Leander Schaerlaeckens: On behalf of the Jeff's, I wish you a lovely afternoon.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Thanks for tuning in, everybody.

Jeff Carlisle: Portugal will be very happy at not having to face Kaka, although Brazil are loaded of course.

Jeff Carlisle: Good result for Brazil, but they paid for it dearly. Elano injured and Kaka sent off.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The way the Ivory Coast was going at them, it could have been much more than just one player hurt.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil will take this. Didn't play brilliantly, but survived comfortably. And, remarkably, with just the lone injury.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Final whistle.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Right at Barry.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Long free kick for Dani Alves.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Pulled by a few Ivorians, eager to deflect unsportsmanlike accusations.

Jeff Carlisle: He threw one? He put his arm up. After everything else that went on, I don't blame him.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Now Luis Fabiano is down.

Jeff Bradley: I'd say it was more of an elbow poke than an elbow thrown

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I don't think he did, James. I think he brought in his elbow to shield himself from Keita who was about to run into him.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil brings on Ramires for Robinho, who didn't have the best of games.

Jeff Carlisle: Then Kaka gets sent off with the help of an acting job.

Jeff Carlisle: I'll reserve judgement until I find out how badley Elano is hurt. It's just crazy that Elano gets stretchered off and the Ivorians get to engage in numerous studs-up challenges.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another Ivorian cross is headed out by Juan.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: What a goalkeeper he is!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A cat-like save by Julio Cesar keeps a cross from becoming dangerous!

ESPN Stats and Info: Kaka's red card was the first for Brazil in the World Cup since Ronaldinho was sent off vs. England in 2002.

Jeff Bradley: Having been to the African Cup of Nations, I gotta say, none of this surprises me. The games can be pretty brutal

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Three minutes of added time here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lucio keeps a long ball out of the box.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This is the second-worst refereed game I've seen here thus far.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This game is turning gritty. Brazil is trying to slow it down and the Ivory Coast up.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil blocks it well and boots it out.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Julio Cesar can only jut top a long ball over his bar. Corner to the Ivory Coast.

Jeff Carlisle: Speechless.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another referee duped by a flopper.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: More terrible refereeing at this World Cup.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Abysmal decision.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He's off.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka gets a second yellow.

Jeff Carlisle: Kaka put an elbow in his chest and Keita went down like he'd been hit in the face. Absurd.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Who went down like a shack in an earthquake.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: All Kaka did was shield himself from the unrushing Keita.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Everybody goes hunting for Kaka it seems.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Now Keita is down and rolling around as a few Ivorians charge at Kaka and a huge scuffle ensues.

Jeff Carlisle: It's just open season on the Brazilians.

Jeff Carlisle: About 30 minutes too late.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He's committed enough bad fouls to merit six by now.

Jeff Carlisle: Ref has completely lost control.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Finally Tiote gets a yellow.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Ivory Coast is just kicking at everything now.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Luis Fabiano is now down and Dunga seriously annoyed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another referee not covering himself in glory.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Somehow Kaka ends up with the yellow.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Scuffles abound after Tiote keeps kicking at the ball on the ground long after the whistle goes.

Jeff Bradley: Zinedine Zidane has left the building

Leander Schaerlaeckens: What a brute Tiote is.

Jeff Bradley: not cold in the City Lodge

Leander Schaerlaeckens: If it wasn't cold before, it certainly is now.

Jeff Bradley: Yes, Gervinho's long run was stalled, but he played a ball back to Yaya

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The pass to Drogba was by Yaya Toure.

Jeff Carlisle: It's definitely not over for Ivory Coast, especially if North Korea pull an Algeria and hold Portugal.

Jeff Bradley: Eriiksson will be second guessed for not starting Gervinho

Jeff Bradley: Portugal did not create much vs. Ivory Coast and we saw that N Korea can defend a bit

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This is the second time Brazil has given away a late goal by not focusing after going comfortably ahead.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dunga is not happy.

Jeff Bradley: That goal could factor in if Ivory Coast and Portugal end up in a tie breaker

Jeff Bradley: I've got the advantage of a TV announcer

Leander Schaerlaeckens: You're right. Gervinho, not Romaric.

Jeff Carlisle: Brazil completely switched off there. Credit Drogba for putting it home.

Jeff Bradley: That long run was all Gervinhio

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Who called a 3-1 outcome again?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Romaric saw his run stopped by Juan. But a later ball into the box allowed Drogba to head home!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Romaric on the run!

