but he was a little harsh. Pope should have been sent off but the other American [forgot who it was now] --- maybe that was a bit too much.

Apart from that, USA did well to hang on with one man less than a top side.

I thought Oneygu could have been booked or even sent off for persistent fouling, but Mastroeni's red card was harsh... weird. No question about the De Rossi red card, and I hope and expect the initial suspension won't be the end of the matter.

That match was so chaotic, violent and dramatic it could have been designed to get the Americans into 'soccer'

The USA beat Mexico on their way to the Quarter Finals at the last World Cup and only lost 1 - 0 to Germany to get knocked out of it, now they draw against Italy with only nine men, so if they really do get into soccer, then just imagine how good they could get!