Now that Everyone has Played at Least Once...

It's fair to say that the actual football played at this year's World Cup has not yet lived to the (overly?) high expectations of fans all over the world. Is this a reason to worry or a things going to get better? Here are some possible explanations and predictions.

(1) Cowardice.
A lot of teams were very cautious in their initial approach as losing the first game is feared more than anything becuase it, for instance, increases the already intense pressure from the media, and, of course, also makes it very difficult to advance to the next round. Yet, all those teams that didn't win their first games will have to play somewhat more of an attacking style in their remaining games, and therefore there's reason to hope for more entertaining games in the near future.

(2) Mourinho's shadow.
The special one's defensive genius has been blamed for the World Cup's "rubbish" play. Other mangers are said to have copied his cynical system aimed at suffocating superior offensive-minded teams. I'm not sure about any causality here, but we've definitely some mighty fine defending at this World Cup (Uruguay, Ivory Coast, North Korea, Switzerland, to name just a few). But again, at one point teams will have to score in order for them to advance. Defense may win championship, but no offense doesn't win any games.

(3) Other factors.
The ball sucks. It takes off like a rocket and never seems to come down. Also, it bounces like a racquetball. Hence, very few goals from far out so far. (And, yes, Jamie, it's a conspiracy cooked up by the Germans.)
Not sure if the vuvuzelas are to be blamed for anything but they're also not helping. Maybe proper chants do in fact help remind players to attack?
The weather obviously reminds player not of the usual equation "summer time = fun time = World Cup time" but rather of the grim European leagues in late fall and winter that always seem to produce the worst football of the year.
While none of these things are likely to change there's still a good chance that teams will grow accustomed to them, meaning that the quality of play will consequentially have to improve, too. Right?

Verdict: Things can only, and will have to, get better. (Please let me be right...Please. Pretty please.)