Impressions after the first round of first round games:

Baseline level of excitement because OMG it’s the world cup (on a scale of 1-10): 10.

Added excitement from what’s actually happening in the games: not quite enough.

Sources of excitement: every time Messi touches the ball, every third time Snijder touches the ball, every time a German player touches the ball, one shot by Ronaldo, Maicon scoring from an impossible angle, Chile’s mad attacking machine (especially #7 Sanchez), and one truly gripping match between Spain and Switzerland.

Robben, Drogba, Rooney: please get back in form.

Best coaching move: the wholesale importation of the German U21 team into the senior side.

Favorites now: Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, Brazil, probably Spain still, and – dare I say it? – Chile.

Predictive value of the first set of games: zilch (see Holland at Euro 08).