Tournament favorite Spain's stunning upset loss to Switzerland means they are a step closer to realizing the Pele World Cup jinx.

The match definitely fired up the drama of a lackluster show so far but for FIFA and tournament organizers, another thing that could be more worrisome is the low scoring.

The scoring average is by far the lowest it has been since the World Cup expanded to 32 teams in 1998.

It is true that we have only seen 16 of the 64 matches that will be played at World Cup 2010, so it is still hard to come up with any definitive trends. But the lack of scoring chances and goals is making officials and fans unhappy.

Only 24 goals had been scored after 16 matches, averaging 1.56 goals per match. That number is way below the lowest average in the World Cup history. The 1990 World Cup in Italy averaged 2.2 goals per match.

Germany's 4-0 rout of the Socceroos only raised the average from 1.3 per match in the event's first seven matches to 1.4 But that's all. Other big names came out with great expectations but their openers ended in despair. Those heavyweights included Italy, Portugal, Brazil and Spain.

Six ties and six 1-0 outcomes. Too few goals producing too many dull ties. That could be the reason that prevents Americans embracing the global sport.

Also, you can blame the ball, the tight defenses, the biting nerves and the cold weather but that is still little excuse for scoring being way down through the first round of group stage games.

Compare that low average to the first 16 games of World Cup 1998 (37 goals, 2.31 per game), 2002 (46, 2.88 per game) and 2006 (39, 2.44 per game).

Brazil's 2-1 win over DPR Korea on Tuesday was the first game in which a losing team had scored a goal. And no player scored more than one goal in the first group stanza. (Diego Forlan scored two goals in Uruguay's second match).

Football's governing body, FIFA, says it is still too early to discuss why this is happening. It tells people to wait until after the final on July 11.

"Not now, it's just too early," says FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot. Possible answers could be the maligned Jubalani World Cup ball, the weather, the altitude or stage fright.

But as the tournament goes on, this World Cup will get better, more entertaining, not only because of upsets but definitely more scoring as the losing teams will try harder and may be more aggressive in do-or-die clashes.

We will see big names such as Wayne Rooney of England, Ronaldo of Portugal and David Villa of Spain driving themselves to show why they are worth millions of dollars.