Group E has been a real problem child.
It just never really came to life.
Cameroon-Denmark was a decent game, and Japan have been fun, but compared to the tension and excitement in some of the other groups, this has felt like the poor relation. And I blame Holland.
As the seeds, you would expect them to set the tempo and dictate the shape that the rest of the group will take on over the three rounds of games. But Holland have been so boringly solid. They've been good without being brilliant; well-organised (euphemism alert!) without being too negative; and - worst of all - they never really looked in danger of finishing with anything less than nine points.
Thanks a bunch, Holland! Just because the French took over internal-implosion duties this time around, doesn't mean you lot can suddenly be all... sorted.
Perhaps the Camp Oranje has missed the unpredictable temperaments of Clarence Seedorf - currently to be seen in the BBC's regular feature "Clarence Seedorf is Drunk" ("this week, Clarence Seedorf is Drunk... in Cape Town" etc.) - and Edgar Davids - the only man on the ITV team watching this World Cup in 3D.
Having said that, I still think Wesley Sneijder could be one of the players of the tournament, and RVP is starting to look annoying; usually a sign of his increased effectiveness.
Talking of Players of the Tournament, I've got a new one (sorry, Diego!) as the Japanese continued to offer a glimmer of Rising Sun in my least favourite Group.
You wait 35 games for a goal to be scored direct from a free kick, and then three come along in the space of three days. And all scored by teams from the Far East.
Take that Hong Kong!
THE STORY SO FAR
Match of the tournament: Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Player of the tournament: Keisuke Honda (Japan)
Goal of the tournament: Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)
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