Tuesday we saw the first matches of the final rounds of the World Cup with one disappointment as far as the competition is concerned and that was France. The French team was eagerly looking for the good old days of the 90’s but was awful as they were in the first two group stage matches. Evra having an argument with team officials, the French team boycotting training, Nicolas Anelka being dismissed from the team for swearing at the coach, If you were looking for a controversy, then the France training ground and dressing room was the address to be at.

France made another very poor performance and we were unsurprised to see Les Blues go home in a disastrous way after South Africa beat the French 2-1. France scored a total of 1 goal in all three matches and Mr Raymond Domenech must have been looking for Benzema but I suppose not because he still failed to play Henry.

The remaining game of Group A was between the Latin American sides Uruguay and Mexico in which Uruguay managed to win Mexico 1-0 to complete the Group on top with 7 points. Mexico completed the group on four points level with South Africa but were able to go to the knockout stages on goal differences.

The remaining games of the day were between Greece Vs. Argentina and Nigeria Vs Korea. The Greece Vs Argentina game was as expected an Argentine win with the Latin American side beating Greece 2-0 with some special acrobatics from Lionel Messi who was chosen man of the match.

However it is fair to say that Greece did play a good game against the Argentines and deserved at least a point though both goals scored by Argentina came on the final 15 minutes of the game.

Korea Republic aka South Korea were their usual self and where able to get a 2-2 draw against the struggling and poor performing Nigeria too book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup in South Africa.

Argentina managed to win all their group stage matches and completed the group with nine points. While South Korea managed to accumulate four with Greece falling just behind on three and Nigeria managing only a single point.

World Cup last 16 knock out stage

Uruguay will now face South Korea in the last 16 on 26 June and Mexico will face Argentina on the 27th of June.

Wednesday 23rd June, FIFA 2010 World Cup South Africa schedule.

Group C
United States Vs. Algeria – 04:00pm local time.
Slovenia Vs. England – 04:00pm local time.

The Group stage matches will be played at the same time to make the games as fair as possible.

Currently all teams in Group C have chance to go through but a win for England Slovenia and the United States are enough to get the teams through. With Algeria the only team that needs to win with at least a two goal difference and hope for England to beat Slovenia.

Group C will be very exciting but with all probability as long as England put their heads back together, they should be able to go through to the knockout stages with comfort.

United States Vs. Algeria

The United States Vs. Algeria game will be played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa. The stadium has a capacity of 42,858 and the match will kick off at 4:00pm local time (TR time – 5:00pm : UK time 3:00pm).

Slovenia Vs. England

The Slovenia Vs. England will kick off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth with a capacity of 48,000. The game will start at 4:00pm local time (TR time – 5:00pm : UK time 3:00pm).

Group D
Australia Vs. Serbia – 08:30pm local
Ghana Vs. Germany – 08:30pm local

Just as Group C, all teams in Group D have the chance to go through to the knockout stages of the World Cup. With the shock loss of Germany, against Serbia, things went topsy-turvy in Group D.
Germany will now face Ghana and will need to beat the African side to guarantee their place in the last 16. Ghana are currently on top of the Group but with all probability, they will lose against Germany who have never failed to go to the knockout stages of the competition.

The other match of Group D is between Australia Vs Serbia. Serbia will be fighting for a win against Australia who are missing influential forward Harry Kewell after a red card in the Ghana match last week.

Serbia, if they win will guarantee a spot in the knockout stages but Australia can also go through should they win over Serbia by a hefty goal margin and hope for Germany to beat Ghana. However if Ghana beat Germany and Australia beat Serbia then the Aussies will be laughing to the last 16.

Australia Vs. Serbia

The Australia Vs. Serbia match will be played at the 40,929 seater Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa. The match will kick off at 8:30pm local time (TR time – 9:30pm : UK time 7:30pm).

Ghana Vs. Germany

The Ghana Vs. Germany match will be played at the Soccer City stadium aka FNB Stadium at Nasrec, the Soweto area of Johannesburg with a capacity of 84,490. The match will kick off at 8:30pm local time (TR time – 9:30pm : UK time 7:30pm).

World Cup Round of 16 knockout stage Predictions Group C and D

The winners of Group C will then face the runners up of Group D on the 26th of June in the Round of 16 knockout stages. The probable teams to face each other will be England / USA Vs Germany / Serbia.

The Runners up of Group C will face the winner of Group D on the 27th June in the Round of 16 knockout stages. The probable teams to face each other will be England / USA Vs Germany / Serbia.

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