Argentina 2, Cote d'Ivoire 1: Argentina played without two of its stars, but still found a way to beat a determined Ivory Coast team. The Ivorians, playing their first-ever game at the World Cup, fell behind by two at halftime, but had the run of play for almost the entire second half as the RG's were content to coast and play in a defensive shell. Even after Drogba cut the lead in half with just under ten minutes to play, there was no sense that the Argentines were in trouble.

This was my first visit to a public establishment in this World Cup. After the experience of 2002, when games started at 11:30 p.m. and 2 and 4 a.m., and I discovered the sad truth that there is nothing more depressing than seeing a sunrise from a bar, getting to watch games at noon is much more to my liking.