Match of A Sentence: Argentina 1 Switzerland 0
The best player on the pitch desperately tries to get his team mates into the game but Shaquiri can't carry the blands into the quarter finals, so eventually Messi sets up an unworthy team into the next round.
Match of A Sentence: Belgium 2 USA 1
This game could have existed only in extra time and it would include more drama than any other game in the tournament, Belgium actually playing well with a goal from Prince Harry, a striker scoring his point, an American retaliation you felt you could cheer, the most well worked free kick you have never seen, the biggest miss so far and actual shock and awe (in a good non-Rumsfeld way).
Don't Give Up Being A Ghost.... Michael Bradly
USA's Michael Bradly is the whitest man I have seen at the World Cup. You would think it must be an advantage playing the midfielder in such blazing sunshine cause the reflected light would blind the opposition. As well as physically conveying all attributes associated with being a ghost, he is for Villa fans a metaphorical ghost. Michael Bradly played on loan for Villa from the German league in 2011 and did nothing. A ghost in the worst possible sense of the word; Villa fans were not impressed. Now Villa fans will be even less impressed because after Tim Howard, Michael Bradly was easily the best player on the pitch. His running was tireless, it was like he was haunting the Belgium midfield, appearing everywhere in the second half of extra time, and terrified the defense into conceding a goal. The USA have won a lot of friends and that's because we all love a good ghost story.
Man Crush of The Day: Mark Lawrenson
Mark Lawrenson has supposedly caused a twitter scrape (not really a fight more a coming together of inane opinions) during his co-commentary of the Switzerland game when he said in response to a weak shot from a Swiss player "he should've put a skirt on." Clearly this was ironic sexism, which does not make it any less sexist,and anyone less upset, but I would much prefer people to complain about the obnoxious tone of Robbie Savage, the lack of vocabulary of Phillip Nevile, and the vacuum of smugness that engulfs Andy Townsend. Lawrenson's comments were just a bit granddad and I actually find his maturity and honesty refreshing. Most modern day co-commentators would berate the Swiss player in such a warped and overly aggressive manner you would think they were to face trail for war crimes in the Hague. Lawrenson actually laughs at football in a very dry manner not succumbing to the 24 hour melodrama in front of him and bringing a genuine (clearly not thought through) personality. Mark Lawrenson does not tow the party-line Premier League propaganda and make vile gaffs off camera; he is not like the rightly disgraced misguided misogynists Richard Keys or Andy Grey. Mark Lawrenson is a man resigned like only a man his age can be and isas British as the rain. He is an ideal co-commentator because a) he actually see's football as entertainment whether it is played badly or played well; and b) he looks like this and should not be allowed to be seen on screen for fear he will scare the kids.
So my hands have stopped shaking, the sweating has decreased and I am no longer hallucinating but I guess I am not quite cold football turkey yet. Got 6 more days before I go clean.
