See that doesn't add up for me, the one thing that cannot be questioned about Rooney is that he is a team player. He works so hard for the team, brings people into play, scores and sets up goals, his all round contribution is fantastic. In a couple of years he will be the best player in the world. He has the skill, the work ethic and the physical attributes. There is no way Torres is the better player. As for the better goal scorer, their records at club and international level are virtually the same, but Rooney is the all round better player. Torres for me is not in the same class as Rooney, though he is a very good player.

I'm going to say 2-0 Brazil, don't think Ghana really stand much of a chance, even though Brazil haven't been great so far. I think they'll really miss Essien.

Well here is my little preview for this game: The French mostly seem resigned to defeat here, they were so unimpressive in the group stages that even the most optimistic of supporters have had to accept that they simply don't look like a side that could make it any further. They struggled through their group, finishing second behind Switzerland, who yesterday did their upmost not to score in a thrilling encounter against the Ukraine. Not finishing first in their group has been a major blow for the French who had thought that they could avoid facing another major power until the quarter finals, at which stage anything can happen and even if you lose it is fairly respectable. Zidane should return to the fold and the line-up will probably be the same as it was for the first two group games. For Spain this World Cup has represented something of a success. So far there have been few, if any, stories of disagreements and unrest within the camp and there has yet to be the typical Spanish implosion. No one would doubt the quality of the Spanish squad, but they are perennial underachievers, usually attributed to the Spanish-Basque divide. However, they seem to have put all of that to rest as they are currently on a 25 match unbeaten run, never having lost under the guidance of Luis Aragones, and not having tasted defeat since Euro 2004. They started this tournament in emphatic style with a 4-0 victory over Spain, which saw them shoot up to many people's tips to go far, though their other two group games were not nearly as convincing. They struggled against both Tunisia and Saudi Arabia and need to rediscover the form of their first game if they are to be serious contenders in the long run. Group Results: France- France 0-0 Switzerland France 1-1 South Korea France 2-0 Togo Spain- Spain 4-0 Ukraine Spain 3-1 Saudi Arabia Spain 1-0 Tunisia The form book would have Spain coming out comfortable winners in this match, but does form really matter in the knock-out stages? You would have to say that Spain are due a defeat and it would be just like them to slip up at this stage in the competition. France on the other hand have looked totally out of sorts and lacking ideas, though there is undoubted quality in the side and with all of that experience you would think that they could well produce the goods when needed. Prediction: I expect Spain to win this one, maybe 2-1 or 2-0, but given their history and the fact that the French are annoying and tend to get further than you would expect I might go for a 2-1 France.

Hope someone gets dildo.

Not much. Anyway, I support England, I think his point get better towards the end I just think that at the start his evaluation of the "golden generation" tag is a bit off.

Usual crap from the 365 lot.

A few games don't turn you into a bad defender. Anyway, he was really only poor in the last one.

Bit harsh, car accidents can do that to you, though I must admit he does rather remind me of Frankenstein.

Have to agree, one of those where if you were Australian it was never a penalty but if you're Italian it's stonewall. Personally I would have given it, hopefully that has put pen to paper on Lucas' new contract. Unlucky Aussies, you were a good team, though I think you let yourselves down today by not getting forward and having a go in the same way that you have in previous games. Perhaps you stuck too much to the initial plan of soaking up Italian pressure.

Hewaça

Have to disagree, we didn't play well but we could easily have scored more in the second half. Lampard in particular messed things up a couple of times.

I don't think anyone is saying that we are playing well, but this is the bes team in a generation. Very talented side that have shown us that they can play very well, but they need to produce the goods now.

Well, into the quarter finals, don't care how we got there. Can't beat Argentina or Brazil until we play them, though I don't think we played that well I do think that the team will play better.

I'd say Portugal, not sure why, just seem s like we'd be more likely to win.

It is on its way, but as you point out, the post can sometimes be unreliable, so don't blame me if it doesn't get there. In the end I'm using the VGA with HDMI adapter and that is working, hopefully they'll come out with a solution for HDMI sometime soon. Thanks for the help. Oh and biddy, as you seem to be in the know, is it right that my tv is recognising that as a pc connection rather than an hd connection?

Somehow that list of Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and two unnamed Spanish sides isn't that impressive. All clubs of larger support but none in a higher competition and only one of them finished higher than us in the league.

Not great, but some great goals to cover up for it. No team has been impressive for three straight games and very few of the games have been close and exciting.

Sven will stick to the 4-4-2. Crouch and Rooney up front. The usual suspects.

Once again because of being busy this game slipped my mind and I apologise for not having done a preview, I've set a reminder for the France v Spain game and will have one done. No Zidane and things got better. France were once again unimpressive, though improved and effective. Togo never really caused them any trouble and it was more a case of when they would score and if they would win by two or if results would go their way, in the end both proved to be the case and France will be in the last 16 after finishing behind Switzerland. There is undoubted quality in the side but at the moment they lack that "je ne sais quoi" that will allow them to play and express themselves in the way that they can. Henry looks a shadow of the player that we all watch in awe in the Arsenal shirt, while Viera, Zidane and Barthez have looked past the sell by date. However, Viera and Henry scored and all is happy in Paris. I didn't even have to watch the game to know the score, loud cheers rang out throughout the streets when the goals went in and let everyone know that the mighty Togo were being brushed aside. France need to step it up now, much like England, though they have been even less impressive. They passed the ball and moved well at times tonight, but at others it appeared that they didn't know what they were doing.

Without a doubt Rooney. Torres is a very good player but Rooney will soon be the best in the world.

They would have gone out even without the penalty. Though I do understand that playing the second half at 1-1 could have meant the final result wouldn't have been the same.

Sorry, but no way. It wasn't a penalty, but there is physical contact there and the player went over, there have been worse decisions in this tournament let alone ever.

Problem not solved, help.

Problem solved, needed a different cable.

Right, I am trying to connect my xbox 360 to an hd tv but I simply don't appear to have the same connectors on my tv that they list in the instructions. My main connection for HD is a DVI-I but this seems to require a red, green and blue connectors and I just don't have those. Help.