Cor it's so hot you could fry an egg on my chest. It's got to be 90+ degrees, thank goodness the Portuguese and Angolan fans are used to the temperature because they haven't stopped partying and the match is still 5 hours from kick-off. The streets around the DOM in Cologne are awash with color, music and vibrancy. As always the atmosphere is tremendous - not one hint of animosity between any of the thousand of different nationalities - this tournament is really a 'time to make friends'.

I went down to the Fan Fest to watch Holland against Serbia & Montenegro but its just to warm to hang around there with all the sweaty fans plus there is no place to sit down and type out some magic...but ah I've found water in the middle of the desert. The organizers have put a media sanctuary right next to the Fan Fest. Just a quick flash of the golden credential and I'm in an oasis of air conditioning, tasty nibbles, amber nectar and more importantly the big match. Holland are one-up and looking in control.