Salifou of Togo has impressed and could get a big move.

Vieria looked past it in the Switzerland game, but has stepped up his performances in the last two games and started to look like the old Vieria. I think that Zidane has actually played quite well this tournament, nothing like he used to be able to do, but he's still better than most. I totally agree about Barthez, Coupet deserves to be number one and is far more reliable option. I'd even have Landreau in goal before Barthez and the reasons why Sebastian Frey is continuously overlooked is a mystery. I thought that France played quite well last night and they were unlucky with decisions and some of their chances. If they converted less than half of them, they would have won 4-0 or something. However they are going to have to improve to beat Spain and I don't know if they can under Domenech, because he is unable to get the best out of a ridiculously talented squad.

Well done to Australia! Before the World Cup everyone saw it as Brazil and Croatia to qualify, but Australia under Hiddink have put this idea to bed. I must say that I'm disappointed for Croatia, as I've always liked them as a team, their players and the way they play. The referee had a shocker last night. I've always disliked Graham Poll, because of the way he carries on, as he always looks to be the centre of attention, arrogant bo**ocks!

You'd have thought that England would have given Theo a run out last night, seeing as they had already qualified and that they shouldn't be bothered about playing Germany, because they are a class above apparently.

England played some decent stuff in the first half, without really dominating and without creating too many clear cut chances. Joe Cole had a fine game and his goal was a screamer. Sweden looked pretty solid at the back and limited the affectiveness of Rooney who looked well off the pace, but that's to be expected. Owen Hargreaves inclusion made England look like a far more balanced team. Beckham was poor again though and if he were any other player, then he'd be out. Sweden would have been a better side with Ibrahimovic, but his replacement Marcus Allback scored with a great header and worked his socks off. Sweden were destroying England in the second half, with set pieces being their main weapon. Robinson pulled off a great save to deny an own goal, Mellberg hit the cross bar and Kallstrom had one cleared off the line. England could easily have been 3-1 or 4-1 down. Steven Gerrard got a goal against the run of play, but Sweden got a deserved point, although the defending for it was comical. Owen going off was a huge blow and the decision to bring Walcott looks a bigger mistake than it did before tonight. Overall, England looked better, but I doubt that Ecuador will be too worried, when they look at how England have played. You'd expect England to win though, but I'm sure most people will say that it won't be a stroll in the park.

Malouda has been a vital memeber of the Lyon team for the lsat couple of years and yesterday he showed what a vital player he is for France. I think France will qualify and will do it without Zidane. Hopefully we'll be able to see Dhorasso starting and a striker to play with Henry. As for last night, I think that France played extremely well and showed what they are capable of inspite of and not because of Domenech. I was amazed that Domenech still refused to have a partner for Henry last night, but they looked pretty good anyway. Although there were numerous occassions where France got in to decent crossing positions, but there was only Henry in the box. This has to be sorted out if France are to progress. Ribery did well coming from the bench and showed glimpses of what he is capable of. Allez les bleus!

No I wouldn't say that Brazil are far worse than Argentina yet because we've only seen the Brazilians play once. We've seen England twice and they've been crap both times. I could easily say that Argentina are better than England however.

No way can anyone say that Argentina and England are in the same league on current form. (No way you could have seen that display coming though Eddie)

That was one of the most devastatingly impressive results that I've ever seen. The Argies were one of the favourites before the tournament, but now they most be odds on to win the whole thing. Their passing, possession, awareness, touch, technique and skill was on a different planet. They have a game plan and tactics that utilise their ability and they stick to it, playing patiently until they get the opening they want. Being able to bring the likes of Tevez and Messi off the bench only adds to the strength of this side. There's no way in the world that anyone would have seen this result coming, because Serbia and Montinegro are a good side, who only conceded one goal in qualifing. The fact that they were down to 10 men and had clearly had enough, added to the amount of goals scored, but that doesn't take the gloss off a remarkable display by Argentina.

I'm looking forward to the Sweden - England match. Both teams have much to play for, as they'd both like to avoid Germany in the next round (providing they beat Ecuador). I've liked the look of Sweden so far, they have played well in both games, meeting an unbeatable Shaka Hislop in the first match and in the second match their chances fell to Marcus Allback. These two teams are always evenly matched and I expect it to be another tight affair. I'm waiting to see what England play like against a very good side, more of same drab nonsense or the high tempo football that seen on rare occassions.

I think Florent Malouda is fit for Frances next game, so maybe we'll see him brought into the team.

Rooney is English, I like him.

Not this tournament, he's even more pro-England than Shearer or Wright! God, that was grime again. Not even a decent first half performance from England to fall back on. England had plenty of chances, but will they get those chances against better opposition? Lennon did well when he came on and Gerrard's goal was a great hit. Contrary to what was said before the competiton, it's the result that matters, not the performance.

Reyes is extremely good, it's because Spain are so strong and have so much strength in depth that he isn't on the starting 11.

If England get as many chances as Sweden did, then you'd say that England would score at least one of them. Shaka Hislop is going to have to have another blinder if Trindad even want to consider getting a result.

Another thing that you people need to remember is that there are world class players, who are better than other world class players. Just because Owen is world class, it doesn't mean that he's as good as Shevchenko or Henry. Also, I don't need to be convinced about the quality of England, because they have a good team and are rightly up there with the six or seven other teams that have designs on the World Cup.

