Match reports and group stage round up

I apologise to our devoted followers for not blogging yesterday. But there wasn't anything really interesting to report. On Sunday, Slovakia (Zlaty Bazant) beat Paraguay (sub  Brahma from Brazil) 4-2. We were surprised that Slovakia could not sneak a 5. Italy (Peroni) pipped New Zealand (Speights) 5-4 and Brazil (Palma Louca) were defeated 2-3 by Cote D'Ivoire (Flag). In yesterday's matches there were some surprises, as I tasted some beers for the first time. Switzerland (Swiss Mountain Beer) made a surprise turnaround in its form and beat Chile (sub Cusquena from Peru) 3-2. The Woodcote Woodies had loved Cusquena - I didn't. Spain (Alhambra) drew with Honduras (sub Cristal from Cuba) 4 each. And finally, Portugal (Super Bock) beat Korea DPR (Taedonggang) 3-1.

With only one match left for everyone here's a round up of the group stages. Can you figure out which beers will progress? No, neither can we. And we can't insert tables in this blog, so watch out for a screen shot summarising the situation.


GROUP A:
 Looks like France (Kronenbourg) is through, and thankfully Uruguay (sub Patagonia from Argentina) is out. We hope that South Africa (Castle) manages to get past Mexico (Bohemia)

GROUP B:
What a terrible group of beers. Argentina (Quilmes) is through, mainly from the lack of competition from Greece (Vergina), Nigeria (Star in a tin) and South Korea (Hite).

GROUP C:
Probably the most competitive group of all. I would happily consume any of the competitors. No clear winner yet (out of England (Hop), USA (Dixie), Slovenia (Zlatorog)). But it seems Algeria (sub Casablanca from Morocco) is out - shame! If England go out of the football World Cup on Wednesday then we are minded to bar Hop from the Beer World Cup as a matter of principle.

GROUP D:
A surprise leader in Ghana (Star in a bottle), tied in the lead with Germany (Bitburger). Australia (VB) is trailing and, thank goodness, the Serbian big boy, Atpinska, is out.

GROUP E:
Denmark (Elephant) is through. I am still concerned that its high alcohol gives it an unfair advantage. But all the others still have a chance: Cameroon (Castel), Netherlands (Bavaria) and Japan (Kirin Ichiban)

GROUP F:
Italy (Peroni) is through, and Paraguay (sub Brahma from Brazil) is out. I am hoping that Slovakia (Zlaty Brazant) gets past New Zealand (Speights) but I wouldn't put money on it.

GROUP G:
No clear winner here yet but sadly Korea DPR (Taedonggang) is out. Its peculiar lager & lime flavour just couldn't stand up to conventional lagers. Battling to go through are Portugal (Super Bock - so it must have been Sagres that represented them in the European Beer World Cup - see posts passim), Cote D'Ivoire (Flag) and Brazil (Palma Louca).

GROUP H:
A very evenly matched group. Any could go through, and any could go out (a bit of a pundit's platitude for you). Spain (Alhambra) has the lead. Honduras (sub Cristal from Cuba) is at the bottom of the table. Chile (sub Cusquena from Peru) is only just ahead of Switzerland (Swiss Mountain Beer) on goal difference.

Well, at the end of the week, all will be revealed, and we enter the exciting Knock Out Stage. Look out for our rules on penalty shoot outs!