Open World Cup Thread, June 16th 2010

Honduras - Chile, 4:30 AM PDT/7:30 AM EDT/12:30 GMT

Spain - Switzerland, 7:00 AM PDT/10:00 AM EDT/15:00 GMT

South Africa - Uruguay, 11:30 AM PDT/2:30 PM EDT/19:30 GMT

Good slate today, with the team generally regarded as the best in the tournament making their first appearance. Apparently both Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres will play, which is good news for Spain and bad news for Switzerland. I'll be especially interested to have my first real look at Blaise Nkufo, the Swiss striker set to join Sounders FC after Switzerland's World Cup is over. Suffice to say he is not likely to encounter a back line of Spain's caliber in MLS.

The second round of play in Group A gets underway as well; I'd love to see South Africa take at least a point out of this, but it would probably be an understatement to say that the odds are most likely not in their favor. They impressed against Mexico, but Mexico doesn't have a goalscorer of Diego Forlan or Sebastien Abreu's caliber.

I don't have much insight into the Chile-Honduras matchup aside from the fact that it's really weird that Honduras feature two Wigan Athletic players. This match also features more players that I have seen play live than any other in the tournament, that number being two. Does anyone want to pay for me to spend a month in Europe and/or South America?