Uruguay > Mexico > RSA > France

Halftimes. Suddenly, more drama than imaginable. A deep sense of dread spreads across Aztlan. France’s misery is way beyond Satrean nausea – must be some French/psychoanalytic term for this kind of trauma, gratefully I don’t know it myself. If Bafana Bafana advances they should build public monuments (with neo-liberal tax breaks for the construction conglomerates) to French ennui. Can you feel the love in the French locker room right now – Party! Someone should draw up the star charts for the French players and explain to Dominich his mis-readings.

But, my God, the real story is Mexico’s flat performance so far – they’ve gotta get it together or the despair here in greater Mexico will far exceed that of France, where the plot skewed into absurdist comedy. The last place on earth you want to be is looking up at Uruguay, needing to score a goal. Come on, El Tri – wake up!

Back to the games…

… Final whistle. Concentrating on the football, the big story is Uruguay – what a solid team, with brilliance up front in Forlan. They have a real chance to challenge for the Cup, or at least go to the semifinals where, if they get that far, they’d run into Brazil or the Netherlands or even Spain. But up next will be 2nd place from Group B – they should be favored there – and England or Germany would be the (traditionally) toughest opponent they could face in the Quarters. The sun is shining in La Celeste.

Mexico showed quality in some stretches – but if, in fact, they do square off against Argentina, it’s hard to see them going through. It’s true that Dos Santos and Chicarito should cause some problems for a (somewhat) lumbering Argentine defense, but Macherano will be there to help out – and it’s hard to see this side containing the likes of Messi et al.

Of course, it’s sad to see RSA go, but they simply didn’t have the strength to compete at this level – hopefully, the scene in South Africa won’t be too deflated.

Sadder still to see France go – I was hoping against hope that they would rally spectacularly today, and win one for dissension – far too maligned in the sporting world – nothing satisfies the heart of a contrarian more than an in-fighting army conquering the world – but seriously, the players themselves had exhibited solidarity for each other – tragically, managers run teams; so Evra, the most passionate competitor in the first two games, was benched – Alex Ferguson knows better than that – that kind of drive translates into trophies at Old Trafford