Full-time - 90'
Japan
1 - 0
Cameroon
Group E, 14:00 GMT, June 14, 2010

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Keisuke Honda's 39th minute goal was enough to give Japan a 1-0 victory over Group E rivals Cameroon in Bloemfontein.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Daisuke Matsui - In a match of little excitement, Matsui was one of the few players to offer any attacking impetus.

Japan verdict: Japan had two shots on target in the entire game and scored a lucky goal. That said, they still picked up the three points which, with Denmark losing to Netherlands, leaves them second in the group. They must improve on this performance but at least they can look to do that with three points secured.

Cameroon verdict: If they showed more composure on the ball in the final third they would have got something from this game. Though they had six shots, only one was on target and they wasted several promising positions.

Could do better: Paul le Guen - In opting to leave Alex Song on the bench and playing Samuel Eto'o in a wide position, the Cameroon coach failed to make the most of his best players. And Cameroon will now have to get something against Netherlands to make it through the group.

Stat attack: Forty-nine fouls in this match is the highest combined total at this year's World Cup.

Le Guen unhappy with attitude

Honda's close-range strike was one of the few highlights of an otherwise forgettable game at the Free State Stadium.

The CSKA Moscow forward's goal handed a long-awaited victory to Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who had seen his side lose four and draw one of their warm-up matches, scoring only one goal in the process.

While Okada opted for a lone striker in Yoshito Okubo, his Cameroon counterpart Paul Le Guen decided on an adventurous 4-3-3 formation.

Despite being one of Africa's brightest hopes Cameroon were toothless, despite having a great deal of possession, although goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima made a breathtaking save from substitute Mohamadou Idrissou in stoppage time.

Much was expected of skipper Samuel Eto'o but the Inter Milan striker was left frustrated as Japan defended in numbers.

Le Guen saw his side carve out the first opening of the game in the eighth minute when Eto'o released Pierre Webo. He raced to the byline and played the ball into the middle but Eyong Enoh was unable to get a decent touch.

Kawashima then made a good block from Enoh's close range effort before Japan made the breakthrough.

The Cameroon defence failed to cut out Daisuke Matsui's cross to the back post and Honda reacted quickly. He got a superb first touch before clipping the ball beyond a stranded Souleymanou Hamidou.

Cameroon came out with a purpose at the start of the second half and should have equalised in the 49th minute.

Eto'o got the better of two players in a determined run. He played the ball into the path of Eric Choupo-Moting who was clear in front of goal. However the striker failed to test Kawashima, his effort going wide of the post to Japan's relief.

Cameroon were enjoying a decent spell and Choupo-Moting cut inside only to drag his shot off target.

However, Japan almost added a second goal in the 82nd minute when they launched a swift counter-attack.

Makoto Hasebe's shot was parried by the goalkeeper but only landed at the feet of substitute Shinji Ozakaki, who saw the rebound come off the outside of the left post.

Cameroon responded and three minutes later Stephane Mbia's instinctive effort rattled the bar. With the crowd urging them, Cameroon kept pushing players forward in search of the equaliser but Japan stood firm.

However, they had to rely on Kawashima right at the end to give them the victory they had craved. The Kawasaki Frontale shot-stopper has only recently taken the jersey and it was easy to understand why as Cameroon were left frustrated.

Former Lyon, Rangers and Paris St Germain boss Le Guen was hoping Cameroon would make it through to the quarter-finals, but this opening defeat makes that looks an outside bet at the moment, with group rivals Netherlands also chalking up a victory earlier in the day.

Full-time - 90'
Italy
1 - 1
Paraguay
Group F, 18:30 GMT, June 14, 2010

Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa

Defending champions Italy had to come from behind to salvage a draw in their World Cup Group F opener against Paraguay in Cape Town.

MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Gianluca Zambrotta - Ever reliable at the back, Zambrotta most influenced the game going forward with some intelligent runs and consistently good delivery into the box.

Italy verdict: Slow and ponderous in the first half they improved markedly in the second after strong half-time words from Marcello Lippi. Will be concerned at conceding from a set-piece and the lack of attacking thrust but then, they are generally slow starters.

Paraguay verdict: Will be delighted to have claimed a point from the defending champions, yet it could have been more but for goalkeeper Justo Villar's wild flap. Look reasonably compact but will struggle to prosper if they can't find some cutting edge in the final third.

