Whoever said Harry Redknapp wasn’t a wheeler-and-dealer, eh?

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“If Adebayor goes to Spurs, City will be short-handed,” says Times Football writer Gabriele Marcotti on Twitter. “Which means they’re either screwed or they’ve secretly lined somebody up.”

I doubt that City, the world’s wealthiest club, would let themselves go into the season with a depleted strike force. But if there’s any substance to the rumours of Adebayor’s departure to rivals Spurs, City must surely have somebody lined up. What do you think? Are the rumours of any substance at all? If so, who on earth could City be in the market for?

And what of Adebayor? Perhaps he has decided to dedicate the rest of his career to making Arsenal fans hate him even more!

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Their side performed admirably for most of their game against Uruguay, equalising late in the second-half having gone behind to an early Uruguay goal. But in the dying minutes of the game, in lashings of rain which forced many spectators to leave early, Uruguay forward Luis Suarez curled an Henryesque right-foot strike in from outside the area. The defending wasn’t bad. The keeper couldn’t have done anything about it. There wasn’t even a suggestion of offside. It was quite simply a brilliant goal about which South Korea fans will find little to complain.

All in all, the passage of Uruguay to the next round is probably best for the competition. Sure, there is a multitude of South American teams still in the competition. But Uruguay are an unknown entity to many. They play an attractive style of football, and are probably the most interesting team in the World Cup so far. Outsiders, true. But at 12/1, they look good value to win the tournament.

Elsewhere, the United States took on Ghana in a match Barack Obama, esteemed pundit, predicted the USA would win. Ghana had only scored two goals in the World Cup so far, none of which had come from open play. But in the first game to go to extra-time in this World Cup, Ghana won 2-1. Nice to see an African team going deep into this competition, but with their seeming impotent in front of goal, I can’t see them getting past the quarters. Barack Obama has yet to offer his mea culpa, and his in status as an internet tipster has diminished hugely.

Conclusions:

1. Luis Suarez will not be playing for Ajax next season.
2. FIFA didn’t properly consider the African winter when choosing the host country.
3. And finally, USA just weren’t good enough.

Feel free to share your views on today’s action by leaving a comment below.

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This afternoon was spent flicking eagerly between the final games of Group A. Disaster was confirmed for the French FA, as ten-men France crashed out of the World Cup having registered only one goal. Uruguay beat Mexico by 1-0 in a match everyone – bookies included – expected to end in a draw. Credit where credit’s due to Uruguay for not just sitting back.

The result meant South Africa needed to to win by four goals to qualify for the next round. 2-0 up at half time, that didn’t seem out of the question. Alas, the match finished 2-1, and so Bafana Bafana went out on goal difference. Though the hosts are out, they can hold their heads high. That’s more than we can say for an abject France. They looked completely unenthused in the first-half, passing poorly and failing to get back. South Africa were by terrible in front of goal, yet still managed to knock two past Lloris.

When, at the final whistle, it came time for the managers to shake hands, Raymond Domenech pulled his hand away, raised his thumb to his nose, and entoned, “nehneh, neh, neh, neh”. Well, not exactly. But he didn’t shake hands, and as Johnny Giles would say, bad behaviour is bad behaviour.

This blog is based in Ireland. So you’d think that we’d be take a perverse pleasure in seeing France being knocked out of the World Cup in complete disgrace. After all, it was they who denied us the opportunity to play in South Africa this summer – and by dubious means at that. But instead of schadenfreude at France’s early exit, we’re actually offended. Though the Irish team is by no means world class, you get the feeling that Doyle, Lawrence and an on-form Duffer would have played their heart out. Besides which, the comedy value of seeing Paul McShane play on the world stage would have been almost limitless.

Before Argentina’s game against Greece this evening, Alan Hansen said we could be in for another 7-0. Once again, BBC pundits were found out. At half-time, the game was tied at 0-0. South Korea came from behind against Nigeria, only to lose their lead to a Nigerian penalty. At 2-2, with Greece losing against Argentina, Nigeria knew that one more goal would be enough to put them through. Not for the first time, however, an African side looked weak in front of goal. Obafemi Martins missed a sitter in the dying minutes, which would have made Nigeria the first African side to progress to the next round. Instead, a South Korea side which looks comfortable on the ball, but fragile at the back, move into the next round, where they will face Uruguay. That should be a free-flowing game to look forward to.

Conclusion:

1. Never listen to Alan Hansen. He’s a fool.
2. Never try to shake Raymond Domenech’s hand. He’ll make you look like a fool.
3. Only a fool would pass up the chance to see Paul McShane put to the test.

Feel free to share your views on today’s World Cup action by leaving a comment below.