Jeff Bradley: Amazing passing sequence, game of keepaway, by Brazil

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka almost makes it to the back line again but wins a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A nice Keita dribble is undone by a bad pass.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 84,451 in the house tonight.

Jeff Bradley: This is getting really ugly

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A minor scuffle as Yaya Toure goes down and wraps his arm around the back of Kaka's neck.

Jeff Carlisle: Agreed. Guys should stop dribbling and just start playing keep away.

Jeff Bradley: Brazil's got to try to get out of this game in one piece now

Jeff Carlisle: My goodness. That is just atrocious.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He's whining at the linesman, when he quite clearly followed through on Bastos's leg after he beast him to it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Michel Bastos in serious pain now. Keita gets a yellow.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A long Alves shot hobbles straight to Barry.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not that that should have been a booking.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This referee is happy to call fouls, but loath to book anybody.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Alves clipped by Drogba.

Jeff Bradley: Can Portugal man up and get a win over N. Korea and a draw against Brazil?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This seems an incredibly pro-Brazil crowd here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A long shot by the Ivory Coast is parried by a diving Julio Cesar.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Ivory Coast coach Sven Goran Eriksson is throwing everything he has at this game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another disappointment.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Romaric on for... Eboue.

Jeff Bradley: Yes, he had them on

ESPN Stats and Info: Kaka is the first player with two assists in one game during this tournament

Leander Schaerlaeckens: But in the replay you could clearly see he had them on.

Jeff Bradley: Yeah, he took them off when he scored the goal. Showed the TV cameras some message

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lucio gets back well and plays Drogba off the ball. Who wins a corner.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I think he did, it looked like he had them on.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Brazilian drums will not die down here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Finally, a little joy.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dani Alves with a nice ball into Kaka, whoose shot is blocked. Next, Maicon, dribbles the ball one way and gets past his man the other but sees his shot go wide.

Jeff Bradley: Globetrotter time

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Scandalous challenge.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Eboue is sent on a long run into the box by Julio Cesar gets there first.

Jeff Carlisle: Looked to me like Tiote went over the ball though.

Jeff Carlisle: Elano is trying to put weight on the leg, but not having any success. He's in a lot of pain.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Chelsea striker was a complete non-factor in this game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Salomon Kalou off for Kader Keita.

Jeff Bradley: I think you're being harsh on Tiote. It was Elano who did the kicking, and he hit Tiote's foot

Leander Schaerlaeckens: So Alves will play as a right winger here, I presume.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dani Alves on for Elano.

ESPN Stats and Info: Luis Fabiano's brace is the 35th 2+ goal performance by a Brazilian player in the World Cup, which is the most all-time by any nation. Germany is 2nd all-time with 27. Ronaldo has the most braces in Brazil's history with four.

Jeff Carlisle: Elano being stretchered off. Not good.

Jeff Carlisle: That was a terrible tackle by Tiote. What does a guy have to do to get a yellow card in this game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Looking at the replay, the defending on the 3-0 certainly wasn't good. Elano just skipped on by his man.

Jeff Bradley: Ouch

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Elano tackles to win a ball but gets hurt in the process, taking Tiote's cleats straight on the shin with all of his weight behind it.

Jeff Bradley: Brazil is going to score again

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Headed away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner to the Ivorians now.

Jeff Bradley: I don't think it's the lead story, but it'll be a sidebar (newspaper lingo)

Jeff Carlisle: Kolo Toure got torched.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That's Elano's second of the tournament.

Jeff Bradley: That was purdy

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka made it to the back line in the box and teed it up for Elano, who had but to slip it on home.

Jeff Carlisle: Party time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: 3-0!!!!

Jeff Carlisle: Yes, I witnessed Cameroon's execution last night. Team just couldn't finish.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A beautiful triangle between Maicon, Robinho and Kaka ends with the latter shooting it right at Barry.

Jeff Bradley: but it ain't looking great for any of them

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Some real Brazilian magic there!

Jeff Bradley: The only African team officially out of it, I think, is Cameroon

Jeff Carlisle: Africa out? Unbelievable. Could happen though. A giant leap backwards for African football.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka with a long shot. Wide.

ESPN Stats and Info: From Opta Sports: 22 of Brazil's last 23 World Cup goals have come from open play. The Brazilians last goal not from the run of play was Ronaldinho's penalty kick against China in 2002.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gervinho almost got onto the end of a loose ball in the box. But not quite.

Jeff Bradley: Jeff, Ghana is by no means through. They need a result against Germany, and Germany can't just play for a draw...could Africa be shut out?

