After 19 straight days of soccer, the 2010 FIFA World Cup had its first official break in action on Wednesday, but that didn't keep teams from making headlines.

After failing to win a game and being eliminated from the group stage, Nigeria's national team will now face two years of government imposed suspension from international competition. According SI.com, a spokesman for Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan announced Wednesday that the purpose of the ban would be to reorganize the country's soccer administration.

Should the government follow through on its promise, the Super Eagles could face further suspension as FIFA has a strict policy prohibiting government interference with soccer matters.

More World Cup links:

• With the Bafana Bafana out of the tournament, the host country's fans are throwing their support behind the only team left from the host continent, Ghana.

• Argentina and Germany may not face off until Saturday, but the war of words has already begun, with the Germans striking first blood, and Argentina coming back swinging.

• ESPN.com columnist and native Detroiter Jemele Hill weighs the overwhelming positives against the minimal negatives of the World Cup thus far.

• Many coaches are bound to get the axe after being ousted from the World Cup. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre beat his detractors to the punch, stepping down because "it's the most honest thing to do."

• The North Korean team returned home after being eliminated from the group stages, but to the dismay of its detractors there was no championship parade or firing squad to meet them.

• Cristiano Ronaldo took a break from looking at his own reflection, to himself reflect on his own and Portugal's underwhelming performance.

• Argentine coach Diego Maradona once confused German phenom Thomas Mueller for a ball-boy, and Mueller has not forgotten.

• Not every Brazilian has been excited about the World Cup so far. The journalists from the land of samba are not used to - nor are they fans of - the FIFA imposed restrictions.

• With one of the most well-thought of officiating crews in the tournament, England may be represented in the finals after all.

Picture of the day:

Kids play soccer in a dusty lot as the sun goes down, in a rural community outside Rustenburg, Johannesburg. (AP Photo)

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.