World Cup Round Up: Match Day 3

The first game of the day took place in the Estadio Mineiaro, Belo Horizonte, and it saw one of the much fancied dark horses, Colombia, face off against Greece. Colombia being a side I've been looking forward to watching in this tournament since they qualified, and even with star man Radamel Falcao, being heartbreakingly ruled out, Los Cafeteros, still have a wealth of talent including James Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado, Jackson Martinez and more, to show off this summer.

Colombia certainly didn't let the heavy expectations weigh them down when they made their first World Cup appearance since 1998, the game was only five minutes old when the team in yellow took the lead, to the sheer delight of nearly everybody in the stadium.

Cuadrado's trickery outwitted the Greek full back, his pass into the box was then expertly dummied by James, the ball fell to Pablo Almero, who via a deflection, put the ball into the bottom corner, at a trickling pace. Que the amazing synchronised dance celebration from the players and frantic thrashing of arms throughout the stadium, which really epitomises the joy and togetherness of the World Cup.

Greece responded well however, with Panagiotis Kone, scuffing a Georgios Samaras cut back inches wide of the post only seconds after the Colombia opener. Kone then came close again for the Greeks, this time a powerful shot from just outside the area, which was well saved by David Ospina.

Our very own Bolton Wanderers even got a mention, after Carlos Sanchez picked up a booking, it was mentioned how he nearly signed for us way back when. You remember him right? He's the lad who we had basically signed but his agent kept messing us about so we binned him off. We got Nigel Reo-Coker instead.

The second goal of the game came in the second half; James' in-swinging corner was flicked on by Abel Aguilar, into the direction of Teofilo Gutierrez, who turned the ball into the goal. And then we got more dancing!

Greece should have gotten a goal back and got themselves back in the game, but Theofanis Gekas, cold only hit the crossbar with his header, from six yards out and an open goal to aim at.

Colombia sealed the win in the 90th minute, through the brilliant Ham-ez Rodriguez. The live wire Cuadrado, burst into the box, played a one two, then flicked the ball into the path of James, who slotted the ball past the sprawling Orestis Karnezis.

Colombia were a joy to watch, so vibrant and fluid, and they weren't even playing at their optimum. We're in for a treat when they do.

Full Time: Colombia 3-0 Greece

5 - Armero

58 - Gutierrez

90 - Rodriguez

MOTM: James Rodriguez

Then we moved onto the first game in Group D, with Uruguay facing the underdogs of the group, Costa Rica.

It wasn't the best of starts for the latter, with just 20 minutes gone a needless free kick was given away in a dangerous crossing position, Diego Forlan - player of the tournament in 2010 - whipped in the ball, which resulted in Costa Rican defender Junior Diaz, dragging down Uruguay captain Diego Lugano, in the box and giving away the penalty.

PSG striker and owner of powerful cheek bones, Edinson Cavani stepped up, and cooly dispatched the kick past Keylor Navas, despite the Costa Rican keeper being about four yards off his line.

And it could have been two for Uruguay, if it was not for the acrobatic brilliance of Navas: Forlan's shot deflected of a Costa Rican defender and it was looping into the goal, until the back-pedalling Navas, managed to tip the ball over the cross bar.

The half time whistle blew with the score 1-0 and Uruguay looking really comfortable, little did we all know that Costa Rica would come out like a house on fire in the second half and shock everybody.

The warning sign were there for the Uruguayans, it was centre back Oscar Duarte, who rose highest to meet a long free kick from the bandana wearing Christian Bolanos, but Fernando Muslera got down to make the save and Duarte could do nothing with the rebound. But they were getting chances, Uruguay no longer looked like a formidable side to them.

And they didn't have to wait long for the goal.

Christian Gamboa did really well to keep a lose ball alive and get a cross into the box, Arsenal striker Joel Campbell took the ball on his chest and smashed it in.

Then only three minutes later, Bolanos again swung a cross deep in the box, again it was met by Duarte, but this time the centre back's diving header curled into the net.

All of the life had been sucked out of Uruguay in that one instance, as the unfit Luis Suarez watched on from the bench, only Cavani tested Navas for the rest of the game, a header which he turned easily away.

The game got even sweeter for Los Ticos, as Campbell played a delightful through ball to Ureña, who calmly slotted past the onrushing Muslera to make it three with his first touch of the ball. Unbelievable.

Deep into injury time Maxi Pereira earned the accolade of being the first played to get sent off in the tournament when he recklessly hacked Campbell in the shin, the referee had no choice but to show the red, and now he'll be suspended for Uruguay's remaining group games.

The ref then brought a breath taking game to an end, with the first big upset of the tournament sealed. Vamos Costa Rica!

