Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Slovakia Vs New Zealand

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Slovakia Vs New Zealand
Tuesday 15, June 2010 Slovakia Vs New Zealand Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group F Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 11:30) Tuesday, June 15, 2010. We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming. You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Slovakia

vs

New Zealand

Live TV Link>>>

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010.

Time: (GMT 11:30).

Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.

Live/Repeat: Live

Venue : Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa

Minnows out to make waves

New Zealand head into their second World Cup campaign as massive underdogs. Competing in their first tournament since 1982, the All Whites are available at 2,000-1 to lift the trophy in South Africa, the longest odds of any of the 32 nations.
Although their appearance at the finals may seem an impressive achievement, when you consider they navigated a qualifying zone containing minnows such as New Caledonia, Vainatu and Fiji, it looks a far less creditable accomplishment. Despite the gulf in class that will exist between them and the majority of teams at the finals, New Zealand will believe Tuesday's opener against Slovakia represents their best chance of picking up three points. Ricki Herbert's squad have demonstrated an ability to cope with the big occasion when they defeated Bahrain in a nail-biting World Cup play off, so confidence could be high among the players that they can gain a positive result.Slovakia will be competing in their first finals as an independent nation after topping a qualifying group that included respected campaigners Poland and arch-rivals Czech Republic. Their squad has a good blend of youth and experience, with defenders such as Martin Skrtel and Marek Cech offering a solid foundation for attacking talents such as Vladimir Weiss and Miroslav Stoch, while, in Marek Hamsik, they may have a star in the making.
New Zealand player in focus: Shane Smeltz. Playing against superior opposition, goal-scoring chances will be at a premium for New Zealand. It is essential, therefore, that chances are taken when they arrive. Shane Smeltz is likely to be the man those chances will fall to and, if he fails to take them, the All Whites' stay in South Africa will be short. Smeltz does have goalscoring pedigree, having been the leading scorer in Australia's A-League for the last two seasons. If he can take his club form into the World Cup, Ricki Herbert's side might just spring a surprise.
Slovakia player in focus: Marek Hamsik. The 22-year-old, who is rumoured to be attracting the attention of Europe's top clubs, will have the perfect platform on which to display his talent in South Africa. With New Zealand likely to adopt a defensive approach to the game, the onus will be on Slovakia to break down their defence. In his role as chief creator in the Slovakia side, Hamsik has the potential to put New Zealand to the sword on Tuesday. Ably assisted by wide men Stoch and Weiss, Hamsik could well be the star of the show in Rustenburg.
Key battle: Ryan Nelsen v Stanislav Sestak. Vfl Bochum forward Sestak scored an impressive 28 Bundesliga goals last season, and he will be keen to mark his first World Cup appearance with at least one goal. Ryan Nelsen's Premier League experience is going to be central to New Zealand's hopes of avoiding humiliation in the tournament and, if he can get the better of Sestak, his team might be able to sneak a point, or possibly more.
Trivia: Nine of the players in the Czechoslovakia team that defeated West Germany in the 1976 European Championship final were Slovakian.Stats: Slovakia's highest-ranked opponents during qualification were Slovenia, who are ranked 25th in the world. Before facing Bahrain, who are ranked 69th, New Zealand's highest-ranked opponents were Fiji, ranked 132th in the world.
Odds: New Zealand (9.00), the draw (4.33), Slovakia (1.40) with
Bet365. Nerves may get the better of Slovakia in their first World Cup match, so 1-0 New Zealand at 19.00 could be good value.
Prediction: New Zealand will battle bravely but Slovakia should have too much quality for the Kiwis. With Hamsik and Sestak in their team, 2-0 to Slovakia seems a likely outcome.

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Italy Vs Paraguay

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Italy Vs Paraguay
Sunday 13, June 2010 Italy Vs Paraguay Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group F Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 18:30) Monday, June 14, 2010.We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming.You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Italy

vs

Paraguay

Live TV Link>>>

Date: Monday, June 14, 2010.

