WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS SUNDAY 27 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Germany v England

The tie of the Second Round - so much history bound up with this one. One of these two previous winners must bow out in Blomfontein today. Neither had a smooth ride through the group stage, and both have injury problems. Nobody could predict this one with great certainty.

For me now - and from here on in - it's about a feeling in the gut. Something is telling me this may not be a classic, and not quite as close as form and history suggests it should be.

MATCH PREDICTION: Germany 0-2 England

Argentina v Mexico

This is a repeat of the second round clash four years ago which Argentina won 2-1 after extra time. Following the 2006 World Cup in Germany I thought for a long time that Argentina would win this next one in South Africa. My doubts started when Maradona became the coach. I am convinced that this generation of Argentinian players will have their day in the sun and win a World Cup, I'm just not sure it's going to be here in South Africa under 'Diego'.

This is the best Mexico side I can remember. They will get at a suspect Argentinian defence, and there'll be goals in this one.

MATCH PREDICTION: Argentina 2-2 Mexico

Mexico will break Maradona's heart by progressing on penalties.

SOUTH KOREA EDGE THROUGH AS NIGERIA AND GREECE EXIT EARLY

South Korea scraped a draw with Nigeria in a tense Group B finale to progress with Argentina and set up a last sixteen tie against Uruguay.

The Asian outfit haven't found scoring a problem in this tournament which perhaps gave them the confidence to bounce back after an early defensive lapse allowed Kala Uche to get in ahead of Cha Du-Ri and fire home from eight yards.

The early goal put Nigeria firmly in the hunt for a last sixteen berth despite having lost their opening two games. However it wasn't long until the group swung back in favour of the Koreans when a glorious free kick was delivered perfectly between defence and 'keeper towards the back post for Lee Jung-Soo to somewhat fortuitously divert the ball home with his foot after initially attempting to head the ball.

A draw would have been enough for South Korea providing Greece did not beat Argentina, which was looking increasingly unlikely after a first half of little action from the surprisingly defensive Greeks.

In the second half the Koreans again opened up their opponents from a set piece as Park Chu-Young wrong-footed the Nigerian goalkeeper to curl the ball inside the far post and give his side the lead.

Everton striker Yakubu had the perfect opportunity to level the scores but managed to send the ball wide of an open goal from just six yards out, before eventually levelling from the penalty spot just minutes later.

Nigeria went in pursuit of the one goal they needed to progress and dump South Korea out of the tournament. By this stage Greece were well out of the running as their utter refusal to attack cost them dear as they quickly conceded two goals too say goodbye to the World Cup for another four years.

Nigeria came within inches of stealing the tie when Obafemi Martins' dinked effort beat the keeper but rolled wide of the post before Victor Obinna's long range effort crept agonisingly wide.

A draw proved to be enough for South Korea who will face the impressive Uruguay in the next round while group winners Argentina will play an unpredictable Mexico side in a repeat of their second round clash four years ago which Argentina won 2-1 after extra time.

WORLD CUP LATEST LAST SIXTEEN PREDICTIONS

Before the tournament started your two dedicated bloggers from World Cup Latest set about predicting the outcome of the entire tournament. Now this is no easy task as I'm sure many of you are well aware but for Euro 2008 both of us managed to correctly predict three of the four semi finalists, so we've got previous.

With the group stages about to drwa to a close we've decided to share our predictions so you can see how close, or how far, we are from the mark.

Group A vs Group B

David's Predictions
Uruguay vs Nigeria
Argentina vs France

Charlie's Predictions
Mexico v South Korea
Argentina v France

No major surprises here. Both of us favoured France to come through as runners-up in their group and face a serious test aginst Group B winners Argentina in the second round. At the start of the tournament that was considered an upset but with the turmoil currently surrounding the French side you wouldn't find many people backing them to beat South Africa tonight.

However, we differ wildly on the other tie that will result from this group, but are both in with a chance of getting it right. Nigeria, the only African side I backed to get through the groups, have been short of form and a devestating loss to Greece means only victory over the impressive South Korea will give them any hope of qualifying for the next round.

With Charlie backing Mexico to top the group he'll be hoping they can get a win against current Group A leaders Uruguay tonight, but this all South American clash will be a tight affair with bost sides aware that they will be in with a real shot of a quarter final place should they top the group.

Tommorrow; England, America, Germany et al.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS FOR TUESDAY 22 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Mexico 1-0 Uruguay

Mexico have been highly impressive so far and are gaining confidence. Winning Group A will in all likelihood mean avoiding Argentina in the last sixteen. A big incentive.

France 1-2 South Africa

The hosts will finish with a win against the team whose spirit has broken irreparably, but it won't be enough to stop them being the first host nation not to qualify from their group.

