Well, 1-0 now for Paraguay, so you might get that upset!

Netherlands was a bit so-so, did seem to have some problems finishing their attacks, which will be a problem against better teams. Japan was quite refreshing, I think they stand a chance of winning against Denmark and going through behind Germany. I agree with the Aussies being a bit lightweight for Germany, however at least they proved they can score given the opportunities (unlike some other teams...).

Well the first rnd ended interesting for sure

Spain lost to Swiss. Big upset. Spain passed well, missed a few obvious chances and were exposed at the back. Their play almost reminds of Brasil of old where it is a possession game but their defenders almost move up too much. No problem when they are scoring goals but when not it causes problems.

Chile looked good in that group too. To me that group is very interesting at the moment, where many things could happen.

Italy barely pulled out a win. I do not foresee them going far in the elimination round.

Germany looked great if they can play that organized against better opponents. Dutch potentially could rise to any opponent but need a killer instinct.

Potential surprises include South Korea, Japan and Switzerland.

Uruguay is looking impressive. I tend to underrate them among others for some reason. They have a good pedigree, have strikers like Forlan that can score and have shown some solid organization on defense. South Africa looked unconvincing in first half.

 Spain losing to the Swiss was indeed a big upset.   Spain's goal keeper (forget his name) took a huge risk going for that slide tackle, which obviously didn't pay off.  I actually give Switzerland a lot of credit in this one.  They nearly won 2-0 and played the best defense I've seen so far in the cup.  It was a brilliant game. 

France lost! Boo-yah! lol

FATMOUSE said:

Some crazy games indeed. Mex 2-0 over France.

Germany losing to the Serbs.

USA playing poor first half seeming destined to lose, then playing an inspired second half only to have a bad call rob them of a win.

World Cup is becoming interesting for sure.

LaughingTree said:

France deserved to loose, a really really poor game, maybe they could get rid off Mr Domenech fast enough, to actually win their third game.

The other two todays games make me really upset with all those referee decisions over the first week of the world cup. Could anyone explain why that third goal of the US team didn´t count ? Is it really necessary to show a yellow card for almost every action ? An overall fair game ended with 9 (NINE) yellow cards and one yellow/red card. Almost every game had it´s red card - usually as a consequence of a a second yellow card. Looks like the FIFA did a lot to send their most potent referees to the cup... 

Somehow very sad and dissapointing.

Old Ben said:

On France,

With the highest percentage of players in the top 8 Champions League teams, France should have performed better but then again this is kind of the French style as I mentioned before the Cup. They can go to the Final Match or they can go winless and not make the elimination. They seem to just be so lack luster as a team. While people mention Zidane, I think the mentality of that French generation which won in '98 (which also included Patrick Viera, Lillian Thuram, Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly)  was very, very different from today's French squad. While they might have Champions league talent, the current French players lack grit, determination and will. 

Even Thierry Henry (whom I will always love as an Arsenal fan) has always performed horribly for his country. Heck, with Henry's professed love of London, I think he doesn't even view himself as French anymore ;)

^while that is probably an exaggeration I do think these French players just don't seem to care enough (with Ribery maybe the exception). Anelka has always been a fragile player mentally who needs a strong leader on the team to perform his best. Not sure that is just the manager although Domenech surely ranks as a horrible manager.

On USA missed goal

I can only say that when I first saw it live I thought it might be offsides. That call would have made sense I think as a mistake but I'm not sure on the foul called against USA there. For conspiracy theorists, the Ref is from Mali which is a very, very poor nation that ranks among the highest nations in percent of population that plays soccer. Perhaps he wanted to "stick it to the USA". Or maybe he thought offsides and tried to cover for mistake by saying it was a foul. I don't know. It could be interpreted any number of ways. Unfortunate end but is looking good for the USA in one sense: Their last game is Algeria and Slovenia's is England. This next half of Eng-Alg will really make difference on how that final game shapes up.

On Germany,

I want to see replay of this one since I was very sleepy and am not sure on how bad the Klose fouls were but Podolsky did miss a penalty so its hard for me to conclude that "Germany should have drawn" or something like that. They had opportunities even with Klose off and couldn't score.

In general, I really don't see this World Cup being any worse for Refs than the past. Every World Cup there is some complaints about a foul that should or should not have been called.

But after Refs lose control a game like they did at the 2006 Final between Italy and France, I think this overreaction is to be expected to some extent.

About the USA game, the player who actually shot the goal wasn´t in an offside position, nor there was any foul, it was just a mysterious decision.

About the Germany game, the fouls committed by Klose weren´t any fouls which deserved a yellow card in my opiion, there was a bunch of fouls later this evening in the England game which were very much closer to a yellow card penalty than Kolses fouls.

Anyway it´s right that the German team still played encouraged and had it´s chances, but i think it would have all been different with eleven players.

Old Ben said:

Ok I watched both replays now and I completely agree. Those fouls should not have got Yellow cards. That Ref was way to card happy. It was like any foul was a yellow card and you are completely right about fouls in England-Algeria being even worse.

The USA result was mysterious. Like you mention, there was no offsides in the replay although at first watch that seemed like a reasonable miscall. But on replay I have no idea either where the "foul" was. If anything Slovenia fouled the USA. Still the USA played horrible first half.

If I was Irish, I would be very pissed off right now.  What a way for the French team to waste a World Cup spot.

Deathjester26 said:

The Irish have a good disposition. Rather than being pissed, I have heard that in Ireland people are just laughing at karma biting France on the arse. I think I heard some of the green in the stands of Mex-Fra was from Irishmen cheering against the French. Their coach is very poor and their whole French Football Association is just a mess.

Well, France got theirs.

England almost didn't make it in either.  I would have rooted for the Slovenians if them winning wouldn't make the US a 2 seed.

 Ok, I started the topic and then wandered off, but damn, I've gotta say this US game is killing me.

GET IT TOGETHER! We only have minutes of overtime to tie it up again.

 Words cannot express my disappointment.

Twas a sad Saturday for the US.  I am proud of them while simultaneously wondering how they could expect a 4th comeback after spotting their opponents a lead.  If all they accomplished was showing they can be competitive on that level, and it helps our 2018/2022 bids, then mission accomplished.  Would have loved to see them play on, but alas.

For England, it will be a long lifetime living down the 4-1 hammering they took from Germany - their press and fans are relentless at times.  Then again, those guys are all stars on their teams, so its not their last moment for glory on a big stage. 

I'd love to Ghana win it all now.  Or Paraguay or Uraguay.  No major countries.  Why?  Good for the game.