[PREDICTIONS] Brazil faces Ivory Coast Sunday in one of the most-anticipated matches of the first round of the World Cup.  For a look at Sunday’s threegames and Soccer America’s predictions …

SLOVAKIA (1 pt., 1-1) vs. PARAGUAY (1 pt. 1-1)
June 20 inBloemfontein
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles).

PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Tie 0-0
Ridge Mahoney: Paraguay 2-0
Mike Woitalla: Paraguay 1-0

THE LOWDOWN: With a final match against Italy to follow, Slovakia faces a must-winsituation against Paraguay after conceding a last-minute goal that cost Slovakia a win over lowly New Zealand. “The atmosphere after the first match wasn’t very good,” said Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss. “It was quite sad, I must say, because a goal in the very last second is a small sporting tragedy. But we have dealt with it over the past few daysand now we are ready for Paraguay.”

ITALY (1 pt., 1-1) vs. NEW ZEALAND  (1 pt., 1-1)
June 20 in Nelspruit
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision.
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala).

PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Italy 2-0
Ridge Mahoney: Italy 2-1
Mike Woitalla: Italy 2-0

THE LOWDOWN: Goalie Gianluigi Buffon definitely is out of Sunday’s match and could miss the rest of the World Cup with aherniated disc. Federico Marchetti, who came on at halftime of the Paraguay game, is expected to get the start in goal against New Zealand.

BRAZIL (3 pts., 2-1) vs. IVORY COAST (1 pt., 0-0)
June 20 in Johannesburg (SoccerCity)
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ET. Television: ABC/Univision.
Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).

PREDICTIONS:
Paul Kennedy: Tie 1-1
Ridge Mahoney: Tie 2-2
Mike Woitalla: Brazil 1-0

THE LOWDOWN: Say what you want about Brazil’s play, it still wins. Brazil’s 2-1 victory over North Koreaextended its winning streak to six games. It has won 17 of its last 18 games, its only defeat coming to Bolivia in a meaningless World Cup qualifier.  Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hasn’t decided whether to start injured Didier Drogba. The Chelsea star, who has a broken arm, came on late in the Elephants’0-0 tie with Portugal.

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