Day 8 in 100 words or less The competitive group C played out their second games and it became evidently clear that Colombia are the class of that bunch as they beat Ivory Coast, while Japan and Greece played out a 0-0 stalemate. It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability. England 1-2 Uruguay After every major international tournament, UEFA releases a technical report that focuses on many things including the tactical trends and the direction the game is going. Roy Hodgson was part of that committee after 1996, and up to becoming England manager, as a match analyst. After Euro 2012 he spoke at length about possession, midfield domination, the importance of finding space, getting full backs high, starting transitions from the attack and seemed to have a very good idea of where the game was headed. However, no matter how many words he spoke, he couldnt shake the reputation of being a cautious coach. After his team lost 2-1 to Italy, Hodgson was praised in the press for picking youngsters with pace who were brave to attack. The issue with this was that it was all based around counter-attacking. The moment the opposition got the lead, and therefore defended deeper, England couldnt break them down. Next up was Uruguay on Thursday. This was a perfect test of England and Hodgsons credentials. Uruguay are not a team that has success based on possession. They defeated teams in South Africa on the counter, defending deep with two banks and letting their front two do the damage. It was the same in Copa America 2011, when they famously beat Argentina at home with 10-men, on the way to lifting the trophy. England had a dangerous opponent staring them down, without question, but also one that would let them have the ball. With it, England were clueless. Slow in possession, poor in positioning and unconvincing in their movement. With the Hodgson handbrake on, they leisurely played their way through the first-half until they were knocked to the ground with a sucker punch. Counter attack…in behind Steven Gerrard, out to Edinson Cavani, whose majestic ball was headed home by Luis Suarez. Who else? England spent 36 minutes behind, before Wayne Rooneys late run in the box ended his goal scoring streak, and it was during this time that it was evidently clear that Hodgson remains a significant problem for England. Sure, it is clear this England team is very average but there was no reason for them to be average and outnumbered in central midfield. For one, the fact that their defenders are average speaks to the need for more protection. After playing Denmark in March it seemed he would play 4-3-3. It would be a shape that could solve many problems. Wayne Rooney, not trusted to play as a 10, could have gone up top and Gerrard, badly in need of support around him, would be more comfortable. Centre-backs could then split and full backs could be progressive. Instead, the full backs were very poor, aside from Glen Johnsons one assist, and the centre-backs were not much better, clearly not helping Gerrard as Suarez smashed home the winner. You could go through each player and say he wasnt good enough, but the style certainly didnt help them. As the club game evolves into a progressive, attack-minded style, with no midfield superiority and intelligence, England were left looking like a team decades behind, once again. Despite being humbled by old enemies in Suarez and Mario Balotelli inside a week, the pain isnt over for the English and when Italy defeats Costa Rica on Friday the nation will likely spend the next three days convincing themselves that their next destination could be the last 16. The truth is, no matter when England are put out of their misery, they will not have learned a great deal about their players. Many already knew their limitations. We just didnt expect their own manager to highlight them for us. Colombia 2-1 Ivory Coast Colombia were not great, but a couple of their players were and that was enough. In Abel Aguilar and Carlos Sanchez, they have two holders who are positionally very good because the centre-backs behind them sit deep, giving them plenty of work to do. Colombias back six is very organized even though Pablo Armero is clearly the weak link at left back. Mario Yepes, sitting deep with most attacks in front of him, was superb. In front of them all, though, are four positions who have now all been good, in periods at this World Cup. Victor Ibarbo and Teo Gutierrez were quiet against Ivory Coast but good against Greece, Juan Cuadrado has been excellent in both games and James Rodriguez has been sensational in both. The front four are lethal in their speed when they attack and are a joy to watch. Ibarbo was replaced by the lovely young playmaker, Juan Quintero, and he came inside more and gave the side another ball treasurer in and around Rodriguez. The Monaco man, however, was on a different level to anyone. He chased a seemingly lost cause to play in an uncomfortable ball to handle for the Ivorian defence and from that subsequent corner he headed home a thunderbolt. He was involved in the transition on the second goal, also, but Didier Zokoras misplaced pass allowed Colombia - through Quintero - to double their lead. Ivory Coast responded well and for the second successive game were the better side as the match went into its final quarter. Gervinhos individual effort meant the scoreline - at least - reflected how close the match was. It was another absorbing contest highlighted by good young players coming to the fore again, led by Rodriguez of course. Greece 0-0 Japan There are very different ways to get what you want out of a football match. Greece, who were woeful with 11 players, went down a man in the first half and it was then that they knew what to do. Japan couldnt break them down despite having 75% and Greece grew into the game. They were better with ten men than when they had 11 and now have a shot, one opportunity at making the last 16 in their final game against Ivory Coast. As for Japan, it appears their World Cup is over and they