Cornish Steve

Think Costa Rica. I can see us trying to get a couple of players from that team. After all, before the WC started, they were the team with the least value, according to Lloyds. Even with their impressive performance, that translates to potential bargains.

Or did you get it on loan? What kind of car, by the way?

I'm surprised at comments along the lines of "but do we really need...". Yes, we do! We need to build a larger, stronger squad so that, even with half the team out injured, we can continue to push for a top four place.

Brazil (0)1 Netherlands (0)0 Germany (2)4 Argentina (1)2

For those who haven't already made predictions, here's the template for the final round. Brazil (x)x Netherlands (x)x Germany (x)x Argentina (x)x

Nope.

Two people managed a perfect score today: MikeO and markjazzbassist. For the semifinal round, the jazzbassist is the winner - well done! The overall leaderboard is a clear two-horse race with just two games to go (with the final being double points).

Was sitting in a restaurant at Chicago's O'Hare airport, since my connecting flight was over two hours late. Most of the servers were wearing yellow Brazil shirts, and their faces were becoming greyer and greyer. What do you say to someone when their team is getting slaughtered on the screens behind us? "Would you like to borrow my Germany shirt?"

You came the closest.

Congratulations to Alguna Vez Tonelada, Matt, and TonkaRoost for managing three points for this game - predicting a German lead at half-time, a German win, and Brazil scoring one goal. You are joint leaders for the semifinal round. MikeO has gained a point on verreauxi but is running out of time.

I'm flying to Seattle today and won't arrive until quite late. Apologies in advance, because I won't be able to post results until after I've arrived.

I'm willing to predict, because it's more about strategy than players - just like a business is more about strategy than employees. Not that players aren't important, but a team can meet its target with any of a number of player combinations. I would guess that the strategy this year is mostly consolidation: achieving the same finish as last year (5th) but with the added load of the Europa League. In addition, maybe the team will push strongly for silverware of some sort, no matter which cup it is. Anything above 5th place would certainly exceed my expectations. No playing in Europe the following season would be a disappointment.

I had no idea. Naively, I assumed they used the same route every year.

Eden or Thorgan? Sounds painful to me.

Here's another obscure rule in football. A few seconds into stoppage time, a defender heads the ball back to his goalie. Even before the latter touches the ball, the referee issues a red card to the defender. Why?

You're correct! The ball was thrown and became stuck in the umpire's mark. Baseball rule 5.09c: "A pitched ball lodges in the umpires or catchers mask or paraphernalia, and remains out of play, runners advance one base."

As a matter of interest, why has it suddenly become Tour d'Angleterre, with cyclists racing from Cambridge to London?

The runner on third base did not steal.

The pitcher is just fine and, most likely, rather upset.

Traore runs down the field, passes to Traore, who crosses the ball for Traore to head into the net.

The batter did not walk to first base.

I should have clarified: Nothing happened that meant the hitter walked to first base.

Brazil (0)2 Germany (0)1 Netherlands (0)2 Argentina (1)3

Here's the template for the semifinal found.... Brazil (x)x Germany (x)x Netherlands (x)x Argentina (x)x

The NY Yankees are playing a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox. The score is 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, with three Boston players on base. A fourth Boston player comes to the plate. The Yankees pitcher throws a fastball (no balk), the Red Sox hitter swings and misses, and the umpire rules immediately that Boston have just won the game. What happened?