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Switzerland famously crashed out of the last World Cup without conceding a single goal, and in their first group match against Spain, they managed once more to keep a clean sheet. Despite the flair of the Chile national team, there weren’t many goals expected in the clash between the two sides today. In their 1-0 victory over the Swiss, Chile dirtied neutrality’s sheets for the first time in over nine hours of football.

David Villa scored both goals in Spain’s rather dull 2-0 win over Honduras. That leaves Spain on three points, needing a win against Chile to qualify. Despite having won their opening two games, Chile now look most likely to be knocked out of their group. Having only beaten minnows Honduras 1-0 in their opening group game, Chile will probably go out on goal difference. It’s a shame, since they play a much more attractive style of football than Switzerland, and if they qualify over them, they would be much more likely to go deeper into the tournament.

In the 1966 World Cup, North Korea took on Portugal. Incredibly, by half-time the mysterious North Korean team were 3-0 up. Eusebio put paid to any North Korean hopes, however, scoring four of the Portuguese five second-half goals. Today, the North Koreans struggled in front of goal. But not half as much as they struggled at the back. Though you wouldn’t know it to listen to Mick McCarthy’s incessant praise of the North Koreans, Portugal ran out 7-0 winners.

Meanwhile, news that North Korean premier Kim Jong-Il talks to players on invisible phones during the games is to go unchallenged by FIFA.

As England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson crashed out of the World Cup twice. First, to Brazil; next, to Portugal. Afterwards he became involved in a spate of progressively worse teams: Manchester City, Mexico and Notts County. But, come 2010, he finds himself back in the World Cup. Managing Ivory Coast, he hopes to move out of a group containing, er, Brazil and Portugal.

Such hopes were all but dashed today by Portugal’s impressive 7-0 win over North Korea, since with a goal difference of +7, Portugal now look out of the Ivorians’ reach. Don’t be surprised if you see Sven praising the indefatigable Kim Jong-Il as he is unveiled as the new North Korea manager sometime in early 2014.

Conclusions:

1. Never bet on there being under 6.5 goals in a North Korea vs Portugal game.
2. Don’t listen to Mick McCarthy. He’s in the pay of the North Koreans.
3. If at all possible, try to sell any sweepstake that has Honduras to win the competition. They’re still in it, but it ain’t lookin’ good for the Palacios family.

All comments welcome, love to hear everyone’s thoughts on all the World Cup action. Except you Mick: stay out.

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Having banned Sky cameras from his press conference for their role in the violent conduct charge brought against Rio Ferdinand this week, Alex Ferguson today insisted that his players’ behavior “has always been perfect”.

The United manager is said to be furious at the way his players have been put under scrutiny this week: in the first instance, Gary Neville’s pathetic middle-finger to Tevez has been shown repeatedly this week; in the second, Sky supplying the FA footage of Rio conducting himself violently.

Sounds to me like Ferguson needs to get a grip of himself. Whether the referee sees it or not, there is simply no denying it: violent conduct is violent conduct is violent conduct. Though I’m sure he has plotted this carefully and knows full-well what he’s doing, it seems to me like Ferguson is losing it a bit under the pressure of tonight’s big derby.

Banning the Sky cameras from his press conference isn’t the first instance of His Eminence acting childishly with the press when he doesn’t get his way. Think the BBC, his son Jason, and the would-be self-referential “arrogrant beyond belief” comment.

Unless Eduardo plays the game of his life tomorrow, it looks like I’ll be getting me coat and making an early exit from the Fantasy Cup. Graceful, mind you. Happily giving interviews to the television stations, and refusing to blame the referee. We was outplayed – simple as that, Garth.

And yet,  a quick look through the files in the Football Corner records offices offers a degree of solace. Although there exists an illustrious history of sides winning the FA Cup and Premiership Double, there’s also a burgeoning tradition of sides crashing out of the cup early and then going on to win the league. Alex Ferguson, calm down and take note.

In 04/05, eventual champions Chelsea went out in the 5th round, losing to 1-0 Newcastle. Man United won the league in the 02/03 season, but again, the 5th round seemed a hurdle too many for the most consistent team of the season, losing 2-0 to Arsenal. United won the league in 00/01 as well, but they crashed out earlier still that year, losing 1-0 to West Ham in the 4th round. 1996/97 was a canvas on which a similar picture was painted, United going out in the 4th round to Wimbledon, and then going on to win the title.

And then there was Blackburn. Remember they won the league? Seriously, youngsters, it happened – 1994/95. They didn’t even come close in the cup though, falling at the first fence, the 3rd round, to Newcastle. Finally, United went out in the 5th round the year the Premier League launched, 1992/93.

And so, myself and Alex breath a sad, but hopeful sigh. Sure, we would have liked a romantic run in the cup, but this way, our teams will have more time to focus on what’s important: slowly, but surely climbing up the table to eventual league triumph.