hugh

Jun 15 2010, 02:11 AM

I agree it has been quite a boring start to the tournament, and few goals (let alone good goals) as well.

BBC Sport

 

New Zealand midfielder Tim Brown will not be risked against Slovakia, having only recently returned to training following shoulder surgery, but should be available for the match against Italy on Sunday.

Coach Ricki Herbert has said Brown will be replaced by veteran Ivan Vicelich, who normally plays at centre-back.

Slovakia winger Miroslav Stoch is expected to start on Tuesday despite picking up a minor knee problem in training. Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel has recovered from an ankle injury and is also likely to feature.

MATCH PREVIEW

While the neutrals may not be counting down the days until this Group F clash, for fans of New Zealand and Slovakia the long wait is almost over. The All Whites are taking part in their first World Cup since 1982, while Slovakia are making their debut as an independent nation. There may not be many household names on display, but there will be no shortage of passion and commitment.

Most New Zealand supporters are bracing themselves for an early exit, but a warm-up win against Serbia suggests the All Whites won't be outclassed in South Africa. Coach Ricki Herbert has assembled an eclectic squad that includes two players currently without a club, three with non-league experience in England and another, midfielder Andy Barron, who combines football with work at a Wellington bank.

However, the recent recruitment of Winston Reid and Tommy Smith, who have switched allegiance after playing youth football for Denmark and England respectively, has given Herbert more strength at the back. Together with captain Ryan Nelsen, they should ensure things are All White on the night.

While this is Slovakia's debut, they already have plenty of pedigree, having competed as part of Czechoslovakia until 1990, reaching World Cup finals in 1934 and 1962. And, as most Slovakian fans will tell you, eight of the side that started the 1976 European Championship final win were Slovaks.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- This is the first game between the two countries.

NEW ZEALAND

- They lost all three games on their only previous World Cup appearance in 1982, losing 5-2 to Scotland, 3-0 to the USSR and 4-0 against Brazil.

- Three squad members have played at non-league level in England. Leo Bertos had a stint with Worksop, James Bannatyne turned out for Yeading and Shane Smeltz had spells with Mansfield, AFC Wimbledon and Halifax.

- A further two players are currently without a club - Simon Elliott was released by MLS side San Jose Earthquakes this year, while David Mulligan was let go by Wellington Phoenix (who are led by All Whites coach Ricki Herbert).

SLOVAKIA

- The Slovaks are the only country competing at their first World Cup this summer. The last two European debutants lost their opening match - Ukraine were beaten 4-0 by Spain in 2006 and Slovenia lost 3-1 to the Spanish in 2002.

- They kept only three clean sheets in qualifying - against San Marino, Northern Ireland and Poland.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)

Assistants: Celestin Ntagungira (Rwanda) and Enock Molefe (South Africa)

4th official: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

BBC Sport

 

Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must decide whether or not to risk captain Didier Drogba, who broke a bone in his arm on 4 June. If he is ruled out, Seydou Doumbia is set to replace him up front alongside Salomon Kalou.

Portugal's defensive midfielder, Pepe, only made his comeback from a serious knee injury against Mozambique last week, so he may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Simao has declared himself fit after a minor knee complaint and is likely to start, given Nani's departure from the squad with a collarbone injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

Portugal have not lost for 20 months and are ranked third in the world. But there is something of the old adage 'there are lies, damned lies, and statistics' hiding what has been a very average spell of form for Carlos Queiroz's side. Central to this poor run has been Cristiano Ronaldo's performances in a Portugal shirt. The world's most expensive player failed to score during qualifying and has not been on target for his country since February 2009. Not that he is worried: "Goals are like a bottle of ketchup. When it appears, it all comes at once," he said.

A dismal goalless draw with the Cape Verde Islands in a warm-up match added weight to the argument that this might be a team slightly past their best, but if they can get CR7 firing on all cylinders, they are more than a match for anyone. Mystery, though, continues to surround the reasons behind the departure from the squad of Nani after he told reporters as he arrived back at Lisbon airport, "I'll be fine in a week," despite being ruled out of the World Cup with a collarbone injury.

