When it came to selecting a game to attend, Ukraine versus Tunisia in Berlin tomorrow, Friday, was the obvious choice - or at least it was once I realised I couldn't get tickets for any of the other games!

But seeing as last week's game between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia was apparently 'the essence of the World Cup' according to ITV commentator Jon Champion (presumably relieved he didn't have to commentate on any of that boring Brazil against Germany rubbish), I think I'm on to a winner.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the tournament so far and there have not been too many of the 'dull games' that Martin O'Neill cheerily promised before a ball had been kicked.

My personal favourite so far was the game between Italy and the USA on Saturday.

Three red cards and general mayhem - even the sedate commentary of David Pleat didn't spoil the experience.

Daniele de Rossi did what Daniele de Rossi does best - he got sent off - and I was just sorry that the game wasn't on the other channel so that we could find out what BBC pundit Leonardo made of the incident.

Leonardo, of course, was another that felt an American opponent needed a good elbow in the face when he managed to rule himself out of the rest of Brazil's World Cup-winning campaign with a red card in 1994.

Add that to Rafael Marquez's kung fu kick on USA's Cobi Jones in 2002 and there seems to be a pattern emerging, but then the Americans never were that popular.

Brazil may not have set the world alight yet but they can rest secure in the knowledge that if they don't win it, they still have another five chances to take the trophy back to the Copacabana.

That's because - at my last count - no fewer than six countries have players with Brazilian origins in their squad.

Feel free to write in with any I've missed but there's Portugal (Deco), Spain (Marcos Senna), Japan (Alex), Mexico (Antonio Zinha), Tunisia (Francileudo dos Santos) and Brazil (take your pick).

Zinha may live to regret his decision to play for Mexico if the reputation of their coach, Ricardo La Volpe, is anything to go by.

The BBC have compared him to Ming the Merciless while ITV's Champion - keen to top his last bizarre comment - told us that La Volpe 'looks, talks and acts like a pirate'.

Gareth Southgate seems to have attracted criticism for his co-commentary on ITV - presumably because he doesn't feel the need to get on his high horse every time an England pass goes astray.

But his suggestion that Wayne Rooney 'looked like he had just been called in for his tea' after being substituted against Sweden on Tuesday was simply brilliant.

* Congratulations to golfer Phil Archer on his performance at the US Open.

His forays on to the leaderboard added extra interest to an already fascinating event and it would be wonderful if Warrington could be represented again at next month's Open Championship.