World Cup – Sunday 20th June

Bad Hair Day

The games continue to come thick and fast and each day they get better-er and more dramatic-er. Could we be about to see Italy get knocked out in the group stage? Who cares – the real excitement comes with the news that today I launch my Golden Mullet competition where you can win a very special prize.

Golden Mullet Award

Scroll down for the sad facts…

Results – Sunday 20th June

	Group F:		Slovakia	2 – 0	Paraguay
	Group F:		Italy	1 – 1	New Zealand
	Group G:		Brazil	3 – 1	Ivory Coast

Fixtures – Monday 21st June

	Group G:		Portugal	vs	North Korea
	Group H:		Chile	vs	Switzerland
	Group H:		Spain	vs	Honduras

Gazza’s Daily Football Factoids
	A match between Honduras and El Salvador in 1970 resulted in a three day war. They should have reverted to penalties.
Mystic Ron’s World Cup Horoscope
	The plucky performance of North Korea has caught everyone’s imagination and I have broken out a very special packet of Tunnocks Teacakes to accompany their performance. The tarot cards have told me to expect a surprise draw in that fixture. Would you believe it?! Group H pits Libran Chile against Sagitarius Switzerland so there will be miscommunicated between them, possible resulting in a tiff. Chile will win. Mighty Spain will finally get three points on the board against Honduras, with their sign entering the 11th solar thingymajig. Or something.
Pre Match Comment
	Not many people expected Spain to have to break sweat in this group but if they lose tomorrow it’s a bus ride to Jo’burg airport. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Chile in action again. Their attacking play was refreshing to watch last time out, while North Korea will also be taking a lot of new fans with them into their match against Portugal following their last display against Brazil. Can they beat Ronaldo’s team and blow the group wide open?

View from the sofa

Yet another super-power comes a cropper at these finals. World champions Italy held to a draw by New Zealand ranks as the shock of the tournament so far. Football in NZ has such a low profile that a game against fiercest rivals Australia only attracted a crowd of 500 people so today’s result is astonishing. Paraguay proved that their last performance was no fluke with a skilfull and well deserved win over a rigid Slovakia while Brazil beat Ivory Coast in a feast of a game.

The Brazilians played some joyful stuff in patches with central defenders running the line and putting crosses in from the corner flag while Sven’s Ivory Coast weren’t without menace of their own, but Drogba’s goal proved only a consolation. Brazil are through to round 2 but have an anxious wait to find out how serious Elano’s leg injury is – a genuine injury amidst a plethora of rather pathetic dives and “simulations”. The signs for him weren’t good.

Golden Mullet Competition

Ask yourself a question: What would a World Cup be without bad hair? Which young boy hasn’t watched a finals game and not dreamed that one day he too could have a hairstyle just like one of his TV heroes?

To celebrate bad hair from around the footballing world I’m today launching my Golden Mullet competition. It’s simple to play and anyone can enter. All you have to do is decide on the three worst barnets from the gallery below. E-mail your top three choices in order from 1 (your nomination for worst Golden Mullet) to 3 (third worst) and the entry that most closely matches my expert opinion will win a very special prize. Yes, the winner will receive a football – and not just any football. This is THE football that has been sitting in my garage THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE world cup. Just think about that…

Super Prize

If that wasn’t enough, I will fake the signatures of some of football’s great players. It’s a unique prize, so what are you waiting for?! Judging will take place on Thursday 8th July if I remember and the winner will receive the ball in person or by post unless it’s expensive or inconvenient. The judge’s decision is final and questionable.

Here are your contenders:

Roberto Baggio	Team: Italy Style: My Little Pony	Miguel Barreira	Team: Portugal Style: Pineapple
Team: USA Style: Satanic	Alexi Lalas	Team: Brazil Style: Lobotomy	Ronaldo
David Seaman	Team: England Style: Mr Pringle	Carlos Valderama	Team: Columbia Style: Muppet Show
Team: Germany Style: Porn Star	Rudi Voller	Team: Nigeria Style: Big girl	Taribo West
Abel Xavier	Team: Portugal Style: Inexplicable	Christian Zeige	Team: Portugal Style: Mr T

What are you waiting for? Put that Alice Band down and get that entry emailed…