Now its down to four

First thing first, time to recap on the quarter finals.

Let me break with the order of matches and get to the England and Portugal match. We all know that the career of one Sven "Going Going Gone" Ericksson has finished and what a career!

It will be noted with distinction as a career that never reached its intended heights and never achieved anything. He managed to get his teams as far as the quarter finals and that he has been out coached by Phil Scolari on all occassions. The biggest flop was his loss to a 10 man Brazil in the 2002 world cup.

Possbily Englands worst manager - EVER.

"Hey Gaffer why don't you let me attack and let me bring in Rafa to teach you how to coach a team"

Yet I feel sorry for the English. Their best team in a generation yet SVE cocked things up from the beginning.

Wrong squad selections (Jermaine Defoe would have been a logical selection even before the injury curse hit the team) and there NO game plan apart from kick it long and lets hope someone can beat 4 defenders and score.

Most people know Rooney is more effective at running at players, not as a lone striker with his back to the goals. He should have had Crouching Peter with him to knock balls down.

Further SVE consigned himself to go down in history as a yes manager who does not having the balls to change his players who were not performing ie) Becks, Lampard (I counted 6 chances against Paraguay).

Here are some points that should be noted:

Lampard missed the penalty. Did he miss to remain in Jose's good books (his manager is Portugese)?

A Man United player got another Man United player sent off. Can not wait for pre season training!

Rio Ferdinand crying. Like Crystine Ronaldo when he came off against the Dutch. Must be a new training technique Fergie has implemented.

I can do on and on and on about this. I have a soft spot for England because I love the EPL and Liverpool so would really want England to suceed. All that money and time wasted by the Mr Magoo lookalike. Thisis why I am critical of the team.

But let us spare the embarrassment for the Ingurlanders!

Germany-Argentina was a sad day. My pick to win it all was knocked out via penalties. The Germans were clinical and deserved to do so.

Coach Peckerman messed things up by taking Riquelme off. Yet Argentina should have continued to attack after the first goal, intead of sitting back and letting the Germans attack. Sadly, he should have had Messi on as he would have added some class and flair down tht left side.

The Italian diving team beat Ukraine 3 nil. No surprise there. Lest talk about them the better.

However, a funny thing happened to France on their way from the first roung to the second round. They found their game. Shock Horror - they beat Brazil 1 nil. Thierry Henry delivers in a big stage.

What a pass and what a finish. Will he deliver on the big stage this time?

Zinedine Zidane shows the world that he should be considered as our generations Maradonna (I have the gall to say it) with a best on ground performance. He sets up the goal and my lasting image of him will be his flick over a chasing Ronaldo and then a header. Pure class and talent.

Hope for us baldies!

I would love France to do it and take the world cup. But I am worried about ZiZou. He has been the catalyst for the progression driving the midfield and coordinating the game. But he is 34. Hopefully he can maintain the rage for another 2 matches.

As for the semi finals. I see France overcoming the negative play of Portugal and only if ZZ fires up. Home town support will see Germany make the finals.

It is all on now!