Group A

Uruguay hung up another clean sheet, defeating Mexico 1-0 to top the group. Although Mexico had 60|PERCENT| of the ball, Uruguay had just as many shots on target.

Mexico also qualifies after South Africa edged France 2-1. Mexico and South Africa finished tied on four points but the Mexicans sported a better goal difference.

This group will be remembered for France's implosion, completed by Yoann Gourcouff's flying elbow after 26 minutes against the South Africans. Captain Patrice Evra was dropped for this game, manager Raymond Domenech final bizarre match in charge. Be that as it may, Uruguay is a good team and now has a great path to the semis, especially if they avoid England and Germany in the quarters. And if Uruguay saw England, well, given what England's shown so far, so what? Once teams reach the last eight, there are no easy games, and Uruguay would have no reason to be intimidated based on its own current form. 

Group B

Argentina handled Greece 2-0 and South Korea picked up a 2-2 draw with Nigeria. That pairs Argentina with Mexico and South Korea with Uruguay in the knockouts.

For all of Argentina's wicked shots, only two found their way past Greek keeper Alexandros Tzorvas in the shutout victory. Fullback Martin Demichelis broke the deadlock on 77 minutes and substitute Martin Palermo added insurance a minute from time after the Greeks had desperately pushed everyone forward. The two goals obscure what might be the goalkeeping performance of the tournament to date, as Tzorvas was mercilessly shelled. The result was well deserved, Greece had nothing going forward, but it could easily have been 6- or 8-0 but for Tzorvas' heroics.

Marcel Desailly speaks his mind

Ghanaian-born France World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has said little about the France fracas, but is on record in intricate detail as disappointed with the quality of the African sides so far. He's very much right, well-reasoned, and absolutely honest—something of a rarity among the crowd of Sponsors' Ambassadors at the tournament. (Desailly is doing goodwill work for Castrol.) Good for you, Sir—now if only Castrol's parent company BP would let Desailly deal with that nasty spill in the Gulf of Mexico with the same forthright attitude.

Tell us how you really feel, Ottmar

Also speaking frankly Tuesday was Swiss boss Ottmar Hitzfeld, who raged at the red card handed Valon Behrami on Monday. "Of course I was angry because I was just three or four metres away when Valon Behrami defended the ball and then Vidal fell down with a lot of drama. It was quite a performance. It clearly wasn't a red card - it wasn't even a yellow card. It was unfair on the part of Vidal to roll around on the floor simply asking for the red card. There are some referees who should whistle on the field and some who should whistle on the beach."