simply never recovered from the second half meltdown against Serge Auriers crosses. Man of the day Nominees James Rodriguez – the football world has known about him for some time but a true star is being born in Brazil. Mario Yepes – The 38-year-old didnt have pace when he was 28, but he has always been a good reader of the game and, with everything in front of him, he dominated. Gervinho – a fine individual goal got his team back into the game. Edinson Cavani – played a brilliant ball for Suarez to score his first goal and was a handful for England to deal with all game. Luis Suarez – three weeks ago he had knee surgery, 21 days later he looked back to his best. The winner… • Luis Suarez – Cavanis ball was brilliant, Gerrards back header wasnt, Gary Cahills positioning was questionable but all of those only became major stories because the Liverpool striker scored two brilliant goals, many of which would have been put wide by others. What comes next? Italy vs Costa Rica (12pm/9am), France vs Switzerland (3pm/noon), Ecuador vs Honduras (6pm/3pm). Burning question for tomorrow Will France have enough talent for a young Swiss side and win a game that will help them stay away from Argentina in the next round? Key stat of Day 8 No team has ever progressed through a group at the World Cup or European Championships after losing their opening two matches. Undefeated x Air Max 90 Black Opti Yellow . That Ginette Reno can sing. Off White Air Max 90 For Sale . The international synchronized skating competition takes place from January 31 - February 1, 2014, and features 39 teams from 10 countries, in senior, junior, and novice. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outle...-cheap-303.html. -- Two nights after losing to the Eastern Conferences worst team, the Phoenix Coyotes handled the best. Cheap Air Max 90 Mens . Diego Costa headed in Gabis corner seven minutes from time to secure victory ahead of the return match in Madrid on March 11. "We know that at Madrid it will be another game, which will also be important and very difficult," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. Cheap Air Max 90 White . In this weeks Leaf Report podcast, James Mirtle and Jonas Siegel debate whether Toronto can continue their shootout dominance and discuss what Dave Nonis game plan should be heading into the trade deadline. FRISCO, Texas -- Even without its offensive centrepiece, the Montreal Impacts offence seemed quite healthy in its MLS season opener. The defence, however, was another matter. Though they generating scoring chances in bunches -- even with 2013 leading scorer Marco Di Vaio watching from a box -- the Impact couldnt overcome its shaky defence in a 3-2 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium. "We gave up three goals. Its hard to win when you give up three goals," coach Frank Klopas said. "There were situations we could have avoided and handled better. "We had the shots on goal, we pushed the game, we created chances a but weve got to limit the goals or its going to be difficult. We scored two goals on the road and had more chances, so you figure youve got to walk away at least with points." Instead, Montreal has none, as Dallas speedy attackers consistently drove the ball deep and put the Impacts defenders in difficult positions. On two occasions those turned into fouls that led to FCD goals. Dallas Mauro Diaz blew past midfielder Sanna Nyassi on the right wing and cut inside toward the goal in the 23rd minute of a 1-1 game. Defender Jeb Brovsky caught him from behind, but Diaz went down on minimal contact in the box, giving Dallas a penalty kick that Blas Perez converted. "I felt like I could have sneezed harder and the guy would have fallen over," Brovsky said. "But thats part of the game. a The play should have stopped before that, and I had something to do with that. Im not happy about that, but you move on." Diaz scored on a curling 20-yard free kick in the opening minutes of the second half to give Dallas a 3-1 lead after Montreals Hernan Bernardello was called for a handball as FCD again threatened. The Impact made Dallas sweat despite the chilly conditions -- 5C with 24-kilometre per hour winds at kickkoff -- by continuing to press the attack.dddddddddddd It paid off in the 65th minute when Andrew Wenger, taking the lead forward role usually manned by Di Vaio, headed a pretty cross from Felipe past Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz to close the gap to a goal. But Seitz came up big in the final minutes to close the door for FCD. Di Vaios absence -- the result of a three-game suspension earned in an ugly shoving match during last seasons playoff loss to Houston -- didnt keep the Impact from putting together a dangerous attack. Montreal got off 15 shots, nine on goal and many at point-blank range, and put two of them in the net, both on textbook plays. "We probably could have had another two goals if we had just been sharper," Wenger said. "Marcos a fantastic player and a large part of our offence, but a lot of guys stepped up tonight and helped create opportunities. If we continue that the entire season, well be lethal." Montreal had a huge early chance when rookie Eric Miller, in his MLS debut fired toward a seemingly open net off a third-minute corner kick. FC Dallas defender Jair Benitez slipped into the goal and blocked the ball off the line, then helped Seitz stop Hassoun Camaras follow shot on the rebound. But seven minutes later, the Impact broke through for as 1-0 lead, as midfielder Justin Mapp weaved through three defender before threading a perfect cross to the foot of Nyassi, who tapped it into the corner of the net. It took Dallas only two minutes to tie it, with Fabian Castillo collecting a deflected ball in close and drilling it past keeper Troy Perkins. "It was a little bit of frustration, but you have to grow from that," Camara said. "When you allow three goals, youre never happy. We have to be more intelligent. "But at the same time, its very easy to correct that. We can do much better." ' ' '