Sam, they had goallights here, and Argentina's was stright ugly route 1. Abbondonzieri massive punt, two flick ons and a finish after the ball landed at Palacio's feet. Ecuador were in shock.

Peru's long national nightmare continues.

Uruguay 6 Peru 0.

Forlan with a hat trick, Peru with three points from six matches.

Where are you gone, Teo-fil-io?

Brazil v Argentina tonight, yes? What should we expect? Lots of half-fit Europeans or a load of home grown talent that will make the rest of the world shit themselves?

Yes, it is tonight.

Brazil are a complete shambles, having lost to Venezuela and Paraguay after only squeaking by Canada. More than half the country want them to lose, in order to assure that Dunga is given the sack. Argentina were massively unimpressive against Ecuador, after having decided to abandon the absolutely lethal formation they had based on Messi and Aguerro in favour of putting a half-fit Riquelme back in the middle.

It might be one of those games in which the Brazilians decide that kicking people is the only way forward; Argentina will be looking to banish the ghosts of the Copa America final which they lost meekly despite being very large favourites. If Basile doesn't go back to the Messi-Aguerro axis, I will be throwing stuff at the television and trying to remember Porteno curse words.

Is it true that Dunga means dopey in Portuzilian?

Yup (as in the character from Snow White).

Try going here and mouse over the guy Anglos know as "Dopey".

[Edit: crap, the link doesn't work because the whole site is in Flash; you can try going to the Guia do Site and then to the Sinopse, at the bottom of which there are links to each major character).]

Or you can take this guy's word for it:

Looks like Elmer Fudd. Brilliant!

Ummm, maybe, but it also looks like Dopey.

Here are a couple to get you started, Ursus: boludo, pelotudo, 'la concha de tu abuela', and one just for Riquelme, 'bostero relleno de mierda' (I just created that one especially for the occasion).

Riquelme's bound to play. And Lionel Messi doesn't like that, because it seems like football's nicest person may have realised that the JRR-dependence Argentina suffer from isn't a good thing when Riquelme isn't playing well.

If Basile has any sense, Messi will start behind Agüero and Cruz or Cavenaghi. But I think JRR behind Agüero and Messi is more likely, sadly...

For Brazil, Anderson will replace Josué which at least is a sign of greater attacking intent.

Also Julio Baptista could come in for Diego and Adriano for Luis Fabiano, the thinking being that the Argentinians are scared of Adriano after his past exploits against them. A look at a video of Adriano in the Paraguay game might reassure them somewhat.

Mourinho is there, so Adriano should be more motivated than he has been for a couple of years.

That said, it is Adriano.

And equally, Cruz, Zanetti and Burdisso will all be motivated by the Not Special One's presence.

Seba Verón has remained in Buenos Aires due to injury, whilst Javier Mascherano got a knock to his right knee in training. Alfio Basile has already said he'll be waiting until the latest possible moment before kick off to name his team.

I'm not looking forward to staying up for all of this one (it finishes at about 4am here), not sure I will do since it'll be daylight before I go to bed if I do, meaning I'll struggle to sleep. But coming at a moment when both sides could use a bit of a boost, it's going to be a fascinating match...

5am here. I am not going to make it.

The working assumption here is that Burdisso is already gone. Is Crespo not in the squad? He was expecting to be, and claiming to be on very good terms with Jose. Cruz will have something to prove (though he strikes me as a Jose-type role player). If Mourinho does anything to Zanetti, I will personally hunt him down.

Without really stretching, one could see seven or eight Inter players on the pitch tonight.

The three I named are the only three players in the Argentina squad, Ursus. I think Crespo's not been picked due to his relative lack of matchtime for Inter this season. Cambiasso, on the other hand... I've got no idea why he's not there.

Ecuador 0-0 Colombia

I only saw the second half, but it was a belter. Both sides really went for it, and it was the epitomy of 'end-to-end' football. As the game wore on, the chances created, and missed, at both ends became clearer. Colombia looked to be happier with the draw.

I'm well up for Brazil v Argentina now, regardless of the time of night/morning. I missed Russia v Sweden earlier because I was at a Madness gig, so I still need to get my two-a-day.

Bloody hell. Bolivia 4-2 Paraguay!

And Ecuador and Colombia have just this minute finished an entertaining match which - I'm not quite sure how - finished 0-0. It was a pleasure to watch.

Brazil vs. Argentina lineups here. The Argentina one isn't 100% official just yet but is being reported as such by Olé, and being as how there's half an hour left til kick off, that's good enough for me.