Many world cup winners started their campaigns slowly.

Don't think you can judge yet.

A couple of things strike me about listening to commentators going on about Brazil.

One is that we should ....somehow .....just give the World Cup to Brazil simply because they play attractive football.

This disguises the fact that they lash at the ball just like any other team with most shots flying anywhere, but the ones that end up in the net are brilliant. A miss-hit cross tonight that ends in the net is brilliant, just like the speculative lob that beat the oaf Seaman was brilliant.

Two is that Brazil are just as dirty as anyone else, and they dive and contrive like the best.

But what the heck ....they're Brazilian.

So just give them the cup...it's a disgrace they have not won every single one of them.
FFS!

That the commentators were useless?

On ITV they pick awinner, then no matter what go on about how great they are and plucky their opponents
ignore that Brazil are traditionally an attacking team (lets face it, at ITV you ignore everything factual anyway) and praise Korea for gettng a consolation goal against Brazil (who are useless defenders and whose goalkeeper moved out of the way)

most importantly of all if you want to get on ITV's team, if someone shoots you must shout the guys name as loud as possible and you might be able to hear your voice on the news later on, even when the sound levels are dropped for the sports reporter's dubover

Yes.... when a so called top side is struggling against plucky opposition.......the conversation tends to drift towards what the top side must do to overcome said plucky individuals...seldom what plucky individuals must do to beat the so called top side.

Because let's face it....what would the world cup be without Argentina, West Germany, Brazil and Italy in the semis.......?

A damn sight more interesting I'm thinking!

This is laughable. Anyone who has seen Brazil over recent years know they're a force, especially against better sides. I remember them making England look like a pub side, they'd do it again if they met. Tonight was a pretty tough game against a pumped up, organised Korean side that played 5 at the back. I know people seem to say 'well it was only North Korea', but any side that plays those tactics will be hard to beat, as the tactics are simply rock solid to break down, hence the reason so many sides use them.

Brazil will be there or thereabouts, only the Spanish are better than them, whilst I'd say Brazil are best equipped for the big games.

Quite alot of interest in england from italy this WC, for obvious reasons. In fact if italy get knocked out may would consider england the second team.

The big difference is, england had a draw with a good team in USA and it's been slated by our media. Italy had a draw with an average team in paraguay and the Italian media are quite happy with it.

Our players don't have access to english papers.

Good.

Paraguay are a better side than the USA.

USA are ranked 14th in the world.

Paraguay are ranked 31st.

Take into account USA's recent results as well. They were the lst team to beat spain, beat argentina and pushed Brazil all the way.

So what? That's 'cause they play underdog every game and defend non-stop. Paraguay have beaten Brazil, Paraguay were very good in qualifying, whilst they've had to do without Santa Cruz for most of the past year due to injury, and one of their other good strikers - Cabanas - has been shot in the head. They're a better team than America, America had a good confederations cup last year but only because they could play their defensive football without any expectation to attack. Same with against us, they were gash and people seem to think they were good 'cause they kept us out, all they done is what the likes of Fulham, Stoke and Everton do every week.

It doesn't matter how you get results.

It's the results that count. USA have been better at getting results than paraguay hence they are 17 places above them in the FIFA ranking. They are a better team.

Your opinion can go to hell.

Sorry mate but that's . The FIFA rankings are a joke. Look at Portugal. Apparently the 3rd best team in the world, yet they finished behind Denmark(36th). Denmark got the better results, as they won the group, yet are placed 33 places below the team they beat to win the group. Bosnia-Herzigovina(51st) are ranked below Turkey(29th) yet finished 4 points above them in qualifying. North Korea "only" lost by 1 goal to Brazil, in a properly competitive match (not a Charity Shield equivalent) so I assume they are world beaters?

I don't know how FIFA arrive at these rankings but I'd love to because as far as I can see they are a load of twaddle.