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The world's largest and most important international football tournament has officially started in Germany.

The new ball is already attracting controversy because it is ''rounder'' than ever before. ????????????????? I don't really understand this point but it means that it flys through the air quicker and is subject to bending and swerving a great deal more. This would imply that there will be a large amount of goals at this tournament and in my opinion, that is a good thing. Already, we've had two belters from the German team in the form of Lahm's curler and Frings' powerblaster from 40 yards.

All the pre-tournament hype suggests that England will go all the way - but, then again, that is what they have said for the last two tournaments. Personally, I can see us getting out of our group but it will be tricky. We have good players but I think that we are lacking something special - I don't quite know what it is but I just don't see us winning it. I would like to proved wrong of course!

My tips for success would be Brazil but I think that their defence is terrible. However, with that attack, they don't need to defend! If Portugal or Holland get it together cohesively and work for each other then I think that they could go a long way as well.

After all the hype, we beat Paraguay. Although it wasn't a comfortable game, I thought that we played well enough and they never really threatened us. The performance didn't get me imagining Beckham lifting the Jules Rimet trophy at the end of the World Cup though!

Almost forgot. GO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Apart from on Thursday of course)

We were watching the match in Spain and they handed the tannoy over to a really loud and annoying english man. He promptly ruined the whole match by drunkenly singing through the whole thing. To the point where you could not talk and HAD to either watch or leave. . . .

If I remember correctly there was similar controversy surrounding the ball at the '94 World Cup in the USA. It was meant to be more aerodynamic and certainly seemed to result in some spectacular goals, particularly free kicks.

It was quite bizarre for me watching the Trinidad match and seeing Chris Birchall who I used to go to school with! He was two years below me and I used to play for the same Sunday league team as his brother. I remember he came along to our training sessions occasionally and he was good back then-and this was 10 years ago!

not world cup but premiership related - a friend of my brother plays for sheffild united; michael tongue, watch out for him. though let me take this opportunity to tell you i once beat him in a one-on-one game not long before he signed as an apprentice at 15. i could have been big...

eh, when I were a lad,

Fame-huggers the both of you!
Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame! *pointy finger crookidly pointing in a shameful way at both of you

i think i've just seen this world cup winner's in action - argentina have just torn through their latest opposition 6-0, and scored one of the best team goals there has ever been. [in case your wondering how i managed to watch a game that kicked off at 2:00pm local time, i've had to endure a second day off work with a terrible sore throat and snuffly cold. cough, cough, it's torture, it really is.]

Yes, it was a good game wasn't it - they have an awesome midfield and attack in Riquelme, Messi, Tevez, Crespo, Saviola, Cambiasso, Sorin, et al. The only snag for them is that they are playing too well to win, peaked too early and will get too confident - probably lose to a dodgy goal. Having said that, the second goal was awesome - a wonderful team goal!

England are through to the next stage but I don't hold out much hope after a very disappointing performance in the win over Trinidad and Tobago. For a long time I thought that we were going to be held to a draw but luckily for us we had a striker who is 6 foot 7 and the long ball finally paid off - surely we have to be inventive than this!!!!!

I was sorry to see the Ivory Coast go out but I was chuffed for Angola who got their first point today and could possibly still go through!

Well, we scrapped through against Sweden - a moment of brilliance from Joe Cole was the game's highlight. Well done to Joe again for delaying the cross before a cracking header from Gerrard.

Defensively we were crap - the last goal was a shambles. I would have bollocked my Year 7 team for that - utterly ''diabolical'' is definitely what Alan Hansen would have made of it!

I can see us getting past Ecuador but we need to vastly improve beyond this game. I am glad we missed Germany because they seem like they are on a role at the moment!

I was disapointed with that Sweeden equaliser. England seemed to have lost their wind or something, it was really stupid, their defensive game is a really stupid tactic! Why, because they run back to our goal like a house of cards collapsing. Fools.

I was very disappointed with the level of interest in preventing Sweden from scoring at set pieces...why was Sol Cambell doing a little dance in the box? Boot it, you muppet!

I can see us beating Equador but then not getting much further, especially if Rio and Neville continue to be injured.

The BBC website said it all:

"Escape from Victory"

Is anyone else ready to thump Frank Lampard if he doesn't actually score soon?

I must confess that I was getting uncharacteristically agitated with Mr. Lampard whilst watching the Trinidad & Tobago match. I even swore at the screen, which reflects poorly on his performance given that I don't usually care enough to do that. In short, yes I am, Claire, yes I am.

I suspect all will be forgiven if he scores any vital goals in the next rounds, such are my fickle ways...

Such are the fickle ways of an entire nation!