Surprises in the worldcup

It was really a surprise and a disappointment to me as well when Spain lost to Switzerland a few days ago. They can play better than that but they just didn't pour in more effort as well as England too. Some players need more experience really. I am also surprised with how Portugal has played in the World Cup. Poor! But Spain really is the biggest. I'm glad though that Italy is tied with New Zealand in GroupF (which is another big surprise) with their first ever World Cup goal almost a week ago was it. Best of luck to your teams.

I think people tend to have some confusion with the word "tradition"... I mean, past performance is no guarantee of its future success. It's like saying that Brazil will won the world cup because it has tradition. This is not true. They must show in the field right now, otherwise Pelé would be playing in Brazil's team and they would won this world cup...

Mexico liked me. I think they have a united team and works very much. Teams with many celebrities have had much criticism and maybe is well as small and young teams to win this world cup

The major surprise of world this one was the appearance of the famous octopus paul, that I predict all the results of Germany and him embocó, also the winner of the final said, it is incredible, since it is done oh this whom behind this octopus?

This world cup and we should not look down on any team, anything can happen in a game of succer, am not surprised about those big teams going down, every teams/players are working hard to make names for themself, besides, some surprising teams now are more committed, why the highly rated teams relied on the old image.

This is the most surprising World Cup I've ever seen. The "big" teams are having a shame loses from small countries with no ambitions in the tournament. The players prefer playing for their club teams, not for the country. Of course some of them are just tired after the long season. Most of the players can't rest so fast. And there's something else - for example Liverpool's players - they're starting the battle in Europa League only 2 weeks after the World Cup. The trainers of the big clubs 100% have said them to spend their powers because to have the club good season. And so the national football priority ?2. Many players said, that the battle in the Champions League is more interesting than this World Cup. And for me they are absolutely right. At least for now.

I think you are spot on. Passion is the word. I did not see passion in the way either France or England played. They just seemed to have turned up to another day in the office to perform a job!! Also the gap between the top teams and the next rung teams is reducing steadily, so any slip up leads to an upset. I am enjoying this upset ridden world cup and hope that it continues. I expect minimum 2-3 big teams going home early. Cheers! Ram

The element of surprise makes South Africa 2010 the more interesting. After the defeat of Spain I'm learning to take things easy. I just wanna enjoy each match as it is.

It is not a surprise to me that England were so bad - we've got used to it now!! They were an absolute disgrace and an embarrassment to our country!

They may not have played with passion but the England players did look bothered that they did not win. Hopefully after wednesday when they top their group that the inept first two performances will be forgotten about.

I knew Switzerland is a defensively sound team. England, they are just hype. Denmark, they are a good team without much frills. So their respective result ain't really a surprise. I would have thought that the effective and efficient Germans should just nipped the serbs but they didn't. France against the Mexican, with Domenech at helm, they don't stand a chance at all. He should have been sacked after Euro 2008. The surprise result so far, for me that is, is Japan defeating Cameroon. I would have thought the Cameroon will give them a good match. But they gave a toothless result which play a big part is them being the first nation to be knock out of the tournament.