[PREDICTIONS] All four teams have a chance of qualifying from Group F, where the drawing of lots could determine the second-place team. In Group E, Japan andDenmark will face off to decide the second-place berth in the knockout phase. For a look at Thursday’s four games and Soccer America’s predictions …
GROUPE:
DENMARK (3 pts. 2-3) vs. JAPAN (3 pts. 1-1)
June 24 in Rustenburg
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)
Suspensions: Denmark — Kjaer.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Tie1-1
Ridge Mahoney: Denmark 2-1
Mike Woitalla: Denmark 2-0
NETHERLANDS (6 pts. 3-0) vs. CAMEROON (0 pt. 1-3)
June 24 in Cape Town
Kickoff: 10 a.m.ET. Television: ESPN2/TeleFutura.
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)
Suspensions:
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Netherlands 2-0
Ridge Mahoney: Netherlands 1-0
Mike Woitalla: Netherlands 3-2
THE LOWDOWN: The Netherlands is through to the round of 16. Japan advances with a win or tie against Denmark, which must win to move into the knockoutphase.
GROUP F:
ITALY (2 pts. 2-2) vs. SLOVAKIA (1 pt. 1-3)
June 24 inJohannesburg
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Italy 1-0
Mike Woitalla: Italy 2-0
PARAGUAY (4 pts. 3-1) vs.NEW ZEALAND (2 pts. 2-2)
June 24 in Polokwane
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET.Television: ESPN2/TeleFutura.
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Suspensions: none.
PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Paraguay 1-0
Ridge Mahoney: Tie 1-1
Mike Woitalla: Paraguay 2-1
THE LOWDOWN:Paraguay is in the best position, needing only a tie against New Zealand to advance. Ties of the same score in both games will leave Italy and New Zealand even on all tiebreakers, requiring adrawing of lots to determine which team advances.