MtheM: Britain is NOT aka the UK, except in error.

Greece have earned their success in the group with the way they played against Russia. But bizarre and annoying to see Russia falling out of the comp at this stage - they have some great players who are a pleasure to watch. As for that yellow card, I don't blame the ref (much) because it took a couple of slo-mo replays for me to be sure of the injustice, but it WAS an injustice and it's just ridiculous that the caution can't be rescinded. (The guy will miss the quarter-final because of it.)

I'm glad Torres looks resurgent after a torrid season with Chelsea, but on the other hand I'm pissed off (more for gnu-type reasons than self-interest) to see Renaldo hitting such magnificent form after a dubious start.

What surprises me about the comments on England is that no-one is with me in bemoaning Crouch's in explicable absence. He's a Carroll in the air but with real finesse on the deck, a great first touch and strong enough to hold on to the ball under pressure. Rooney will obviously come back to link up with Welbeck as he does well at ManU. But for me, Crouch would go on the teamsheet even before the spud-faced nipper, as Private Eye disparagingly refer to Rooney.