Ok.

Group E:

All of my soccer roots began in the Netherlands, when I was four and lived there for a year (ages 3-4 actually). From that sprang my love for soccer, my allegiances: artful soccer, underdogs, and my dislikes: Germany national team (see world cup 1974, year I was born), Argentina (though this isn't as strong in me as in my brother. Messi is amazing ->Barca), my idol: Johan Cruyff (and so total football->Barca), my love of orange (sorry Ireland), my love of frites and, well, my consciousness-> my first memories are there. So, I always root for the Netherlands and they always crumble. In 2000, when I was visiting the Netherlands with my brother, and the Netherlands were in the semifinals of the European championship (about to loss on penalties to the ever dour Italians), it was explained to me by Dutch friends, that the Dutch wouldn't win the finals because, the dutch have this embarrassment of succeeding, imposing their winning on others (there was a dutch word for it), and so they would lose. Still, I will root for them, and (once again) they have a really, really good, young squad; they could really go far. Go Orange! Otherwise: this group could be interesting. Go Cameroon! I hope they go through second. Japan isn't as good as they have been in the past, not sure they will compete. Denmark have a real chance. A bit tight and defensive, but they could make a run for the second spot.

Group F:

Any group with Italy is, by default, dull, and this Italy is going to be especially so. Watch me be totally wrong, but I can't abide them. Paraguay is good, I hope they go through in first place. Slovakia could be a bunch of upstarts (I hope!) and unseat Italy. Dump the reigning (ugh) champs. New Zealand-> three and out.

Group G:

THE GROUP OF DEATH! Well, it is a tough group. North Korea, sorry, three and out. They might spring one surprise, but they need two or three surprises. It won't happen, though they are better than you think. Bad luck in being drawn in this group. Elsewhere, they might have done better. Brazil will get through. Don't expect samba football, yet. Dunga has this team militantly focused and a bit stifled, which might be good for this group. Pragmatic. As I've said, Ivory Coast were, once, my pick to win it all, but without Drogba (or with a Drogba in a cast), they will be a bit more terrestrial. Still, I hope they go through ahead of Portugal. Sorry Ronaldo, you were named after Ronald Reagan (good fit for Franco's Real Madrid). Again, I can't abide. And your ego. Ugh. Also, they are without Nani, their other winger. I think teams will be able to contain Ronaldo much, much more effectively, without having to be terrified of the other wing. I don't think Portugal as a strong replacement.

Group H:

I do love Spain. Half the team is Barca (If you haven't figured it out, I am a FC Barcelona fan: attack football, liberal, defiant, humanitarian, and the best football around. Add Torres, who is my pick for the golden boot, and Villa! Solid front to back. Go Spain! Otherwise: no country overly sways me. Honduras just doesn't have the talent. Switzerland are ok, but I do like Chile. They have some exciting players.

So there you have it.

Fourteen hours, thirty minutes, thirty seconds...