Walter

Ante-post brilliant - Portugal backed e/w to make the semi, Klose to be top-scorer, Swiss-France forecast and a treble on Srna, Rosicky and Dindane to top-score for their teams.

Matches were awful and yet had biggest matchbet of the event for yesterday's 3/4 play-off +2.5 goals which cut a big chunk off my losses.

Healthy profit overall.

Spain 1982 is yet to be beaten for me. I think the fact it was the first one I was totally involved in was the main factor. But it had other reasons - close, compact stadiums; many good, tight matches; the last European event broadcast with poor quality sound which paradoxically increased your enjoyment (in much the same way that European football is not as much fun since it ceased to be a rare treat on Radio 2, transmitted via a dodgy telephone line); also possibly the last event before fitness became so important. The second stage was poorly thought out, however. But for whatever reasons my memories of where I was for the matches of that event outstrip every other World Cup put together.