Day 10

Both Croatia and Japan needed a win to put them in a good position but they just were not able to move on from 1st gear. The game saw good chances for both of the teams, the best chance coming to Serna of Croatia who missed a penalty - full marks to Kawaguchi for saving the shot and keeping Japan in the game. Sharing the spoils gives both of them an equal chance, though a remote one and they have to keep an eye on the other game in the group to see if they progress. Sadly, I don't see them progressing unless they come up with a fantastic performance - and prove me wrong!
Croatia 0-0 Japan

The second game of the night saw the defending champions - after a rather unconvincing win over Croatia - taking on the men from down under, Australia. With both teams having a win under the belt, this was a fight for supremacy in the group and hopefully to cement their place in the next stage. As in the previous game, the Brazilians were far from their best and in fact, the Australians were doing the attacking. Ronaldo was yet again a pale shadow on the field and was eventually substituted for Robinho. But he did play his part in the first goal, squaring it across to Adriano, who calmly drove the ball in the corner past the diving Schwarzer. With the score at 1-0, the Australians did have a chance of a comeback, but their hopes went in flames when Fred, who came on for Adriano, had a simple tap in to kill the game of and give Brazil a not to deserved win.
Brazil 2-0 Australia
49-Adriano(BRA),90-Fred(BRA)

France were yet to open their dusty scoring books which they had done last in 1998, when Petit scored the 3rd goal in the finals against Brazil. But the French did not have to wait for long as Henry found the net inside ten minutes to take a lotta pressure off the French. But they failed to kill the game off with a second and were punished late in the game as ManU's Park headed past Barthez to leave France in a delicate position in the Group. The 1998 World Champions are on the verge of an another early (first round) exit for the second successive tournament.
France 1-1 South Korea
9-Henry(FRA),81-Park(KOR)