Nigeria 2-2 South Korea

Nigeria are in that unusual situation of having lost two games but still being in with a chance of getting through. South Korea are in pole position to reach the second round though - a win for them would guarantee progress.

Greece 1-3 Argentina

Maradona's men will finish their group with three wins, opening the door for the winners of the other game to progress.

WORLD CUP-LATEST PREDICTIONS FOR THURSDAY 17 JUNE

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS FOR TODAY'S GAMES:

Argentina 2-2 South Korea

I think Argentina will be surprised by the levels of fitness and teamwork of the Koreans, who I believe can work on their opponents weakness. I almost predicted a Korean victory here, but I'll stick with the draw.

Greece 1-3 Nigeria

Both teams have to try and win this one so I think there will be goals. The African nation to end Greek hopes of progressing.

France 1-1 Mexico

Hard one to predict this, as we keep expecting France to turn up and do what their talent suggests they can do and they keep staying at home. They will keep their hopes alive here - as will Mexico - as they share the points to set up a dramatic last round of games in Group A.

PARK JI-SUNG LEADING BY EXAMPLE

South Korea's World Cup is up and running with gusto, and captain Park Ji-Sung is leading by example.

The Manchester United star has grown in stature over the five years he has spent in England and is fast becoming a veteran of World Cup football.

His superbly taken goal against Greece on Saturday was his third goal at World Cup Finals, and each have been scored in separate tournaments.

In 2002 Park sent the Korean nation delirious when he struck the winner against Portugal in the final group game that confirmed the then-Host nation as group winners and put them into the knock-out stages of the World Cup for the first time ever.

Four years ago in Germany Park popped up with a late equalizer in Korea's second match with France that kept alive their hopes of qualifying in that tournament, and now, following his strike against Greece in what was his 89th international appearance, Park joins a select group of players who have scored in three different tournaments.

South Korea have one foot in the second round again and are now preparing for Argentina on Thursday. The two countries met in the first group match of the 1986 World Cup when the South Americans emerged as 3-1 winners and went on the win the tournament.

On two other occasions South Korea have faced South American opposition at the World Cup. In 1990 they lost 1-0 to Uruguay in their final group match and in 1994 played out a 0-0 draw with Bolivia.

Confidence is high amongst the players following yesterday's sparkling display and they will provide a stern test for Argentina in Johannesburg on Thursday in a game which could decide who wins Group B.

WORLD CUP PREDICTIONS SATURDAY JUNE 12

World Cup-Latest predictions for Saturday games at the World Cup:

Greece 0-1 South Korea

The spirited Asians will have just enough to win by a single goal.

Argentina 2-1 Nigeria

Maradona to get lucky in what I think will be a tight game. The Africans will have great support and will get at the Argentinian defence.

England 2-1 USA

I'm not expecting a classic here. If England hit the ground running they might build up a lead, but the USA will be so up for this one as it's so key to the outcome of the Group C.

WORLD CUP VIEW FROM...SOUTH KOREA

Tim Alper writes for Best 11, a South Korean monthly football magazine, and is a producer for tbs eFM, South Korea's only English-language radio station. He will be producing the 2010 World Cup Update show for the station.

What is the mood in South Korea now with the team's opening match against Greece just five days away?

It's close to fever pitch out here. The World Cup has been a huge deal in South Korea ever since they co-hosted it back in 2002. Just about every major square and sports stadium in Seoul has been decked out with massive TV screens, and people are set to go wild with excitement here. Korea is a pretty exciting place to be when the World Cup rolls around.

Has the Korean Football Association set any particular target for the team at South Africa 2010?

I am not aware that they have. However, the public perception is that, after the disappointment of 2006, when they were knocked out in the group stages, reaching the second round would be a massive achievement. I don't think anyone dares dream of getting further that that.

The level of expectation amongst the fans was clearly very high four years ago following the amazing run to the semi-final on home soil in 2002. Has the sobering experience of Germany 2006 tempered expectations this time?

Certainly. South Korean fans are pretty realistic. They know that 2002 was not a template for future success, it was just one glorious moment in Korean sporting history. But this time, they just want the team to make a real fist of it, and push for the round of 16.

Who do you think are the two most important players for South Korea as this World Cup?

It's hard to narrow it down to two, South Korea's squad in 2010 is quite possibly the best squad they have ever sent to a World Cup. I would say watch out for Celtic's Ki Seung-Young, he is one of the most creative players Korea have in their side. Also, a lot of responsibility lies in the hands of their veteran goalkeeper, Lee Woon-Jae. It either of these players underperform, South Korea will struggle.

The balance of South Korea's group (Group B) is perfect on paper as it contains four teams from four different confederations. Do you think the Korean team is more suited to playing teams from a particular confederation?

