[PREDICTIONS] All eight teams in Groups C and D remain in contention for berths in the second round. Slovenia and Ghana lead their respective groups but facestern tests against traditional powers England and Germany. For a look at Wednesday’s four games and Soccer America’s predictions …
GROUP C:
USA (2pts. 3-3) vs. ALGERIA (1 pt. 0-1)
June 23 in Pretoria
Kickoff: 10a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
Suspensions: USA — Findley.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: USA 2-1
Ridge Mahoney: USA 2-1
Mike Woitalla: USA2-1
SLOVENIA (4 pts. 3-2) vs. ENGLAND (2 pts. 1-2)
June 23 in Port Elizabeth
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN2/TeleFutura.
Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
Suspensions: England — Carragher.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Tie 1-1
Ridge Mahoney: England2-0
Mike Woitalla: Slovenia 2-0
THE LOWDOWN: Slovenia needs only a tie to advance. A tie in theSlovenia-England game would mean a USA-Algeria tie would probably put the Americans through to the second round.
GROUP D:
GERMANY (3 pts., 4-1) vs. GHANA (4 pts., 2-1)
June 23 in Johannesburg
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Carlos Simon (Brazil).
Suspensions: Germany — Klose.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Germany 2-0
Ridge Mahoney: Germany 2-1
SERBIA (3 pts. 1-1) vs. AUSTRALIA (1 pt., 0-1)
June23 in Nelspruit
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET. Television: ESPN2/TeleFutura.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda(Uruguay).
Suspensions: Australia — Kewell.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Serbia 2-1.
Ridge Mahoney: Serbia 2-0
Mike Woitalla: Serbia 2-0
THE LOWDOWN: Germany, which has never been eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage, faces the prospect of having to beat first-place Ghana to be assuredof advancing to the second round.
USA will come alive after that Slovenia match, and will prove they belong in the next round. USA 4:1 ALG.England will also recover some of its pride, and will beat Slovenia 1:0.The rest of y’all’s predictions are fine.
USA will come alive after that Slovenia match, and will prove they belong in the next round. USA 4:1 ALG.England will also recover some of its pride, and will beat Slovenia 1:0.The rest of y’all’s predictions are fine.