Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 12th	1		South Africa	vs.		Mexico	Johannesburg	12:00am
Jun 12th	2		Uruguay	vs.		France	Cape Town	4:30am
Jun 17th	17		South Africa	vs.		Uruguay	Tshwane	4:30am
Jun 18th	18		France	vs.		Mexico	Polokwane	4:30am
Jun 23rd	33		Mexico	vs.		Uruguay	Rustenburg	12:00am
Jun 23rd	34		France	vs.		South Africa	Mangaung	12:00am

Group A
France are short favourites to win this group at around at $1.90 in early markets from Mexico $4.50, Uruguay $5.00 and hosts South Africa at $7.00.

France have got themselves a relatively easy group and they appear the likely winners to go through to the next stage all things being equal. Mexico will be favoured by the conditions in Africa and they look the most likely team to finish runner-up and advance to the next round, while Uruguay are capable on their day and have the ability to test their opponents.

Tournament hosts South Africa could quite conceivably play above themselves in front of their own adoring fans, but realistically they are likely to exit at this stage and not progress any further into the tournament.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 12th	3		Argentina	vs.		Nigeria	Johannesburg	9:30pm
Jun 13th	4		South Korea	vs.		Greece	Mandela Bay	12:00am
Jun 18th	19		Greece	vs.		Nigeria	Mangaung	12:00am
Jun 17th	20		Argentina	vs.		South Korea	Johannesburg	9:30pm
Jun 23rd	35		Nigeria	vs.		South Korea	Durban	4:30am
Jun 23rd	36		Greece	vs.		Argentina	Polokwane	4:30am

Group B
Argentina is a firm favourite to win this group at around $1.50 in early markets from Nigeria $5.50, Greece $7.00 and South Korea $10.00.

Argentina are fairly short to take out this group and they look almost good things to go through to the next stage in either first or second place. Nigeria will be playing on their own continent which will certainly help their chances of advancing further and they could be the surprise factor here.

Greece can be a handful at their best and defensively they can be hard to get past, but up front they lack scoring power, while South Korea performed admirably in 2002 when fourth at home but may be tested in Africa.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 13th	5		England	vs.		United States	Rustenburg	4;30am
Jun 13th	6		Algeria	vs.		Slovenia	Polokwane	9:30pm
Jun 19th	22		Slovenia	vs.		United States	Johannesburg	12:00am
Jun 19th	23		England	vs.		Algeria	Cape Town	4:30am
Jun 24th	37		Slovenia	vs.		England	Mandela Bay	12:00am
Jun 24th	38		United States	vs.		Algeria	Tshwane	12:00am

Group C
England have been handed what appears an easy group on paper, hence the $1.33 on offer in early markets. The USA are next at $5.50, with Slovenia $10.00 and Algeria at $17.00.

If England do not qualify for the next stage against these lesser opponents then there will be an uproar in the British Isles and England should win this group comfortably on exposed form.

The USA are a creditable outfit who are probably the team most likely to grab the second spot through to the next round, while Algeria have to be respected on their own continent and they certainly have enough ability to be more than competitive in this group.

Slovenia did well to qualify for the tournament but on exposed form they will struggle to go any further than this stage.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 14th	7		Germany	vs.		Australia	Durban	12:00am
Jun 14th	8		Serbia	vs.		Ghana	Tshwane	4:30am
Jun 18th	21		Germany	vs.		Serbia	Mandela Bay	9:30pm
Jun 19th	24		Ghana	vs.		Australia	Rustenburg	12:00am
Jun 24th	39		Ghana	vs.		Germany	Johannesburg	4:30am
Jun 24th	40		Australia	vs.		Serbia	Nelspruit	4:30am

Group D
Germany are $1.80 in early markets to win this group from Serbia $5.00, Ghana $5.00 and our very own Australia are ranked outsiders of the group at $7.50.

