It's been a week since the World Cup ended. The post partem depression pretty much set in right away.

Here are the moments I'll remember most.

Landon Donovan's late winner vs. Algeria to send us into round 2. The national response was amazing and completely unforeseen.

The USA's comeback against Slovenia including Michael Bradley's face as he got mobbed by teammates on the touchline.

The first goal of the competition from Shabalala was a beauty and great moment for the host, South Africa.

Getting up at 4:30 everyday for the first 2 weeks was brutal, but I miss it. It's nice to get a World cup match in before work.  Even games like New Zealand vs. Slovakia were worth waking up for.

ESPN had real around the clock coverage. The primetime show had extended highlights and analysis never before seen in the USA.

Maradona on the touchline was great to watch. In one of Argentina's matches, a wayward ball flew his way, and he casually heel-flicked it out of the air right to one of his players coming for a throw-in. He was clearly the most passionate particpant of the World Cup. It's shame Argentina didn't advance farther.

Diego Forlan deservedly won the golden ball as he put in a few inspirational performances. I'd say the next best players were Bastian Schweinsteiger (GER) and Arjen Robben (NED). Messi (ARG) was great too, despite not scoring.

The tournament was very defensive. It wasn't ugly defensive. Spain, who deservedly won the cup, had to put up with every opponent parking 10 defenders behind the ball. They handled it.

Uruguay and Korea is. 5 minutes in, and no one has scored, although Korea did just hit the post. Here are my predictions.

Uruguay will beat Korea. It will be close, but Korea showed a lot of nerves in their game against Nigeria, and Uruguay is more composed. Composure is a key trait that's becoming more and more important in this World Cup. (3 minutes after writing this, Uruguay scores with a very composed finish after a blunder by the Korea defense.)

USA over Ghana. Ghana scored 2 goals, both penalty kicks. The USA scored 4, and had 2 legit goals disallowed. Ghana's defense has been solid, but they wern't truly tested in their group.

England over Germany. Germany are really young, and it showed against Ghana. They have all the earmarks of a German team except the ability to be ruthless. Their Australia drubbing was a bit flukish. England will look deep into themselves to come out on top of this one.

Argentina over Mexico. Mexico just won't be good enough. I'm not saying that because I hate them. I'm saying that because it's true. Argentina is the most talented team. They'd really need a defensive blunder to blow this one. I also expect this one to get chippy.

Paraguay over Japan. Japan really seem like the weakest team to advance, and Paraguay are solid.

Netherlands over Slovakia. I expect this one to be good. I don't think Slovakia will come out and bunker. I think they'll try to take it to the Dutch. That said, not picking the Dutch to win is crazy. They are really gelling.

Brasil over Chile. It's really too bad that Chile has to play Brasil at this point. I think they could beat most of the other teams int he quarter-finals. Brasil is too stacked to lose.

Portugal over Spain. Spain just haven't looked that great and I think Portugal are on the upswing despite not looking that great as well. I think this one will be ugly with lots of fouls.

So many of these videos popped up yesterday and more are coming. This one shouldn't be missed

Around 8:50 AM the USA was very united.

Kansas City

Omaha

San Diego

NYC

Manhattan

Seattle

Minneapolis

Phoenix

Atlanta

and this great one from Arkansas

I was watching with Kait and Kimlan. I fell to my knees and screamed pretty hard. I apologize to Julio the cat.

Finally, we've finished all the 4:30 AM (PST) matches. It was a rough 10 days, as I only failed to wake up once for a match, Slovakia vs Paraguay on Sunday. I did watch most of the replay on ESPN Classic later in the day.

We Yanks had a controversial match, but instead of rememebering the disallowed goal, this moment is going to forever be stuck in my head. I think that was the most emphatic finish in US Soccer history.  I really hope it's the spark that inspires us to a long run in this cup.

So far, only 2 (Cameroon and North Korea) teams have been eliminated. However, all sixteen 3rd match games have some significance of determining the knock stages. Starting tomorrow the remaining group matches will be played simultaneously so no one can sneak in through collusion by knowing prior match results. You can use Cupcalculator to figure out all the scenarios for advancement.

Here's what I hope (not predict) happens in the final group matches.

Group A - Mexico loses, and South Africa trounces France to make up the goal differential.

Group B - Nigeria overcomes South Korea to advance with Argentina

Group C - USA over Algeria and Slovenia ties England

Group D - Ghana beats Germany, and Australia beats Serbia by a handful

Group E - Japan beats Denmark to advance with the Netherlands

Group F - New Zealand beats Paraguay, and Italy ties Slovakia, so Paraguay and New Zealand advance.

Group G - I would love to see Ivory Coast make up the 9 goal differnce they need to overcome to advance with Brasil

Group H - I hope Honduras can trounce Switzerland and Chile pulls off a win against Spain, so the Western Hemisphere (minus Mexico) can represent.

In the first phase of matches, the games were marked by lots of defense and chess-like strategy. It was sort of tame compared to what the World Cup can become. The second phase featured many more goals, 42 vs 25, and a lot more positive play. I don't think many teams can afford to lay back in their third match, meaning we're going to see more open end to end play.

I don't like the trend of all the teams coming out to not lose their first match. It's made for some ugly soccer where both sides wait to counter-attack. At this point in the World Cup, fewer goals have been scored than any previous World Cup, ever. I'm not saying I'm bored, because I've watched every match so far and enjoyed it all. I'm just waiting for a majority of the squads to start pushing their style into matches. Also, if it was the USA playing someone who could really punish us, I would be alright with this strategy. I don't really care what happens as long as we win.