If the World Cup were being played anywhere but Africa, I'd say African teams. A lot of teams from Africa see South Korean players as lightweights who they can muscle off the ball easily. But where a lot of teams that play against South Korea come undone is when it comes to underestimating the energy levels of East Asian sides. I doubt there are many sides that can outdo Korea when it comes to basic fitness. A lot of the time, African sides play at really high tempo and run out of steam in the final third of the game. If it weren't for the 'home advantage' of playing in Africa, I'd say that sides like Nigeria, who South Korea will be playing against, would be perfect opponents.

On paper the most difficult of the three group matches looks to be the middle one against Argentina. How important do you think the order in which you play the teams in your group is?

I don't think it makes much difference. South Korea will be going out to win all three, though personally, if I were Huh Jong-Moo, I'd want an early crack at Argentina. Player for player, they look frightening, but I don't think Maradona has the coaching skills or the tactical nous to win them the World Cup.

So, how far do you think South Korea will go?

I would say the second round is realistic. As long as they can take a point or more from their first game, I think they'll do it. If they lose against Greece, they may struggle to qualify.

Looking at the tournament as a whole, which four teams would you expect to reach the semi-finals?

England, Germany, Brazil, Italy.

And the winners?

It's tough to say, as this is the first ever African World Cup. I think it might come down to team spirit and self-belief, and Germany or Italy have those qualities in spades. Spain are easily the best side, if you look at their squad, but I think they may get vertigo when they get to the later rounds. You have to remember that before they triumphed at EURO 2008, they were labelled along with the Dutch as perennial bottlers. I can see the wheels coming off if they go a goal behind against a big, confident side like the Brazilians or the Italians.

SELECTION HEADACHES

There's no denying it, we may be thirty days from the start of the tournament but South Africa 2010 is well and truly in full swing.

With squads being announced left, right and centre there is talking point after talking point arising from all corners of the globe and believe it or not there's the odd metatarsal raising it's ugly head, or toe as the case may be.

It seems that South Africa will be a World Cup that will make new international superstars rather than showcasing the ones we are already familiar with. Maradona kicked things off by giving Argentina fans something of a head scratcher as he left out not one, not two, but three big names in his provisional squad.

The legend has left the trio of Javier Zanetti, Fernando Gago and Esteban Cambiasso without a seat on the plane to South Africa. In an apparent catching trend Ronaldinho has been omitted by the Brazilians, Ruud van Nistelrooy overlooked by the Dutch, Luca Toni and Francesco Totti ignored by the Azzuri and Patrick Vieira left out of the France squad.

That crazy Raymond Domenech has also left out Arsenal's Samir Nasri and decided that Real Madrid's £30 million striker Karim Benzema is not one of the top eight French strikers with the twenty-two year old told to take a holiday somewhere other than South Africa this summer.

In other news, Mexico have named just five midfielders in a thirty man squad and New Zealand have selected two men who don't have clubs.

On the home front it's somewhat less surprising that there is no Michael Owen in the England squad and for injury reasons David Beckham has also missed out. However don't think Fabio Capello has it all that easy, since naming Rio Ferdinand the new England captain the Manchester United defender has struggled to string two games together while there are strong whispers that John Terry has done his metatarsal (that's a toe to us simpletons).

The first choice replacement is Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King, a man who has such injury problems that he doesn't train for the Premier League outfit, but admittedly it doesn't seem to effect his performances on the pitch. King was an integral part of Spurs successful charge to fourth place this season and you'd bet your house on him to put his career on the line for the cause.

Other backups in the centre back position are the untried Michael Dawson, the uninspiring Matty Upson and the un-retired Jamie Carragher all of whom would have to string together an immediate understanding to give England some leadership at the back.

When is this tournament over? I've already got a headache.

SPAIN TOP RANKINGS AS ENGLAND CLIMB AGAIN

The announcement of the latest FIFA/Coca Cola World Rankings has seen European Champions Spain retain top spot ahead of Brazil and the Netherlands.

The top three remain unchanged for the fifth successive month, since November 2009, but the rest of the top ten saw some considerable action this month.

Former World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has seen his Portugal side move up two places to fourth at the expense of defending World Champions Italy and three-time winners Germany who both drop a place to fifth and sixth respectively.

Meanwhile Fabio Capello's England climbed the rankings for the second successive month as they jumped one place to seventh with France dropping down to eighth.

Croatia re-entered the top ten just behind Argentina who are unmoved in ninth, while Australia have now broken into the top twenty after moving up four places to 19th.

This summer's hosts South Africa, have fallen seven places to 88th.

This month's biggest gainers were Senegal who climbed an impressive 22 places to 72nd whilst the biggest losers were Guam who fell 14 places to 196.

Full FIFA World Rankings here.