The Germans, like the Dutch, the Spanish and the Italians are European teams who can keep the ball, if you cannot keep the ball then you are at a massive disadvantage and that has been my issue with England for many a year

At long last an England performance that is worth talking about, perhaps not the over hyping that we have come to expect from the pundits and the commentary team but a performance that contained passes to team mates and not just routine whacks to Emile Heskey to try and hold.

I wasn’t able to watch the game live but as I was walking on my way to Euston station I walked past a pub and heard a roar, I poked my head around the door and watched the replay of Jermaine Defoe’s poke at and past the Slovenian goalkeeper.

Even with an improved effort, Wayne ‘Wazza’ Rooney is still to take place in this world cup and was replaced with Arsenal’s Joe Cole *ahem*

After watching the Ghana vs Germany game in the evening I couldn’t help but think that 1-0 against Slovenia would be the first and only highlight of the 2010 world cup for England. The Germans, like the Dutch, the Spanish and the Italians are European teams who can keep the ball, if you cannot keep the ball then you are at a massive disadvantage and that has been my issue with England for many a year.

I have enjoyed watching the Ghanaians this year, a team full of technique, power, flair, confidence and imagination. But they are missing a vital cog in the machine, a goal scorer. They look like a wonderfully crafted blunt knife. A 26 year old Tony Yeboah would have completed the package and made Ghana into a serious contender.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsene was interested in a few of the Ghana squad. I think Ghana will dominate the United States and send them home, I also predict that Germany will have too much for an England side lacking flair.

Now that the collective handbrake has been released in the last group games, I think the world cup will continue to accelerate and produce some more entertaining games, well that certainly is the theory. Spain vs Chile is a game that I look forward to.

Group E comes to the final conclusion this evening with Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner hoping to play some part against Japan in a winner takes all clash. Bendtner is struggling with his long standing groin problem and the coach will make a late decision.

Robin Van Persie will be facing club team mate Alex Song in the other game in that group.

In the big bad world of transfer news, there is mixed news regarding William Gallas and Juventus. One minute he is set to sign and then the next reports suggest that he has turned down the move. To be honest I am a little fed up of the whole thing, If he is not going to sign a new deal (which he is not) then sign for someone and get on with your career.

Mark Schwarzer’s name has popped back up in the headlines today, apparently we have increased our bid to £3.5million which should be enough to persuade Fulham to hand over the player. The news hasn’t come from any concrete sources so I wouldn’t jump around doing handstands just yet.

As teams start dropping out of the world cup, expect more and more transfer dealings to be completed, especially for those clubs who have been doing work behind the scenes since the end of last season.

Flicking through all the transfer rumours, well the ones with the most substance. It could be possible that we could end the window with Chamakh, Koscielny, Schwarzer and Joe Cole. If our squad stays the same apart from the obvious out of contract players then potentially we will be looking in very good shape for the new season.

That would mean a new player in each position which would add strength in depth to the squad, not that I think we are lacking in depth as such. That being the case, I cannot help but think we will be waving goodbye to at least one squad member. It could well be Eduardo but I would like to see him around for at least another year to give him a chance to play without his early season niggles. I also think that a partnership of Chamakh and Eduardo would work well in certain games, games where Van Persie is rested/suspended/injured.

Hopefully we will see another deal agreed soon.

Back tomorrow.

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