World Cup Day 6: Game On, But Where Is Brazil?

Now, at last, the World Cup can begin

Wait, didn't the tournament start last Thursday? Yes, but only as of Tuesday has every team in the finals played once (and in the case of Brazil and Mexico, twice). The last group to grace our screens played its opening matches; Belgium struggled to defeat Algeria 2-1, while Russia was very nearly disgraced by minnows South Korea and was lucky to walk away with a 1-1 draw

So all the 32 national teams in with a chance of crowning themselves kings of the world have effectively gone through their first job interview. Finally, we have a sense of their strengths and, especially, weaknesses. Which teams seem to have collapsed under pressure of the expectations emanating from their fans and the folks back home, or melt in the heat, or lack the almost-psychic connection that makes for a good cohesive side? Which teams sailed through their first game with barely a scratch on their reputation? Read more...