Eventually Iker Casillas will be the best goalkeeper in the world; until then, Spain will rely on the attacking threat of guys like Raul and Luis Garcia, who kick ass for club but always fall short for country. Didn't Tunisia win the African Nations Cup this past time around? They're good -- they've got players all over British and European clubs, and Trabelsi at Ajax has become a world-class player -- and overfed teams like Spain are often caught napping by faster, more determined African sides.

Maybe so, but I must admit I expected Spain to totally dominate against Tunisia after seeing the Spaniards beat Ukraine 4-0, playing the kind of football that wins world cups.

Spain, who started out looking like champs (IMO, anyway), are now showing signs of weakness. Brazil have only really lived up to the hype in the second half of the match versus Australia. Who is the strongest team right now? Argentina, maybe?

They're a weird team, aren't they? I've been waiting for Spain to do something... anything... for years, and all they seem to do is win under-21 and under-19 worlds year after year. I mean, La Liga is the most talented league in the world; while much of tht talent is imported, there's no denying that the players on the Spain squad, tourney after tourney, are among the best in the world.

Maybe proximity and history has lit a fire under the Tunisians and they're just red hot for this game.

On preview, Argentina, for sure! Australia was a handful for the Brazilians, though it's possible Parreira's just giving Ronaldo enough rope to hang himself in the early rounds, when the team can win without a striker. But yeah, Argentina look unbeatable.

I like Argentina, too. We should start a pool.

I think the time for starting pools has past, unless we wait for the round of sixteen.

Though I gotta say, even with stalwart defense out of Trabelsi et al, a one-goal lead is nothing for Tunisia to count on, especially on a greasy or mucky pitch. And if some of the Spanish players are from the plain, they oughtta be used to playing in the rain, mainly. So the second half could be a different game entirely.

True. I don't really expect Tunisia to win this. But I do think it is interesting that Spain can get in trouble against a team such as Tunisia which is certainly good but not championship favourites in any way.

Yeah, OMG! Look at the stats though.

I do not think Tunisia will keep this up long with such stats. This is terrible game. I am not watching it, so maybe I am wrong. Did they just get lucky?

I don't think it would be fair to say that they just got lucky; they did had some of the play in the first half. Spain has been piling on the pressure in the first eight minutes of the second half, though.

I think the time for starting pools has past

Maybe so Hugh... If someone had predicted some of the results they are making a lot of bucks. But I think it is still so open... Groups E, G and possibly H are still waaaay open. Then there could be surprises in B, D and F.... So I say one can still bet... Umm, heavily.

I'm not much of a bettor. My thoughts on the outcome of games seem to affect the outcome of games, so I try not to predict too much, lest I anger the Fates and upset the brackets.

But I'm happy to go on and on and on about the World Cup. Weird, isn't it?

I don't usually gamble but since Denmark didn't qualify for this tournament I decided to put a small amount of money into a betting account so as to create a bit of excitement for myself. That money has already doubled so I think I'm doing pretty well so far.

Well that's that. The Tunisians look tired. I think Spain will score again before this is over.

omg tunisia :-(

the penalty was not a penalty. Is this how they are going to raise Torres' scores? Humpfff! (although his other goal was exquisite...)

Impressive record for Spain as they have scored 3 or more goals in the last six (6!) world cup matches they have played. They also have an unbeaten streak of 24 games going now.