As you will have gathered if you are a Diary regular, I am not a big fan of early morning rises, especially as many of the 7.30 starts have been far from exhilerating. However, I'm in my centre stand seat (the couch) bright and early for MEXICO V ECUADOR, a game which promises to be one of the more significant of the tournament so far, if only because of Italy's suicidal performance against Croatia yesterday. And both sides seem to have gone out of their way to repay my enthusiasm.
I'm right behind Mexico for this one. Not only do I have a tenner treble on Mexico, Turkey and a Japan-Russia draw, I want to see Italy punished for their arrogance so the Mexican target must be to better the Italians' 2-0 victory over Ecuador. They certainly don't make the most encouraging of starts, falling a goal behind to an Augustin Delgado header after only five minutes.
Bergetti levelled the scores after 28 minutes and early in the second half Torrado made it 2-1 with a lethal left foot shot. At this point I genuinely fancied the Mexicans to go on and score four or five to heap the pressure on Italy but, although they came close on several occasions, they didn't get the cushion their play deserved and were left to sweat a bit in the closing stages.
Late in the game the Larsson-lookalike in the Mexican goal was called upon to make a couple of saves as Ecuador rallied. Mexico did survive but their 2-1 win might not be enough. A 1-0 victory for Italy on Thursday will save the Azzuri's skin and leave the Mexicans' future hanging on the result of Croatia v Ecuador. Never mind, my treble is still alive, c'mon Tugay, c'mon TURKEY!
The Turks started well enough without setting the heather on fire and I have to admit that their lack of penetration gave me something to fret about. Having already beaten China, COSTA RICA know victory will take them into the second round and they began to fancy their chances. Centino hammered one over the bar when he should have done better, then Turkish keeper Rustu got out of jail when he stumbled at the edge of the box and only just managed to stick out a leg to prod the ball clear as Wanchope prepared to pounce.
I'm off my seat nine minutes into the second half when Emre fires Turkey into the lead but, in all honesty, they don't look too clever and after several near things Winston Parks makes it 1-1 just four minutes from the end. Having impressed against Brazil, the Turks have been a big disappointment and they could have been on their way home when Parks missed a sitter right at the death. Now they have to hope the Brazilians take Costa Rica to the cleaners next week, while also making sure they get their act together against China. And on the evidence of today's performance, I don't think I'll be visiting Mr Ladbroke to shell out too much more of my hard-earned cash on Tugay's team.
Deprived of the opportunity to relieve the cream cookies of some dosh, my loyalty for the day was switched to JAPAN. They are so positive in everything they do, a real joy to behold, and they certainly had a go at RUSSIA right from the off. But despite their frantic start, they don't create much more than a couple of shots from the edge of the box, none of which trouble the goalkeeper.
The big worry for Japan must have been their failure to capitalize on their first half superiority. Indeed, they will have breathed a big sigh of relief when the ref turned a deaf ear to a good shout for a Russian penalty. But worry turned to ecstasy six minutes into the second half when Inamoto scored an opportunist goal and Russia, seemingly content to absorb the Japanese pressure, had to revert to Plan B...and suddenly they looked dangerous, with sub Beschastnych shooting into the side netting after rounding the keeper.
Where Japan had been prone to being caught on the break, it is the Russians who are now vulnerable to the counterattack and Yanagisawa should have killed the game after an hour but he blasted his shot over the top, then midway through the second half Nakata rattled a 25-yarder off the crossbar. In the end, the one goal was enough and they now look a good bet to progress in the competition, indeed it would be a brave man who backed against them winning the group.
Group H is another of those which could have a fascinating last couple of fixtures. Belgium will surely take care of Tunisia tomorrow and that would set the scene for a nail-biting battle between the Belgians and Russia next Friday. Assuming Japan do the business against the Tunisians, and an impressive win would send out a we-mean-business message, the battle for second place will be enthralling but I fancy Belgium to do it, then wish they hadn't bothered when they meet Brazil in the next round
Winning the group would leave Japan facing either Costa Rica or Turkey - hardly the most intimidating of prospects - and they could then be in line for a mouth-watering clash with England or France in the quarter-finals. Or am I getting too far ahead of myself? What price a Brazil-Italy final...if the Italians survive beyond the week ahead?
So that is Day 10 over but I'm showing no sign of wilting. The big plus has been that, with the exception of one bampot (Robbie Earle) suggesting David Seaman has been the player of the tournament so far, there haven't been too many mentions of England. Mind you, I'm sure both channels will make up for it as the week moves on.
Until tomorrow...
LITTLE BOY BLUE