Full Time: Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

21- Cavani (P)  54 - Campbell

57 - Duarte

84 - Ureña

MOTM: Joel Campbell

Then we had England, what a way to go from joy to misery. To be honest, I'm not angry with the team because I think they played well in stages against a very good side, and Roy also gave the young players a chance, something I never thought I'd see. I'm just devastated that we lost.

The game was only five minutes old when every Englishman every where thought we'd gone 1-0 up,  Raheem Sterling picking the ball up on the half way line then showed the tenacity and skill which has earned his deserved place in the World Cup squad, before unleashing a shot from thirty yards out, which even now when I've sobered up a bit, still looks like it went in. We all went delirious in the pub, and then we soon started to relies that Sterling wasn't celebrating and the score board hadn't changed. I collapsed to the floor with anguish and a sore throat.

It was then Sterling's Liverpool team mate, Jordan Henderson - who I feel had a good game - who went close, brining out a fine save from Italy's reserve goalkeeper, Salvitore Sirigu, imagine being able to have Sirigu as your reserve goal keeper.

England were pressing well, and apart from a nervy moment when Hart spilled Antonio Candreva's dipping shot, we were the better side. Danny Welbeck - another player I thought played quite well - surged into the Italy box, easily rounding Gabriel Paletta, his low cross wad sliced uncontrollably by Andrea Barzagli, and it just agonisingly evaded Daniel Sturridge's head.

Unfortunately, we didn't make the most of our early chances and it would come back to haunt us. A beautifully well worked corner from the Azzuri, resulted in Claudio Marchisio, having years of time to calmly roll the ball from under his feet, and deliver a devastating shot into the bottom corner.

But, to our surprise and shear delight, we weren't behind for long: Wayne Rooney was slipped through by a defence splitting pass from Sterling, the former's cross was then met by Sturridge who tapped home at the back post, que more silly dancing and pure delirium through out the land.

In the after math of the celebrations though there was some worry, as a lot of men were surrounding someone on a stretcher. I was fearing the worst, that one of our important players was down injured, then it was revealed it was actually just our physio, Gary Lewin. Not going to lie, I laughed quite a bit.

Despite England's goal, Italy were in total control of the game now, the majestic Andrea Pirlo and the slightly frightening Daniele De Rossi were dictating the tempo and had the England team chasing shadows.

So it was no surprise when Pirlo's classy pass found Mario Balotelli in the area, Joe Hart was out quickly to block his route to goal, but in turn created another one for him as he stayed there instead of retreating to his line: Balotelli proceeded to chip his former team mate, and if it wasn't for Phil Jagielka heading clear from under the crossbar, Italy would have been back in front.

Minutes later Hart was called into action again, this time getting down low at the post to deny Candreva's stinging shot.

We went in at half time full of hope and optimism, we hadn't been the best team for large portions of the game, but we were still in it. That hope was diminished early into the second half, when the excellent Candreva got the better of Leighton Baines again, sent a beautiful cross into the area, which found Balotelli who nodded in past Joe Hart.

After the goal Italy did the classic thing and completely shut us out, they had a solid bank of five at the back and another four in front and England found it impossible to break them down.

Steven Gerrard did manage to bundle his way into the box but then went down due to pressure from Paletta, a lot of people claimed for the penalty, but personally, I don't believe it was one.

Rooney then had a golden opportunity, but couldn't take advantage of it: Baines managed to find him in the box unmarked, after a quick shimmy away from a defender he shot on goal, but he dragged his effort wide of the post, when he should have put it in the net.

Baines and youngster Ross Barkley both brought saves out of Sirigu, but nothing too challenging for the PSG goalkeeper, in fact it was Pirlo, who nearly sealed the game late on with a glorious free kick, which cannoned of crossbar with Hart motionless below.

The ref brought the game to an end with both teams exhausted after playing in the harsh conditions of the Amazon, you have to imagine England's tiredness also stemmed from them having to chase the ball for 90 minutes however, and with Italy 2-1 winners.

It's bad start to the tournament, obviously, but it's not all doom and gloom and we can still very easily go through to the next round. We just need to win our games, simple as, right?

Full Time: England 1-2 Italy

37 - Sturridge 35 - Marchisio

50 - Balotelli

MOTM: Candreva/Pirlo/De Rossi all had stunning performances, but I was really impressed with Mateo Darmian at right back, so him.

I haven't forgotten about Japan v Ivory Coast, that will go into tomorrows round up because frankly, I'm knackered and I think the wall around me are moving, so yeah... Man, this World Cup is going to kill me, BUT IT'S SO GOOD.

World Cup Player Pun of the Day:

Ross Barkley

Ross Meowley