Unlike most sports fans I know (most, but, not all), I've been very interested in the World Cup.  I didn't have a lot of confidence in the US team but, I really thought they'd move on to the knockout round, especially after Ghana beat the Czechs and they had held Italy to a draw.  Oh, well.  When you only get one real goal in 3 games I don't think you deserve to move on.

The rest of the tournament has been fun to watch.  There were only a couple other surprises in group play.  The Swiss winning Group G and Austalia, who I don't think have fared well in WC play previously, moving on.

The next round has Germany, Argentina, Brazil and Spain as my clear favoties and England, Holland, Italy and the Ukraine as my cautious favorites.  I wouldn't be greatly surprised to see the English falter or the Swiss take the Ukrainians.

My early guess for the final is Brazil besting Argentina is a hard-fought match.