The match isn’t over yet (well, it is; just time isn’t out yet), but Portugal’s 5-0-and-counting drubbing of North Korea is as impressive as Germany’s opening pounding of Australia was—and perhaps then some. Sure, it turns out Australia isn’t as bad as it looked in taking four unanswered German goals last week, while North Korea today doesn’t look as tenacious today as it did during its 65 scoreless minutes against Brazil. But this Portugal side is looking as tough as the 2008 team that went to the quarterfinal round. Better still, the 2010 vintage seems to spend far less time taking dives, landing pot shots, and haranguing referees than the 2008 bunch (e.g. its theatrics against England, ultimate fighting scrum against the Netherlands, and incessant swan plunges against France during the knockout round), Instead, this team just plays sparkling football—for now, anyway. Sure, that’ll probably change with the stakes as knockout play starts, but for the time being Portugal is a pleasure to watch, and looking like a good bet as a leading World crown contender. Let’s hope it can avoid its usual demons, and not become its own biggest enemy in shooting for the title.
(Update: final score 7-0, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his first goal of this World Cup. Sue me for repeating myself but, impressive indeed.)