Could do better: Claudio Marchisio - The Juve man's departure sparked Italy's revival in the game as Mauro Camoranesi provided a better balance to midfield. Marchisio struggled to get on the ball and, as a result, failed to influence the game.

Stat attack: Eight of Italy's last 13 World Cup goals have come from set-pieces.


Having played well in the first half at Green Point Stadium the 2006 winners were shocked when Wigan-bound defender Antolin Alcaraz rose to head home a 39th-minute free-kick.

But Italy's blushes were spared as Daniele De Rossi slid in to punish a mistake by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar after 63 minutes and take a point from the match. As expected, Italy coach Marcello Lippi had left Serie A's top goalscorer Antonio Di Natale on the bench, instead selecting Alberto Gilardino with Vincenzo Iaquinta out wide.

Gerardo Martino also opted to leave out his two highest-profile forwards in Benfica's Oscar Cardozo and Manchester City man Roque Santa Cruz. Instead, Borussia Dortmund team-mates Lucas Barrios and Nelson Valdez were deployed in attack.

Claudio Morel had to be alert to stop Simone Pepe pouncing on a dangerous ball at the back post in the sixth minute as Italy set the early pace. Despite some neat passing moves, chances were few and far between.

Paraguay did exert some form of pressure midway through the half with two corners, before Riccardo Montolivo broke forward for Italy but could only hit a meek shot at Villar. In the 22nd minute Aureliano Torres mis-hit a shot which only just bobbled wide of Gianluigi Buffon's goal.

Italy were stunned six minutes before the break when Paraguay went in front from a set-piece. Torres' launched free-kick from deep was perfectly flighted and with Fabio Cannavaro and De Rossi flailing, Alcaraz headed past Buffon.

Buffon was surprisingly substituted at the break, replaced by Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti having reportedly suffered a back injury.

Enrique Vera had two sighters for Paraguay while Pepe missed with a spectacular bicycle kick attempt and Montolivo's weak shot was easily saved. Martino sent on midfielder Jonathan Santana for Torres while Lippi sacrificed Marchisio for Mauro Camoranesi to go 4-4-2 shortly before the hour mark.

Victor Caceres was booked for a late slide on Montolivo before Italy finally made the pressure tell to go level. Villar horribly missed Pepe's corner from the left, allowing a delighted De Rossi to simply stab the ball home.

Italy had a penalty shout denied by Mexican Benito Archundia when Montolivo went down under a robust shoulder challenge from Paulo Da Silva before, at the other end, Barrios found Santana who dragged his shot off target.

Santa Cruz was given his chance in the 68th minute when he came on for Valdez before Camoranesi was booked for a foul on Vera. Di Natale finally got his opportunity in the 72nd minute when he replaced Gilardino while Cardozo also had a taste when he came on for Barrios.

Good work from Di Natale set up Udinese team-mate Pepe for a half-decent shot while, at the opposite end, Cannavaro blocked a Santa Cruz header.

Montolivo did threaten with an 83rd minute long-range effort which brought out the best in Villar, who sprawled low to his right to save, but Italy were unable to complete the turnaround by snatching a winner.

New Zealand v Slovakia
Group F, 11:30 GMT, June 15, 2010

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa

New Zealand head into their second World Cup campaign as massive underdogs. Competing in their first tournament since 1982, the All Whites are available at 2,000-1 to lift the trophy in South Africa, the longest odds of any of the 32 nations.


Although their appearance at the finals may seem an impressive achievement, when you consider they navigated a qualifying zone containing minnows such as New Caledonia, Vainatu and Fiji, it looks a far less creditable accomplishment. Despite the gulf in class that will exist between them and the majority of teams at the finals, New Zealand will believe Tuesday's opener against Slovakia represents their best chance of picking up three points. Ricki Herbert's squad have demonstrated an ability to cope with the big occasion when they defeated Bahrain in a nail-biting World Cup play off, so confidence could be high among the players that they can gain a positive result.

Slovakia will be competing in their first finals as an independent nation after topping a qualifying group that included respected campaigners Poland and arch-rivals Czech Republic. Their squad has a good blend of youth and experience, with defenders such as Martin Skrtel and Marek Cech offering a solid foundation for attacking talents such as Vladimir Weiss and Miroslav Stoch, while, in Marek Hamsik, they may have a star in the making.