Jeff Carlisle: The referee is French. I'm not kidding.

Jeff Bradley: It almost looked like the ref was asking Luis Fabiano if he handled it

Jeff Bradley: That did not look good

Jeff Bradley: What is the ref doing there?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Hmm...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A ref who seemed to smile and nod.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: In a replay he is shown denying all wrongdoing to the ref.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Both times that he brought it down, he used his biceps.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Fabiano did indeed handle the ball twice.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Drogba with a bad cross from the right. The Ivory Coast dominating play right now. Brazil seems happy to lightly press and sit back a bit more.

Jeff Carlisle: Surprised Dindane was the one sacrificed for Gervinho. Would have thought one of Eboue or Tiote would have come off.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gervinho is on for Dindane, by the way.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another woeful pass by Brazil.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dindane gets the cross off but the header by Drogba is just wide. He did well to fight off Lucio there.

Jeff Bradley: Gonna be one win in, what? 12 games?

Jeff Bradley: Woe Africa

Jeff Carlisle: I couldn't tell if it was Toure or Zokora who let the initial long ball bounce, but it just got worse from there.

Jeff Bradley: Just what I need, more questionable refereeing to discuss

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Haven't you heard, that's legal now?

Jeff Bradley: Luis Fabiano handled the ball on his way in

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Lovely goal, entirely self-made.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He'd won a header over, I think, Drogba first.

Jeff Bradley: should've been a handball!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: He flipped it up over Zokora, zipped past him and finished well.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Into the box, finished strong with his left and Barry couldn't parry it.

Jeff Carlisle: Credit Fabiano for not giving up on that play, but that was some seriously bad defending.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Luis Fabiano again!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Most notable thing to happen yet.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Maicon is down.

Jeff Bradley: Too much dribbling!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Maicon does well to block off Kalou and then Kalou does well to block off Maicon.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And we sure do need something out of nothing here.

Jeff Bradley: Gervinho can create something out of nothing

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gervinho is warming up for Ivory Coast.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: First half possession: Brazil by 55 percent. Each team had four shots and one on goal. A total of 18 fouls have been committed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: We're playing again.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The philosophy of conceding one less than the other team is quickly beating out that of scoring one more than the other team. Sad to have to acknowledge that, but I think it's the truth.

Jeff Bradley: Most of the other teams are more content to not give up goals

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Very true, MJ.

Jeff Bradley: Not predicting a World Cup winner here, but it's apparent to me that the teams capable of creating multiple goal scoring chances from the run of play are Holland, Germany, Argentina and Brazil

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And the Dutch!!!

Jeff Carlisle: Just saw the heat map for Drogba. No touches inside the 18-yard-box. Only two touches even close to the box.

Jeff Bradley: I think both Donovan and Fabiano hit the snot out of the ball and hoped for the best, honestly

ESPN Stats and Info: Brazil is 33-0-2 all-time in the World Cup when leading at halftime. The two draws were to Czechoslovakia in 1938 and Switzerland in 1950.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gonna have to disagree entirely. I think it was the opposite.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: No, I don't think Brazil as it was in the first half is capable of punishing anybody on the break. A good break requires sharp passing. Brazil's passing has been terrible.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That would be nice. He did very well to create the first goal but other than that hasn't done much but send bad passes.

Jeff Carlisle: Leander, don't you think Brazil are waiting a bit for Ivory Coast to take more risks, and then punish them on the break?

Jeff Bradley: The best African team is not in the World Cup. Egypt

Jeff Carlisle: Indeed Rob, but Denmark had some horrible giveaways. Luckily Cameroon couldn't finish.

Jeff Bradley: I see nothing in the attack, but dribbling

Leander Schaerlaeckens: They've sent at least a dozen balls off target, breaking up their own attack.

Jeff Bradley: From what I've seen form Eriksson's Ivory Coast team, they're structured, and compact...and focused on defending

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil has not been strong here, Kenneth. The lull the top teams are in has yet to let up.

Jeff Bradley: Ghana has two pk's

Jeff Bradley: I said from Ghana

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Best goal of the tournament, that one was. Closely followed by Maicon's against North Korea.

Jeff Bradley: But, I have no confidence in their ability to score goals. No goals from the run of play so far for Ghana in the World Cup

Jeff Bradley: Ghana seem to know how to grind out results

Jeff Carlisle: Is Ghana the only hope?

Jeff Bradley: I think maybe some teams put too much pressure on themselves to perform in this World Cup. There's a sense of panic when coaches are fired, etc.

