World Cup television viewership rose 41 percent over four years ago for English-language telecasts in the United States, with Spain's 1-0 overtime victory over the Netherlands setting a record for a men's soccer game.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -Going into the World Cup, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said he didn't mind winning ugly.

Spain is a 9-5 favorite to win its first World Cup, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and Uruguay in odds posted by BetUS.com.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -Trash talking. Mind games. Maybe even a little outright deception.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -There's no better way to spice up an off day at the World Cup than with good old-fashioned trash talk.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -FIFA president Sepp Blatter's apparent U-turn on the possible introduction of technology to help referees should be taken with a pinch of salt. Maybe he really is having a genuine change of heart, in which case, hooray. Or, perhaps more likely, his sudden reversal is just for show.

Soccer's Iberian heavyweights get their first look at each other as World Cup opponents on Tuesday.

All these late-game heroics are doing a number on U.S. fans - not to mention a few of the players. The more the Americans make everybody sweat at the World Cup, though, the better it is for the game back home.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) -Will the real Wayne Rooney please stand up, because the one seen in an England jersey of late seems to be an impostor.

Long after the game had ended and the jubilant players had left the field, the U.S. fans partied on in the stands, singing, dancing and waving their American flags. Back home, folks who couldn't pick Landon Donovan out of a lineup only a few weeks ago celebrated his goal with die-hard gusto.

When the Americans play Algeria at the World Cup on Wednesday they'll either live up to all the hype and earn a spot among the final 16 teams - or fall painfully short of their long-stated goal and lose a watershed opportunity.

IRENE, South Africa (AP) -Italy coach Marcello Lippi lamented that his squad wasn't able to follow his orders in its stunning 1-1 draw with New Zealand at the World Cup.