Happy Uruguay are out day!!!

Knockout  Round of 16

Brazil    1              Chile   1

Luiz (18)                          Alexis (32)

Brazil win 3-2 on penalties

Colombia   2               U R OUT   0

Rodriguez (29, 50)

The last 16 kicked off with a pulsating game between the hosts and a hard working, never say die Chile side.  Ultimately it was the Brazilians who came out on top, but not until 120 minutes of football had been played when the underdogs eventually succumbed to the heartbreak of the dreaded penalty shoot out.

It's hard luck for the Chileans who have been another team in this world cup along with the likes of Mexico, Coasta Rica and Colombia who have been like a breath of fresh air.  The Chileans never looked out of this contest and nearly shocked the world of football when a last minute shot from substitute Pinalla rattled the Brazilian crossbar with Cesar well beaten.  So it wasn't to be for Chile, but they can walk away from this world cup with their heads held high and with a few more fans around the world.  Brazil march on and really still haven't shown the sort of football that we have come to expect from the South American's.  Results are all that matter though in this game and Brazil become the first team through to the quarter finals.

In the quarter finals Brazil will now play Colombia, after they dumped Uruguay out of the last 16.  I think all the world other than Uruguay of course wanted to see this result and were supporting Colombia after the whole Suarez situation had left such a bitter taste in the world of footballs mouth.  Although Uruguay forced a few saves from Colombia's brilliant goalkeeper David Ospina, it was the Colombian's who were always in control.  Two goals from new tournament top goalscorer James Rodriguez, the first of which an absolute beauty was enough to deservedly knock Uruguay out and send the Colombians through to a last 8 meeting with the their fellow South Americans.  Although the Brazilians will be favourites, I can see this exciting Colombian team causing Brazil quite a lot of problems whether or not it will be enough to knock the 5 time champions out of their own competition remains to be seen.  one thing is for sure it will be Brazil's toughest test to date, and if they play as they did against Chile yesterday then I expect Rodriguez and company to do a number on them.

Colombia have come a long way since 1990 when they reached the last 16 only to be knocked out by 2 Roger Milla and his Cameroon side.  Back then they were slightly ill disciplined  and even more naive, their best player looked like Cleo Laine with moustache, and they had a goalkeeper who was a complete mentalist.

 

 

No longer are Colombia a laughing stock not only do they have a young goalscoring sensation and a very good goalkeeper but they have decent hard working players all over the pitch.  

As for Uruguay I noticed that their national anthem has an introduction.  All the players were standing in silence for thirty seconds before they started to sing, I thought it was an instrumental.  It was like they were in assembly at junior school and they were waiting for the music teacher to play the first verse on the piano before they started to sing.  At one point I thought it was the hymn "The earth is yours O' God " and was expecting the players to shout the bit that goes "you nouriSH IT with rain", just like I did when I was at school.  By the time it had finished I wished it had have been an instrumental.  Anyway Uruguay are out and now they can go back home and console their star player who they still see as a hero.

Good riddance, the world cup doesn't need your shit!!!