Les Bleus failed to convince against the equally flat-footed Uruguay in the tournament’s second game, and Mexico were left with a feeling of relief after a late but more than deserved equaliser against South Africa in the first game. The evening’s late game is a chance to reconcile their feelings of inadequacy.

Celtic head up a list of big-name clubs teetering on the brink of elimination before the play-offs for the important Group Games begin, thrashed 3-0 at the hands of unheralded Portuguese club Braga.

With the second round of the Premier League taking place this weekend, and with the Spanish and Italian seasons another week away, the German Bundesliga begins tonight. The majority of the games take place tomorrow but the season opener between Bayern Munich (last year’s winners) and VFL Wolfsburg (the previous season’s champions) is the finest opener that could be anticipated.

With the excitement of the tournament nearly over, and the third place to be decided between Uruguay and Germany, the final showpiece gets underway tomorrow night between Spain and Holland.

The natural assumption would be to back Spain, who have David Villa, Fernando Torres, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, etc. But that belies some mixed success that has come their way and doesn’t take into account some of the form players of this World Cup – Tiago, Eduardo, Bruno Alves and Raul Meireles, not to mention one Cristiano Ronaldo.

After Greece were humiliated by South Korea and Nigeria put up a stern resistance to lose only 1-0 to Argentina, it’s logical to point to a Nigerian win.

There’s been such a strange set of results recently (Spain 0 Switzerland 1, Brazil 2 North Korea 1, New Zealand 1 Slovakia 1), that to suggest Argentina will overturn a decent South Korea could represent a failure to recognise a growing pattern of tight games.

Both Germany and England will fancy their chances in this tie, making it nearly impossible to pick a winner. But not completely.

Now that the group stage games are over – and both 2006’s finalists, Italy and France, have fallen by the wayside – the knockout rounds begin.
The first of the Last 16 ties to be contested sees Diego Forlan’s Uruguay take on Park Ji-Sung’s South Korea.
Uruguay will feel full of confidence after finishing above the South African hosts, France and Mexico, especially when some had written the 5th-placed South American qualifiers off before a ball had been kicked. Their forwards, Forlan, Suarez and Cavani, have looked sharp and tricky to contain, whilst at the back, they are one of only 3 teams who have yet to concede a single goal, much thanks to Lugano and Fucile.

Not a phenomenal game, this should see Spain record a fairly accomplished win.

In a relatively simple group, Holland can rely on some of the finest talent to see off all-comers but Denmark will be the measure of how well they can expect to do.

Germany World Cup Betting Preview 2010

Germany – many absentees but promising, young attackers. As Germany prepared to take on Bosnia-Herzegovina last night, their confidence was fairly mixed, as evident in the pragmatic nature of their 3-1 win. Off the back of two 3-0 victories over Hungary and Malta, and after a basketball score of 24-0 against amateur side Eppam, Germany believe in the form of their strikers.

Group F is extremely tight, with all teams still capable of qualification and elimination.

Even Paraguay have cause for concern – should Paraguay lose to New Zealand (by any score) and Italy overcome Slovakia (by any score), they would finish 3rd. This is, however, an unlikely outcome. The trident of Valdez, Santa Cruz and Barrios will remain a terrifying sight for the Kiwis but Paraguay’s greatest asset is their excellent defence. Equal to Italy and far too good for Slovakia, they are high in confidence, looking to sail through a tricky group as winners.

Brazil take on one of Africa’s biggest teams, knowing that a win will all but qualify them for the second round. But the Ivory Coast have designs on an impressive opener against Portugal, aware that a draw will set them up well for a showdown with North Korea.

Little is known about North Korea, except for their results in qualifying. Their opponents, the most successful national team in history, are clear favourites. Brazil look set to open their account in style.