Rousseau

An unlikely goal! Nice finish in the end by Lukaku to make it 1-0 Belgium!

Anyway... Back to the football! We have three games today: Belgium-Ireland, Iceland-Hungary and Portugal-Austria. They look to be quite even contests, so we should be in for a good group of games!

It's a two-way street. Maybe that's the point though, it continues to happen because the punishment is not harsh enough? I'm not singling out Russia, but perhaps it is time to ban teams that bring this baggage?

It's a tricky situation. In the case of Croatia, it's an internal division. According to Slaven Bilic, there is a divide between the fans of Dynamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split (the largest clubs and cities; north and south); the former have all the resources, while the latter have little; some see it as an FA conspiracy. Banning them is not going to achieve much. In the case of Russia, well, they are all singing from the same hymn sheet, so banning them would solve it, in the sense they wouldn't be there. However, it's clear some Russian fans are there just to cause bother, so would they turn up anyway? It's disappointing. I agree, fans shouldn't be getting in with any type of pyrotechnics.

Most of us get a point for predicting the Spain win, but the gunslinger and compo gain full points for correctly predicting the 3-0 score! buster still leads the way! Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

We usually take it for granted that managers have these qualifications, but I quite like the fact that he is still learning formally. It means he's up-to-date and thinking about things in a fresh way. Well done "papa Warbs"!

To be honest, their actions probably cost their team the points. Small justice, but they will be punished properly later.

None in the top half manage to pick up any points, so the middle order close the gap. compo, TB, Bearman, Pete, onevision and Mrs Craig gain 1 point for correctly predicting the unlikely draw. onevision also collects an extra 3 points for correctly predicting the 2-2 score. Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

Unbelievable. It ends 2-2 after a dominant Croatian performance.

Penalty to Czech Republic... ..and they Score!! It's 2-2 out of nowhere!? There will be a few minutes added on because the game was stopped while flares were removed from the pitch.

They've been poor, but Czech Republic somehow manage to pull a goal back; 1-2!

Bugger. Croatia score again; 0-2.

Croatia have been pretty good thus far, and get their reward; 0-1 Croatia. No more goals please...

We all gain a point for predicting the Italian Win, but onevision, buster., TB, Craig, Whosthedado, Bearman and Mrs Craig gain an extra 3 points for predicting the correct 1-0 scoreline! We have a new leader in buster! Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

What a goal that was! 1-0 Italy!

It's been a pretty poor game; low on quality, and very few chances. If it stays at 0-0 then nobody scores a point!

Hill won the Championship, and got promoted a 2nd time through the Play-offs. Barton has won the Championship twice, and got promoted a 3rd time via the play-offs. Kranjcar has won 8 titles (Leagues, Cups and Super Cups) in his native Croatia -- not sure how prestigious they are, but they are titles I suppose -- and won the FA Cup with Portsmouth, and got promoted with QPR. Interestingly, they've all won Player-of-the-Year awards at various clubs. That can't be a bad thing? I never noticed the QPR link before. Perhaps Warburton has a contact? The players he scouts seem to be those he knows, has worked with before, or trusts someone who knows them.

We have some decent games today: Italy-Sweden, Czech-Croatia and Spain-Turkey. I found Italy the most impressive side from the first round of matches; supreme organisation and team spirit overcoming their deficiencies in general quality. It is a good demonstration of how good a team can be with lesser players that are willing to play the role and commit to the cause. Giaccherini is an average player, shunted by Sunderland, but his willingness to play the role Conte demands and willingness to run himself into the ground ,means he's an effective team-player. Conte will be a good addition to the Premier League next season. Here we are, if not criticising, at least underwhelmed by our signings thus far, but if they contribute to the cause, play their assigned roles and improve the overall team ethic, then they will be a success; it's not always about individual quality. The balkan connection would suggest Czech-Croatia could be a unique affair -- perhaps, a derby? Croatia looked good in the first game, and remain my outsiders to do well. They have an excellent group of players. Spain are always interesting to watch, if a little dull at times. Turkey could prove a stiff test. (Hopefully not though, as I have predicted a 2-0 Spain win!)

Several players got full points in the England-Wales game, but the Ukraine-N. Ireland and Germany-Poland games were fruitless for most of us. Mrs Craig picked up a point for Correctly predicting the Northern Ireland Win, and buster gains a point for predicting the Germany-Poland draw. That point pushes buster into 2nd place outright. Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

Northern Ireland score again! FT 0-2. That screwed everyone apart from Mrs Craig, who gains a point (1 minute away from full points). (Easiest write-up I've had to do!) Latest Standings: IFRAME Not Available. Direct Link to Spreadsheet.

Ha! They are back out. 2 minutes. Piece of pish.

Wow! Match suspended due to adverse weather conditions. British players play in that week-in, week-out!

Northern Ireland take the lead! My prediction is screwed. I'm delighted.

Steven Davis is a joy to watch: movement, positioning, vision and work-rate is second-to-none. He would be an absolute dream in our current midfield.

Iain Dowie is an awful commentator: he can barely string a sentence together; and when he does manage it, it's hardly insightful. #wibble