[MK Chris]

I'm going for Spain in parallel with my tennis loyalties.

Can I ask a question of people more in the know than me? As I've said before, I'm a typical World Cup fan (not football fan). Now it's fair to say that footballing talent is largely subjective I think and therefore, you rarely get a universal viewpoint on any given player... however, every single football fan I know - bar NONE - agree that Heskey should not be played (and most say he shouldn't even be on the plane), so why is it that every manager - again, I think this is bar none since he's been playing for England, but I could be wrong - sees fit to play him in major tournaments? Surely the fact that he's a striker and it is his job to score goals, yet with seven goals in 50 appearances (if Wikipedia is to be believed), surely that says he's not doing his job? Don't get me wrong, I mean I know that the rest of the team have to shoulder some of the blame as well, but I don't know enough to go into that, but surely - surely - he shouldn't be there?

And furthermore, given his goal tally and number of caps, when you are looking for two - and then three - goals at the end, why would you then bring on a striker who doesn't score goals?! I'm told that Peter Crouch has the highest goal tally per caps of any England player EVER, surely he would have been a better choice? But then - I really don't know what I'm talking about, so perhaps what I'm saying is totally stupid? Or perhaps Emile Heskey's wife is sleeping with all the managers?

Thanks in advance...

[Yudster]

Does anyone else feel a kind of relief? It was a terrible performance, John Terry is a dreadful player, and we took the wrong defence (although it was a judgement call I'm sure, and such things are easy with hindsight). The goal that we didn't get was probably irrelevant, although Mr Yudster keeps saying the game could have been entirely different if we'd started the second half level and not been chasing. Not sure I really agree, but whatever. I never thought we'd get past this stage before the competition - since it started I thought we were lucky to get out of the group. We probably achieved to our level really.

I had Mexico in the sweepstake (more sadness), but my adopted team is Uruguay, and I have to say I'm hopeful. We shall see.

Oh, a testament to the bouncebackability of youth - Baby Yudster was a bit upset with the football, but when he got home he was singing "Vindaloo, vindaloo, vindaloo vindaloo naa naa - we're gonna score three less than you!"

[MK Chris]

The goal that we didn't get was probably irrelevant, although Mr Yudster keeps saying the game could have been entirely different if we'd started the second half level and not been chasing.

There was a Scot on the Five Live phone in who said the same thing.

[Latina]

Well that was rubbish. Go Uruguay (even though it was a Uruguayan ref that disallowed that goal) - they've advanced their furthest in a World Cup since 1970! Bring on Ghana!

[Boboff]

My head hurts, football sucks.

[pjordan2000]

I'm going for Spain in parallel with my tennis loyalties.

Can I ask a question of people more in the know than me? As I've said before, I'm a typical World Cup fan (not football fan). Now it's fair to say that footballing talent is largely subjective I think and therefore, you rarely get a universal viewpoint on any given player... however, every single football fan I know - bar NONE - agree that Heskey should not be played (and most say he shouldn't even be on the plane), so why is it that every manager - again, I think this is bar none since he's been playing for England, but I could be wrong - sees fit to play him in major tournaments? Surely the fact that he's a striker and it is his job to score goals, yet with seven goals in 50 appearances (if Wikipedia is to be believed), surely that says he's not doing his job? Don't get me wrong, I mean I know that the rest of the team have to shoulder some of the blame as well, but I don't know enough to go into that, but surely - surely - he shouldn't be there?

And furthermore, given his goal tally and number of caps, when you are looking for two - and then three - goals at the end, why would you then bring on a striker who doesn't score goals?! I'm told that Peter Crouch has the highest goal tally per caps of any England player EVER, surely he would have been a better choice? But then - I really don't know what I'm talking about, so perhaps what I'm saying is totally stupid? Or perhaps Emile Heskey's wife is sleeping with all the managers?

Thanks in advance...

I still think Heskey should have been on the plane. Obviously looking back it probably wasn't the wisest of decisions to take him but there have been games where he has been useful. He can hold the ball up in the oppositions half, he can take players away with him leaving space for the other forwards, etc. The reason it wasn't as successful this time is because Rooney was shite. If Rooney had played as he does for Utd, we would have scored more goals as Heskey was doing his job perfectly I thought.

What I think should happen now, seeing as we have 2 years until the Euro Championships and another 4 years for the World Cup, is Capello should stay on, and build a team from scratch. We have enough time to build them up into top players. Start looking at the Under-21s and see who is ready to step up.