Jeff Carlisle: You've been around them Jeff. Why do you think that is?

Jeff Bradley: I'm losing faith

Jeff Bradley: The African teams just continue to disappoint

Jeff Carlisle: Slightly disappointing first half to be honest. It's almost as if Brazil isn't used to such a fast track. As a neutral, I hope Ivory Coast go for it in the second half. We caught a glimpse of that in the first half, and the game picked up.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not a wonderful game by any stretch of the imagination.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And enough of this game for now. Because it is half-time here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Enough of that.

Jeff Bradley: Donovan's was funnier, because the keeper ducked

Jeff Carlisle: I'd have to concur.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Fabiano's.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: One minute of extra time.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka's tricksy ball into the box doesn't arrive.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I really enjoyed Brazil - North Korea. Just for the novelty of it.

ESPN Stats and Info: In five World Cup matches all-time, Ivory Coast has never scored first. Greece is the only other team in the 2010 World Cup who has also never scored first in a World Cup match.

Jeff Carlisle: US/Slovenia, but I'm biased.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Just seeing a replay of Luis Fabiano's goal. It was an unbelievable finish!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another flying elbow.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Luis Fabiano is called for a foul on Tiene.

Jeff Bradley: During this break in the action, let's hear it for MLS alumni Simon Elliott and Ryan Nelsen!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Offsides for Dindane.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Eboue gets a long shot off, it bounces off Juan's leg but it's called a goal kick.

Jeff Bradley: Should've been a corner

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tiote's cross is long.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tiote with the ball on the left. He sends it into a defender for a second time.

Jeff Bradley: Better action the last five minutes, but if this game opens up, Ivory Coast are going to lose by two or three

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka with the ball now but he sends it behind Lucio.

Jeff Bradley: That was a good shot by Dindane. Dipper that could've been spilled

Jeff Carlisle: The game is opening up, which is giving the Ivory Coast more room to manuever. Dangerous way to play against Brazil though.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Dindane gets a shot off at the other end that is again straight at Cesar.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Fabiano was sent running in the acres of space the Ivory Coast was leaving but again his ball to the side was poor and sent everybody scrambling.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A dangerous ball into the box is cleared by Maicon. It gets loose in the box a second time, but it's cleared once more.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: This is a disappointingly sloppy game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil blow it on the breakaway by sening another bad ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: By golly, they got a cross off, right into Cesar's arms.

ESPN Stats and Info: Brazil is 51-2-4 all-time when scoring first in the World Cup, including the 2-1 victory over North Korea.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Could it be, an Ivorian attack?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It's getting a little chillier up in herre. And this game is not warming me up any.

Jeff Carlisle: What is it with Brazil's outside backs in the last five minutes? Neither of the can trap a ball at the moment.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Indeed.

Jeff Bradley: From what I've seen of Ivory Coat, they have nothing in the attack. Nothing coordinated. They rely on individual stuff. Maybe a miracle will happen. We've seen it before.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: You're awfully pessimistic about their chances, Jeff. Certainly, Brazil is better. But I wouldn't say this game is done!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Fabiano is plowed down by Tiote. Not the last warning after all.

Jeff Bradley: Ivory Coast has to hope for a miracle. A Robert Green type mistake. A penalty. Something.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Meanwhile, this game is starting to slow down, with Brazil controlling the ball but not connecting well on the long ball, which they insist on playing.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Would make flights a lot more comfortable.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I have some residual length you can have, Jeff.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A Gilberto Silva ball is an inch too far (better?) for Maicon surging up the right.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tiene puts a menacing finger in Elano's face, the replay teaches us.

Jeff Bradley: I'm a centimeter short of 5-7

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It wasn't, Michel Bastos is a centimeter short -- haha -- of 6 foot.

Jeff Bradley: No short jokes

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka's ball out to Bastos is an inch too long. Either that or Bastos is an inch too short.

Jeff Carlisle: It looked like Tiote took him down. I think he's getting his final warning from the ref.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: That can't be said of Lucio, who is in pain elsewhere.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Drogba on the ball goes to ground and stays there for a spell. But he's up.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: They send in a cross but it rolls to the back line.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil still high and with the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Headed away by Drogba.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Luis Fabiano sends Kaka on the run on the left, Michel Bastos swiped it from him but his shot was blocked. Corner for Elano.

Jeff Bradley: I think this game's over

Jeff Carlisle: Kaka is so deceptively strong on the ball. That made all the difference.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tiny little passes do the trick for Brazil. Now let's hope they don't go sitting back.

