Today's friendlies

Here you go:

Netherlands vs Ghana: Pick of the day. The Dutch have some high-profile WAGS that, according to one report ("Why the Netherlands Will Lose", and nothing like positive thinking there) could be a distraction. For the team, that is - they're always a distraction for the media (and if there's one thing the Dutch footballers love as much as their accompanying typists, it's a distraction). Ghana camp enlivened this week with reports of a bust-up after Laryea Kingston was cut, so both teams appear ready for some early pre-World Cup self-destruction at Rotterdam.

Australia vs Denmark: In Johannesburg, Aussies will start Schwarzer and their preferred back four as Pim Verbeek starts to tighten the screws and names his final squad. Denmark got down to their final squad last week, but haven’t given a good run to Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner yet.

Portugal vs Cameroon: Now if there’s one team that needs a little less friendly and a little more nasty, it’s Portugal, after last week’s 0-0 draw with mighty colony Cape Verde. Samuel Eto’o, meantime, held out of the last game to boo-hoo his way to Les Lions Indomptables' captaincy, so he's long overdue for at least a run-out here. At Covilha.

Switzerland vs Costa Rica: Swiss haven't played a friendly since March. Costa Rica gave France a tussle last week. This one's at Sion, in Switzerland.

Afternoon headlines: Essien out

The headlines:

If you had Ghana in your pool, um, you better re-draw or at least buy a backup ticket. Michael Essien is officially out of South Africa 2010. (That's two talismans fallen by the wayside in the last week, following on Michael Ballack with Germany.)

No surprises among Holland's final cuts, and don't they look like an appealing price? Then again, if you were on board for the noon chat, you already know that.

Brazil arrived today in Johannesburg. Not much for ceremony, this Dunga bunch.

Spain's Fernando Torres is back in training.