Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast

Ah, they'll always get a reaction out of the armchair, the Brazilians. An 'ooo' if they're under performing. An 'aaa' if they turn it on a little bit and remind us of Brazil circa 70, 82, 94, 98, 02 etc etc. Today was an 'aaa' with some goals that pleased the eye and some passes that delighted the other eye. Sure it got a little spicy towards the end as the tackles went flying in. But by then, we'd seen enough to know that this Brazil team could go all the way. Even without Kaka, who was sent off for moving his arm, fractionally and without aggression, into a body part of an Ivorian who then pretended it was his head. Bless.

Another defeat for an African team though. Sven seemed as reluctant as ever to change things, even when 3-0 down. Some things never change (mainly Sven's tactics during a game). In his defence (and he deserves a defence as he was a good England manager) he was probably focused on damage limitation in the hope his team will twonk North Korea in the last game, while Brazil put away the Portuguese. But if life teaches us one thing, it's never rely on other people. And if it teaches us another, it's always make time to watch Brazil.