Predictions for June 26

Uruguay vs. Korea, 10 a.m. ET

Today’s games feature the end of the draw that’s wide open. Having bumped aside England and France, one of Uruguay, Korea, the U.S. and Ghana is going to make the semi-finals here. Uruguay may be the tournament’s most surprising side, having yet to concede a goal. Despite their drubbing by Argentina, the Koreans have shown their scrappiness. Expect the Asians to come forward hard, while the Uruguayans trust to counterattack. An early goal could make this a classic.
Prediction: Uruguay 3, Korea 2

USA vs. Ghana, 2:30 p.m. ET

Africa’s only representative in the knockout rounds has a terrible burden of expectation on them. Despite missing Michael Essien, the Ghanaians have been taking it to opponents. And they’ve been getting better. Like Korea, the U.S. have took a tough group despite a pair of terrible officiating calls, either one of which would have given them victory. Ghana have more skill across the park, but the U.S. appear to have fate on their side.
Prediction: USA 1, Ghana 1 (USA wins on penalty kicks)

The Temple of Jabulani

JOHANNESBURG

At the World Cup, you try to get away from the zombie walk of endless matches by breaking up the routine. So this morning we went off to Sandton Convention Centre, a 15-minute drive turned to half an hour by the traffic, and the traffic-dodgers, lanes and traffic cones being little more than an inconvenience here.

It was “Penalty day” at World Football House, adidas' central HQ that might as well be called the Temple of Jabulani, with one wall racked with balls - balls attached via wires, in case anyone had a feeling to pinch one. On the wall are some truly hideous renderings of the tournament's key players. And players. Hey, former TFC almost-charter member Andrew Boyens was up there as the New Zealand rep. The Diego Forlan looked like Richard Simmons.

The press conference that brought us there was attended by a number of press shoving their way in – standard operating procedure at the World Cup media centres when the waitlist tickets are divvied out – then heading up to the podium beforehand to have their friends take pictures of them with the Golden Glove and the Jabulani.

After a short power-point demo - a Chinese journo in front of me scribbling down all the stats flashing by on the screen - it was show time for an “all-important” press conference, according to the emcee. Then they came on – Petr Cech of Chelsea/Czech Republic, former Argentina 'keeper Sergio Goycochea, and former Germany hothead/divisive egomaniac Oliver Kahn.

Most of the room clapped them on in their three-stripes kit. They clapped when Gocochea upbraided journalists - them, in other words - for referring to the penalty shootout as a lottery or Russian roulette. “There is only good luck and bad luck,” he said, and Chinese guy scribbed some more and nodded his head. Good luck, bad luck - isn't that was a lottery is?

It was pretty much a dud, in other words, and with the laboriousness of it all extended by the need to translate everything, we cut out early. We didn't even wait for the Khan to go off. He looked like he'd just stumbled out of bed and could use a shave and a couple Advil, actually. Just like me, actually.

Guesses: Day 15

After yesterday's Italy result, I've renamed the predictions. I'll probably get rapped by the boss, and maybe we're back to "predictions" tomorrow. Someone's making a lot of money betting the other way on these, but hey - I always thought this World Cup in Africa was going to throw up some surprises. But Italy out? Spain on the ropes? Pinch me. 

Portugal (1-1-0 W-D-L) vs Brazil (2-0-0), 10 a.m. ET

Portugal's 7-0 thumping of Korea DPR puts them in charge of second spot on goal differential over Ivory Coast, if it should come to that. Matchup of former colony against parent country is intriguing but unlikely to shift the balance in Group G. For Brazil, Kaka is out after that harsh red card in last. Deco is doubtful to return to Portugal. Brazil has looked like a side shifting through its gears. This one could be good.
Guess: Portugal 1, Brazil 3

North Korea (0-0-2) vs Ivory Coast (0-1-1), 10 a.m. ET

With a nine-goal difference between them, only an unlikely combination of a win here by a ton and a Portugal loss by a ton will put Ivory Coast into the knockouts. Not going to happen. Ivory Coast have played it a touch too conservative so far and are promising to open it up here.
Guess: North Korea 1, Ivory Coast 3

