This, from Tim Carroll

NOTE: I am on information blackout today. An evening of viewing awaits. So I fear going to the blog to post right now...
Observations:

The Italians are certainly gunning for the Swan Lake award. How many shameless flops did they take yesterday? I was appalled and enraptured by their dramatics, as I would be at any ballet performance. But dag, yo, they sure do have some tough dogs to break down in the back. We need ideas, and
quick!

Ghana represented what I like best about the African game. Fast and loose, if not completely out of control at times (what goalkeeping!), but so entertaining. Too bad almost nobody could hit the broad side of a barn with their shots. At the moment, they clearly seem better than the U.S. I wish them luck...

Landon Donovan = OVERRATED. I don't get him. He seems to right-size his game to fit the occasion, as long as it isn't too big of an occasion. Then he just gets that million mile stare and stays out of the way unless someone provides him with perfect service. Is he supposed to be a leader
out there? I don't see it. But then again, I don't see it from anyone, even
Reyna. What a mess.

The best sides so far:

Germany: They might legitimately have something interesting going forward. I don't see another 4 goal performance there, but I feared they might be a rather dour, defensive minded 11. Seems I could be wrong.

Argentina: Just getting warmed up. They lack nothing.

Czech Republic: They didn't flatten us by accident. The match with Italy should be a cracker!

Trinidad & Tobago: Just because they had my heart pounding in the second half as they scrambled to survive. And they made one Frederick Lundberg bash the turf in frustration again and again after being foiled. A++ effort rewarded.

Biggest disappointments:

England: Do not even resemble a cohesive unit yet. Not even close. Might not ever.

Serbia and Montenegro: Vaunted defense was breached, and I saw nothing else to really excite in any way.

Japan: What the hell. I mean, really. That should never, ever have happened.

The press have seemingly rushed to anoint Obwayu as one of the next big things in U.S. soccer. Evidently he is going to "redefine" the modern defender.

Hmmm... so far, no good.

Yes, he is big. And built like a rock. And sure, he kept things tidy in the back for spells but his gaffes were pretty catastrophic. The early yellow card - was that how you "assert" your presence? The missed mark on Koller. The jailbreak. As with the rest of his teammates, no visible fire or communication with the rest of the back line. He was just doing his thing without making anyone around him better.

I realize it is early, but if that is how the next big thing plays, I don't want it.