New Zealand player in focus: Shane Smeltz. Playing against superior opposition, goal-scoring chances will be at a premium for New Zealand. It is essential, therefore, that chances are taken when they arrive. Shane Smeltz is likely to be the man those chances will fall to and, if he fails to take them, the All Whites' stay in South Africa will be short. Smeltz does have goalscoring pedigree, having been the leading scorer in Australia's A-League for the last two seasons. If he can take his club form into the World Cup, Ricki Herbert's side might just spring a surprise.

Slovakia player in focus: Marek Hamsik. The 22-year-old, who is rumoured to be attracting the attention of Europe's top clubs, will have the perfect platform on which to display his talent in South Africa. With New Zealand likely to adopt a defensive approach to the game, the onus will be on Slovakia to break down their defence. In his role as chief creator in the Slovakia side, Hamsik has the potential to put New Zealand to the sword on Tuesday. Ably assisted by wide men Stoch and Weiss, Hamsik could well be the star of the show in Rustenburg.

Key battle: Ryan Nelsen v Stanislav Sestak. Vfl Bochum forward Sestak scored an impressive 28 Bundesliga goals last season, and he will be keen to mark his first World Cup appearance with at least one goal. Ryan Nelsen's Premier League experience is going to be central to New Zealand's hopes of avoiding humiliation in the tournament and, if he can get the better of Sestak, his team might be able to sneak a point, or possibly more.

Trivia: Nine of the players in the Czechoslovakia team that defeated West Germany in the 1976 European Championship final were Slovakian.

Stats: Slovakia's highest-ranked opponents during qualification were Slovenia, who are ranked 25th in the world. Before facing Bahrain, who are ranked 69th, New Zealand's highest-ranked opponents were Fiji, ranked 132th in the world.

Odds: New Zealand (9.00), the draw (4.33), Slovakia (1.40) with Bet365. Nerves may get the better of Slovakia in their first World Cup match, so 1-0 New Zealand at 19.00 could be good value.

Prediction: New Zealand will battle bravely but Slovakia should have too much quality for the Kiwis. With Hamsik and Sestak in their team, 2-0 to Slovakia seems a likely outcome.

Ivory Coast v Portugal
Group G, 14:00 GMT, June 15, 2010

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

To say that Portugal were unconvincing in qualifying for the World Cup would be an understatement. Their place in South Africa was only secured courtesy of a play-off victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, and they failed to even score against lowly Albania in a home qualifying fixture, playing out an embarrassing 0-0 draw in Leiria.


Add to that Cristiano Ronaldo's failure to score in their qualification campaign, and a recent 0-0 draw at home to minnows Cape Verde Islands, and it would be fair to say that Carlos Queiroz is under as much pressure as any coach at the finals.

For the Ivory Coast's Sven-Goran Eriksson, though, it is an unexpected chance to lead the best equipped of the African nations into the continent's first World Cup finals. The draw may not have been kind to Ivory Coast, but having been grouped with unknown quantity North Korea and under-performing Portugal, Eriksson's men will be confident of progressing alongside probable group winners Brazil.

Their success, however, hinges on the fitness of talismanic striker Didier Drogba. Should Drogba recover from a broken arm in time to play a full part in Ivory Coast's campaign, they will be a team to avoid in South Africa.

Ivory Coast player in focus: Salomon Kalou. With doubts over the participation of Didier Drogba, following his injury in the friendly against Japan, the onus falls on his Chelsea team-mate Kalou to lead the attack. Quick, agile and with a good eye for goal, Kalou has been unlucky to be sidelined so regularly for his club and has a great chance to prove himself on the world stage.

Portugal player in focus: Cristiano Ronaldo. Having failed to score in Portugal's dismal qualifying campaign, Ronaldo has the expectations of the entire world on his shoulders in South Africa. He already talked of feeling under pressure, but he needs to be at his best if a weak Portugal attack is to fire. Without Nani, Ronaldo's trickery on the wings will have to provide a large chunk of the service for Liedson up front, and he will be the focus of all Portugal's moves.

Key Battle: Emmanuel Eboue v Simao. With Ronaldo on one side, Simao will have the chance to run at his man and may target Eboue as a weak link in the Ivorian defence. Having burst onto the scene as a full back at Arsenal, Eboue has been moved further up the pitch for his club and Simao will be keen to exploit his lack of defensive nous. Perhaps a spiky confrontation is on the cards as well, as both men have been known to lose their tempers in the past.

Trivia: Portugal have six players in their squad born outside of Portugal: Deco, Liedson, Pepe (all Brazil), Daniel Fernandes (Canada), Rolando (Cape Verde) and Danny (Venezuela).

