Italy ; Follows it neighbour

What a match: Slovakia V/s Italy. Former FIFA champions hardly looked like champions. It was amazing to see a team which has seen the peaks of glory just 4 years ago, playing like a league team.

Similar to the France match, there was no strength in the Italy attack. Slovakia played as if it had nothing to lose and it was able to score 3 goals. Italy got its act together in the dying minutes of the game and play some fantastic football to score 2 goals, but it was too late. The damage was already done and they ended up at the bottom of the pool (can you believe that, bottom of the pool).

Looks like this world cup is for the underdogs, USA, Slovakia, Paragua, Mexico teams are making it to next round and key football playing countries are heading out of the door in the first round. I am sure there will be similar upsets in the coming rounds too as sudden death kicks in from the next rounds. It is really going to be interesting to watch.

All in all, let us hope to see some good football play instead of the very placid games that have been played so far. Football should triumph as much as the country playing it.

France ' O' France : Qu'est-ce que c'est?

C'est ne pas Bien.

Is this the same French team that we grew up watching, watching the curly kick from Michele Platini. It is a shame to see the team in such tatters loosing all their matches. Todays lose to South Africa must be the Pits.

The words of the ESPN commentrator is clearly etched in my mind. ' This is a team of great players, they play very well in the leagues, but they have never played together and never played as a team'.

The team never looked like it had any game plan. The attack lacked the co-ordination and the Sting.

In contrast the Mexico team seems pretty organized and ability go deep.

The European teams seems to be loosing their sheen is it.

Well let us see how the next round progresses and what more surprises are in store

Sachin's 200

It was really a surprise to read about Sachin's double ton in the morning. I also was fortunate to get a link to watch the highlights of the India innings. What an innings, with Shewag going early, it was really delightful to watch this innings. No room for error, precision. His 46th century in ODI and first guy in history of ODI's to hit a 200. Amazing level to which he can take his game.

It is a reminder to all of us, that even when people have given up on you, one can rise like a phoenix. Like all good things in like, the above statement comes with a caveat.

• You have to be a true professional ( playing for the game)
• Believe in yourself
• and dedicate yourself to the cause.

Easy to say hard to practice. It just so happened that the other day, a colleage of mine was mentioning that he shared a room with Sachin Tendulkar, during his early Ranji days and that even in his spare time, he would spend time thinking about the game next day, strategizing the shots to play or reminiscing the day gone by. While the rest of them would go out and enjoy themselves. That really takes dedication early on in one's career which pays out in the longer run.