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Match preview: Holland vs Slovakia

Round of 16
Holland vs Slovakia
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Mon June 28, 3pm BST

Holland is the only European country at the World Cup to be entering the knockout rounds with an untarnished record during the group phase.
Slovakia are overjoyed just to have reached the last 16 for the 1st time but showed against Italy they will not be overcome against higher profile opposition.
They have a very solid spike to their team, with striker Robert Vittel who was the joint top scorer after the group matches and goalkeeper Jan Mucha, both enjoying an terrific tournament.

They said
Bert van Marwijk: “This is a challenger we must not underestimate. We cannot be relaxed. That period of carelessness in opposition to Cameroon we had, we cannot afford that again."
Wladimir Weiss: “For our young nation and for our football, this is a very vital moment. We’ve a probability to come out of the shadows of ice hockey, the number one sport in the land. The nation is rising up and it’s lovely the people believe in us.”

Teams
Holland (4-2-3-1): 1 Stekelenburg; 4 Mathijsen, 12 Boulahrouz, 3 Heitinga, 5 Van Bronckhorst; 8 De Jong, 6 Van Bommel; 10 Sneijder, 7 Kuyt, 11 Robben; 9 Van Persie
Slovakia (4-4-2): 1 Mucha; 16 Durica, 2 Pekarik, 3 Skrtel, 5 Zabavnik; 17 Hamsik, 19 Kucka, 6 Strba, 15 Stoch; 18 Jendrisek, 11 Vittek

Referee: TBC

Match preview: Chile vs Brazil

Round of 16

Chile vs Brazil
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Mon June 28, 7.30pm BST

Chile welcomes back holding playmaker Matias Fernandez and midfielder Carlos Carmona after suspension.

Brazil is advanced by the come back of Kaka, back from suspension, to replace Julio Baptista.

They said

Marcelo Bielsa: “This newest version retains all the creative footballing aspects of this country (Brazil) - to which they have added violence and strength. We will do the impossible to make sure that things don't come to an end too quickly for us.”

Dunga: “The players passed a harsh test against Ivory Coast. They showed a lot of adulthood because they got hit from the beginning to the end and never hit back.”

Teams

Chile (3-3-1-3): Bravo; Fuentes Suazo, Vidal; Contreras, Carmona, Isla; Fernandez; Gonzalez, Sanchez, Beausejour.

Brazil (4-4-2): Cesar; Juan, Maicon, Lucio, Bastos; Gilberto Silva, Elano, Melo, Kaka; Luis Fabiano, Robinho.

Referee: Howard Webb (England)

Previous Meetings

Played: 65

Wins Chile 7, Draws 12, Brazil 46

WC: Chile 0, Draws 0, Brazil 2

WCQ: Chile 0, Draws 2, 1Brazil 7

Last Five Meetings

2007: Brazil 4 Chile 2
2007: Brazil 3 Chile 0
2007: Brazil 6 Chile 1
2010: Chile 0 Brazil 3
2010: Brazil 4 Chile 2

Match preview: Argentina vs Mexico

Round of 16

Argentina vs Mexico
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Sunday June 27 2010, 7.30 BST

Diego Maradona: “With the likes of Dos Santos and Marquez, Mexico have quite a number of players who have us worried”.

Javier Aguirre: “This could be a nice chance to take revenge for what happened four years ago".

Teams

Argentina (4-3-1-2): 22 Romero; 13 Samuel, 4 Burdisso, 2 Demichelis, 6 Heinze; 14 Mascherano, 8 Veron, 7 Di Maria; 10 Messi; 9 Higuain, 11 Tevez,
Mexico (4-3-3-l): 1 Perez; 4 Marquez, 5 Osorio, 3 Salcido, 2 Rodriguez, 16 Juarez, 7 Barrera, 6 Torrado; 9 Franco, 16 Guardado, 17 Giovani

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Previous meetings

Played: 25 Argentina wins 9, Draws 12, Mexico wins 4

1930: Argentina 6 Mexico 3
1956: Mexico 0 Argentina 0
1960: Mexico 0 Argentina 2
1960: Mexico 2 Argentina 3
1962: Argentina 1 Mexico 0
1967: Mexico 2 Argentina 1
1973: Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1984: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1984: Argentina 1 Mexico 1
1985: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1985: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1990: Mexico 2 Argentina 0
1991: Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1993: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
1993: Argentina 2 Mexico 1
1999: Argentina 0 Mexico 0
1999: Mexico 2 Argentina 2
2000: Mexico 0 Argentina 2
2003: Mexico 0 Argentina 1
2004: Argentina 0 Mexico 1
2005: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
2005: Mexico 1 Argentina 1
2006: Argentina 1 Mexico 1
2007: Mexico 0 Argentina 3
2008: Mexico 1 Argentina 4

World Cup 2010: North Korea vs Côte d’Ivoire Goals and Highlights

North Korea vs Côte d’Ivoire Goals and Highlights

Match preview: Denmark vs Japan

Group E

Denmark vs Japan
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 7.30pm BST

The World Cup fates of Denmark and Japan could twist on whether Nicklas Bendtner Danish striker is fit. Denmark makes once change with Per Kroldrup replacing the suspended Simon Kjaer.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada is expecting him to play and has been drilling his players on how to shut down the Arsenal striker. Takeshi Okada is expected to name the same starting line-up for the third consecutive match.

They said

Takeshi Okada: “It would be perfect if we can overcome the opponent by 10 goals. But it won't be that simple. I think it's going to be a very fierce, close game.”