You say that you can take a decently objective stance, then you write that Reyes who is arguably Arsenals 2nd best attacking player isn't as good as Downing, a player who if was as good as everyone thought would surely have played much more for England, even if Joe Cole looks like he has made the position his own. Joaquin has been one of the most devastating wingers in world football for the last number of years, with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and United all wanting him at some point, while Aaron Lennon has had an impressive second half to a season. I agree that Raul isn't the player that he once was, but England would love to have a someone like him to come off the bench, especially with Rooney and Owen not being at their best. I'm sorry, but the idea that Carrick is better than Fabregas is laughable. On paper Lampard and Gerrard is a world class midfield, but this isn't fantasy football and they don't work together and as you say, any one of the Xavi, Alonso and Senna would get into the team because of tactical reasons. Gary Neville isn't a world class right back. He's one of the most consistent and dependable, but Carlos Puyol would be a far better bet in that position, if not in the centre, where Rio is world class but is consistently prone to mistakes and if it weren't for his pace I doubt that he'd be consider as such. An objective view would take into account that a full England team (which is supposed to be far superior) were totally outclassed last year against Spain, albeit in a friendly match, but one in which both teams went all out in. What I don't get is that during the qualification rounds is that England played with their best 11 (including a fully fit Rooney and Owen), but frequently failed to impress and didn't play to level which people believe that they will need to World Cup. What has changed so dramatically? Is it simply a case that the players will up their efforts? As you say Eddie, you could probably argue that France are up their with the best of them (which I believe is still the case), like you're arguing that England have a superior squad to Spains.

I still think that French can have a good tournament and I don't buy the whole idea that this team is over the hill. Zidane is 34, but he's a professional athlete, who never ran box to box and he's probably better than most players, just not as good as he was, which was on another planet. Support Henry up front, bring Dhorasso in for Wiltord and the French will look a whole lot better IMO.

Fair enough, you think that England have a better first 11, but how can you as someone who clearly knows about football, think that England have a better squad and have no doubts about it? How can you think that Aaron Lennon is better than Joaquin, that Downing is better than Reyes, that Crouch or Walcott are better than Raul, that Carrick is better than Fabregas, that Hargreaves is better than Albelda and that James is better than Canizares? These guys on the Spain bench are all proven world class players, while their English counter parts aren't. If you weren't English, then you'd be as shocked as the rest of us when you saw someone writing that the English bench is stronger than Spains and that England can be considered in the same context as Brazil and Argentina. Not so long ago Spain and England played a friendly match and granted that it was only a friendly, but neither team was hanging back, both teams were pretty much at full strength and I think Spain only won 1-0, but there were very few people on this board, who didn't agree that Spain took the absolute pish out England that night. I agree with you when you say that we'll see who gets further, because for all I know Spain could go out in the second round and England could go as far as usual and drop out at the quarter finals, but lets not kid ourselves to think that if England get a stage further that they have a squad better than Spain's when on paper.

It was pretty dire first half, with the only highlight being the goal. The second half was far better, with some great goals and an exciting finish.

Fair point. Teams that have been hyped up mightn't be as good as everyone would like to believe and vice versa. As you say, England are one in a long list of favourites along with the Czechs, Italians, Spanish, Brazilians, Germans, Portugese, Argentinians and Dutch. As for the match tonight, God I felt sorry for the Poles. Don't get me wrong, Germany deserved to win, but to do it in the last minute when the Poles have defended so well with 10 men and the keeper has had a blinder, is so sickening for them. The German defence looked a lot better tonight and Ballack really makes them tick. It was another fine game in a long list of fine games from the World Cup and it's only six days old.

England topped their group but lost to Northern Ireland in the process, so does that mean that Northern Ireland are better than England? As for the strength of the teams, England and Spain look quite similar on paper, but Spain have greater depth in quality. Casillas and Canizares are two world class keepers, while Robinson (yet) and James aren't. England have a stronger defence, the midfields look equal, while Spain have more going forward than England. If Rooney and Owen were fit then you'd say that it would be alot more even. It's what Spain have on the bench that makes them a better squad, with far better midfield options. Joaquin is a world class winger, while Lennon looks like a talent, but hasn't had a chance to prove it. Reyes is a better bet than Downing is at this level at the moment. Carrick and Hargreaves aren't in the same class as Fabregas and Albelda. Spain can bring Raul off the bench, while England have an affective striker in Crouch. At the back England have the ability to bring in Carragher and Campbell. I'd have either of those two over Salgado, while I'd prefer Marchena to Campbell.

I think you can say that quite easily.

That was the best performance that we have seen from any team so far. Spain were brilliant today against a very strong Ukranian side. For too long Spain have underachieved and hopefully now, they will play the way they should. After the performance they will be full of confidence and can carry this form on. When you look at the team, it's arguably the best team at the World Cup. The midfield is brilliant, Marco Senna does the defensive duties, while Alonso and Xavi spray passes about, while Luis Garcia drifts around Villa and Torres. The formation works brilliantly, and with the full backs bombing down the line, they have plenty of width. They also look so strong in defence. When you think that they can afford to leave the likes of Reyes, Raul, Albelda, Fabregas, Marchena, Canizares, Salgado and Joaquin out of the first team then the Spanish must have the best squad in Europe if not the world.

You might be onto something there, with dropping Vieria for another striker to help Henry. However, I don't think Zidane could cope with the demands of central midfield role at his age. He looked good as a roaming player yesterday. I'd like to see Alou Diarra given a game in midfield over Vieria, with Dhorasso replacing Wiltord and Trezeguet or Saha up front with Henry. The French look fairly strong at the back, it's going forward that they are struggling and with the amount of talent they have, you'd have to put this down to the coach.