Stats: Sven-Goran Eriksson has been knocked out of his last two major tournaments as an international manager at the quarter-final stage, on penalties, by Portugal (Euro 2004, World Cup 2006).

Odds: Ivory Coast (3.40), the draw (3.25), Portugal (2.20) with Bet365. With Portugal looking unconvincing in attack, 2-0 to Ivory Coast at 17.00 looks good value.

Prediction: A combination of a fit Didier Drogba and passionate African support should see Sven's men through to a narrow win but, if the Chelsea man misses out, a draw looks the more likely outcome.

Brazil
v
North Korea
Group G, 18:30 GMT, June 15, 2010

Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

The most successful side in World Cup history, Brazil are revered around the world for their free-flowing, attacking style of football that has allowed them to give the world the gift of players like Pele and Garrincha. But a new breed of Brazilian finds itself at this year's World Cup, under the tutelage of their defensive midfield general turned coach, Dunga.


Fitting, perhaps, that Brazil will find themselves up against North Korea in the first game, as the defensive mindset that that has taken over the Samba stars is employed to full effect in Asia as well. Of course, the gap between the two sides is huge. Conventional wisdom dictates that Brazil should walk away with a comfortable win, but they will have to break down some stubborn defending if they are to do so.

In Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano, Brazil don't quite have the same attacking platform as the three Rs of Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho from the last time they lifted the trophy in 2002 - but they do possess a very similar midfield with Kleberson and Gilberto Silva employed in the holding roles. For Cafu and Roberto Carlos, read Maicon and Michel Bastos - full backs so impressive that Barcelona star Daniel Alves is left on the bench - but the criticism of their style under Dunga has not lifted despite the players on show. Make no mistake: they may have topped their qualifying group but, to the Brazilian public, they have a lot to prove.

Their opposition, North Korea, have already won the favour of their fans simply by qualifying for the tournament. With a pedigree that includes a shock run to the quarter-finals in 1966, beating Italy 1-0 in the process, the Koreans head into South Africa knowing that just a draw in the 'Group of Death' will make them global celebrities. The secret nature of the country, and indeed the team, have many guessing how they will set up, but a 5-4-1 formation looks likely with every man behind the ball.

Brazil player in focus: Kaka. After months on the sidelines troubled by injury for his club Real Madrid, Kaka holds the key for the creativity of this Brazil side. This squad is not overly blessed with the usual array of attacking talents, but Kaka stands alone as one of the best in the world on his day. He will be well rested after the season and should be raring to go.

North Korea player in focus: Jong Tae-Se. The only North Korean to make himself readily available to the media before the tournament, Jong, who was born in Japan, has talked of his ambition to score a goal a game at the tournament. 'The Asian Wayne Rooney', as he has been dubbed, is basically the only attacking outlet for his side and has proved himself a dangerous finisher in some of the pre-tournament friendlies.

Key battle: Robinho v Nam Song-Chul. Robinho has a lot to prove at this World Cup after being shipped off to Santos on loan. His pace and trickery will certainly provide a tough test for the Korean defence, especially with Nam Song-Chul filling in on the left-hand side of defence and attempting to get forward as much as he can. Most likely, Nam will avoid any attacking urges but Robinho's talent as he drifts around the final third could embarrass his opponent.

Trivia: Korea means 'Land of the Morning Calm' in Korean and the North Korean football team's nickname is Chollima, a mythical winged-horse popular in central Asian folklore. It is said to be "too swift to be mounted".

Stats: North Korea's biggest win came in 2005 when it stomped Guam 21-0. Don't expect the same attacking prowess against Brazil.

Odds: Brazil (1.10), the draw (9.00), North Korea (29.00) with Bet365. Jong Tae-Se to score anytime is 7.00

Prediction: No shock here, although the Koreans may win over a few doubters if they can avoiding haemorrhaging goals early. Brazil should put at least three past them.

Full-time - 90'
New Zealand
1 - 1
Slovakia

Group F, 11:30 GMT, June 15, 2010

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa

MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Vladimir Weiss - If there were any doubts about whether Weiss Jnr deserved to be in his dad's starting line-up, they were banished by a scintillating display against the All Whites. Pacy and skilful, the winger was a constant threat and his positive, fearless approach to attacking was a breath of fresh air. Deserved to be on the winning side.

New Zealand verdict: A gritty performance from the All Whites, Ricki Herbert's side defended bravely, with a number of last-ditch tackles going in, but showed plenty of naivety to let Slovakia get into dangerous positions. Lacked any real attacking threat - Shane Smeltz feeding on scraps - but Winston Reid's injury-time goal gave them a result that rewarded their resilience.

