Best First Round Ever?

So the first round is over and now the real business begins: the knockout stages.  Expect drama, emotion and great action in abundance.  I happen to think that we’ve probably seen more good matches and action in the first round of this World Cup than we saw in the whole of the last tournament, in South Africa four years ago.  Some of it was down to that ludicrous ball, but the attacking intent shown by so many of the teams here has made for many exciting and interesting matches.  The best first round in the history of the competition?  Certainly it's right up there.

But of course, sadly, the main talking point since my last entry is ‘the bite.’  How sad for such a great spectacle to be marred by this one very unsavoury incident.  But – fair play to FIFA – they acted swiftly and (in my view) correctly, to ban Suarez for the length of time they did, and with immediate effect.  Anyone who thinks he shouldn't be banned from taking any further part in this World Cup - and everyone is entitled to their opinion of course - is wrong.  It's as simple as that.  There is absolutely no place for it on a football pitch (and he had little or no provocation either!) and the fact that he was a repeat offender too, certainly gave FIFA no choice.  Undoubtedly Suarez is a great player but who knows what is going on in his head sometimes?  Only he knows.  Anyway...hopefully, by the time the hosts take on Chile on Saturday afternoon, everyone will be talking about the football once more.  Let's hope so.

So what has been your favourite match of the first round?  There have been a fair few to choose from, but for me it was Germany versus Ghana last Saturday.  A breathtaking match full of excitement, skill and end to end football that had many dramatic moments.  Group G was probably the most entertaining group aswell with the USA involved in some good matches too, closely followed by Holland and Chile's Group B.

I think the tournament is even bubbling up still and that, in the second round we are going to see at least one real ‘humdinger’, the sort of game that will be talked about for years.  Let’s hope so.  And let’s hope that by the time we meet again it’s football all the way that people are talking about! 

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