Jeff Bradley: That was great effort by Kaka. Did not give up on the play. Won a tackle and slipped Luis Fabiano through with a great ball. And what a finish. Roofed a la Donovan

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Kaka's perseverance on that play had much to do with it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Little by little, Kaka, Silva and Luis Fabiano made their way to the box, after which Kaka's inch-perfect through ball made it to the on-rushing Fabiano who booted it into the upper corner. Not unlike the way Donovan hoofed one home the other day.

ESPN Stats and Info: Brazil has now scored in 24 consecutive group matches at the World Cup.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Luis Fabiano on the feed from Kaka!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Splendid play!

Jeff Carlisle: Wow.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: BRAZIL!!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: GOAL!!!!!!!!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Since the country gained independence from Portugal, you mean?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The ref ordered the corner retaken and gives Juan and Tiote a talking to for an impromptu wrestling match. The second corner was grabbed by Barry. Since then, a through ball into the box for Fabiano went out of bounds.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Sorry, folks. Connection issues on my part.

Jeff Carlisle: Given Brazil's skill on the counter, Ivory Coast might not want to win too many corners either.

Jeff Bradley: Same thing from Ivory Coast that I saw in Port Elizabeth. Lots of individualism in the attack. Not working

Jeff Carlisle: Looked like Tiote was taking a page out of the Slovenian corner kick playbook there. Gets a warning from the ref.

Jeff Bradley: Ivory Coast do not want to concede too many corners, trust me

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Maircon out on the right, his cross is long and headed out for a corner by Demel.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A corner by Elano results in two shots for Brazil, one by Gilberto Silva, which is blocked, and one by Robinho, which goes high and wide.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Ivory Coast appears to have had more of the ball in the last minutes, with Brazil returning to its preferred counter style.

Jeff Bradley: Here we go. Best set piece team in the world, Brazil

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Corner to Brazil.

Jeff Carlisle: The feeling out process still looks to be going on. Surprised to see Brazil having to foul so much.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: "EEEEEEEEE-EOOOOOOOOOO-EOOOOO-EOOO-EOOO-BRASIL!!!" sing the Brazilian supporters

Jeff Bradley: It's a tussle so far

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Early thoughts on this game, Jeffs?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A ball into the Ivorian box is headed away. Robinho dances on the ball, goes to ground but doesn't get the call.

Jeff Carlisle: That's six fouls already from Brazil. Dunga has definitely made his mark on this team.

Jeff Bradley: That was a nice ball from Eboue

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The ball cuts dangerously in front of goal but Julio Cesar gets his mitts to it.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Free kick from the side for Ivory Coast.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Intercepted, a cross for Ivory Coast, headed away by Lucio who is subsequently called for a foul.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Short and cleared. Kaka on the run.

Jeff Carlisle: Uche for Nigeria?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Another very long free kick to Ivory Coast.

Jeff Bradley: How bad have the free kicks in this World Cup been? Has there been more than one or two decent attempts?

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Drogba behind it and absolutely airmails it, as a disappointed stadium reacts in shock.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Gilberto Silva commits a foul. 30-yard free kick to Ivory Coast.

Jeff Bradley: Not that I'm homesick, but this matchup reminds me of a typical XBox live matchup between me and my 11-year old son. I would be Ivory Coat

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Either that or those blasted lamps are preventing me from seeing all the action.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The teams are sort of feeling each other out here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil with high possession but Elano's ball passed Maicon by completely.

Jeff Bradley: They'll knock it around a bit, but they won't progress up field much. I think Eriksson will have them playing it safe

Leander Schaerlaeckens: From now on, I'm just gonna say Jeff and you can figure it out between yourselves.

Jeff Bradley: Ivory Coast are decent in possession, but not the greatest at possession with penetration

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I meant Jeff B, of course.

Jeff Bradley: You're right Leander

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It's an odd game to describe.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Ivorians seem to have no choice but to play on the counter-attack here. Then again, the Brazilians seem content just to trap them, but aren't necessarily pushing for the ball.

Jeff Carlisle: Agreed, but he's not seeing much of the ball.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Thanks, MT.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Drogba seems to have gained much in mobility since their last game, wouldn't you say, Jeff C?

Jeff Bradley: I was at Ivory Coast-Portugal and came away impressed only by the Elephants structure and defense...not impressed by their attacking efforts

Leander Schaerlaeckens: ... he wrote as Drogba ran on to a through ball that was ever so slightly long.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The high press is preventing the Ivorians (?) from getting out much.