Slovakia verdict: After a poor opening, Vladimir Weiss's side picked up the tempo and played some football that was often very easy on the eye. In Marek Hamsik and Weiss Jnr they had a pair of players that provided a dangerous attacking outlet, while Robert Vittek and Stanislav Sestak looked lively up front. Possesed much more quality than the All Whites and were a touch wasteful - their potential should have been converted into more goals and they were punished for not putting the game beyond doubt.

Could do better: Mark Paston Yes, that Jabulani moves a lot in the air but it is no excuse for the New Zealand goalkeeper looking consistently shaky throughout the game. He regularly flapped at crosses and an embarrassing mis-kick in the first half could have ended in disaster.

Stat attack: The first 19 goals of this World Cup have been scored by 19 different players, breaking the previous record of 18 (1978).


It was also New Zealand's first goal in the finals for 28 years and sparked wild celebrations among the All Whites supporters inside the Royal Bafokeng stadium.

Reid was booked for his own celebration when he ripped off his shirt and twirled it around his head after bulleting home a header from Shane Smeltz's cross.

It was an historic moment in New Zealand football, considering the Kiwis had lost all three of their previous group matches at their only other appearance in the finals in 1982.

Reid's late strike cancelled out a 50th-minute goal from Slovakia's Robert Vittek, which was also historic. It was the nation's first-ever goal in their debut match at the World Cup finals.

Vittek repaid the faith his manager, Vladimir Weiss, had shown in him after he went through the qualifying campaign without scoring. It was also a flying header, drilled past New Zealand goalkeeper Mark Paston.

Although television replays suggested Vittek, who has been playing his football for Ankaragucu in Turkey on a loan deal from Lille, might have been offside when he met a sweet cross from Stanislas Sestak, it was just reward for Slovakia's superior ambition.

They were the better side, outplaying for long periods a New Zealand team whose only previous finals appearance in 1982 ended in three straight defeats, 3-0 to the Soviet Union, 4-0 to Brazil and 5-2 to Scotland.

The All Whites are a side comprising five English league players, captain Ryan Nelsen from Blackburn, Chris Killen from Middlesbrough, Ipswich's Tommy Smith, Plymouth's Rory Fallon and substitute Chris Wood from West Brom who replaced Killen in the second-half.

They have plenty of guts and pride, but technically they were some way inferior to a Slovak side for whom 20-year-old Vladimir Weiss, the manager's son who played just one game for Manchester City before being loaned out to Bolton last season, was a constant inspiration in midfield.

The first half was just about as sterile a 45 minutes as this goal-starved World Cup has witnessed. The most exciting moment came from a mistake from Paston who fluffed his kick-out. Vittek pounced on the mistake and looked like making New Zealand pay but Paston recovered to smother his attempt.

The action was so pedestrian it had to improve and it did with Vittek's goal allowing Slovakia to play with more freedom.

Until the last five minutes New Zealand's best effort had been when Killen rose highest in the penalty area but dispatched his header straight into the arms of Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha.

Yet they mounted a spirited late rally which saw substitute Wood go close with a diving header.

Little were we to know an even better one was to come from Reid to leave New Zealand, Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay locked on a point each in Group F.

Full-time - 90'
Ivory Coast
0 - 0
Portugal
Group G, 14:00 GMT, June 15, 2010

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: One of the commentators on the game said: ''Entertainment was not on the agenda today'' and he was quite right. In truth, no player did enough to merit the award and a match that promised much, delivered little.

Ivory Coast verdict: Unable to get to grips with either the ball or the pitch, the Ivorian players constantly gave the ball away by overhitting their passes. No prolonged attacking pressure meant that they didn't threaten much up front and were solid enough at the back to stop what little Portugal offered.

Portugal verdict: Apart from the 11th minute shot that hit the post, Portugal hardly troubled the Ivorian defence. Ronaldo drifted in and out of the game and the fluid Portuguese front three were not able to maintain enough possession in the final third to mount a serious attack.

Could do better: The pitch. The grass for the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was grown, off-site, at St Albans but it didn't seem to help. Large chunks of turf continued to fly up throughout the match and it made controlling or dribbling the ball even harder for the players - perhaps a reason for their dismal showing. The new Wembley?

