The first half was not particularly compelling, pretty cagey in fact but nowhere near as dull as the BBC tried to claim. It is often as if they write the script before kickoff, and stick to it. Either that or they're tired of their jobs. I for one found it pretty gripping, if admittedly quite tight.
The first half saw the first 'crowd warnings' and threats of match abandonment that the press have been so obsessed with. But thankfully it wasn't for racist abuse or fatal hooliganism, but instead the spectre of rolled up paper reared its ugly head. Paper ball after paper ball rained down on the Portuguese as they prepared to take a corner. Admittedly not great, but there was never really any threat of the water cannons and sonic wave coming out.
Podolski for Germany showed how he'll be a real rival to Chamakh and Gervinho at Arsenal in the "errant left sided striker" role; shinning and scuffing his way through the match. To be fair, in tournaments he normally hits form, but looked pretty wayward tonight. The rest of hte team looked slick though. Good passing. Ozil looked pacy as well as skilled, and Muller and Schweinsteiger both were classy. Gomez scored a cracking header, and looked 100% improved on the player who missed a bagful of chances in the champions league.
Portugal looked good once they went for it - which bodes well for the rest of the group games; they should be very exciting, none more so that the Germany v Netherlands game on Wednesday. That will either deliver a shock that effectively sends Netherlands out...or will open up the group completely. Can't wait.
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