Jeff Carlisle: Poor touch Robinho. What Jeff Bradley said.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil is trapping Ivory Coast really high here.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazilian possession now as the honk-honk-honk of the vuvuzelas rings proudly through the stadium.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Now if only the muppet announcers in front of me would sit down I could actually see them too.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Both teams are aggressive straight away.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: A bad ball by Ela halts Brazilian possession. Tiote fools Luis Fabiano to get the ball out of the back.

Jeff Bradley: Robinho not too focused there

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Tiote goes for an early run down the left but is fouled. A long free kick is headed away from Drogba by Juan. Brazil on the break but Robinho shoots it just over from 25 or so yards.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: The Ivorians -- is that what you call them? -- to kick off.

Jeff Carlisle: I'm going for 2-2. If the North Koreans can score on these guys, so can Ivory Coast.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil 3-2.

Jeff Bradley: Brazil 1-0

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Indeed.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Brazil's lineup, which Jeff C. already gave you, has not changed at all since its first game.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And so ended the anthem of Ivory Coast!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: ...badum-pappom!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Anthems...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: You should be.

Jeff Bradley: Am I the only ESPN scribe who had New Zealand advancing?

Jeff Carlisle: Tell it to some Man City fans there Captain Obvious.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Focus is not his forte.

Jeff Bradley: Hello boys

Leander Schaerlaeckens: I don't know that I have a preference. I'd like to see a good game of soccer. Which we haven't seen too many of.

Jeff Carlisle: I see what looks to be a very focused Robinho on the TV monitor.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: In addition to fellow ESPN.com soccer writer Jeff Carlisle, we should also be joined by ESPN The Magazine senior writers Luke Cyphers and Jeff Bradley.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Perhaps I should consult a Web site or something. But my Spidey senses tend to be more accurate.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: It's not as bad as it's been. I'd call it low 50s.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Thanks, Jeffrey.

Jeff Carlisle: With that, I defer all things play-by-play to the former French, uh, I mean Belgian resident.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: One Brazilian journalist actually hugged the ticketing man and teared up when he heard that he was getting a ticket.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: By the way, the way this works, is that if there are too many reporters applying for tickets (and there always are) they create a waiting list in case some don't show up (which always happens).

Leander Schaerlaeckens: And I should give a shout out to my Brazilian college Jamil, who isn't reading this but who was kind enough to offer me his backup ticket, which was to sit in the stands.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not complaining though. I got in.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Barely. Up in the nosebleeds behind a bunch of lights for announcers in front of me that apparently need to be seen in addition to being heard.

Jeff Carlisle: Belgium, France, Luxemborg, it's all the same to me.

Jeff Carlisle: Leander in the house!

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Why I never...

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Not France!

Jeff Carlisle: Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" is on the stadium PA.

Leander Schaerlaeckens: Belgium!

ESPN Stats and Info: Ivory Coast's goalless draw with Portugal marked the first time they had failed to score in a World Cup game, though it was also the first time they had kept a clean sheet.

Jeff Carlisle: Leander actually did live in France for a while. Let's hope that he has been scrubbed clean of any lingering Frenchiness.

ESPN Stats and Info: Brazil has won all five of its previous World Cup matches against African teams, keeping a clean sheet each time in the process.

Jeff Carlisle: Shockingly, I can still see some small clusters of empty seats here at Soccer City. Whoever these people are, they should be sent the way of Argentine hooligans and deported immediately.

Jeff Carlisle: The cult of Leander grows. Bear with us James. Leander Foo-Shnickens will be here soon.

Jeff Carlisle: Yes, Husrav, I concur.

Jeff Carlisle: Didn't take long for the first typo of the night. Leander, hurry up.

Jeff Carlisle: For those of you not privy to the lineups, here there are:

Brazil: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos; Elano, Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Kaka; Luis Fabiano, Robinho

Ivory Coast: Barry; Demel, Kolo Toure, Tiene, Eboue; Tiote, Zokora, Yaya Toure; Kalou, Drogba (yes!!), Dindane

Jeff Carlisle: Greetings everyone. Jeff Carlisle here.

Now fear not. Leander Schaerlaeckens will be with us shortly. Believe it or not, journalists need tickets to these things too, and Leander had to put his name on a wait list to get in to this sumptuous feast of football. But the soccer gods have smiled on our intrepid host, and he is now making his way up to the media tribune as we speak.

In the meantime, I will attempt the impossible task of filling Leander's shoes. Wish me luck.