Brazil 2 Australia 0

Good game. I thought the refereeing was a bit rough - Australia got called for a few too many fouls - but Brazil was the better side and deserved the win. But I'm really rooting for the Aussies to go through. They play a nice brand of football. And they had chances to at least get a point, but were unlucky. (Viduka gets a bunch of chances, but can't seem to finish - I might consider starting Aloisi.)

Ronaldo was at least a bit more into this game. Didn't play well, mind you, but at least was somewhat involved (although he had a couple of embarrassing moments - the whiff on the volley, and the awful pass that missed a wide open Roberto Carlos streaking free down the left side). Obviously everyone in the entire world other than Parreira thinks he should not start. Will Parreira give in? Or will he stick by his man?

Ronaldinho was again not up to his high standards. Do you think he has worn down? He wasn't great at the end of the regular season either. And Kaka was not as good as last time. But the forwards were better - Robinho and Adriano played. And of course Fred (best name of the tourney)! Robinho really creates the pace that Brazil seems to like.

Re: Ze Roberto. He was good. Emerson, OTOH, not so much, I didn't think (I love Emerson's looks though - the balding head and paunch make him look like he is a 50-year old who should be sitting on the couch watching). Of course, they haven't actually given up a goal, so how bad could their defense and holding MF? For everything said about the age of their outside backs and the mediocrity of their central defense and Ze Roebrto and Emerson, you just can't complain too much if no goals are conceded. (Although I can't help thinking that half of the defense really consists of the pressure put on the other team by the offense.)