大象传媒

Now it gets serious

• Peter van Dyk
• 24 Jun 06, 07:10 AM

Sixteen teams have gone home, but all the favourites are still here. Every game from here on has a winner and a loser. Today, the World Cup gets real.

Last time around neither France nor Argentina made it past the group stage. Yesterday, France became the last team to qualify for the second round by winning their first game at the finals since they beat Brazil in the final of France 98. (That was a run of five games without a win. By contrast, since the match in Paris, Brazil have won all ten of their games at the finals in Japan/Korea and now Germany.)

And Argentina. They play Mexico today having topped the group of death, ahead of the Netherlands and Ivory Coast. Poor old Ivory Coast. They must be the best team to go out, but who else will you miss?

And who won't you miss? Poland were a big disappointment, as were Serbia and Montenegro. The Czechs collapsed after a bright start.

Well, we'll soon forget them - especially since there are some mouth-watering ties in the second round. Perhaps we're saving the best for last, when Spain play France. Are France back on track? Captain Patrick Viera popped up in the penalty area to steer them past Togo, so Zidane gets at least one more game for Les Bleus. Can he turn back the clock or will Spain fulfil their promise?

Getting a bit ahead of myself there. Portugal-Netherlands, Brazil-Ghana, Australia-Italy. Wow. I can't wait.