GROUP A France Mexico South Africa Uruguay FAVORITE Very few teams are playing better at the moment than Mexico. Recently beat Italy on neutral ground. SLEEPER Uruguay hasn’t done much since winning the World Cup in 1930 and 1950. Has the talent to make some noise. KEY GAME Uruguay vs. France, today: The winner will keep pace with Mexico, who draws South Africa first. BEST PLAYER French attacking midfielder Franck Ribery helped Bayern Munich win Bundesliga and German Cup titles and reach the Champions League final. THE SKINNY It’s rare to find a World Cup group where the host country is the worst team of the four, but that’s the case with South Africa this year. Mexico, buoyed by some young players, appears to have finally come into its own. France, a finalist in 2006, will be in a battle with Uruguay to advance, and Uruguay, with forwards Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, may have the edge. GROUP B Argentina Greece Nigeria South Korea FAVORITE The world’s former No. 1 team, Argentina, has one of the easier brackets. SLEEPER This year’s South Korea team isn’t as strong as the 2002 squad that made the semifinals but doesn’t need to be in this group. KEY GAME Nigeria vs. South Korea, June 22: Nigeria plays Argentina first and will need to make up points. BEST PLAYER Lionel Messi, Argentina The reigning World Player of the Year. THE SKINNY Unless coach Diego Maradona has a complete meltdown, Argentina should easily advance. After that, talent will have to carry the Argentines because Maradona will probably be outcoached in every game in the knockout stage. Nigeria and South Korea are not as strong as past World Cups, but they only have each other to worry about because Greece shouldn’t be a factor. England striker Wayne Rooney, tight head, wirePaul Ellis/AFP/Getty ImagesEngland’s Wayne Rooney GROUP C Algeria England Slovenia United States FAVORITE In Fabio Capello, England finally hired the right coach. SLEEPER Underrated Slovenia upset Russia in a playoff to get here. KEY GAME England vs. United States, Saturday: Loser will need to win two straight. BEST PLAYER English forward Wayne Rooney was the second-leading scorer in the English Premier League. THE SKINNY England and the U.S. are clearly the best teams, but they play first and that’s a problem. The loser will face two must-win situations to advance, and if the winner of the Algeria-Slovenia game decides to put 10 players behind the ball and play for two ties, that could be difficult. The best scenario for the U.S. — whether it wins, loses or ties against England — is for the Algeria-Slovenia game to end in a tie. GROUP D Australia Germany Ghana Serbia FAVORITE Germany has just too much pedigree for this group. SLEEPER Serbia has the best defense of the four teams. KEY GAME Serbia vs. Ghana, Sunday: The first game of the group sets the tone. BEST PLAYER For a defender, Germany’s Philipp Lahm attacks as well as he defends. THE SKINNY Germany, even with all its injuries, is the class of the group, but then it’s a toss-up between three teams for one place. Of the three, Serbia has the best defense, but Australia has the best goalkeeper in Mark Schwarzer. Ghana, without injured midfielder Michael Essien, its best player, will have the support of a continent, but may not be able to recover if it loses its opening game to Serbia. GROUP E Cameroon Denmark Japan Netherlands FAVORITE Have you looked at the talent on the Netherlands’ roster? Of course, isn’t that always the case? SLEEPER A consistent second-tier European team, Denmark could make a run into the second round. KEY GAME Denmark vs. Cameroon, June 19: Both teams will lose to the Netherlands and beat Japan, so this one could determine which country escapes the group. BEST PLAYER Goal scoring by Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) helped Inter Milan and FC Barcelona win the past two Champions League titles. THE SKINNY The Netherlands, despite recent injuries, should win the group while Japan, which has never won a World Cup game outside its own country, doesn’t figure to do much. That leaves Denmark and Cameroon. Eto’o has a chip on his shoulder following critical comments by Cameroon legend Roger Milla, but the Danes can’t be overlooked. GROUP F Italy New Zealand Paraguay Slovakia FAVORITE The defending champion Azzuri might be getting older, but Italy will still be kicking in South Africa. SLEEPER Slovakia will play lock-up defense and look to counterattack on offense. KEY GAME Paraguay vs. Slovakia, June 20: The second game for both. One may need to win, one may need just a tie. BEST PLAYER Gianluigi Buffon of Italy was the best goalie in 2006 World Cup. Not much has changed. THE SKINNY Italy, a notorious slow starter in major tournaments, has no excuses this time. This group couldn’t be easier for the defending champs. Paraguay, despite the loss of forward Salvador Cabanas, who was shot in the head (but survived) in Mexico Jan. 25, is the next-best team. Paraguay’s only problem is that it plays Italy first. Slovakia and New Zealand will have trouble scoring goals. Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, with broken arm, wireIssouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty ImagesStriker Didier Drogba is practicing with Ivory Coast, despite a broken right arm, and apparently will try to play in the World Cup. GROUP G Brazil Ivory Coast North Korea Portugal FAVORITE If Brazil, the world’s top-ranked team, isn’t the favorite, there should be an investigation. SLEEPER Even without star striker Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast will be tough to beat. KEY GAME Ivory Coast vs. Portugal, June 15: The loser will probably have to beat Brazil to advance beyond pool play. BEST PLAYER Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal was 2008 World Player of the Year. THE SKINNY This was the Group of Death, but the injury to Drogba (broken right arm) takes a lot of the juice away — and was the best news Portugal could have had. Five-time champion Brazil (first) and the unknown North Korea (last) seem certain of their place. The battle was always going to be Ivory Coast-Portugal, but Drogba’s injury gives Portugal a definite edge. GROUP H Chile Honduras Spain Switzerland FAVORITE Spain has only lost once in the past four years, albeit in the Confederations Cup last year in South Africa (to the United States). SLEEPER Chile finished second to Brazil in South American qualifying. KEY GAME Switzerland