PSW's Daily World Cup Update: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 [VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]

Groups A and B finish up their First Round today at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With most of the tickets to advance still up for grabs, every point and every goal becomes important. Will we seem some traditional powers head home early today (*cough* France)?

See below for Day 12 results and recaps (including video highlights), a preview of Day 13 (what result the U.S. needs to move on), news from around the tournament, group standings, World Cup viewing parties in the metro DC area, and a TV schedule for the upcoming week.

Also, be sure to check out PSW guest blogger Ben Mahler\'s South African Scenes posts - thoughts and first-hand observations on the World Cup, the atmosphere, and South African culture.
Post 1: AYOBA! - vuvuzelas are everywhere and it\'s hard not to get caught up in the “Ayoba!” – a phrase translating into joy and happiness
Post 2: USA...A-O-K? - other nations\' reactions to the disallowed U.S. goal vs Slovenia

[+ Day 1]  [+ Day 2]  [+ Day 3] [+ Day 4] [+ Day 5] [+ Day 6] [+ Day 7] [+ Day 8]
[+ Day 9] [+ Day 10] [+ Day 11]
Day 12 Results and Recaps:
Mexico  0:1  Uruguay - Move over Argentina. The South American teams have had a strong tournament, and Uruguay is no exception. With a win over Mexico today, Uruguay finishes atop Group A and easily advance to the next round with seven points. Despite the loss, Mexico also advances over South Africa based on goal differential. Luis Suarez scored the game\'s lone goal, after heading in a beautiful cross by Edinson Cavani.    [+ VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]

France  1:2  South Africa - Bafana Bafana put on a show for their last game of the tournament, defeating a pathetic French team that scored only one goal this tournament. South Africa was relaxed and loose this game, and looked like they might make a miracle comeback to take the second spot in the group. Despite numerous opportunities on goal (and some off the woodwork), they couldn\'t score enough goals to overtake Mexico. Bongani Khumalo scored in the 20th minute, displaying some athleticism as he outjumped France\'s Abou Diaby to head in a corner kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala. Shortly after the goal, France\'s Yoann Gourcuff was ejected with a straight red card for elbowing in battle for the ball in the air. South Africa took advantage, as Katlego Mphela put them up by two after somehow connecting on a low cross through the box. Florent Malouda scored France\'s only goal of this World Cup in the 70th minute. Too little, too late. My guess is there is more than a little schadenfreude in Ireland as they\'ve watched France\'s complete meltdown this summer. Even a hand ball couldn\'t save them from their fate this tournament.  [+ VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]

Greece  0:2  Argentina - It took them a long time, but Argentina finally scored in the 77th and 89th minute to secure the win and safely coast into the Second Round with three wins (9 points). Lionel Messi, who still doesn\'t have a goal this World Cup but is creating numerous opportunities for himself and his teammates, was given the captain\'s armband for the first time (the youngest Argentina captain ever at 22 years old). Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo had the second-half goals for Argentina. Greece fails to advance out of Group B with the loss, and Argentina will face Mexico.

Nigeria  2:2  South Korea - In a wild and exciting match, South Korea advanced to the Second Round after drawing Nigeria. Kalu Uche gave Nigeria the lead in the 12th minute, only to have Lee Jung-soo and Park Chu-young equalize and then take the lead. A penalty kick in the 69th minute by Ayegbeni Yakubu evened it up yet again. Nigeria had their opportunities to win the game, including Yakubu missing a wide open goal. South Korea moves on to battle Uruguay on Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Two African teams (Nigeria and host South Africa) have now been eliminated.

Looking Ahead to Day 13:
Groups C and D finish up their group games and determine who will advance. Everyone in this country will be focused on the first set of games, as the U.S. will move on with a win over Algeria. Here\'s a breakdown of all the different scenarios for the U.S.:

The U.S. advances with:
• A U.S. win
• A U.S. tie and England loss
• A Tie and England-Slovenia tie, and the U.S. maintains its +2 goals scored advantage (USA 3 GF, England 1 GF)

The U.S. advances and wins group with:
• A Win by a greater goal difference than England wins by
• A Win and England win by same goal differential while the U.S. maintains its +2 goals scored advantage
• A Win by two or more goals and England / Slovenia tie
• A Win by one goal and England / Slovenia tie while scoring more goals than Slovenia

The U.S. is eliminated with:
• A U.S. tie and England win.
• A U.S. Loss

Let\'s hope Algeria and England continue to struggle in the goals department. Check out the viewing parties below to watch the game with fellow fans in the DC metro area. In the late set of games, Ghana and Germany battle for the top spot, and though Australia is all but eliminated, Serbia remains in the mix.