Time: (GMT 18:30).

Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.

Live/Repeat: Live

Venue : Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa

Champions kick-off defence against Paraguay

The 2006 World Cup winners open their title defence against the team predicted to cause them the most problems in Group F. Italy have Marcello Lippi back at the helm and, after an unbeaten qualification campaign, the Azzurri should certainly be considered among the contenders in South Africa, though the phrase "successive wins" is not one that has been uttered too often in relation to their chances. Inter Milan's Champions League success may have boosted Italy's UEFA co-efficient but with substitute Marco Materazzi - who was not even selected in Lippi's final 23 - the only Italian player involved in the final, little can be really taken from the Italian side's continental success.
Materazzi is one of several players who played in the 2006 final to have been cut by Lippi this time around, while Andrea Pirlo, Italy's best player in the 2006 final, will miss the start of the tournament with a calf injury, meaning the Azzurri will be increasingly reliant on Daniele De Rossi to pull the strings from midfield. Italy always seem to be a side boasting experience and, with an average squad age of 28.75, they are the fifth oldest in South Africa. Paraguay will be aiming to emulate the success of the likes of Cameroon and Senegal in producing a shock win over the reigning champions in their opening game. Gerardo Martino's side enjoyed an impressive qualification campaign, beating fellow South American qualifiers Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay along the way - and they have also looked good in the build-up to the World Cup, with a 2-1 loss against Republic of Irleland the only blot on their copybook among wins against North Korea and Greece and a draw with Ivory Coast. Top scorer in qualifying, Salvador Cabanas, was shockingly shot in the head earlier this year and Paraguay's players were hit hard, though the incident has certainly served to improve the togetherness of the side, and will be a source of inspiration for La Albirroja heading into the finals. Having exited at the group stage in 2006 Paraguay advanced to the second round, and will need the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and industrious right midfielder Carlos Bonet to be on top form against Italy if they are to get off to a good start and replicate previous progressions.
Italy player in focus: Daniele De Rossi: Dynamism personified, De Rossi will be the Azzurri's key man in Pirlo's absence, and with Gennaro Gattuso an option to play behind him, the Roma midfielder should have plenty of room to roam and influence the game. He comes into the tournament on the back of a fantastic season with his club side, and it seems the bigger the occasion, the better he plays. Four years on from his disgraceful sending off against USA at the 2006 finals, De Rossi has matured into a real leader and he will be determined to show the numerous positive aspects of his game this time around. There is a doubt over his fitness for Monday but, given his importance, he seems likely to make the starting XI.
Paraguay player in focus: Lucas Barrios. One of the in-form players heading into the finals, Barrios has the potential to make a big impact in South Africa and, wherever he goes, goals are almost certain to follow. Born in Argentina, he decided to represent Paraguay just before the World Cup and promptly accepted a call-up to the side. Three goals in his first three games have seen him explode onto the international scene. A predator with exceptional finishing prowess, Italy should be wary of his presence.
Key battle: Paulo Da Silva v Fabio Quagliarella:Da Silva helped keep out the intimidating attacking talents of Brazil and Argentina during qualifying, but after a frustrating season at Sunderland in which he started just 12 games, his lack of game time could prove costly at the World Cup. Waiting to pounce on any mistakes could be Napoli striker Fabio Quagliarella, whose goal against Switzerland in the final warm-up game should have done enough to convince Lippi that he is worth a place in the starting line-up.Trivia: Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar's eighth-minute substitution against England in 2006 was the quickest substitution of a shot-stopper in World Cup history.
Stats: In 2006, Italy's 12 goals were scored by ten different players - a record jointly held with France (1982).
Odds: Italy (2.10), the draw (3.10), Paraguay (4.00) with
Bet365. A 1-0 win for Italy looks promising at 5.50.
Prediction: As long as the Azzurri's notoriously tight defence remains that way to stifle the threat of Barrios and Santa Cruz, they will have every chance of succeeding where Argentina and France failed before them - by winning their opening match as defending champions.