As if being drawn in the 'Group of Death' for two World Cups in a row wasn't bad enough, a tournament-threatening injury to their inspirational captain Didier Drogba must have left the Ivory Coast feeling like they are cursed. New coach Sven-Goran Eriksson barely had a chance to work with his squad by the time his World Cup plans were thrown into disarray when Drogba broke a bone in his arm against Japan.

The Elephants' squad are studded with star names, but it has been a lack of team unity, and accusations that they put club before country, that has been their undoing in recent times. Eriksson is blessed with a talented group of players, but getting them to gel in such a short space of time looks like a tough task. And for those of you looking for an omen, Eriksson was in charge of England when they were knocked out by Portugal at both the 2006 World Cup and 2004 European Championships.

MATCH STATS
Head-to-head

- This will be the first meeting between the sides.

Ivory Coast

- At their only previous World Cup appearance, they conceded 2 goals in each of their 3 games.

- Only reserve goalkeeper Daniel Yeboah plays for an Ivory Coast-based team.

Portugal

- Portugal have never drawn a group game at the World Cup, winning eight and losing four.

- During qualification for South Africa, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in seven appearances.

- Portugal last lost an international in November 2008 when they were hammered 6-2 by Brazil.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Assistants: Pablo Fandino and Mauricio Espinosa (both Uruguay)

Fourth official: Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)

BBC Sport

 

Brazil coach Dunga has a fully-fit squad to choose from after Julio Cesar overcame the back injury he sustained in a warm-up match with Zimbabwe. Former Manchester City player Elano is expected to be chosen ahead of Ramires in midfield.

North Korea's selections are usually surrounded in mystery. Using the bulk of players that helped them through qualifying, they will line-up in a 4-5-1 formation.

MATCH PREVIEW

The highest-ranked team at the World Cup versus the lowest ranked, five-time winners versus a country making only their second appearance on football's greatest stage. Brazil v North Korea is about the biggest clash of footballing cultures that you can expect to see at this World Cup.

The North Korean squad enchanted fans during their fairytale run to the quarter-finals at the 1966 World Cup, but their 2010 incarnation is a different beast altogether. Their team seem to embody elements of their political regime back home, shrouded in secrecy, patriotic to the extreme and intensely distrusting of the media.

Their primary goal in the 'Group of Death' will be to defend, utilising the ultra- cautious 5-4-1 formation that proved to be so difficult to breach in their qualifying campaign. The best they can hope for is that 'the people's Rooney', bustling striker Jong Tae-se, can conjure something out of nothing.

While this Brazilian squad is not quite as swashbuckling as ones from World Cups gone by, Dunga's teak-tough team still contains the likes of Robinho and Kaka, who are more than capable of playing the beautiful game. "There are a lot of stiff waists in the team, Kaka, Luis Fabiano," said Robinho of his team-mates. "I want to see if they can dance a little better." While you can be sure of Brazil cracking a smile or two during the World Cup, don't expect the serious North Koreans to celebrate an unlikely goal with a samba shuffle of their own.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

- This is the first time the sides have met.

Brazil

- They have won the World Cup in all the continents it has been staged (North America, South America, Europe and Asia) so winning it in Africa would complete the set.

- They have lost just once in their last 26 matches (at altitude v Bolivia in La Paz).

- Luis Fabiano has not scored for Brazil since September (v Argentina), a run of eight matches.

- Brazil's squad is the oldest at this World Cup and is the oldest squad they have sent to a World Cup

North Korea

- This is North Korea's first appearance in the World Cup for 44 years. This is the fourth longest interval between World Cup participations. The joint-longest absence is 56-years, shared by Egypt (1934-1990) and Norway (1938-1994).

- They conceded just seven goals in 16 qualifying games.

- They scored just five goals in their last five games.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

Assistants: Gabor Eros and Tibor Vamos (Hungary)

Fourth official: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh Malaysia)

Lee Vilenski

Jun 15 2010, 03:01 PM

Why on earth did Drogba not start? That's something I can't work out.

Lee Vilenski

Jun 15 2010, 07:18 PM

Brazil 0-0 South Korea at half time. Nicely played.