Yes, Honduras, Americans play the full 90 minutes ... sometimes 95 or 96.
  We had noted earlier in the week that even though the USA had qualified for the finals that the players and coaching staff would take everything seriously in Washington.
   After the tragic automobile accident involving striker Charlie Davies and the in-game injury to Oguchi Oneywu which cast a pall over last night's game , it would have been understandable if that early Costa Rica burst of power had taken the oomph out of the American game.
   You know that didn't happen and it is Honduras, not Costa Rica, which is packing for South Africa today.
   The Ticos, so close to the finals, must now figure out how to defeat Uruguay in a playoff that matches contrasting styles.
   Costa Rica has always impressed with its attack, while questions hover over its defensive fiber. Uruguay is often so defensive that you wonder if their players need maps when they cross the halfway line. They had a place in South Africa on their plates last night in Montevideo but never looked like closing the deal against an unimpressive Argentina.
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   After all is said and done, South Africa 2010 looks like just about every other World Cup field.
   Yes, France, Portugal and Russia still must survive playoffs to ensure that much of the UEFA power arrives safely and there is the question of whether two-time African champion Egypt can figure out how to reach the finals in their remaining match against Algeria, but the field already contains all of the expected favorites.
   Without knowing the draw -- to be made this December -- it is pretty hard to project what the tournament will look like. Nevertheless, it's safe to say that Brazil will be rated as the favorite with the Ivory Coast considered the most dangerous of the home continent's entries.
   From Europe we can expect very strong challenges from England [they will have plenty of support in South Africa even without their huge traveling contingent of fans], Germany, Italy and Spain.
   Chile has been the surprise throughout qualifying from South America and will doubtless have plenty of support as a potentially dangerous opponent next summer.
Asia offers Australia's strength and both Koreas ... at least one of them is going to surprise someone in the first round.
   The USA is due for a strong showing -- they perform well every other Cup it seems -- although the loss of Davies and the fact that Onyewu now faces a virtual lost season vastly complicates preparations. After an up-and-down summer, when the team's lack of real depth was exposed, there will be time to prepare quietly. The biggest hurdle that America faces is that draw -- don't expect any favors from FIFA in that department.

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