[Yudster]

I like Fabio. I agree that he has made some dodgy calls with the squad and the playing formation in this tournament, but I think he's been unlucky in some ways. He certainly doesn't have many obvious players to pick, we aren't exactly overrun with world beaters these days, especially in defence and I think with hindsight he might have done a few things differently. Perhaps he was a little off the mark with the way he managed the environment and the situation in South Africa, but again that's a judgement call and hindsight is a wonderful friend. Overall I like his work ethic, I like his discipline and I like the sense of seriousness he brings to the whole business of playing for England. Surely its not time to bin him yet.

[Bonanzoid]

I thought Fabio was good until this tournament. He said before he wouldn't take players that weren't in form or that were injured, he did both. He stuck too vehemently to the 4-4-2 formation which blatantly didn't work and didn't make the most of Gerrard who was one of the few playing well, he wasted him out on the left. David James did a respectable job too I think.

Obviously the blame doesn't lie solely with Capello, the players were very much to blame too. As Johnny Heitinga said there was just too much ego in the English team, and I'm forced to agree. They didn't play as a team, they played as individuals forced to come together.

Highlight of the England-Germany game - Terry's ridiculous salmon leap to try and block a shot. Hilarious.

I'm backing Spain for the World Cup, as I have since long before it started, although to see Germany or Brazil win would suit my bets. David Villa top scorer too please!

[Latina]

! Soooo, we got through. Unfortunately in a way that makes us look like complete b######s.

[freddie]

Whilst I am disappointed about the manner of Ghana's exit, in my eyes any other professional footballer would have made the same decision as Suarez.

I do think the Netherlands will beat Uruguay, with Suarez banned (possibly for the rest of the tournament) and that the winner of Argentina/Germany will win the World Cup.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

! Soooo, we got through. Unfortunately in a way that makes us look like complete b######s.

It was brilliant - both the ace penalty (have that Lineker!) and the handball which was exactly what he had to do.

[Yudster]

Suaraez did what he had to do and took the punishment, it was the right decision. Its not Uruguay's fault that Ghana didn't capitalise. If it makes you feel any better, I reckon given that his hands were covering his face, ther's a fair chance he might have saved it with his head if heis hands hadn't been there. But I don't care, the right team won.

Baby Yudster wants either Uruguay (because me and Mr Yudster have been supporting them) or Argentina (because he is fascinated that a player can be called "Messy") to win - he might well have a conflicted final. Hope so.

[catherine]

Spain to win! I have abit of spanish in me so might aswell support them now.

[DevilsDuck]

well uruguay getting into the semis has got my money back in the work sweep.....so I too am going to support spain now

[Latina]

Having now heard from my dad how ridiculously biased ITV's commentary was against Uruguay apparently from even prior to kick-off (i couldn't hear it in the bar), and having read Yudster's post, I now no longer feel guilty.

[Yudster]

I have never heard a commentary like it, it was awful.

Germany - wah?? I didn't see it, but apparently they were awesome.

[Johnny 1989]

Holland for the World Cup

[Yudster]

Uruguay!

[John22]

There's loads of us supporting Holland on here...

[Latina]

So Uruguay lost, but in the best way possible, with great teamwork and incredible goals. Very well done to Holland, but tonight I'm actually very proud! I know no one gives a toss about the 3rd place play-off, but i'm looking forward to seeing if we can better ourselves from when we came fourth in 1970!

[Jill]

The last 10 mins of last nights match was awesome. Good on Uruguay for not giving up. Looking forward to Chris and Dave commentating tonight!

[Boboff]

Germany really did a job on Argentina, I am therefore hoping they win, as then technically England could have been second if we had not met early on.

Yeah crap logic, but it's something

[Yudster]

Well - Holland's first goal shouldn't have happened because of the horrendous foul that preceded it which the ref missed, and the second one was clearly offside, how can you possibly say he wasn't attempting to influence play? BUT - these things happen, it was a great game and whilst sorry to see Uruguay lose it, like most people it seems I have a soft spot for Holland and hope they win. I think Germany will beat Spain (possibly quite comfortably) and I think they'll win the final, but I'd love for Holland to do it.

Anyone know who is refereeing the final?

[MK Chris]

Have they decided on the referee for the final yet? Dave thought Howard Webb might do it, as the final is now going to be between two European teams and he's had lots of plaudits.

I am finding myself wanting Germany to win... Spain don't deserve it, but Germany seem to know that none of them is bigger than the team and play together as a team. In my limited football insight anyway.

[Yudster]

Howard Webb has had an excellent tournament and probably deserves the final, but it would be just like FIFA to overlook him because England were caught in one of the major controversial issues with the officials in the tournament.