"BRING on the Brazilians" - I can hear the cry half way round the world here in Korea.

From what I can gather, my mates on the nationals were getting a bit carried away at the weekend, stirring everyone up in to some kind of 'We're going to win the World Cup' frenzy.

Yes, I know we're in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1990, but let's get a grip because we've got to play a ****ing good side, and come Friday everyone might be wailing in the fountains of Trafalgar Square rather than dancing in them.

With the three R's up front, the samba boys are capable of creating absolute havoc among Rio and Sol, but this is by no means as good a Brazilian side as 1982 or 1970.

Belgium showed, as did Costa Rica beforehand, that Big Phil's mob are not that clever at the back.

Put simply, Brazil are beatable, but Sven's men will have to play the game of their collective lives. Another dose of what did for the Argies is called for - deny them space, and try to hit them on the break.

Elsewhere today, of course, the Yanks upset the Mexicans to set up a date with the Krauts.

Well done to Mr Arena (stupid name, or what?) and his team, but I still refuse to take a nation seriously when it insists on calling the beautiful game soccer.

Problem is, though, the Krauts have to be fancied, and that would just sum up what a daft tournament this is when a decidedly average, boring, sleep-inducing team (witness the Paraguay match on Saturday), can get through to the last four.

Oh well, if we can somehow beat the Brazilians, then if the Germans are all we'll have to worry about I guess we WILL never a better chance.

Having turned somewhat anti-Paddy since those drunken gits smashed up the beachside hut last week, I didn't go into their game with the Spanish openly cheering for them - but, by then, the tears, like in every pub in Dublin, were flowing freely.

Poor guys, although if you miss four from seven penalties you've only got yourself to blame - be honest, but what a lucky sod the Dago coach Camacho (he with the world's smelliest armpits) is!

After taking off two of the best strikers in the world in an attempt to cling on to a 1-0 lead, it all came so close to blowing up in his face. There's no justice in this world, some times.

June 17, 2002 17:30