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>>> Netherlands Vs Denmark

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>>> Netherlands Vs Denmark
Monday 14, June 2010 Netherlands Vs Denmark Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group E Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 11:30) Monday, June 14, 2010.We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming.You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Netherlands

vs

Denmark

Live TV Link>>>

Date: Monday, June 14, 2010.

Time: (GMT 11:30).

Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.

Live/Repeat: Live

Venue : Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

Oranje aim to banish Danish demons of '92

Frequently labelled as perennial World Cup underachievers, Bert van Marwijk's Netherlands side take to the 2010 finals looking, once again, to shed that particular monkey off their back. And just as in tournaments gone by, they appear to have a squad possessing enough quality to mount a serious challenge.

The Oranje certainly have players capable of turning a game on its head with a moment of creative brilliance. Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder helped guide their respective club sides to the Champions League final, earning widespread praise for their influential displays and the Netherlands have been in fine goalscoring form during their warm-up games, scoring 12 goals in three victories over Mexico, Ghana and Hungary. But their defensive frailties remain and the likes of Joris Mathijsen and Johnny Heitinga do not inspire massive confidence at the back.The 2010 Group E opener pits Van Marwjik's side against the nation they beat 3-0 during the group stage of Euro 2000 but, more famously, lost to in the semi-finals of Euro '92 - Denmark. Since that victory in 1992, Denmark have flattered to deceive at major tournaments - aside from a quarter-final run at the 1998 World Cup that was ended after a narrow 3-2 defeat by Brazil - and missed out on qualification for both the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008. This time round, they will be relishing a return to the global arena and Morten Olsen's side have reason to be optimistic after an impressive qualification campaign, which saw them record away wins against both Sweden and Portugal. Denmark's build-up has been poor, though, with a win against Senegal sandwiched by defeats against Austria, Australia and South Africa - and Olsen, who has been at the helm for ten years, must use all his experience to inspire improved performances from his side at the finals.
Netherlands player in focus: Wesley Sneijder. One of the best players in Europe last season, Sneijder was the midfield mastermind behind Inter Milan's Champions League triumph. His career has been resurrected at the San Siro after he struggled to make an impression at Real Madrid - despite starring for Netherlands at Euro 2008. With a keen eye for an incisive pass, Sneijder will be creator-in-chief for the Dutch and opponents should beware his accurate delivery from set-pieces, and superb shooting ability from distance. Denmark player in focus: Christian Poulsen. After enduring a torrid season with Juventus, Poulsen will be relishing playing with a group of players who may actually resemble a team. A tough-tackling midfielder, his presence will be crucial in ensuring the likes of Sneijder and Van der Vaart don't see too much of the ball. Keep an eye on his temper though, he has a rather chequered disciplinary history.
Key battle: Robin van Persie v Daniel Agger. Van Persie has looked backed to his clinical best since returning to the national team, bagging four goals in the Oranje's three warm-up games. After missing a large chunk of Arsenal's season, despite an apparent visit to the Serbian placenta clinic, Van Persie now looks fresh and ready to spearhead Van Marwjik's forward line at the finals. Standing in his way for Denmark is Liverpool's Daniel Agger. Injury has kept his profile under the radar, but he has proved a commanding presence at the back for his country when he has played. His aerial ability isn't great, but he's more than capable of matching RVP on the ground.
Trivia: Aged just 18 years and three months old when the tournament starts, Denmark's Christian Eriksen will be the youngest player at the 2010 World Cup, narrowly ahead of Vincent Aboubakar of Cameroon, and the youngest in his side by almost three years (Simon Kjaer was born on March 26, 1989)
Stats: The Netherlands have lost only one of their last 12 group stage matches at World Cup finals (against Belgium in 1994).
Odds: Netherlands (1.53), the draw (4.00), Denmark (6.50) with
Bet365. Netherlands to lead at half-time, but a draw at full-time is priced attractively at 19.00. Prediction: This could well be the game that decides who wins the group and so could prove to be a tight encounter, despite Netherlands plethora of attacking talent. Having faced Portugal in qualifying, Denmark showed themselves to be adept at handling teams full of forward flair and their organisation will be key again in this one. If the Danes stay disciplined, a draw is on the cards.