vs. Chile, June 21: Chile will be 1-0, Switzerland 0-1 when they play. BEST PLAYER Playmaker Xavi Hernandez of Spain can score goals just as easily as he sets them up. THE SKINNY Spain should roll into the knockout phase and could even rest some players along the way. Chile may be without leading scorer Humberto Suazo (hamstring) in its opener, but fortunately that’s against Honduras, so it shouldn’t matter. Switzerland, which played four games in 2006 and was eliminated without allowing a goal, has shown poor form lately but has the talent to advance. SECOND ROUND Mexico over Nigeria England over Serbia United States over Germany Argentina over Uruguay Netherlands over Paraguay Brazil over Chile Cameroon over Italy Spain over Portugal Chile and Paraguay are two of the sleepers of the tournament and could have advanced under other circumstances, but not against these opponents. CONCACAF gains the world’s respect. QUARTERFINALS Netherlands over Brazil England over Mexico Argentina over United States Spain over Cameroon CONCACAF’s great run is over, although the United States gives Argentina a tough game, possibly losing in overtime. SEMIFINALS Netherlands over England Spain over Argentina Netherlands finally exposes England’s back line and goalkeeper David James cannot stop the Dutch assault. Spain has too much talent for Argentina to overcome. FINAL Netherlands over Spain The Dutch finally lose the tag of the best team never to win a World Cup. ON TV FIRST ROUND Today South Africa vs. Mexico, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Uruguay vs. France, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Tomorrow South Korea vs. Greece, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Argentina vs. Nigeria, 10 a.m. (ESPN) England vs. United States, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) Sunday Algeria vs. Slovenia, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Serbia vs. Ghana, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Germany vs. Australia, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) Monday Netherlands vs. Denmark, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Japan vs. Cameroon, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Italy vs. Paraguay, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Tuesday New Zealand vs. Slovakia, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Ivory Coast vs. Portugal, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Brazil vs. North Korea, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Wednesday Honduras vs. Chile, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Spain vs. Switzerland, 10 a.m. (ESPN) South Africa vs. Uruguay, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Thursday Argentina vs. South Korea, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Nigeria vs. Greece, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Mexico vs. France, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) June 18 Germany vs. Serbia, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) United States vs. Slovenia, 10 a.m. (ESPN) England vs. Algeria, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) June 19 Netherlands vs. Japan, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Australia vs. Ghana, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Denmark vs. Cameroon, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) June 20 Paraguay vs. Slovakia, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Italy vs. New Zealand, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Brazil vs. Ivory Coast, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) June 21 North Korea vs. Portugal, 7:30 a.m. (ESPN) Switzerland vs. Chile, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Spain vs. Honduras, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) June 22 Mexico vs. Uruguay, 10 a.m. (ESPN) France vs. South Africa, 10 a.m. (ESPN2) Nigeria vs. South Korea, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Greece vs. Argentina, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) June 23 United States vs. Algeria, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Slovenia vs. England, 10 a.m. (ESPN2) Ghana vs. Germany, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Australia vs. Serbia, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) June 24 Slovakia vs. Italy, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Paraguay vs. New Zealand, 10 a.m. (ESPN2) Denmark vs. Japan, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Cameroon vs. Netherlands, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) June 25 Portugal vs. Brazil, 10 a.m. (ESPN) North Korea vs. Ivory Coast, 10 a.m. (ESPN2) Chile vs. Spain, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) Switzerland vs. Honduras, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) SECOND ROUND June 26 Match 49: Group A winner vs. Group B second place, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Match 50: Group C winner vs. Group D second place, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) June 27 Match 51: Group D winner vs. Group C second place, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Match 52: Group B winner vs. Group A second place, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) June 28 Match 53: Group E winner vs. Group F second place, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Match 54: Group G winner vs. Group H second place, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) June 29 Match 55: Group F winner vs. Group E second place, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Match 56: Group H winner vs. Group G second place, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) QUARTERFINALS July 2 Match 57: Match 53 winner vs. Match 54 winner, 10 a.m. (ESPN) Match 58: Match 49 winner vs. Match 50 winner, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) July 3 Match 59: Match 52 winner vs. Match 51 winner, 10 a.m. (Ch. 7) Match 60: Match 55 winner vs. Match 56 winner, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) SEMIFINALS July 6 Match 58 winner vs. Match 57 winner, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) July 7 Match 59 winner vs. Match 60 winner, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) THIRD PLACE July 10 Semifinal losers, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7) FINAL July 11 Semifinal winners, 2:30 p.m. (Ch. 7)
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