ITALY 1-1 PARAGUAY

At almost exactly the moment Italy fell behind in this tie, I smelt the pizza I had in the oven starting to burn. Was this an omen?

Well, as it turned out: no.

This felt like a proper World Cup game: ageing European giants against a rugged South American outfit - classic. I was intending to write about the crusty pizza and the crusty World Champions, when up popped De Rossi (looking less and less Italian with every passing tournament) to salvage a point.

But it was classic Italy: kicking off with a scrappy draw, looking thoroughly unconvincing, and yet you never really felt like they were going to lose. If they carry on like this, they're nailed on semi-finalists.

I was also intending to write about Mick McCarthy. I was going to point out - as if it needed highlighting - how depressed he always sounds in co-commentary. Nothing is good enough for our Mick. "The weather's miserable, the football is awful, and as for you Jonathan..." I'm paraphrasing.

But I've had a change of heart about the Wolves manager, because when Italy equalised he really made me laugh. "The Paraguay goalkeeper" - I'm paraphrasing again - "has made a right hash of that!" Immediately: there's a phrase that doesn't get enough air time on terrestrial television in this country. But, far from being satisfied with that, Mick then followed it up by describing the keeper as "doing a Superman". If you get the chance to see the Italy goal again, you'll see what he meant.

By way of a finale, he signed off with: "I think Paraguay have gone to five at the back. I don't think it's made them any better defensively. If anything, they're even worse."

Brilliant stuff.


THE STORY SO FAR

Match of the tournament: South Africa 1-1 Mexico

Player of the tournament: Thomas Muller (Germany)

Goal of the tournament: Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)