Well that’s the Australian anthem out of the way

There’s no prize on offer for today’s Hangout but, thanks to Budweiser, we did make one lucky reader very happy when they picked up a brand new smartphone:

Today’s the first really crucial day in the 2014 World Cup as, theoretically, defending champions Spain could be out of the tournament if results go against them.

The first game up is the Netherlands v Australia.

Here are the teams:

Australia: Ryan, Davidson, Cahill, Spiranovic, Leckie, Oar, Jedniak, McKay, McGowan, Wilkinson, Bresciano.

Netherlands: Cillessen, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi, Blind, De Jong, Janmaat, De Guzman, Van Persie, Sneijder, Robben.

As always, it’s you guys who make these Hangouts so feel free the give us your predictions in the comments section below.

Here in the office almost everyone is tipping the Netherlands with the exception of Niall Kelly whose off to play golf soon and didn’t really seem to be concentrating when I asked him the question.

Steve: 2-1 Netherlands

Niall: 1-1

Fintan: 2-0 Netherlands

Ben: 3-1 Netherlands

Sean: 3-0 Netherlands

Murray: 4-0 Netherlands

Eamon: 1-0 Netherlands

I’ve had an email from Kevin an Irish man living in Melbourne Australia where it’s after 2am.

“Hi Steve, 

Have to disagree with you on Home and Away, for me it’s Neighbours or this:

Well that escalated quickly.

It’s now 1-1 between the Netherlands and Australia.

Arjen Robben opened the scoring:

Before Tim Cahill scored a contender for goal of the tournament just seconds later:
http://vine.co/v/MTu5Pm3nhqh

We’ll be watching that Australia goal for a long time. Woof.

But was Cahill’s goal the best you’ve seen in this year’s tournament so far?

Potentially massive news coming out of Brazil. Still very much just a rumour though:

This day 20 years ago, Ray Houghton put the ball in the Italian net as Ireland won their first ever game – in normal time – at the World Cup finals.

We’ve put together an oral history to relive one of the great days in Irish sport:

• When men became Giants: an oral history of Ireland 1-0 Italy, USA World Cup 1994

That goal from Cahill is his fifth in World Cup history. It might be his third time on football’s biggest stage but it means he now has more goals at this level (5) than Lionel Messi (2), Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Wayne Rooney (0).

Not bad at all from the New York Red Bulls Striker.

The Spain team for this evening’s second Group B game is in. The big new is there’s no place for either Xavi or Pique.

Spain: Casillas; Azpilicueta, Javi Martínez, Ramos, Jordi Alba; Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta; Pedro, Diego Costa, Silva.

No word on the Chile team as yet.

More on the Ronaldo news. Again this comes with a massive caveat that we’ve had no official word either from our man in Brazil or the Portuguese team.

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We’ve had another entry into the ‘What’s the unofficial album of Australia’ debate.

“Hi Stephen,

“You and that reader are both wrong. Everyone knows it’s Men at Work.”

The Chile team is with us now.

Chile XI to play Spain: Bravo; Jara, Silva, Medel; Mena, Aránguiz, Díaz, Isla, Vidal; Vargas, Alexis Sánchez.

Looks like Kevin has company as an Irish man staying awake in Australia

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More from Tadhg Kennelly as Australia take a shock 2-1 lead.

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Alf Stewart is not happy with the Australian defending as Robin van Persie makes it 2-2

#Citog

Another goal and Netherlands have retaken the lead through Memphis Depay, though the Australian ‘keeper won’t want to see this again:

Lots of Skippy references on Twitter but this was our favourite:

Taggart is on for Australia

Another stat attack

Australia have struggled to create anything since going behind for the second time. They’ve two minutes plus stoppages to get something back.

A nation holds its breath.

Peep, peep, peep.

The long whistle has gone and the Netherlands must be feeling pretty happy to get out of Porto Alegre with all three points.

That’s just about it from me in today’s Hangout but, of course, we want you to continue the conversation below the line. With that in mind, we’re going to throw this one out there:

Do you agree with our own Paul Fennessy? Or who is your favourite.

Don’t forget to join us tomorrow when our man in Brazil, Mikey Stafford will be your host.