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010 >>> Germany Vs Australia

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Germany Vs Australia
Sunday 13, June 2010 Germany Vs Australia Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group D Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 18:30) Sunday, June 13, 2010.We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming.You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Germany

 vs

Australia

Live TV Link>>>

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010.

Time: (GMT 18:30).

Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.

Live/Repeat: Live

Venue : Durban Stadium, Durban, South Africa

Socceroos focused on Germany shock

Germany may have restored some international pride four years ago as they reached the semi-finals on home soil, but the perception of Germany as one of the pre-tournament favourites is a thing of the past.
The loss of Michael Ballack to an ankle injury, thanks to a late tackle from the German-born Kevin-Prince Boateng in the FA Cup final last month, meant coach Joachim Low effectively had to rip up his plans for South Africa and start again. The Germany captain was the fulcrum of the team both on and off the pitch, and the loss of such an inspirational figure is hard to cope with at such a late stage. Replacing the experienced 33-year-old Ballack with a 21-year-old international rookie in Mesut Ozil is a risk, but it could be a master-stroke if Ozil adapts to the pace of the World Cup quickly.Much will rest on the shoulders of new captain Phillip Lahm, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will become the lynchpin of the midfield, allowing Ozil to push on in search of goals and become the key to open up Australia's defence.With Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose woefully short of form, Germany may have to rely on their defence performing well to reach the latter stages. There's certainly no reason why Australia should not go into the game with some confidence.Australia's main worry is a lack of depth to their squad and any striker worthy of the name. With Harry Kewell struggling with injury and and Scott McDonald surprisingly left at home, coach Pim Verbeek is left to rely on the untried Nikita Rukavytsya, Brett Holman for Joshua Kennedy goals.With the Australia squad ageing, the athleticism and drive which the side possessed under Guus Hiddink four years ago could be missing, and without that the Socceroos will become a very one-dimensional side. And the threadbare nature of Verbeek's squad also makes any Plan B difficult to execute.Brett Emerton and Mark Bresciano will look to add creativity and width for Australia but without a focal point for the attacks it could be that they too find themselves sitting deeper than they would like. This may especially be the case for Emerton who now plays as a right-back for his club, Blackburn Rovers. 
Germany player in focus: Mesut Ozil. The loss of Michael Ballack to injury means Ozil will come into the side and get the chance to make his mark on the World Cup earlier than he would have expected. The Werder Bremen midfielder was a central figure in the Germany team which won the European Under-21 Championships last year and, with just 10 international caps to his name, now gets the chance on the biggest of stages. A player with a cultured left foot, his lack of consistency could be Germany's downfall.
Australia player in focus: Tim Cahill. While it might be obvious to say that the threat of Cahill from set-pieces will be no surprise to the German defence, his ability to lose his marker time and again in the Premier League proves that even the best prepared teams struggle to deal with his threat. With a dearth of attacking options open to Pim Verbeek, he will rely on Cahill's heading prowess to help power the Socceroos through to the Second Round for the second successive finals. With 20 goals in 40 international appearances, Cahill is more prolific than any of the nation's current strikers. 
Key battle: Lucas Neill v Miroslav Klose. Klose may only be behind Gerd Muller in goalscoring for Germany, but the 2009-10 season was one to forget for the Bayern Munich striker. After scoring only three goals all season, Klose was woeful in Germany's warm-up games. But coach Joachim Low has thrown his support behind Klose, a proven and dangerous tournament performance. Despite his recent woes, his bustling style will mean Lucas Neill will need to be on his toes at the heart of the Australia defence. An out-of-sorts Klose is still more troublesome than most of the strikers at the World Cup.Trivia: Australia scored the most goals in any World Cup qualifier after beating American Samoa 31-0 in 2001.Stats: Germany's Miroslav Klose has scored 48 goals in 96 games for Germany, but he managed just three in the league for his club this seasaon.Odds: Germany (1.50), the draw (4.20), Australia (7.00) with Bet365. Tim Cahill to score the last goal at 13.00 is a tempting offer.Prediction: Australia may not have strength in depth and little to offer up front, but this Ballack-less Germany side still has plenty of questions to answer. Germany should win, but it won't be as straight forward as the odds suggest.

