AUSSIES GO UNDER - BUT NOT DOWN

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Group F Initial Results

Brazil ran out worthy winners over Australia last night in their Group F opener, but the Poperoos had their share of chances and goals in a thrilling encounter. Brazil played dazzling football and never looked like losing, but thanks to some excellent team play in the Australian midfield, they never truly dominated. Both camps seemed optimistic last night - pundits are already comparing thenipper's side with PWC 1970's Tropicalia heroes, and every neutral must be looking forward to their clash with Japan. As for the Australians, they refused to be downhearted in defeat. "If we play like that against Croatia and Japan, we'll qualify", said a source close to the team.

In the other group F game, two late goals gave Japan victory over a dogged and well-drilled Croatia side. The win was a fair reflection of Japan's greater skill and attacking play, though for most of the match they couldn't find a way through a maze of Croatian bodies. Commentators have wondered if the weight of expectations is affecting Japan's play, though with an ultimately comfortable win under their belt the team and management will have no such complaints.

(Vote here to affect the course of Group F.)

The History Of Pop Part 26 aka My life is a cage but onstage I'm free

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Now 26 stakes a claim for 1993 as BEST YEAR EVAR - a line-up packed with heavyweights and it's a sad quirk of fate that only one can qualify. Compare if you will Now 25, which "All That She Wants" won at a canter from New Order, and then a chasing pack of relatively low scorers (including though a disgracefully high mark for "Everybody Hurts" of all things!).

But this - this is a different matter! Post-Soviet gay disco! Jacko-tweaked R'n'B! Will Smith! Mr Raider! And a wealth of brilliant bit players like Stakka Bo and Apache Indian too. Which will be the winner? I'm hoping for a play-off frankly. The overall impression here is of a thriving, bustling, multifaceted and multicultural pop landscape, a chart happy to gobble the best from the UK, US and Europe, a rich pop ecosystem which it will be instructive to compare with the soon-coming "Britpop years"...

( The neighbours complain about the noises above )

Sorry Thom!!!!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Due to a "database error" one song was left off the Now poll this lunchtime. Here is your chance to deliver An Verdict:

[Poll #678653]