Stat attack: Ivory Coast averaged 3.2 goals per game during qualifying with Drogba, just 1.9 without their captain. It is just the second time in 20 World Cup matches that Portugal has finished 0-0.


Ronaldo, who has not scored an international goal in 16 months, rattled a post with a blistering early strike, but that was as close as his side came to snatching victory on a frustrating afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Even Didier Drogba's arrival as a second-half substitute, to the delight of a crowd of 37,034, could not separate the sides as each attempted to gain the upper hand in Group G ahead of their respective encounters with Brazil.

Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was boosted ahead of kick-off when he was able to name captain Drogba among his substitutes just 10 days after he had broken a bone in his arm.

The Swede could not have failed to be satisfied too by the time he welcomed his players back to the dressing room at half-time with an opening 45 minutes in which they had more than matched their opponents.

However, for all that, they could have been behind after Ronaldo saw his spectacular 30-yard strike come back off the upright with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten just 11 minutes in.

In a frustrating first half for the European side, Ronaldo was booked along with defender Guy Demel as they went nose to nose after the winger had gone to ground all too easily, with Demel and Didier Zokora, who had himself earlier been cautioned for unceremoniously upending the Real Madrid star, leaving him in little doubt as to their thoughts on the matter.

But where he was Portugal's only real outlet with Danny and Liedson largely anonymous in a three-man frontline, Ivory Coast showed real enterprise before the break.

Gervinho, leading the line in Drogba's absence, proved a real handful, and with Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou similarly progressive, the Portuguese were repeatedly stretched.

That said, keeper Eduardo did not have a single save of any note to make in the opening 45 minutes with speculative efforts from Siaka Tiene and Ismael Tiote requiring only a watching brief.

Eduardo finally had to get his hands dirty two minutes after the restart when Gervinho blasted a shot across him, and Paulo Ferreira did just enough to prevent Kalou from reaching Dindane's cross seconds later.

The Braga keeper was called upon once again with 54 minutes gone when Yaya Toure cut inside at pace and fed Kalou, although the Chelsea man side-footed straight at Eduardo from the edge of the box.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz immediately replaced Danny with winger Simao, but it was Deco who provided the 58th-minute cross for Liedson's looping header, which was plucked out of the air by Barry.

Drogba's World Cup began in earnest when he replaced Kalou with 66 minutes gone, but with heavy rain falling, it was Portugal who finished the stronger, although crucially, without coming close to making the breakthrough.

Full-time - 90'
Brazil
2 - 1
North Korea
Group G, 18:30 GMT, June 15, 2010

Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Robinho - Some may wish to give it to Maicon after his goal, but, in the absence of any confirmation that he meant to shoot and not drill it across the face of goal, Robinho gets the nod. Robinho was involved in everything that was good about Brazil. Lively, always looking for the ball and a superb slide-rule pass for Elano's clincher, Robinho was the stand-out performer.

Brazil verdict: They were most definitely disappointing in the first-half and should have won more comfortably against a side ranked 105th in the world - the lowest in the tournament. Brazil, as expected, lacked the style normally associated with the team and you wonder if simple skill with a football will be enough to emerge as champions on July 11.

North Korea verdict: A fine, spirited performance from a side most expected to be thrashed in Ellis Park. They showed far more than Ivory Coast and Portugal in the earlier game and in Jong Tae-Se, who made the consolation, and Hong Yong-Jo they have players of quality in the final third.

Could do better: Kaka. Looked off the pace after his recent injury problems and he must offer more as the creative focal point of the Brazil team. There is time yet for Kaka to rediscover his touch and his form, but right now there appears to be a lot of work to be done.

Stat attack: So far in the tournament, defenders have outscored forwards by eight goals to six after goals from Maicon and Ji Yun-Nam.

The Koreans, ranked 85th in the world, kept Brazil at bay for 55 minutes until Maicon's cross-cum-shot swerved in at the near post and the three points were assured by a rare moment of magic as Robinho laid a second goal on a plate for former Manchester City team-mate Elano, although Ji Yun-nam gave them a late scare by halving the deficit.

The win took Brazil top of Group G, above Portugal and the Ivory Coast, but they did not look particularly convincing in living up to their tag of joint World Cup favourites alongside Spain.

The North Koreans were the first to have a shot on target after 10 minutes when Japan-born striker Jong Tae-se bustled past two markers and drilled in a left-footed shot which Julio Cesar was able to gather.

Brazil were dominating possession but struggling to pick the final pass and the Koreans were not purely sitting back as Cha Jong-hyok got forward to blast a left-footed shot wide after 15 minutes.

