The World Cup has now seen all of its 32 teams compete at least once, and with it comes the opportunity to review the front-runners. Just like any good tournament results have not been entirely predictable.
The pre-tournament favourites were Spain, swiftly followed by Brazil, Argentina and then (ahem!) England. On the basis of those nations first games the bookmakers could be more susceptible to a costly payout on July 11th than they initially planned. Still, the World Cup is not lost or won through an opening game.
The first round of group matches were intermittently criticised for a lack of free-flowing attacking football, there has been some truth in this but there should be little surprise. The build up and anticipation for the World Cup is tremendous and there can be little doubt that every nation and their manager has had the awareness in the back of their mind that the worst opening result is to lose.
This hasn't meant no entertaining games or good goals, but there has been some overly negative tactics on show, particularly from France and Greece. However, as the second round group matches are well and truly underway, already we have seen Uruguay and Argentina record resounding wins against the hosts South Africa and South Korea respectively.
The second game for every nation is ultimately where their destiny is mapped out, with it being the second of three group matches there suddenly becomes very little room for error as each country battles for the points that will lead to the last sixteen. For Uruguay and Argentina those hopes are all the more real after the last couple of days.
The outstanding performances of the tournament thus far have come from Argentina and Germany, who made light work of an Australian team that doesn't look like replicating their heights of 2006. It has been mentioned that both these countries domestic leagues have been using the much-criticised Jo'bulani ball, official for the World Cup! Alas the Premier League's 'contractual obligations' put paid to any such forward planning or initiative from the English FA.
Still, practice is not the only reason for the success of Argentina and Germany so far. More the point is that they are the two nations that have shown the greatest attacking verve yet, and in the group stage it is reaping dividends. Of course caution quotes that the World Cup becomes a greater contest when we are left with the shoot out nature of knockout football.
Looking ahead it seems highly likely that despite any defensive weaknesses Argentina have, notably playing Newcastle's Gutierrez out of position at right back, they should defeat Greece and finish top of Group B. Against the South Koreans they fraternised with blowing a two goal lead but ultimately they were a class apart and seemed happiest when pressurising their opponents with their movement and passing.
Gonzalo Higuaín poached the World Cup's first hat-trick since 2002 and Lionel Messi again did everything but score. So far so good for Maradona who has been far from the predicted disaster and has given the most amusing press conferences! I feel that he will come very close to emulating Franz Beckenbauer as a World Cup winning player and manager in South Africa, but Argentina's first real test of their credentials will come when facing the Group A runners-up, most likely Uruguay or Mexico.
After Thursday evenings match it now looks like a struggle for France to even overcome South Africa and snatch a second round clash with Maradona's team. Mexico were a delight to watch during their 2-0 win over Les Bleus, and at times the contest had the feel of being a winner takes all fixture. Their pace was evident from the first whistle, as Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos kept threatening to break a shaky central defensive partnership of William Gallas and Eric Abidal.
France on the other hand had their menacing moments but only truly tested Mexico's goalkeeper via a second half strike from Malouda. Their lame duck manager Raymond Domenech now appears determined to ruin the national team from within, there has been plenty of speculation about the French squad and manager being at each other's throats.
This type of rumour mongering has gone on before, particularly about squads from the Netherlands during Italia '90 and Euro '96. With France the weight of evidence is beginning to build up in support of the rumoured disharmony. Against Mexico Anelka was substituted at half-time and replaced with the even less effective André-Pierre Gignac. As events turned to the worse for France in the second half Domenech looked serene as he lent against his dugout and refused to bring Thierry Henry into the fray.
BBC's commentators made the point that if Domenech has lost faith in Henry's abilities, then why on earth did he take him to South Africa instead of the dropped Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri. Indeed it is worth noting that David Trezeguet could still be playing for France if he hadn't retired due to being left out of the squad for the last European Championships. As for needing younger, quicker defenders, how Domenech has consistently ignored Philippe Mexès defies belief.
Despite all their travails France could still scrape into the last sixteen, and in their favour is the fact that Mexico should be looking to beat Uruguay in their final group game. The top two may be able to draw and both qualify but Mexico will be aware that the group runner-up will most likely face Argentina next, a path they will prefer to avoid until later and one that France can hope for at best.
As for Spain and Brazil, we can expect better displays from both nations in their second matches, and Spain will know that they must convincingly dispatch Honduras. Their final group game will pitch them against Chile who won many admirers for their endeavour and skill against Honduras themselves, and as far as potential banana skins go they are right up there.
Meanwhile on Friday evening England will aim to fully forget the error that we dare not ponder, committed by their number one(?!) goalkeeper. Regardless of how Capello sways on the goalkeeping issue, England should (and we hope) beat Algeria relatively convincingly. That is so long as Rooney and Gerrard click as an attacking dynamic, the shackles should be off for the England captain now that Gareth Barry will be around to tidy things up behind him. We shall soon see, I will stick my neck out and say 3-1 to England (please… don't embarrass me!!)