News From Around The Cup:
* Jozy Altidore missed the first part of the U.S. team\'s training Tuesday because he was suffering from a stomach ailment. He is expected to play in tomorrow\'s match vs Algeria.

* Jose-Marcia Garcia-Aranda, head of refereeing for FIFA, is "very, very satisfied with the performance of the referees." Um, that makes one of you, Jose-Marcia.

* There are rumors that four North Korean players have defected after they were marked "absent" on an official FIFA teamsheet. However, North Korea is denying they are missing and says it was a clerical error.

* Italy coach Marcello Lippi said his team didn\'t follow orders in their disappointing 1-1 draw with New Zealand.

* No surprise after their seven goal performance, Portugal says they love the much maligned Jabulani ball.

* The French team is in total disarray as Nicolas Anelka was dismissed by coach Raymond Domenech, the team refused to train in support of Anelka, and the team director Jean-Louis Valentin resigned afer saying he was fed up with the team. Wow.

* An England fan has been arrested and charged with trespassing for allegedly entering the national team\'s locker room following a 0-0 draw with Algeria.

* FIFA told the U.S. Soccer Federation on Sunday that the American team can\'t train at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday ahead of the game against Algeria the following day to protect the playing surface.

* The Nigerian team has asked its government to provide security for midfielder Sani Kaita after his red card during a World Cup loss to Greece prompted more than 1,000 death threats.

World Cup Group Standings (as of 6/22/10):
Group A
Uruguay (2-1-0; 7pts) - Advance to Second Round
Mexico (1-1-0; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
South Africa (1-1-1; 4pts)
France (0-1-2; 1pt)

Group B
Argentina (3-0-0; 9pts) - Advance to Second Round
South Korea (1-1-1; 4pts) - Advance to Second Round
Greece (1-0-2; 3pts)
Nigeria (0-1-2; 1pt)

Group C
Slovenia (1-1-0; 4pts)
United States (0-2-0; 2pts)
England (0-2-0; 2pts)
Algeria (0-1-1; 1pt)

Group D
Ghana (1-1-0; 4pts)
Germany (1-0-1; 3pts)
Serbia (1-0-1; 3pts)
Australia (0-1-1; 1pt)

Group E
Netherlands (2-0-0; 6pts)
Japan (1-0-1; 3pts)
Denmark (1-0-1; 3pts)
Cameroon (0-0-2; 0pts)

Group F
Paraguay (1-1-0; 4pts)
Italy (0-2-0; 2pts)
New Zealand (0-2-0; 2pts)
Slovakia (0-1-1; 1pt)

Group G
Brazil (2-0-0; 6pts)
Portugal (1-1-0; 4pts)
Ivory Coast (0-1-1; 1pt)
North Korea (0-0-2; 0pts)

Group H
Chile (2-0-0; 6pts)
Spain (1-0-1; 3pts)
Switzerland (1-0-1; 3pts)
Honduras (0-0-2; 0pts)

World Cup Viewing Parties for Group Stage games in DC Area:
(We will add others soon via advertisers - click here to advertise with us)

Wednesday, June 23 - 9:30am (USA v Algeria)
O\'Faolain\'s Irish Pub - 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling, Va. (Join PSW Staff!)
BlackFinn - 1620 I Street NW, Washington, DC
Fado - DC - 808 7th Street NW, Washington, DC
Pour House - 319 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Washington, DC

TV Schedule for upcoming week (all times are EST):
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
France v South Africa - 10:00am - ESPN2 (Group A)
Mexico v Uruguay - 10:00am - ESPN (Group A)
Greece v Argentina - 2:30pm - ESPN (Group B)
Nigeria v South Korea - 2:30pm - ESPN2 (Group B)

Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Slovenia v England - 10:00am - ESPN2 (Group C)
USA v Algeria - 10:00am - ESPN (Group C)
Australia v Serbia - 2:30pm - ESPN2 (Group D)
Ghana v Germany - 2:30pm - ESPN (Group D)

Thursday, June 24, 2010
Paraguay v New Zealand - 10:00am - ESPN2 (Group F)
Slovakia v Italy - 10:00am - ESPN (Gropu F)
Cameroon v Netherlands - 2:30pm - ESPN2 (Group E)
Denmark v Japan - 2:30pm - ESPN (Group E)

Friday, June 25, 2010
Portugal v Brazil - 10:00am - ESPN (Group G)
North Korea v Ivory Coast - 10:00am - ESPN2 (Group G)
Chile v Spain - 2:30pm - ESPN (Group H)
Switzerland v Honduras - 2:30pm - ESPN2 (Group H)