 

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010 >>> Serbia Vs Ghana

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Serbia Vs Ghana
Sunday 13, June 2010 Serbia Vs Ghana Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group D Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 14:00) Sunday, June 13, 2010.We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming.You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Serbia

                                      vs

Ghana

Live TV Link>>>

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010.

Time: (GMT 14:00).

Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.

Live/Repeat: Live

Venue : Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa

Ghana face Serbia in crucial opener

At one stage seen as many pundits' tip to be dark horses at this World Cup, the loss of talismanic figure Michael Essien to injury means they are now considered outsiders. Stephen Appiah will now find his role in the side increasingly important but, as in 2006, the forward line looks paper thin.

With Germany also in the group, it is expected to be a three-way fight for second and defeat in the opening game could almost end someone's World Cup campaign.Serbia, who suffered in the Group of Death with Argentina, Ivory Coast and Netherlands four years ago when competing as Serbia & Montenegro, have been seen as a defensive team in the past but now have much more in their locker and scored 22 goals in qualifying. 
Serbia player in focus: Milos Krasic. The attacking force in the Serbia side, Krasic's reputation was enhanced greatly during CSKA Moscow's Champions League campaign in the past season. That form, as he scored four goals in Europe's premier club competition, has led to interest from Juventus and he is set to sign for the Serie A giants after the tournament. He is a speedy and elusive right-winger or attacking midfielder.
Ghana player in focus: Kevin Prince-Boateng. This German-born midfielder finds himself in the World Cup finals having only made his international debut for Ghana on June 5. An experienced Germany youth international, where he was once named Young Player of the Year, Boateng is a figure of hate in Germany for his defection which was not helped after his tackle on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final ruled Germany's skipper out of the finals. Boateng reignited his career at Portsmouth last term after a move to Tottenham proved to be a disaster and will be vital in the opposition's half.
Key battle: Nemanja Vidic v Richard Kingson. Set pieces are crucial in modern football, and Serbia have a band of towering defenders who join the attack to form a fearsome weapon which leads to most of the country's goals. For Ghana, on the other hand, they have a goalkeeper in Richard Kingson who has come in for much criticism. Despite having played only five games in three seasons with Birmingham and Wigan he remains Ghana's first choice stopper. The likes of Vidic will look to take advantage of his uncertainty on crosses. Trivia: Ghana's Sulley Muntari's former boss at Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho, sparked a wave of protest from the Muslim world when he complained that Muntari's fasting for Ramadan had left him ill-prepared for match days. Stats: Only Burkina Faso had a worse shots-to-goals record than Ghana at the African Nations Cup earlier this year. Odds: Serbia (2.10), the draw (3.25), Ghana (3.75) with Bet365. There could be plenty of goals in this game, a punt on the 2-2 draw, at 19.00, could be a wise investment. Prediction: The loss of Essien is every bit as damaging as you might expect. A confident Serbia side can claim all three points.