Chile (2-0-0) vs Spain (1-0-1), 2:30 p.m. ET

Game of the night matches two crowd-pleasing sides, even if the Spanish have shown reluctance to turn all their possession advantage into goals. Chile needs a draw to win group and avoid likely Brazil next out, but they'll be missing two starters (Carlos Carmona, injured, and suspended Matias Fernandez). Spain must win to assure advance and possibly win group. David Villa gave a hint of their class with two goals last time out, but he also missed a penalty – not good. But Andres Iniesta should be fit and return to the midfield – that's good for Spain. Slim edge for Spain, but Chile certainly capable here.
Guess: Chile 1, Spain 2

Switzerland (1-0-1) vs Honduras (0-0-2), 2:30 p.m. ET

After that opener, a clutch 1-0 win over Spain, Swiss stubbed it against Chile. They trail Spain on goal differential by one, but this might get grim, Honduras without a goal to their credit but have slim hope of advancing, while Switzerland with just that one. Midfielder Valon Behrami sits out after his red-card in last. At least Eren Derdiyok, their fine young attacker, is worth watching.
Guess: Switzerland 1, Honduras 0

Der Kaiser on England: "Tired"

JOHANNESBURG

On a quiet day here at Casa Canada - a Hoser Heaven oasis at the World Cup - I'll leave it to Franz Beckenbauer in today's Bild (English version here) to stoke the fire ahead of Sunday's epic England-Germany renewal, a matchup created by England "stupidly" finishing second in their group, he says: 

The Englishmen looked tired. There’s a reason for it: Premier League stars play far more games than their Bundesliga counterparts, including two national cup competitions. Hence they’re often burned out at World Cups or European Championships.
That’s the impression I had after watching England's first two appearances in South Africa (1-1 against USA, 0-0 against Algeria).
Our players, on the other hand, are in better physical condition.

To me, watching in the Soccer City press centre ahead of Ghana-Germany, England looked better against Slovenia, but they really could have been more clinical - Beckenbauer is right, Rooney looks way out of sorts - and they will need to go much better Sunday against a German side that will get Miroslav Klose back. Klose's replacement last night, the Brazilian-born Cacau, didn't look particularly effective against Ghana. I can see Klose, Ozil, Mueller and the like terrorizing the English defence, but Germany's youth makes them unpredictable and their backline isn't exactly airtight. And then there's that secret weapon unveiled by Capello: Free beer.

With Calamity Kelly headed out early for Italy-Slovakia at Ellis Park, spent the morning hanging around Casa Canada with Zurich, the house grasshopper. Good company. Doesn't say much, very laid-back and easygoing, but watch out. He's got bigger hops than Jamario Moon.   

The non-V.I.P. treatment

Dear Boss,

So I was telling you about our bus adventures yesterday. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves. Until this morning.

Morris (Sun), George (CanWest) and I set off to the Jo'burg hotel where the media shuttle picks you up and ferries you to the stadium. We were headed to downtown Ellis Park and the Italy-Slovakia game. Right - fun. High spirits. All that. We get on the bus around 11. It sets off.

We're trading war stories. Until we hit the big traffic jam. All the traffic at the other side of the road is at a standstill. A police helicopter is landing on the highway. Directly, in front of it - a body wrapped in a tarp. Grim. No more war stories.

We're about a half hour into our journey when it occurs to me that the bus seems awfully crowded with Asian and Scandanavian types.

"This is going to Ellis Park, isn't it?" I ask George. Like he would know.

No, it's headed toward Soccer City in Soweto, ahead of the Denmark-Japan game. We're on the wrong bus.

No stopping it now. So we strap in for the ride. At the park, we ask the drive if he might, please, take us back to Ellis Park. No go. It is about this point that Morris has a psychotic break. Morris has been asked to do a daily video for his chain. The video thing is time consuming. Morris is on a deadline. That deadline is now a fond memory.

Morris begins zipping around the car park, bellowing "Elllllllis Park!" at the top of his lungs. No more joy this time. Morris is leaning in car windows. He looks dangerously like he might climb in and take over.

