[PREDICTIONS] Will the USA again save its best game at the World Cup for its second match? Will Fabio Capello‘s lineupchanges produce a win for England? Can Germany duplicate its magnificent performance against Australia when it faces Serbia in a battle of old World Cup rivals? For a look at Friday’s three games andSoccer America’s predictions …
GERMANY (3 pts., 4-0) vs. SERBIA (0 pt. 0-1)
June 18 in
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Alberto Undiano (Spain).
Past World Cup Meetings: 1998 — Tie 2-2; 1990 — West Germany 4-1; 1974 — West Germany 2-0; 1962 – Yugoslavia 1-0; 1958 — West Germany 1-0; 1954 — West Germany 2-0.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Germany 2-1
Ridge Mahoney: Tie 1-1
THE LOWDOWN: Germany and Yugoslavia have a long history in the World Cup. They met sixtimes from 1954 to 1998, including three straight meetings in the quarterfinals in 1954, 1958 and 1962.
USA (1 pt., 1-1)vs. SLOVENIA (3 pts., 1-0)
June 18 in Johannesburg (Ellis Park)
Kickoff:10 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali).
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: USA 1-0
Mike Woitalla: USA 2-0
THE LOWDOWN: The USA hasplayed its best game in its second match at five of the last six World Cups and earned a 1-1 tie against host South Korea in the sixth. The USA’s most famous win came in its second game at the 1950World Cup when it defeated England, 1-0. The Americans upset Colombia, 2-1, for their only win at USA ’94. Four years ago, they earned their only point with a 1-1 tie against Italy. They lost allthree games in 1990 and 1998 but played their best games in losses to host Italy and Iran.
ENGLAND (1 pt., 1-1) vs.ALGERIA (0 pt., 0-1)
June 18 in Cape Town
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.ET. Television: ESPN2/Univision.
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov(Uzbekistan).
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Tie 1-1
Mike Woitalla: England 2-0
THE LOWDOWN:Gareth Barry, who hasn’t played since before the end of the English Premier League season because of an ankle injury, will return to action in midfieldfor England against Algeria. Fabio Capello has not confirmed any other changes in the England lineup, but he must decide whether to stick with RobertGreen in goal and Emile Heskey up front and continue with Jamie Carragher, who came on as a sub for