The South Americans threatened when Luis Fabiano slotted the ball through to Robinho in the box. The forward, on loan at Santos from Manchester City, was able to make room for a shot but North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk got well behind it.

The lack of genuine width seemed to be causing Brazil problems as North Korea's five-man defence ganged up on Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Elano in a congested attacking third and Kim Jong-hun's team were content to burst forward in small numbers on the break.

Goalkeeper Ri parried away a Maicon drive at his near post in the 28th minute which was Brazil's best effort up to that point.

The North Koreans were making a fight of it and, following a corner, Pak Chol-jin cut the ball back from the right to Ri Kwang-chon but the defender scuffed a presentable shooting chance wide from 25 yards.

Not much was going Brazil's way as Michel Bastos' shot deflected off Pak Chol-jin and looped over the crossbar with Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai wrongly awarding a goal-kick, and Ri Kwang-chon made a vital header clear under pressure from Luis Fabiano as the half ended goalless, against all the odds.

The second half started in much the same vein as the first had ended as North Korea, to borrow Jose Mourinho's phrase, "parked the bus'' on the edge of the box and Brazil struggled to find a way through.

Michel Bastos blasted a free-kick wide from just outside the box in the 51st minute after Pak Chol-jin was penalised for a foul on Kaka. The Real Madrid star then chested the ball down for Robinho to shoot from 26 yards but his right-footed effort was again wayward.

The goal finally came on 55 minutes when Elano played the ball into the box for the overlapping Maicon and his shot beat Ri at the near post, with the goalkeeper seemingly expecting the Inter Milan full-back to cut the ball back rather than shoot.

Ri fisted clear another long-range drive from Michel Bastos and, as North Korea committed more men forward, they left gaps. On one counter-attack Robinho found Luis Fabiano, who beat defender Ri Jun-il in the box but blasted a left-footed shot over.

Brazil added a second in the 72nd minute and it was a thing of beauty as Robinho slipped a perfect through-ball to Elano advancing into the box on the right and the Galatasaray man made no mistake with a cool side-footed finish. The goalscorer was immediately substituted, with Dani Alves coming on.

Villarreal forward Nilmar, on for Kaka, drove in a right-footed shot which Ri gathered at the second attempt with 12 minutes left and he also had to field a Felipe Melo effort shortly afterwards.

Juan had to make a last-ditch tackle to deny Jong a late chance and Ji then burst through to score, sparking a wild celebration, although the points remained with Brazil.

Honduras v Chile
Group H, 11:30 GMT, June 16, 2010

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, South Africa

Chile cruised through World Cup qualifying, finishing second behind Brazil in the CONMEBOL region, and great things are expected from La Roja in South Africa, including an opening victory against CONCACAF's lowest placed qualifiers Honduras.


Argentina-born manager Marcelo Bielsa has been the architect behind Chile's dramatic upturn in fortunes. Since taking control in 2007, El Loco has transformed an underachieving team into an attacking force with self belief and he will be hoping to improve on his performance as manager of Argentina at World Cup 2002, when he failed to reach the knock-out stages.

In a group that also features relative minnows Switzerland, Chile are expected to qualify as runners-up behind European champions Spain, but they may have to notch their first result without star striker Humberto Suazo, who is unlikely to be risked for the clash with Honduras as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Suazo smashed in ten goals during qualification to finish as the region's top scorer.

Honduras, on the other hand, only pipped Costa Rica for CONCACAF's final automatic qualification place on goal difference and have struggled to find their form in the build-up to only their second World Cup appearance. Coach Reinaldo Rueda will be banned from the touchline after being sent off in their final qualifier and his side have not won a game since beating USA 3-1 in January 2010, losing to Turkey, Venezuela and then Romania in their final warm-up match.

Honduras player in focus: Carlos Pavon. With Honduras expected to be on the back foot for much of the game it is vital that they have a release valve and Pavon will provide that. The striker has an exceptional aerial game to outjump his markers and can use his power to hold up the ball when it is pumped forwards. Strong, tall and lethal in the box, he will also provide a goal threat from set pieces.

Chile player in focus: Alexis Sanchez. This pacy Udinese forward has already established himself as a "wonderkid'" in his homeland and could do the same on a global stage. Sanchez is a player with great technique, who prefers to play in wide areas but can also get into the box and score goals, which is exactly what his national manager expects him to do. Playing in a front three allows him drift in and out of the box and find space in which to use his pace.