Eventually, someone agrees to bring us back to hotel where our adventure started. We've now wasted about an hour and a half.

On the bus, we realize that we're on a different route than the one we're used to. Where are we going?

"I'm in soccer hell," Morris moans.

Eventually, we do wind our way back to the hotel. We start piling on the second bus. It occurs to us to ask this time. It's going to the airport. We pile back off the bus. Morris is now darting around like a carnival barker. He says something so funny - and so unprintable - that George and I nearly wet our pants.

Eventually, Morris corrals a citizen who is willing to take us to Ellis Park for 150 Rand ($20). We get into what I charitably call his 'automobile'. The windshield appears to have been hit by a meteor. All the windows are rolled up, but there is a strong breeze hitting us in the back seat. The air conditioning is off. I believe a gusting wind is leaking in through the dashboard. I'm not sure how that is possible.

We are driven through the teeming streets of downtown Jo'burg, which are a bit grim - like the rougher parts of Philadelphia, we've agreed. Morris is now nearing entry into the sixth-dimension of reality. The driver is growing concerned.

We pass a lovely house in the middle of the diliapidated skyscrapers. There's a sign out front: "Blasting to take place on _____". The blank part is probably important to local residents. 

"Why are they blowing that house up," Morris wonders.

The driver shrugs.

"Probably to plant grass. And then burn it," says Morris. George and I nearly wet our pants again. Morris has lost it. The driver speeds up.

We hit the first roadblock. Morris' hair is now standing on end. He looks like the middle-aged Italian Bride of Frankenstein. He starts shrieking about being in "a terrible hurry." The terrified security staff let us through.

We get to another roadblock. This time it's a cop. Where's the V.I.P-lady when we need her? Morris turns on the charm. He really is a charming fellow. Morris has his hand on the driver's shoulder, trying to push him, us, himself and the car through the roadblock while he continues negotiating with the cop. Eventually, he promises that it will be "our little secret" if he lets us crash through the stadium's security cordon. The cop relents.

We get to immovable concrete blast barriers and then de-car. We walk down the wrong road and are refused entry to the fan entrance. Morris is letting out a long, dangerous, low moan. We finally reach the gates - three hours after we started.

As we enter the media courtyard, an Italian film crew is in the midst of a bit. One of the guys is wearing a blond wig and pretending to be, as best I can tell it, a crazed woman who has crashed the news broadcast.

Suddenly, things don't seem so irritating. 

C.K.

The V.I.P. treatment

Dear Boss,

I wrote to you recently speaking about my traumatizing automotive experiences here in South Africa. I may have sounded a little hysterical. Sorry about that. 

I've decided to take the bus instead. With mixed results.

It worked out great last night in Pretoria. They ferry us around on media shuttles here - big Greyhound-esque coaches. It was the Sun papers' Morris Dalla Costa and I again. No, I won't be signing him up as a dependent, but now that you mention it I might ... never mind. 

We zipped out of the stadium after the great USA-Algeria match. The bus was pulling away. We got in front of it all Tiananmen Square style and waved our credentials. They stopped and let us on. We were the only media on the bus.

Along with the driver were a man and woman talking in one of the native languages. Nice people. They asked us if we were American. We said, 'No. Canadian.' Then they asked us when Canada played. Something tell me they weren't big soccer fans.

So the bus is moving slowly through streets clogged with fans leaving the game. Then we hit a roadblock. As I may have mentioned, things are a bit chaotic here organization-wise. Some roadblocks you zip right through. Some won't let you through for any amount of begging and swagger. And which is which depends to change every 15 minutes.

This one wasn't going to let us through. The bus driver moved to juke off into a side street, but the woman on board jumped up. She began screaming through the windshield at the private security staff manning the roadblock. In most cases, you can't hear someone when they're screaming inside a sealed bus with vuvuzelas going off everywhere outside. In this case, you could.

She began to scream - again in the local language. The only word Morris and I could understand was 'V.I.P.s'. We looked at each other, and back at her, and realized she was talking about us.

"V.I.P.s!!!" she hollered. Her voice was an awesome force. It nearly blew the roadblock open. When she threatened to dismount the bus and remove the roadblock herself, the cowed security staff hopped to it.