Martin Olsen: "It's a crucial game and expectantly the first final for us. We know what to do. But it is hard to score goals nowadays when you play defensive teams."

Teams

Denmark (4-2-3-1): Sorensen; Agger, Jacobsen, Kroldup, S Poulsen; Jorgensen, C Poulsen; Gronkjaer, Rommedahl, Tomasson; Bendtner

Japan (4-1-4-1): Kawashima; Komano, Nagatomo, Tanaka, Nakazawa; Abe; Hasebe, Endo, Okubo, Matsui; Honda

Referee: J Damon (South Africa)

Match preview: Cameroon vs Holland

Group E

Cameroon vs Holland
Green Point Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 7.30pm BST

Bert van Marwijk said: “I haven't looked at the next stage yet because the first match was the most essential. I take the match against Cameroon very critically because it is in that match that the team has to show that they have learned. We want to progress in every match.”

Samuel Eto’o said: “All my period was determined to be ready for this World Cup. It's the only thing I could think about, so it's hard. It's not easy for us to finish last."

Teams

Cameroon (4-4-2): Souleymanou (16); Mbia (19), Nkoulou (3), Bassong (5), Assou-Ekotto (2); A Song (6), Geremi (8), Enoh (18), Emana (10); Webo (15), Eto’o (9)

Holland (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg (1); Boulahrouz (12), Heitinga (3), Mathijsen (4), Van Bronckhorst (5); Van Bommel (6), De Zeeuw (14); Kuyt (7), Babel (19), Afellay (20); Huntelaar (21).

Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)

Match Preview: Slovakia vs Italy

Group F

Slovakia v Italy
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: Thu June 24, 3pm BST

Italy, after two draws, are reasonably sweating for the defence of their title, even if they can be pleased by the grand tradition of being slow starters at World Cups. Daniele De Rossi admits “We are worried”, but not worried enough to trust they will slip up in opposition to a side that were picked separately by Paraguay.

Slovakia may trench Kornel Salata, after his admittance of importance match stage fright in opposition to Paraguay. If Slovakia is harbouring any real goal, they must trust yet that through Stanislav Sestak and Robert Vittek.

They said

Wladimir Weiss: "We lost against Paraguay because we weren’t bold enough up front, so we require being more positive against Italy.”

Marcello Lippi: "Not the whole thing has gone well but we don't require seeing the glass half empty. Our World Cup could start here."

Teams

Slovakia (4-4-2): 1 Mucha; 2 Pekarik, 3 Skrtel, 17 Hamsik, 11 Vittek, 16 Durica, 4 Cech, 6 Strba, 7 Weiss, 15 Stoch; 9 Sestak
Italy (4-3-3): 5 Cannavaro, 4 Chiellini, 12 Marchetti, 19 Zambrotta, 3 Criscito; 6 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo, 22 Montolivo; 10 Di Natale, 9 Iaquinta, 20 Pazzini

Referee: TBC.

Match preview: Ghana vs Germany

Group D
Ghana vs Germany
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

The pressure is on Joachim Löw’s Germany, the subject of condemnation back home and at the centre of a political power struggle, with his team having to produce the sort of form which saw them flounce away Australia in the opening game.
It’s advantage Ghana as they are set to become the first – and perhaps only – African qualifiers at the continent’s first World Cup.

They said

Joachim Löw: "Ghana is probably Africa's last chance in the tournament and will be very stimulated. It's not going to be a piece of cake, but we are very much confident that we have what it takes to beat Ghana."

Milovan Rajevac: “"We gained a lot against Australia and we will learn from our mistakes for the Germany match, we will do our best. We only approved one and it was a good goal and we always try to keep score.”

Teams

Germany (4-2-3-1): 1 Neuer, 16 Lahm, 17 Mertesacker, 3 Friedrich, 14 Badstuber, 7 Schweinsteiger, 6 Khedira; 8 Özil, 13 Muller, 10 Podolski 19 Cacau
Ghana (4-2-3-1): 22 Kingson, 4 Pantsil, 5 John Mensah, 15 Vorsah, 2 Sarpei; 6 Annan, 23 Boateng; 12 Tagoe, 21 Asamoah, 13 A Ayew, 3 Gyan

Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil).

Match preview: Slovenia vs England

Group C

Slovenia vs England
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

A match that definitely amounts to a play-off for condition into the last 16, with Slovenia having the advantage of knowing that they would development should there be a draw.

Slovenia has outperformed England in the most current history of their particular matches in opposition to the United States and Algeria, but the longer term form says that Fabio Capello’s team should succeed.

Matthew Upson will start in defence for England following injuries to Ledley King and Rio Ferdinand as well as the postponement of Jamie Carragher, while Slovenia are waiting on the strength of centre-back Marko Suler.

They Said
Fabio Capello

"After this game we have no more probability to alive. We have to win. The results have not been good, but I haven't seen the right strength on the pitch for 90 minutes, only for five or six minutes. I expect in the next game the spirit I saw in qualification will return."

Matjaz Kek: "Any national team knows it is really an honour to play England and it’s no dissimilar for us. After all, football was pretend there. It’s a great stage to promote and present our beautiful country."

Teams

Slovenia (4-4-2): 1 S Handanovic; 10 Birsa, 5 Cesar, 13 Jokic, 2 Brecko, 8 Koren, 18 Radosavljevic, 4 Suler, 17 Kirm; 9 Ljubijankic, 11 Novakovic

England (4-4-2): 1 James; 6 Terry, 19 Defoe, 8 Lampard, 2 Johnson, 15 Upson, 3 A Cole; 7 Lennon, 4 Gerrard, 10 Rooney, 14 Barry

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).