The 4 games of Saturday

So 4 games on this first Saturday. All good games, with an upset, a come back and a close match between European powers.
  In the first game, Columbia overpowered an out manned Greek team. This was no surprise. The Greeks play a defensive style of football and hope for ties and miracles. Columbia is likely to get out of the group, and today showed why. Creative and energetic, this is a good team.
  The surprise of the day was Costa Rica upsetting Uruguay. This was an upset, but this was not a fluke. Uruguay scored first on a justified penalty, but after that, it was all Costa Rica. I had expected Uruguay to look older and slower than last cup where they made the semifinals. I do not think they will get out of the group, but I did think they would win today. Actually, when looking at the game, Uruguay's biggest weakness was goalie play. He was very weak, and that does not bode well for their chances.
The game between the Ivory Coast and Japan was telling. The team play of Japan carried them through the first half with a one goal lead, but they looked tired and out manned in the second half and Ivory Coast played well, got through their jitters, and with the help  of Drogba,  they looked every bit a second round squad.
  The marquee match of the day was Italy vs England. These are the two sides most likely to get out of group play, especially with the weak form Uruguay showed today. To be fair, both sides were disappointing. England played some bizarre formation that left tons of room on the flanks for the Italian midfield to sit on the ball. They never looked like they had a game plan, and while there were some individual moments of good play, it was sloppy covering on a cross that let in the last goal. Of course more marking on the outside would have limited the Italian chances. As far as Italy is concerned, is there a more boring specter in international football then Italy sitting on a lead? It is so boring to watch, although effective. I always hope for the bright joyful football that everyone knows they can play....but it seems to never come. Nothing I saw today changes my mind that Italy and England will make round two, although the Three Lions now have no margin for error.