The bus proceeded through. She retook her seat and restarted her soft conversation with the man sitting beside her.

A few hundred metres up the road, another roadblock. This time staffed by paramilitary police. One of them stepped in front of the bus. Again, the bus driver went to make a detour. Again our protector leaped from her seat and began haranguing them through the windscreen. This time it didn't work. She motioned to the driver to open the door. Morris and I looked at each other. Uh oh.

She descended to the bottom step and began hellaciously waving her finger in front of the cop's face. Once again, the only word we understood was "V.I.P.s" - pronounced "VEEEE!-EYYYYE!-PEEEEES!" She looked on the verge of hitting him - seriously. She was on our side, and I was afraid of her. For a terrible moment, I thought it might actually descend into a physical confrontation. And the despite all his weaponry, the cop wouldn't have stood a chance.

So I went up to the front and said, "We're happy to walk from here."

She didn't even turn. She just waved her hand back, said "NOOO!!!!" and began screaming at the cop again.

"No, really, our car is parked about a half block from here. We're perfect."

She turned back to look at me. She was a very handsome middle aged woman.

"Are you sure?" she said.

"Really, this is great."

So she turned around and tore some more of the cop's face off for a few seconds. Then she turned back to us, smiled and said, "Have a wonderful evening."

Morris and I piled off. The copy looked horrified. He may have been trembling. Who was this woman? We started to walk off. The cop abandoned his roadblock post and followed.

I stopped. He stopped. I started again. He started again.

I looked at him, and shrugged.

"She told me to escort you to your car," he said.

"There's no need, really we ..."

He interrupted me.

"I'm escorting you to your car."

Alright. And he did. I think he would've driven us back to Jo'burg if we'd asked. 

The nameless woman on the bus is now my second favourite South African. After Charlize Theron.

C.K.

Predictions: Day 14

Slovakia (0-1-1 W-D-L) vs Italy (0-2-0), 10 a.m. ET

An Italy win and they're in – a draw, and it depends on the other result. Slovakia win and they could be in, but only if New Zealand fail to take a point from Paraguay (does your head hurt yet?). Azzurri haven't been convincing, but they did look a little better second time out and they'll be intent on preventing an early goal. So far, Marcello Lippi has changed formations while sticking with the same lineup. Both teams are having problems up front, so it looks a tight one – again.

Prediction: Slovakia 0, Italy 1

Paraguay (1-1-0) vs New Zealand (0-2-0), 10 a.m. ET

Paraguay tops the group, but can't slip up here – a loss and the bruising All Whites will pass them in the standing and claim a knockout spot. Unthinkable? There is no such thing at this World Cup. But South American form here has been good and Paraguay is expected to make minimal changes to avoid a knockout meeting with Holland. New Zealand has already surpassed expectations.

Prediction: Paraguay 2, New Zealand 0

Denmark (1-0-1) vs Japan (1-0-1), 2:30 p.m. ET

Second place in the group at stake, with Japan holding the edge on goal differential and needing just a draw to go through. Blue Samurai – that's their name, one of the better ones here – will defend and play it safe against Danish side that is missing suspended Simon Kjaer and may be without ailing Nicklas Bendtner – Kjaer's perfectly weighted 60-metre pass to Rommedahl, and on to Bendtner for the sliding finish against Cameroon was one of the best goals here. Danes would miss big Bendtner on set pieces in which they appear to have an advantage – given the nature of this one, I'd expect he'll play.

Prediction: Denmark 1, Japan 0

Cameroon (0-0-2) vs Netherlands (2-0-0), 2:30 p.m. ET

Dutch is in, Lions are out, so there's not much to play for here except pride, and the possibility that Arjen Robben will get some burn. Robben's been out injured and would be making with debut here. They've played so far as if they have something left in reserve – and still won both. Don't really expect a slipup here against demoralized Indomitable Lions.

Prediction: Cameroon 1, Netherlands 2

At Soccer City: Big cat sighting

JOHANNESBURG

Today's security checkpoint story, at Soccer City: The bag goes into the scanner. The coat, with cellphone inside, is passed to a security guard. "Okay, c'mon through," he says. The alarm goes off as I pass through the archway.

