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This is an archive article published on June 16, 2006

The Cup so far

Here, in no particular order, are my impressions of the first round of group matches. You may not agree with them and that8217;s the beauty of football and I am handicapped by the inability, unlike readers in India, to watch all matches, but here is my take...

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Best Surprise: The number of goals 2.43 per match, not bad given the pre-tournament fears

Best Crowd Moment: German spectators giving Portugal a roasting for defensive tactics against Angola

Best Fan Moment: Croatia fan defying heavy security to enter the pitch against Brazil. In the end, they could have done with an extra hand

Best Fans: Any of the African supporters. If it hurts us to pay in euros, think of what it does to those living in Angola or Ivory Coast

Most Dramatic match: Australia8217;s comeback against Japan Tunisia vs Saudi Arabia a close second

Flop Show: France vs Switzerland. All that talent non-show, and Lord Claude gets the man-of-the-match!

Best Goal on TV: Fernando Torres for Spain vs Ukraine. The build-up was brilliant, matched by the finish. Beats Robben by a whisker

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Best Captain Moment: David Beckham preventing Peter Crouch from being booked. Crouch jumps with his hands spread, which the referee objected to. So Becks told him to change his style

Best Brazil Moment: Bernd Schneider yes! terrorising Costa Rica8217;s left-back with some neat step-overs

Worst Brazil Moment: Any one from their opening match against Croatia Kaka8217;s goal excepted

Best Team: Argentina

Also-rans: Spain, Germany

Most likely to improve: Brazil can8217;t get much worse

 

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