World Cup 2010: Day four

Four days in to the World Cup and so far so so. The tournament is yet to catch light, although the vast majority of the human race would gladly watch a mass pile of vuvuzelas set a blaze in the middle of Soccer City.

High points so far have been the uncharacteristically stylish way in which Germany dispatched of Australia; the hosts' morale boosting draw with Mexico that proved they are far from the incompetent mess we were led to believe they were; and at last, a decent performance from Steven Gerrard in a major international tournament.

Low points from the tournament include a distinct lack of goalmouth action - to date only Germany, South Korea and Holland have managed more than one goal, the woeful standard of free-kicks and of course Rob Green's howler against the USA.

As a West Ham fan, I'm struggling to come to terms with Green's error. I feel partly responsible in some way. As soon as "it" happened on Saturday, I closed my eyes and prayed that the rest of the pub I was in were oblivious to the fact that I supported West Ham. I felt at fault in some way - as if Rob Green was not responsible for the mistake but West Ham collectively - and as a supporter I too was culpable.

I've spent the few days since Saturday telling anyone who will listen that Green doesn't make those kind of mistakes in the Premier League and he remains an excellent 'keeper. I've also studied replays of Dempsey's shot to desperately try and see the ball swerve wickedly on its way towards the goal or skip off the turf with a freakish bounce. But no, it was just a horrible, horrible mistake. One that even the most hungover of Sunday league goalkeepers would be hard pressed to make and on behalf of West Ham, I would like to apologise to the nation.

I'm sure this acceptance of collective responsibility is of no consolation to Rob Green and will not prevent him from featuring on both the front and back pages of our national newspapers, but the mistake has masked what was a pretty ordinary display from England on Saturday night. Short of imagination and predictably poor at keeping the ball, the performance was hardly one to strike fear in the likes of Spain, Brazil or any of the other favourites. Still, a point is a point and far from a terrible result. Two wins in our final group games will almost certainly see us top the group - although just a tiny bit of cohesion in midfield against Algeria on Friday wouldn't go amiss.

Away from England and thinking about my wallet, the team I drew in the office sweeptstake - France - were somehow even more disappointing than England in their opening game against Uruguay. Anaemic, impotent and any other medical term that can be loosely applied to football, the French offered nothing in a game that threatened to send even the commentary team to sleep. My chances of taking any of the prizes look slim, which I suppose at least saves me the indignity of cheering France on in the later stages of the tournament. Fortunately West Ham don't have any players in the French squad, so I don't have to feel responsible for their ineptitude.

Room for improvement all round then but with Brazil, Spain and Portugal all yet to play, I'm sure it won't be long before we see the tournament's first stand out moment. Hopefully it will come in Friday's game against Algeria. Rob Green either saving a hat-trick of penalties or single-handedly rounding up every vuvuzela in the ground before snapping them in half, whilst keeping a clean sheet, would be my preferred options.