Predictions: Day 9
GROUP E
Netherlands (1-0-0 W-D-L) vs Japan (1-0-0)
At Durban, 7:30 a.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 19C, sunny
The Game: Dutch woke up in second half of their opener against Denmark. Japan shocked Cameroon for their first World Cup win off home soil. Winner here is into second round and pretty much assured of topping the group. Dutch class should prevail, with Arjen Robben returning to training but not expected to play.
Ghana (1-0-0) vs. Australia (0-0-1)
At Rustenburg, 10 a.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 16C, sunny
The Game: Black Stars can clinch a spot in the second round with a win here after grinding out a 1-0 decision over Serbia in their debut here. Aussies will be missing their top player, Tim Cahill, after he was sent off in their opening-game destruction to Germany and themselves. That’s enough to tip the scales.
Cameroon (0-0-1) vs. Denmark (0-0-1)
At Pretoria, 2:30 p.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 8C, clear
The Game: Loser goes home, and a draw doesn’t help either of them much. Lions looked less than Indomitable in their opener and reports have them not getting along with coach Paul Le Guen, so this could be an unpredictable team. Danes looking to get untracked after losing opener to Dutch, but they have some injury concerns. If Le Guen shifts Samuel Eto’o to a striker’s role, and it sure looks like he will, call is for a mild upset.
Prediction: Cameroon 2, Denmark 1
Netherlands (1-0-0 W-D-L) vs Japan (1-0-0)
At Durban, 7:30 a.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 19C, sunny
The Game: Dutch woke up in second half of their opener against Denmark. Japan shocked Cameroon for their first World Cup win off home soil. Winner here is into second round and pretty much assured of topping the group. Dutch class should prevail, with Arjen Robben returning to training but not expected to play.
Prediction: Netherlands 3, Japan 1
GROUP DGhana (1-0-0) vs. Australia (0-0-1)
At Rustenburg, 10 a.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 16C, sunny
The Game: Black Stars can clinch a spot in the second round with a win here after grinding out a 1-0 decision over Serbia in their debut here. Aussies will be missing their top player, Tim Cahill, after he was sent off in their opening-game destruction to Germany and themselves. That’s enough to tip the scales.
Prediction: Ghana 1, Australia 0
GROUP ECameroon (0-0-1) vs. Denmark (0-0-1)
At Pretoria, 2:30 p.m.
TV: CBC, TLN (Spanish)
Weather: 8C, clear
The Game: Loser goes home, and a draw doesn’t help either of them much. Lions looked less than Indomitable in their opener and reports have them not getting along with coach Paul Le Guen, so this could be an unpredictable team. Danes looking to get untracked after losing opener to Dutch, but they have some injury concerns. If Le Guen shifts Samuel Eto’o to a striker’s role, and it sure looks like he will, call is for a mild upset.
Prediction: Cameroon 2, Denmark 1
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