The moment of truth has arrived at the World Cup. And the surprises are coming. Germany was eliminated by Paraguay after an epic duel where both teams gave their all, following different styles. Paraguay, returning to a World Cup for the first time in 16 years, knew how to suffer, reaching the penalty shootout alive, where they surprised as the Germans had never lost a penalty shootout in a World Cup final. In fact, until yesterday they had only missed a single penalty, in 1982. In a single day they missed three. Germany was the cross and Brazil, the face. Ancelotti's team did qualify, although they struggled greatly against Japan.

When the Japanese anthem began to play before the Japan-Netherlands match on the first day of this World Cup, the Japanese coach started to cry. He remained serious, while singing the Kimigayo, but tears streamed down his cheeks. "It's always an emotion to lead my country. Many things have crossed my mind here," he said. The Japanese press deduced, since Hajime Moriyasu (1968) gave no further explanation, that he was referring to being in the United States, as his life, in large part, is marked by the atomic bombs of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.