What is happening at the World Cup?

Germany lose one - nil to Serbia. Spain lose one - nil to Switzerland, France draw nil - nil with Uruguay and then lose two - nil to Mexico. Meanwhile Italy draw one - one with Paraguay and now one - one with New Zealand. It looks as though England are not the only 'fancied' European team to be underperforming. The received wisdom is that the less fancied countries have learnt how to play the top teams. I am not so sure as Argentina seem to have had few problems with Nigeria and South Korea and the Netherlands likewise defeating decent teams from Denmark and Japan.