World Cup Day Eleven: Excitement Interspersed With The Banal

More great matches today, but I believe we have a contender for the dullest game of the tournament amongst them. Shall we continue?

Belgium beat Russia with a late goal two minutes from time. This, by no means, shows this match to be end to end stuff with on team pipping the other at the death. It was dull, uninteresting and lifeless for eighty odd minutes. Belgium are dark horses and they have now confirmed their place in the last sixteen, but it was not a vintage display worthy of champions in the making. Russia were not without blame in this game. They rarely threatened and were toothless when they did come forward. Russia now have to beat Algeria in their final group match to progress after their equally lacklustre draw against South Korea.

Portuguese goals bookended their draw against the United States. Again, another fantastic display of attacking football from both teams. However, watching Portugal play makes you wonder what might have happened were Sweden to have qualified in their place. Beaten by Germany in their first match, they needed to prove a point against the US and instead did the complete opposite. Standing on the precipice of qualification for the last sixteen must be a strange place for America, but it comes as no surprise to those of us who have already seen the giant killing teams in this World Cup.

South Korea v Algeria has all the hallmarks of being the last game on Match Of The Day, right before the Football League Show. Any belief that this could have been dull were quickly dispelled by half time as the Algerians raced into a three nil lead at half time. Then when South Korea scored five minutes after the restart the game kicked into life. Korea were in the ascendency and only brought back to earth by an Algerian goal against the run of play which put them back in the safe zone. Korea were undeterred and found time for another goal before the end of he natch but it was too little too late for Korea. I cannot call who will join Belgium in qualifying.

Bring on the last round of matches!