On air: Will Spain be the team to set the World Cup alight?

No real football yet - one or two flashes and some plucky underdog performances - but every competition starts like this.......even the refs haven't been criticised yet because there have been no real flash points to speak of. Too many yellow and reds though. Doesn't bode well for when things tighten up.

Getting mildly tired of the Rob Green saga. He didn't lose the two points - the rest of the team couldn't score when big performances were needed, that's why they drew.

Here's hoping Spain can at least show some level of attacking intent and the fact that I have them in the sweepstake has nothing to do with it!

On the Vuvuzela assult on my eardrums - Can they not get some decent shielded mics to the commentators - especially on the radio as it seems to impact them more than the TV - and then they might be able to control the the background noise level....

First off, am I the only one that finds Mick McCarthy more irritating than the vuvuzelas? And surely he has not place commentating on teams "being so scared of losing they dont try and win" considering the fact that he was punished by the PL for not fielding a full strength team against United last season.

As for the vuvuzelas, I have to say I would rather hear them than the booing fans you get at certain games. And yes I mean the England fans when I say that.

I'm just so bored. Spain don't seem to wish to push themselves either. It's now all about not losing than winning. I can already see the final being a turgid 0-0 decided on penalties, whoever gets there. I've suggested to following on a 606 thread: BBC and ITV should curtail future coverage of this World Cup and transmit the entire 1970 tournament instead, complete with the punditry and adverts (where applicable) of the time. Better football, better commentary, better everything. World Cup 2010 isn't football, it's a damage limitation exercise passing off as sport. This isn't the 'beautiful game', it's uglier than Quasimodo, the Elephant Man and even Ann Widdecombe.

Having just watched Spain being beaten by humble Switzerland it seems that they're not as good as everyone says.

And it's great to see a team win without incessantly playing the offside trap!

I'm coming a bit late to this discussion, but judging by the outcome of this particular game, it's the Swiss who may well set fire to the World Cup.

Hop Schweiz, and all that.

In a word - oops!

Yo! Ben , by now I know that Spain lost to the Swiss. My prediction for the semi finalist : -Brazil - Argentina - Netherlands -Germany. Sorry I don't think African countries can make it this world cup. Q finals will see Ghana - South Korea - Chile - italy. Sorry can't predict who gets the world cup.

After having watched the Spain-Switzerland game I am convinced that Howard Webb is a referee who is not up to international standards. I have seen him in European games and in the Premier League. He goes his own way and does not interpret the rules as they should be.
To give two examples, (a) minute 23 he awards a freekick to Switzerland when the defending player runs at the kicker and is about two metres from him when the ball is touched - wrong(he cannot run until it is touched) - even worth a yellow card - but Webb says nothing benefiting the wrongdoers; (b) it was just as well that in the action resulting in the Swiss goal it was actually scored because Casillas committed a king-size penalty on one of the attackers which grounded him - just as well the other attacker scored - again Webb said nothing, even though it was at least dangerous play, and I am sure he would not have whistled it.
This guy is a loose cannon. England should be glad he cannot referee them because any other country(except FIFA´s favourites) should be scared stiff.

Why wasn't Casillas sent off? Am I missing a rule somewhere. You can give a pen and a red card, so why not a red card after playing advantage?

Yes, Spain play instinctive, attractive football- good one-twos- but sadly they can overplay.
Yes, also, they are very clever.....when they get in or around the box, and end up in a tackle- or touching feet or bodies- down they go, either in the tackle or after.
Watch the game again tonight- and two players in particular, David Villa and Iniesta. Every time they went to ground, both of them could have stayed on their feet. Then they roll over and/or look for a penalty or free kick.
It's a disgusting aspect of the modern game. Of course, most teams do it, but Spain are the past-masters of this awful aspect.
For that reason alone, I'm glad Switzerland won.

I'm in complete agreement with Rupert Matley. The opening of this tournament is the least inspiring I can remember. Not sure what the reasons are but possibly a combination of too pampered players, too much hype and cynically introducing a new ball just before the tournament (for money spinning purposes) may have something to do with it.

In retrospect, obviously they have not. That leaves Germany and the Netherlands to fight for the world cup, unless the Brazilians bounce back or the Italians reap the rewards of the skills of their actors/footballers and their usual streak of luck.

I wonder if the contestants on big brother mind missing the world cup?

Well, now that Spain is in the final, I would like to comment on what I interpret as very negative journalism with respect to Spain and its possibilities of a win in the final. Yes I agree they did not start off the way everyone had expected, but I have read comments made by BBC commentators that do not seem at all fair and I also have the impression that the more towards the north the team, the better the feedback... I may be wrong but I would invite you to think about that.