Key battle: Hendry Thomas v Matias Fernandez. Sporting Lisbon midfielder Fernandez acts as playmaker-in-chief for Bielsa's side and will see plenty of the ball. Charged with supplying the decisive passes to Chile's attacking trio, there will be huge pressure on him to deliver. Wigan's defensive midfielder Thomas specializes in the breaking up of opposition attacks and will be expected to stifle Fernandez.

Trivia: Honduras were in Spain's group during their only previous appearance at the World Cup, in 1982, and held the hosts to a 1-1 draw. the odds of that happening again are 15.00.

Stats: With ten World Cup qualifying wins in this campaign, Chile had more victories than in their previous two attempts combined - three wins in 2002 and five wins in 2006.

Odds: Honduras (6.00), the draw (3.75), Chile (1.61) with Bet365. Chile are favourites to win this match but there could be value to be found in a 0-0 draw at 9.00.

Prediction: Honduras will undoubtedly set their stall out to frustrate Chile, but with Bielsa's team committed to attack, 2-0 seems a likely outcome.

Spain v Switzerland
Group H, 14:00 GMT, June 16, 2010

Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa

There is no way to sugar the pill for poor old Switzerland: they don't stand a chance against Spain. Ottmar Hitzfeld's well-organised side are up against a team that have played with supreme self-belief since shedding their underachiever tag with victory at Euro 2008 and are favourites to win their first ever World Cup.


Spain have lost just one game in their last 48 - the Confederations Cup semi-final against USA - and booked their place in South Africa by winning all ten qualifying games with a brand of football so breath-taking that it has been labelled "art". Vicente Del Bosque's side have a midfield of such high quality that Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, who has been linked with a £40 million move to Barcelona, can't even get in it and they are blessed with similar strength in depth all over the pitch.

Switzerland have never won a game against Spain, losing 15 of their previous 18 meetings, and this is arguably the best La Furia Roja side there has ever been. Although Liverpool striker Fernando Torres and midfield maestro Andres Iniesta have only recently returned from injury, Del Bosque can simply call on the likes of Xabi Alonso and David Villa to step it up so the relentless Spanish machine is unlikely to miss a beat.

Switzerland will rely on a stout defence to stop the Spanish attack and will hope to repeat their feat at World Cup 2006 when they didn't concede a single goal, even if they still went out of the competition. With captain Alexander Frei injured and no other Swiss forward scoring a goal for the past five games, Hitzfeld's men will have to rip up the form book, pass it through a shredder and recycle it as confetti if they are to get a result in Durban.

Spain player in focus: David Silva. An outstanding player in his own right, Silva has been overshadowed by the exploits of Barcelona duo Xavi and Iniesta in midfield, but the Valencia star scored a wonder goal in Spain's 6-0 demolition of Poland in their final warm-up game and will be hoping to maintain that form in South Africa. He is almost certainly on the move after the World Cup so the eyes of potential suitors will be on him.

Switzerland player in focus: Blaise Nkufo. This Congo-born striker will be buoyed by his unexpected title success with Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente this season and, at 35, the veteran has plenty of experience to call on to try and ruffle the feathers of Spain centre-backs Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique. He finished the qualifying campaign as Switzerland's top scorer, with five goals, and will head to new club Seattle Sounders as a hero if he can make his mark.

Key battle: David Villa v Philipe Senderos. Barcelona, who know a thing or two about decent strikers, have just spent £34 million to sign Villa, who smashed in 21 Primera Liga goals this season, from Valencia. He finished Euro 2008 as the tournament's top scorer and after netting seven times in qualifying he will have his eyes on the Golden Boot in South Africa. Hoping to stop one of Europe's most fearsome strikers is new Fulham defender Senderos. Unfortunately for Switzerland the centre back has hardly kicked a ball this season and spent the second half of the Premier League campaign on loan at Everton, watching from the stands.

Trivia: Switzerland were surprise winners of the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria but none of the triumphant starlets have made it into Hitzfeld's World Cup squad.

Stats: Spain have won their last seven group games at the World Cup. Switzerland's five-game winning streak in qualifying was the longest in their history during World Cup qualifying.

Odds: Spain (1.25), the draw (5.50), Switzerland (13.00) with Bet365. The odds on Spain to win are terrible, but David Villa to score anytime and Spain to win 4-0 offers 16.00.

Prediction: Spain are superior in every department and if La Furia Roja don't win this game it will be the shock of the World Cup.