2010 FIFA World Cup Preview: Matchday Nine

Group D

Australia v Ghana , Royal Bafokeng—Rustenburg, 3pm.

A second defeat for Australia will end their participation in this year World Cup, while even a draw in Rustenburg will leave them with a mountain to climb if the Socceroos are to reach the knockout stage.

Ghana will be full of confidence after their opening day victory over a highly regarded Serbia team. Avictory today and a knockout stage place will be in their sights.

The above factors indicate this should be an open contest between two teams that will desperately want to win.

The Black Stars aren’t too interested in defending anyway and the ageing Australia back four will be under constant pressure from the more youthful and speedy trio of Prince Tagoe, Asamoah Gyan, and Kwadwo Asamoah.

The loss of midfielder Michael Essien is yet to be keenly felt but today will be an interesting indicator of how far this young team have come, the fans back in West Africa will be expecting a victory considering Australia's poor first match result.

Pim Verbeek has been forced to make changes following that 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany. Tim Cahill, the sides main goal threat, is suspended for today’s game and Vince Grella of Blackburn Rovers is injured.

Fortunately however, Harry Kewell looks likely to be fit to start for the first time and his arrival is more than welcome. Against the Germans the Socceroos had little going forward and they will be hoping the Galatasaray forward will be their saviour.

In the other corner, Ghana look set to make just the one change, with Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari returning to the centre of midfield to join Kevin Prince Boateng.

With an emotional game full of sub-plots to come next Wednesday with Germany, the Ghanaians will want to go into that game in the strongest possible condition, but Australia cannot possibly be that bad again, especially with their World Cup future being on the line.

Starting Lineup Prediction:

Australia (4-3-2-1): Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield, Grella, Bresciano, Valeri, Emerton, Kewell, Kennedy.

Ghana (4-4-2): Kingson, Sarpie, Vorsah, Mensah, Pantsil, Muntari, Boateng, Tagoe, Ayew, Asamoah, Gyan.

Group E

Cameroon v Denmark , Loftus Versfeld—Pretoria 7:30pm

Tonight's game is probably the least high profile of all the late kick-offs so far, but it holds as much intrigue as any other we have seen. Defeat for Cameroon means they are out of the World Cup and a loss for the Danes will all leave them needing a miracle to progress.

Holland have already secured six points and by association top spot but second place is still very much up for grabs and the winner in Pretoria will feel they have a great chance of reaching the last sixteen.

If their opening performances are anything to go by though, attack will be at a premium. Both the Danes and the Indomitable Lions went forward sporadically in their opening games and they will need to improve immeasurably if they are to find some goals tonight.

Denmark look set to continue with the same team that fought hard but were ultimately comfortably beaten by the Netherlands in Soccer City last Monday. Nicklas Bendtner has been struggling with injury and the altitude but the continued absence of Jon Dahl Tomasson means the Morten Olsen will persist with the Arsenal striker.

Paul Le Guen, Cameroon's French boss, may ring the changes for their do or die clash at Loftus Versfeld. His tactics clearly didn't work against Japan and senior players have claimed that the younger players can't handle the World Cup pressures emanating from their home land.  

Therefore Samuel Eto'o may return to a more central striking role, whilst Alexander Song could return to the midfield, as could his uncle Rigobert.

Eric Moupo-Toping had emerged as a natural partner to Eto'o in qualifying but he now looks set to be dropped in favour of international veteran Pierre Webo.

Achille Emana, the Real Betis midfielder, has opening criticised the younger players and could be given the responsibility of saving his country's World Cup tonight by being reinstated to the midfield. If ever there was time for Cameroon to show some unity it is now.

For Japan, the ideal result will be a draw, and that could well be the case in a physical game.

Starting Lineup Predictions:

Cameroon (4-4-2): Hamidou, Geremi, R Song, N'koulou, Essou-Ekotto, Song, Makoun, Mbia, Emana, Webo, Eto'o.

Denmark (4-3-3): Sorensen, Jacobsen, Agger, Kjaer, S Poulsen, C Poulsen, Jorgensen, Kahlenburg, Rommedahl, Enevoldsen, Bendtner.