Since the World Cup schedule was drawn up, this always looked like being one of the more mundane days, with only the introduction of joint hosts Japan and South Korea adding some spark to events. I don't expect either to make too much of an impact on the big picture so it will be interesting to see if they prove me right or wrong against Belgium and Poland.
But first we have COSTA RICA V CHINA and, sharing Group C with Brazil and Turkey, I can't see either of this pair progressing beyond the group stage. Nothing I see in a non-event of a first half does anything to change my mind and I'm wishing I'd stayed in my kip and let them play between themselves for a wee while longer. I'd expected more from China but, with memories of Italia'90, I should have known better than to dismiss the Costa Ricans.
Gomez and Wright produce two goals in a four minute burst in the final third of the match to secure a 2-0 win but I don't imagine Ronaldo, Rivaldo or Tugay having nightmares about coming up against these jokers later in the group. And it wouldn't surprise me if Brazil rattle in double figures when they face the Chinese at the weekend.
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Would both sides gladly take a 0-0 draw? Marc Wilmots is having none of that when he breaks the deadlock with a brilliant overhead kick early in the second half. But the loss of a goal seems to stir the home crowd, rather than silence them, and when Suzuki takes advantage of some sloppy defending to grab the equalizer the place goes bonkers. Game on! And the Belgians are still reeling when Inamoto makes it 2-1 with a super solo goal.
Belgium, however, rediscover the spirit which saw them come back from the dead to get a draw against Scotland and Van Der Heyden levels the scores. And the second half, which was as exhilerating as the first was non-descript, ends with an Inamoto goal being disallowed at one end and a good shout for a Belgian penalty being dismissed at the other. Each being confident of scoring goals against Tunisia, I don't think either will be too unhappy with the outcome.
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Mayhem reigns when a great left foot volley from Hwang Sun Hong gives Korea a 26th minute lead. Suddenly the Poles, having started comfortably, are in trouble and the passion of the crowd seems to give the Korean players an extra yard in every chase for the ball. Early in the second half Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek makes a great save from Park Ji Sung as the home team continue to dominate and I start to think I might have been wrong to dismiss Korea's 4-1 victory over Scotland as a liberty-taking exercise against a Mickey Mouse outfit!!!
Deservedly Yoo Sang Chul makes it 2-0 and the Poles look like they could suffer Scotland's fate. It is time to reappraise the qualities of both of the hosts and, while neither will win it, I expect at least one, possibly even the pair of them, to get to the knock-out stages. After that it will all depend on how their fixtures pan out, steering clear of the big boys for as long as possible.
So a shift I was not particularly looking forward to has passed off relatively painlessly. Hangover free football? Maybe I should try it more!!!
LITTLE BOY BLUE