 

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010 >>> Algeria Vs Slovenia

Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2010>> Algeria Vs Slovenia

Sunday 13, June 2010 Algeria Vs Slovenia Live

Watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup Football 2010 Group C Match Via Online TV On Your PC. Match Will be started at (GMT 11:30) Sunday, June 13, 2010.We must be ensure you the best online live sports streaming.You must watch This World's Best Live Soccer fight to this Channel.

Algeria
vs
Slovenia

Live TV Link>>>


Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010.
Time: (GMT 11:30).
Competition: FIFA World Cup Football 2010.
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue : Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane, South Africa

Battle of the underdogs as Algeria face Slovenia

With England and the United States firmly installed as favourites to advance from Group C, both Algeria and Slovenia will see this game as their chance to stake a claim for a place in the top two should one of the others slip up.

A point is likely to be no use to either side, which means it may be an open match with both sides on the attack. That said the two teams are very similar in style, though Slovenia can claim to have a more sturdy defence and a better build-up to the finals.Slovenia will look to captain Robert Koren to pull the strings in the centre of the park as their playmaker, with Milivoje Novakovic an effective though unspectacular striker. Novakovic has the ability to hold the ball up, rarely giving away possession. Slovenia are at their second World Cup finals, having lost all three matches and finishing bottom of their group in 2002, while Algeria, who qualified for the finals with a play-off victory against arch-rivals Egypt, previously reached the finals in 1982 and 1986 but have never made it beyond the group stage. The loss of Mourad Meghni, a gifted playmaker, to a knee injury before the tournament was a major blow.Algeria's build-up has been marred by internal squabbling, disciplinary problems and injuries. Coach Rabah Saadane has dropped skipper Yazid Mansouri due to poor form and Antar Yahia will now wear the armband with Hassan Yebda coming into the team.
Algeria player in focus: Madjid Bougherra. The Rangers defender was a doubt for the finals due to injury, but has recovered to take his place in the squad and will be a vital player at both ends of the pitch. A cultured, ball-playing defender, do not be surprised to see him bring it out from the back. Many consider Bougherra to be one of the best defenders in Africa.Slovenia player in focus: Robert Koren. Without a club after being released by West Bromwich Albion last month, Koren is in the shop window as much as any player at the World Cup finals. The creative spark in the midfield, Slovenia will look to move the ball through Koren when in attack mode. Being made captain has been the making of the player on the international stage.
Key battle: Aleksandar Radosavljevic v Karim Ziani. Radosavljevic has emerged from the shadows to become an important player for Slovenia, acting as the holding presence in the centre to Koren's creativity. Radosavljevic ability to limit the influence of Ziani throughout the match may have a major bearing on this game. With Slovenia having a strong defence, nullifying the attacking impetus of Ziani could set up a vital victory. Trivia: On every national team shirt that Yazid Mansouri wears, he writes a tribute to his father who is the president of an organisation in France that speaks up for those suffering from intolerance to gluten.
Stats: Slovenia only conceded 4 goals in 10 games in their qualification for the World Cup. Algeria have never kept a clean sheet at the World Cup finals.Odds: Algeria (3.30), the draw (3.25), Slovenia (2.25) with Bet365. The 1-0 win for Slovenia is priced at 7.50. Prediction: Algeria have been in disarray in the months leading up to the finals, and seldom do teams do well at the World Cup under such circumstances. Slovenia will go into the game with confidence and while goals may be a problem for them, they may just edge this one.

Watch Live Fifa World Cup 2010 Uruguay Vs France

Watch Live Fifa World Cup 2010 Here

Friday, 11 June 2010 Live

Group: A Match: 2

Uruguay Vs France

Time: 18:30 GMT
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, South Africa

