This one has started very brightly - almost has a Premiership feel to it. It sounds as if there is a great atmosphere in the stadium.

I've avoided picking on the ESPN announcers but I can't let this one go - "Alex on the ball for Japan, certainly looks Brazilian."  Maybe the name might have provided a clue that the Japanese player isn't born and bred.

Fifteen minutes gone and the game is still going from end-to-end. Viduka and Emerton are playing with fire in their bellies - Boro and Blackburn fans must be rubbing their eyes.

Australia need to get Bresciano and Kewell the ball.

It was a bad day for....

Serbia and Montenegro a side that rarely looked capable of getting a goal after going 1-0 down to the Netherlands.

Iranian goalkeeper Mirzapour and centre back Rezaei who teamed up to gift Mexico a go-ahead goal that turned out to be the winner.

Angola's 2005 player of the year Jamba who saw Luis Figo breeze passed him to set up Pauleta for the only game of the game after only four minutes.

FIFA - the British investigative program Panorama turned their attention to bribery allegations involving the bankrupt company ISL and "payments" allegedly made to officials of soccer's world governing body over a period of 20 years.

It was a good day for....

Arjen Robben whose pace and running caused the Serbian and Montenegrin defense no end of problems.

Mexico's Coach Ricardo Lavople - his double half time substitution paid off - eventually.

Mexican striker Omar Bravo who notched two in typical goal poaching style.

And the most overstated fact of the day...

USA plays their first game tomorrow.

Nick Webster is up and blogging this one so I'm going to sit back and enjoy.

Nice set up by Figo on Pauleta's goal though!

A very good game and an opening game win for Mexico although 3-1 was a bit flattering. Lavolpe looks like a genius after making a double half time substitution.

One a totally different topic they say that when you have bad news get it out before someone else does. So I've decided to own up before  Jeremy St. Louis tells the world. The Fox Sports World Report World Cup pool report came out last night. I am getting my butt kicked.

My lovely, beautiful and soccer savvy wife however is doing very well. As of last night she was tied for third place and she called this mornings first two games right - with the exact score for Mexico Iran.

Don't be surprised if next season I am replaced by another McMahon on the FSWR.

Back again for Angola and Portugal and thanks to all who visit the blog from time to time and to add their thoughts and comments.

This game has settled into a midfield battle and chances are not being created. Will Iran become the first team in this World Cup to come back from a goal down to get at least a point?

At the moment it looks like NO. A brutal error by the Iranian keeper - a miskick - after Bravo pressures him and then Rezaei compounds the problem by miscontrolling the ball when it is played back in. Bravo is fed in by Zinha and it is 2-1 Mexico.

Oh it's looking easy now - Mexico get there third as the smallest (equal smallest actually, I know that these things are important to wee people) player in the tournament Zinha, scores from a glancing header. after starting the play with a ball out to the wing.