Preview: Day 13

Group C

England v Slovenia, Port Elizabeth 

Algeria v USA, Pretoria

both 3pm

As they Stand:

1. Slovenia   4pts 
2. USA        2
3. England    2
4. Algeria     1

Quite simply, England need to win today to keep their World Cup dream alive. One would think that is within their grasp against such a smaller footballing nation in Slovenia but recent performances suggest it will be a struggle for the Three Lions to get the required result.

Slovenia has a population of just over two million and only a fraction of the playing resources and financial budget of their opposition today but they sit proudly on top of a group in which they were expected to be also-rans.

For England to win today against such a well organised and physical outfit that is capable of scoring goals, every aspect of their game is going to have to change. The cohesion, pace and intensity found during the qualifiers seems to have disappeared but the players are certainly capable of rediscovering it. Or are they?

From the outside there looks to be some in squad unrest and disillusionment with their manager. Players are bored and don't look as though they even believe they can win the tournament now. A tournament they always believe they can win until they actually start playing.

Slovenia may very well play for the draw and that could cost them. For all England's problems there are still players capable of putting the ball in the net when an opportunity arises. A draw would be enough to see the Slovenes into the second round either as group winners or runners-up and from their two performances so far, especially against the US in the first half, they have every chance of booking their place in the last 16.

USA are favourites to join either of the above in the knockout stages. For them, a win is required and that may be enough to top Group C. While Algeria also have ambitions of continuing their tournament The States have shown a lot more heart and Intensity than the North Africans had to face against England. The Algerians could be overran in Loftus Versfeld this afternoon.

The Algerians could easily have beaten England but they looked incapable of finding that final pass to unlock their defence. They could have played all night and neither team would have scored.

A shock could be on the cards today. USA are almost certainties to advance and Slovenia may join them. much to the embarrassment and shame of 60 million Englishmen.

Probable Teams:    

England: James, Johnson, Upson, Terry, A, Cole, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, J. Cole, Defoe, Rooney.

Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Birsa, Koren, Radosavljvic, Kirm, Ljubijankic, Novakovic.

Algeria: M'Bolhi, Bougherra, Yahia, Halliche, Belhadj, Lacen, Boudebouz, Yebda, Ziani, Kadir, Matmour

USA: Howard, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Demerit, Cherundolu, Bradley, Edu, Dempsey, Donovan, Buddle, Altidore.
Group D

Germany v Ghana, Soccer City

Australia v Serbia, Nelspruit

both 7:30pm

As They Stand:

1. Ghana      4pts
2. Germany  3
3. Serbia      3
4. Australia   1

Much like Group C, all four teams in Group D stand a very possible chance of qualification for the next round, although Germany and Serbia are surely favourites to get there.

Ghana currently top the group but they may rue their failure to put away the ten men of Australia in their 1-1 draw last Saturday. Going into tonight's game with Germany on six points would have left them in a much stronger position but as it is they will most certainly need a precious point as Serbia should also be good enough to beat the depleted Socceroos.

Ghana have a strong immigrant population in Germany. Gerald Asamoah and David Odonkor have gone before and now Jerome Boateng is in the squad. His brother Kevin Prince is in the Ghanaian line up having defected from the country of his birth. Incidentally, it was Boateng's tackle on German captain Michael Ballack that caused the Chelsea midfielder to miss out on the World Cup.

Their is an argument that the Germans are better off without their leader, that he commands too much respect and authority in the changing room. Without him Die Mannschaft have been impressive and even let off the leash, even in the loss to Serbia. Mezut Ozil or Sami Khedira may not even be in the team had Ballack been there.

Miroslav Klose is missing for the game in Johannesburg but Germany should have enough nous to beat a comparatively unimpressive Ghana team. The West Africans may have beaten Serbia but against ten men they were clueless in going about getting a winner against Australia. Their own youthful inexperience may cost them their second round place and effectively end African involvement.

Serbia will be confident of progressing having beaten Germany and turning their own campaign around in the process. Milos Krasic, Nikola Zigic and Milan Jovanovic finally came good in their second outing and continuously caused problems that they hadn't done against Ghana.

All four of Serbia's defensive line of Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic and Aleksandar Kolarov are all on yellow cards and any one of them may find themselves accepting a suspension for the sake of a place in round two. Subotic may be replaced bey the reutrning Alksandar Lukovic however.

Australia have Tim Cahill returning for what could be their final game. A win will be enough for the Socceroos as long as Germany and Ghana don't draw. They are without veteran defender Craig Moore and Harry Kewell for tonight's pivotal game which makes their task that much harder.

It should be an attacking game though as both sides need a win. Their inferior goal difference to Germany means Serbia have no option but to win in case that becomes a decisive factor, while Australia will know a win is the only thing that will give them any chance.   

Probable Teams:

Germany: Neuer, Badstuber, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Lahm, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Muller, Podolski, Cacau.

Ghana: Kingson, Pantsil, Mensah, Vorsah, Sarpei, Boateng, Asamoah, Annan, Tagoe, Ayew, Gyan.

Australia: Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Neill, Beauchamp, Chipperfield, Culina, Cahill, Valeri, Emerton, Bresciano, Kennedy.

Serbia: Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Vidic, Lukovic, Kolarov, Kuzmanovic, Stankovic, Krasic, Jovanovic, Zigic, Pantelic.