African teams are sadly bad. They have a combined record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses. I understand Algeria and South Africa being bad, as they rely on domestic players and not much talent. It hurts to see Nigeria, and Cameroon trying to adapt a European mentality. The explosivness and ingenuity seen from those two in the past was nowhere to be found in their opening matches. Ivory Coast probably should have beat Portugal, but they didn't push hard enough. Ghana could have won by more than their 1-0 scoreline suggested.

The good news from all the draws is that there will be a plethora of tight moments in the final matches. It means no one will be eliminated before their third match. However, for the USA, beating Slovenia on Friday is a must. Slovenia got incredibly lucky with an Algerian goalkeeping error, and pulled off a 1-0 win. If Slovenia wins, the USA would have to rely on Slovenia also beating England.

Here are some fun things

Weezer made an official song for the USA called Represent. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo is a huge Yank fan.

Dodge takes the award for best commercial.

Legofussball.eu is re-creating all the highlights

The internet is on soccer overload. Twitter is sluggish, google has World Cup tweaks, and every sports website is focused on World Cup 2010. My head is about to explode as the first matches kickoff in less than 14 hours. Here's my prediction for group play. I've listed the teams in my predicted order.

Group A - France - South Africa - Uruguay - Mexico

There is no way South Africa loses the opening match against Mexico. Nelson Mandela is the most important 12th man in any sport in the world. Sorry Mexico. France has been awful, but they were awful before 2006 when they reached the final. Their talent will force them through to the next round whether it's pretty or not. Uruguay is good, but I still don't think they can stop South Africa's momentum. No World Cup host has ever failed to qualify for the next round, so Uruguay and Mexico won't make it out.

Group B - Argentina - South Korea - Nigeria - Greece

Argentina is an easy pick, and to be honest I have them winning the entire tournament. There are so many similarities between Argy2010 and Argy1986 that it's impossible for them to not win it all. They have the world's best player, a crazy coach, lots of homegrown talent, and a certain chemistry that will allow them to fight back even if they go down. Second place in this group is a complete toss up. I think South Korea has enough savvy and skill to overcome Nigeria and Greece, but if Nigeria catches the Africa spirit, they might pull off some wins. It'll be tough without their best forward Mikel.

Group C - USA - England - Algeria - Slovenia

1950 - Haitian descendant Joe Gaetjans scored a header for the USA as they beat England 1-0

2010 - Haitian descendant Jozy Altidore will score on a header for the USA as they beat England.

I'm not crazy. With that win, the USA will top the group as the Yanks and Wanks beat Algeria and Slovenia.

Group D - Germany - Serbia - Ghana - Australia

Germany doesn't mess around in the first round of the World Cup. If you pick anyone else to win the group you must be Serbian, Ghanian, or Aussie. Weeks ago, I think Ghana would have been a lock to advance, but they lost their best player Michael Essien. I think that makes a big enough difference to prevent The Black Stars from advancing, and the steady Serbia to move on. Australia just won't be good enough.

Group E - Netherlands - Cameroon - Denmark - Japan

Like Germany, the Netherlands don't screw up in the first round. First place will be easy for them, and they will look completely scary to everyone else they pound. Cameroon is an African team hitting their stride. Against Denmark and Japan, they should do well. If Denmark can summon all their power, they might pull off some upsets, but I don't think they have the right players to do that right now.

Group F - Paraguay - Italy - New Zealand - Slovakia

I foresee a lot of draws in this group. Italy always starts slow, Paraguay is very sound, New Zealand has a way of playing up to their opponent, and Slovakia does the same. I think Paraguay will surprise a lot of people by getting a win over Italy. The Italians won't let New Zealand of Slovakia get the better of them.

Group G - Brasil - Portugal - Ivory Coast - North Korea

I really want to say Ivory Coast will advance, but they've had huge coaching problems and intrasquad turmoil over the last 4 months. Their new coach, Sven Goran Erickson is good, but he doesn't speak French. Portugal has been playing like crap lately, meaning this group of death is now a group of lame. Don't be surprised if North Korea plays like their lives depend on it. They do. That said, they might manage a draw, but they can't beat the other teams. Brasil won't lose this group. They won't lose until the final when they play Argentina.

Group H - Spain - Chile - Honduras - Switzerland

Spain is the hottest team in the world, and they have an easy group. Picking them to win this group is the easiest bet in the World Cup. Don't pick them to win it all though. No European team has won the World Cup outside of Europe, and don't expect that to change this time. Chile has a golden generation of talent right now, and they proved it by finishing second in South America. Honduras and Switzerland just won't have the ability to advance.

The 2010 World Cup's Anthem is by K'Naan, and it's called Wavin Flag. I like it a lot.

The 2010 World Cup song is Waka Waka by Shakira. I don't know why there is an anthem, and a song. It's full of cliche suckiness.

My pick for USA vs. England is I Speak American.

My favorite World Cup song is definitely Ricky Martin's Cup of Life from France98. I know most of the lyrics.

2002's anthem was this techno mix from Japan and Korea. It's not very inspiring and makes me think of Dance Dance Revolution.

The 2006 anthem was this weird song called Celebrate the Day from Germany's Herbert Gronemeyer.It sounds more African than German. I guess he was going for "world music." The song does have a good video.

The USA had Gloryland by Darryl Hall in 1994. It was fitting for the USA as it combined jazz and rock into a memorable piece of muzak for me.

Italia 90 has an awful theme and even worse music video.

Special Kind of Hero was Mexico86's theme. Stephanie Lawrence sang it. It doesn't have a Mexican sound which makes me think much thought wasn't put into this one.

The official song from Mexico86, Me Das Cada Dia Mas, is brilliant.