Italy need win, draw will do for Japan
The Source: JOHANNESBURG/ http://www.nation.co.ke/World Cup/hadhramaut.info/t - 14/06/2010
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Defending champions Italy need a win over Slovakia on Thursday to be sure of making the World Cup last-16 while one point will suffice for Japan against Denmark.
Another two groups will be settled after four matches around South Africa and Cameroon are alone among the eight participants in having no chance of making the knockout stage.
Netherlands, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Argentina, South Korea, United States, England, Germany and Ghana are already through to the second round with Germany versus England in Bloemfontein on Sunday the stand-out fixture.
Other tantalising match-ups could emerge by late Friday with the possibility of Italy facing Netherlands and Brazil confronting title favourites Spain - the fixture many pundits believed would make the perfect July 11 final.
Traditional slow starters Italy have been true to form, coming from behind against Paraguay and minnows New Zealand to force 1-1 draws that leave the four-time champions sharing second place.
Paraguay have four points, New Zealand and Italy two each and Slovakia one with the heroic second-half rearguard action of the Kiwis against the Azzurri the highlight of four pool matches.
Marcello Lippi, who coached Italy to glory in Germany four years ago, says playmaker Andrea Pirlo is not fit to start against the Slovaks in Johannesburg for a team desperately lacking his defence-opening passes.
Centreback Fabio Cannavaro, who raised the World Cup after a penalty shootout victory over France, rejects concerns that Italy are on the brink of elimination.
"The critics say we are old, we do not know how to play, and all we do is defend, but no one wants to face us. It would be a real shame to leave after three matches."
Coach Vladimir Weiss has vented his anger against the media after Slovakia conceded a stoppage-time equaliser against New Zealand and appeared in a collective trance when meekly surrendering 2-0 to Paraguay.
He ringed the training ground with barbed wire and swore at reporters who questioned his tactics during a news conference with the outburst posted on a leading Slovak newspaper website.
Paraguay, who face New Zealand in Polokwane, are looking beyond the group stage with star striker Roque Santa Cruz saying the "best team the country has produced wants to make the quarter-finals for the first time".
'All Whites' coach Ricki Herbert lavishes praise on a side containing only one top-flight league performer - Blackburn defender Ryan Nelsen - and reserve midfielder Andy Barron doubles as a banker.
With Netherlands sure to progress from Group E, Japan and Denmark square off in Rustenburg with a draw good enough for the 'Blue Samurai' because their goal difference is superior to the 'Olsen Gang'.
But coach Takeshi Okada dismissed suggestions he will play for a draw at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in north-west platinum town Rustenburg as they seek a second last-16 appearance eight years after getting there when co-hosts.
Midfielder Makoto Hasebe echoed this view: "A really important match awaits us. We stake our whole life on this match. We will not be playing for a draw, we will be going for a win."
Danish coach Morten Olsen noted a change in Japanese tactics with the high-tempo pressing game used in warm-ups giving way to a more cautious approach when failing 1-0 against the Dutch.
Cameroon, most disappointing of four African failures with senior players openly critical of French coach Paul le Guen, complete their schedule against Netherlands in Cape Town hoping to avoid three consecutive losses.
Ghana ensured an African presence in the knockout phase despite losing 1-0 to Germany in a Group D thriller on Wednesday with the 2-1 win of Australia over Serbia ultimately meaningless
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