Some surprises and much entertainment in first week of 2010 FIFA World Cup
| MP | - | Matches Played |
| W | - | Wins |
| D | - | Draws |
| L | - | Losses |
| GF | - | Goals For |
| GA | - | Goals Against |
| Pts | - | Points |
A full week has passed since the opening match-up between hosts South Africa and Mexico in Jo’burg’s JSC that produced a 1-1 tie.
At the quarterway mark, we can review some of the action in the 2010 FIFA World Cup group stages. Information is relevant as of June 18, 8 a.m. Pacific time.
Group A
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Uruguay | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
 Mexico | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
 France | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
 South Africa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Uruguay is the surprise of the group, erasing earlier predictions that they were just the Diego Forlan show. Their stoic 0-0 draw with France sounded the alarms for Les Bleus, who dropped a 2-0 loss to the Mexican unit yesterday (June 17). Uruguay’s own emotive 3-0 thrashing of South Africa got them believing they can actually generate goals and not sit back behind the ball.
Group B
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Argentina | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
 Korean Republic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
 Greece | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
 Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Argentina were my prediction for the finals, at least, and so far they are living up to expectations with two utterly street-smart wins out of two. Greece may also be out of jail, at the expense of the South Koreans.
Group C
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Slovenia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
 USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Algeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
England’s goalie Robert Brown has made enough headlines for the entire first round and now England need to kick it into gear and play like the team they are supposed to be. Today they play Algeria. Slovenia held the U.S. team to a 2-2 draw today.
Group D
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
 Ghana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
 Serbia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
 Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Aussies are sinking. Germans were in it, then lost 1-0 to Serbia today and are about set to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. D is wide open, and all eyes are on Ghana. Read: Fans debate effects of FIFA World Cup’s African spotlight
Group E
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
 Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
 Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Looks like Holland and Japan are in, but how sad that Cameroon is floundering. They can do it, but what a story if they fail here and Ghana advances.
Group F
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Italy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
 Slovakia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Viva Italia!
Group G
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Brazil | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
 Côte d'Ivoire | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Korea DPR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Brazil and Portugal understand each other on the field. They should advance at the expense of Ivory Coast and North Korea. Ivory Coast can shock the world only if they shock Brazil.
Group H
Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
 Chile | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
 Switzerland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
 Honduras | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most open group—who knows? It’s a clean slate with any two of the four in it. Can Spain lift its game after the draining loss to Switzerland? I’m guessing they will fight back.
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