VS

Fears for France ahead of Uruguay opener

Historians of French football did not have to search too far back in the record books for worrying omens when the World Cup draw was made. In 2002, when les Bleus surrendered their crown in such meek fashion, it was a 0-0 draw in their second game against Uruguay that truly confirmed their fall from grace.
France do not approach the 2010 finals enjoying the lofty status of world beaters, though. In fact, having infamously required a Thierry Henry handball to edge past Republic of Ireland in a play-off and suffered a defeat in a warm-up game against China's second string, Raymond Domenech's side look ripe for another early exit in Group A. With Lassana Diarra absent due to injury, and Henry exiled to the bench, France are also grappling with an experimental 4-3-3 formation that is open to exploitation.In contrast, Uruguay - winners in 1930 and 1950, but competing in only their second finals since 1990 - appear high in confidence, with captain Diego Lugano boasting Oscar Tabarez's side are hitting their best form. Whether that is enough to take advantage of France's very evident problems remains to be seen.

Uruguay player in focus: Diego Forlan. Cometh the hour, cometh the man? In recent seasons, Forlan has proved to be the player for the big occasion and in May scored both of Atletico Madrid's goals in the Europa League final. Forlan top-scored for Uruguay in qualification with seven goals and, in his only match of the 2002 World Cup, netted in a 3-3 draw with Senegal. The striker has reached double figures in each of his past six seasons in Spain.

France player in focus: Franck Ribery. The Bayern Munich star missed the Champions League final due to suspension and must be keen to make amends. Ribery was one of the breakthrough stars of the last World Cup but has seen his preparations for the current tournament disrupted by a sex scandal, though he remains a key figure for les Bleus. Raymond Domenech needs Ribery to flourish in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation if the country are to enjoy a trouble-free group stage.

Key battle: Luis Suarez v William Gallas. The Uruguay forward is arguably world football's most in-form player heading into the finals having scored a remarkable 49 goals for Ajax last season. In Gallas, he faces an opponent who has been recovering from injury and has yet to prove he can strike up a productive partnership with Eric Abidal in the heart of Domenech's defence, but the Frenchman's form at Arsenal was impressive in the first half of the season.

Trivia: Diego Forlan's father, Pablo, was named in the Uruguay squads for both the 1966 and 1974 World Cup finals.

Stats: Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan scored 71 goals between them in all competitions last season. France's five forwards - Thierry Henry, Sidney Govou, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Djibril Cisse and Nicolas Anelka - managed just 59.

Odds: Uruguay (3.50), the draw (3.20), France (2.20) with

Bet365. Uruguay to win to nil is 5.50 and may be worth a flutter with France looking unconvincing of late.

Prediction: Uruguay possess some formidable firepower and with France still adjusting to a new formation and struggling for form, we may have an early shock on our hands.

Watch Live Fifa World Cup 2010 Mexico Vs South Africa

Watch Live Fifa World Cup 2010 Here

Friday, 11 June 2010 Live

Group: A Match: 1

Mexico   Vs   South Africa

Time: 14:00 GMT
Venue: Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

      VS    

World Cup 2010: First Match Day Preview

South Africa vs. Mexico

The hosts, South Africa, kick off the tournament against Mexico in the opening game on Friday.

South Africa is having football fever and are ready to become the first African country to stage the World Cup.
Soccer City in Johannesburg is the starting point for the tournament. Both sides are looking to get their Group A campaign off to a positive start.
Both teams are going into the game on a high. The South Africans are on a 12-game unbeaten run, while Mexico has been uplifted by their recent friendly win over defending World Cup champions, the Italians.
South Africa has midfielder Steven Pienaar to give the side the creative edge, while Portsmouth's Aaron Mokoena is the captain of the team.
As Benni McCarthy was left out of the squad, Katlego Mphela is most likely to be the main form of attack for the hosts.
Mexico has been boosted by the return of their star duo Rafael Marquez and Guillermo Franco.
Barcelona player Marquez trained for the first time in South Africa earlier in the week, and could go straight into the starting XI.
Carlos Vela of Arsenal is set to be given one of the attacking positions. This leaves the Mexican coach Aguirre to decide who will partner him upfront: Franco, or Javier Hernandez from Manchester United.
My Prediction: 1-1