"What have you got in your pockets?" he asks.

"Nothing - it's all in my jacket. Maybe the lanyard?"

"No, no, can't be that."

He looks at me. Beat.

"Okay, you can go on through."

Okay, so it wasn't that big a cat. Wasn't big at all, really.   

Predictions: Day 13

GROUP C

USA (0-2-0) vs. Algeria (0-1-1), 10 a.m. ET

After being robbed of victory against Slovenia by a terrible late foul call, the U.S.A. have their fate in their own hands here. So does Algeria. USA advance with a win. Algeria can still make it if they win, and Slovenia beats England. The Americans have looked one of the liveliest sides here. They’re facing a team that likes to work with their backs to goal. Expect the Americans to swamp them.

Prediction: USA 2, Algeria 0

England (0-2-0)  vs. Slovenia (1-1-0), 10 a.m. ET

If France hadn’t imploded so spectacularly here – on and off the pitch – England would be a laughing stock at this point. But after two awful performances and plenty of behind-the-scenes drama, they still advance if they win today. Slovenia, on the other hand, have been Europe’s only surprise package. Wouldn’t it be great if …?

Prediction: Slovenia 2, England 1

GROUP D

Australia (0-1-1) vs. Serbia (1-0-1), 2:30 p.m. ET

Germany looked like the class of the tournament until they hit the Serb wall in their second match. The Serbs have yet to dominate offensively. The Australians, despite a brave draw with Ghana, may be the cure for that. If the Serbs win, they’re through.

Prediction: Serbia 2, Australia 1

Germany (1-0-1) vs. Ghana (1-1-0), 2:30 p.m. ET

Now we’re getting down to it. Two sides who cannot lose, and the winner goes through. Ghana is Africa’s last decent hope for the second round. They’ve been a topsy-turvy side. The Germans looked the business in match one, and anemic in match two. They will operate without talismanic forward Miroslav Klose who foolishly allowed himself to be ejected in the last match. Watch for the next generation of German stars, led by Mesut Ozil, to establish itself here.

Prediction: Germany 3, Ghana 1

Messi, Forlan leading they way

JOHANNESBURG -- The knockout stages are in sight, and it's fitting that the two best individual performers so far at this World Cup are leading the field into the second round.

Uruguay, with 31-year-old Europa League winner Diego Forlan bossing the midfield, qualified top of Group A with a 1-0 win over runner-up Mexico at Rustenburg on Tuesday. Later on, Argentina made seven changes to their lineup from their previous outing in Group B, but retained captain Lionel Messi two days ahead of his 23rd birthday and it was enough for them to remain unbeaten and untied in a sweaty, physical 2-0 defeat of Greece.

Coupled with South Africa's 2-1 Group A win over France - enough to put the Bafana Bafana even on four points with Mexico, but their minus-2 goal differential doomed them against El Tri's plus-1 - and South Korea's 2-2 draw with Nigeria in Group B, the pairings for two of this weekend's round of 16 games are set. Uruguay, with two wins and a draw, will face South Korea Saturday at Port Elizabeth (10 a.m. ET), and on Sunday in Soweto's Soccer City Stadium, Argentina will meet Mexico (2:30 p.m. ET).

Uruguay's lone goal came when Edinson Cavani's long cross was headed in at the far post by Luis Suarez just before halftime. The two teams entered the match even on points on top of the group, but the game flowed nicely with both looking to avoid falling into the runner-up spot and a meeting with high-flying Argentina.

The key Group B matchup was for the runner-up spot behind Argentina, which was frustrated by Greece's defensive tactics before finally securing their third victory on late goals from Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo. Matched against South Korea, Nigeria was trying to avoid becoming the third African side to go out at the first hurdle after Cameroon and South Africa, the latter becoming the first host to ever fail to advance.

The Super Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead early on courtesy of Kalu Uche, but South Korea came back through Lee Jung-Soo and Park Chu-Young before a Yakubu goal from the spot ensured a split of the points and the Koreans, with four points to Greece's three and Nigeria's single, earned the second spot in the group.