Who are your World Cup favourites now?

Switzerland’s obstinacy as they secured a shock 1-0 win over tournament favourites Spain has ignited a World Cup previously short on excitement and perhaps more crucially, lacking in charm.

In the Spanish grand scheme, they’ll be expecting this result to be an aberration rather than a sign of things to come. Their ‘ticky-tacky’ passing game failed to break the Swiss in the match that signalled an end to the first round of group games.

For some commentators, the 2002 Finals held in Japan and South Korea marked a turning point in the international game. Joint hosts South Korea fashioned a charmed passage to the semi-finals alongside an emerging Turkey side who as recently as the late 80s were on the wrong end of an 8-0 drubbing by none other than England.

In theory, the schism that previously existed between the top international sides and the erstwhile minnows had been eradicated. Senegal’s opening game victory against then World and European champions France was a feat quickly becoming the rule rather than the exception.

So, what of the favourites and major national teams in South Africa? Vuvuzelas and Jabulani balls are offered up as excuses for poor performances but are the supposed giants of international football in danger of going the same way as the French?

In Group A, France themselves played out a dire 0-0 draw with Uruguay, devoid of the imagination and sparkle expected of messrs Ribery, Toulalan and even from a fading Henry. It speaks volumes of Raymond Domenech’s downtrodden squad that defensive midfielder Abou Diaby was their most dynamic player last Friday evening.

France should scrape through but look unlikely to repeat their final appearance of 2006 and they’ll be looking to re-group under incoming manager, Laurent Blanc.

In Group B, Diego Maradona’s Argentina, Lionel Messi aside, didn’t resemble an impenetrable force. Make-shift right-back, Newcastle United’s Jonas Gutierrez, was at times left cruelly exposed.

Can one man inspire them to World Cup victory? Messi’s magic was once again evident and with goals largely hard to come by (OK so going to press, Uruguay had just stuffed South Africa 3-0, at last some action!), perhaps Argentina will suit smash and grab football as long as their defence can hold out against more accomplished opposition than Nigeria.

Thousands of column inches have been devoted to England’s World Cup chances, or apparent lack of, following their lacklustre performance in their 1-1 draw with the USA.

From favourites to flops, heroes to zeroes, the media machine is in serious danger of overheating and blowing a hole through the public’s (im)patience with the unending hype.

England’s progression to the latter stages is probably not in serious doubt however some of manager Fabio Capello’s decisions are being called into question.

Pragmatism or tinkering, the Italian is under pressure as are his team to justify some of his selections. The return of Gareth Barry should provide balance and stability in midfield although much like the rest of the tournament, everyone is waiting for the team to truly come alive.

A surprisingly youthful German team, who had largely fallen under the radar, are the only major nation to assert their dominance.

Joachim Low’s side announced their World Cup credentials in Group D as they brushed aside a poor Australian team, beating them 4-0.

What impressed pundits was their ability to move the much criticised ball around the pitch with ease whilst achieving maximum penetration into danger areas, finishing with aplomb.

The Netherlands’ Group E encounter with Denmark was hardly a classic, certainly not the rousing performance characteristic of the Dutch in their group encounters before fizzling out later in the competition.

Alas, their 2-0 victory over a drab Denmark side probably represents a valuable three points in what will arguably be their hardest game in the group. If Sneijder, the returning Robben and van Persie can spark into life, it should be scintillating displays rather than workmanlike victories that carry them through to the latter stages.

Over in Group F, holders Italy tried to inject youthful vigour into the team with the likes of the lively Simone Pepe and the ineffective Claudio Marchisio. In scraping a 1-1 draw with Paraguay, criticism focused on the old guard’s plodding performances and the Azzuri’s inability to impose themselves on the opposition.

The ‘Group of Death’, Group G, hosts a trio of favourites in the Ivory Coast, Portugal and Brazil with the latter managing a 2-1 win over a plucky North Korea side who may well trouble the other two teams.

The Ivory Coast boasted impressive athleticism in their 0-0 draw but little penetration against a Portugal side seemingly relying on the form of Cristiano Ronaldo to be sufficient enough to pull them through.

Spain’s defeat is the first major surprise of a competition that has followed the script thus far. Some of the pre-tournament favourites, including Italy and England to a large degree and Argentina to a lesser extent, have failed to put down a marker for their rivals.

Interestingly and sadly, no team has emerged as the unfancied dark horse of the tournament. Uruguay’s front two of Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan shook loose the shackles that stifled them against the French however they have only beaten an extremely average South African team.

Chile were touted as potential crowd pleasers before kick-off and their attacking brand of football could see them adopted as everyone’s second team should they progress.

The favourites, Germany aside, have failed to shine in the first round of matches. As the stakes are raised higher, let’s hope for a more open tournament where the top players are granted the freedom to express themselves in their bid for glory.

William Geldart