Germany are World Cup stalwarts and even though they may lack the talent of previous German teams competing on the world stage, their experience at this level should be enough to get them through to the next round. Having said that, they face a tricky road ahead against some unpredictable opponents who all have the ability cause them grief.

Serbia could be the surprise packet of this group as they possess many players who ply their trade in European competitions and they qualified in dominant fashion on the back of a strong defensive work ethic. Ghana playing on their own continent will be confident of getting through to the next round with some talented midfielder's guiding the way.

Australia performed exceptionally well in 2006 and although they lack a genuine superstar they are a team with plenty of Premier League experience which will hold them in good stead. The Aussies have shown much improvement in recent years and although they face a tough task to get through to the next round against such strong opposition, all Aussies in this country will be right behind them in their quest.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 14th	9		Netherlands	vs.		Denmark	Johannesburg	9:30pm
Jun 15th	10		Japan	vs.		Cameroon	Mangaung	12:00am
Jun 19th	25		Netherlands	vs.		Japan	Durban	9:30pm
Jun 20th	26		Cameroon	vs.		Denmark	Tshwane	4:30am
Jun 25th	43		Denmark	vs.		Japan	Rustenburg	4:30am
Jun 25th	44		Cameroon	vs.		Netherlands	Cape Town	4:30am

Group E
The Netherlands are strong favourites here and they opened around $1.65 to take out this group from the African team Cameroon $5.00, then Denmark $5.50 and Japan at $10.00.

The Netherlands team has promised much in this competition in previous attempts, but are still yet to win the coveted prize. They typically play very well against weaker opponents in the early group stages and they look morals to get through to the next round from this group. Their problem will come further in the tournament when facing teams of substance, but there is no doubting the Netherlands possess great skill and ability which will carry them a long way into this tournament.

Japan has never done much outside of Asia and they are likely to struggle here which means second spot should be a battle between the Danes and Cameroon. Denmark did a wonderful job to qualify in a group that included Portugal & Sweden and their experience at this level makes them the team most likely to finish runner-up to the Netherlands.

Cameroon on their own turf will be expecting big things and their brand of football, while very exciting to watch, can also be their downfall at times. So far they have failed to deliver on the world stage, whereas Denmark has made the knockout stages in the past three World Cups, which suggest the Danes experience will come to the fore here.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 15th	11		Italy	vs.		Paraguay	Cape Town	4:30am
Jun 15th	12		New Zealand	vs.		Slovakia	Rustenburg	9:30pm
Jun 20th	27		Slovakia	vs.		Paraguay	Mangaung	9:30pm
Jun 21st	28		Italy	vs.		New Zealand	Nelspruit	12:00am
Jun 25th	41		Slovakia	vs.		Italy	Johannesburg	12:00am
Jun 25th	42		Paraguay	vs.		New Zealand	Polokwane	12:00am

Group F
Early markets have Italy very short at $1.42 to take Group F from Paraguay $4.25, Slovakia $8.00 and New Zealand at the big odds of $41.00.

Italy won this event in 2006 and their all round class and talent make them look almost certain winners of this group. Defensively they are one of the best teams in the world and they boast a star studded midfield that will create plenty of chances against some inferior opposition in this group. Up front they have been lacking for decent firepower in recent times which may hinder them as they progress further, but at this stage of the competition it is hard to see them finishing anywhere but on top of this group.

Paraguay defeated Argentina and Brazil on the way to qualifying for the tournament which shows they have the ability to beat good opposition. many of their players are top performers in Europe competitions and they appear to be good things to go through to the next round alongside Italy.

Slovenia has some handy players and they have done well to get this far, but they appear to lack the class and experience to make it any further than this stage. New Zealand are a more than competitive outfit who battle hard, but will be up against it when facing Italy and Paraguay and are likely to exit along with the Slovenians.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 16th	13		Ivory Coast	vs.		Portugal	Mandela Bay	12:00am
Jun 16th	14		Brazil	vs.		North Korea	Johannesburg	4:30am
Jun 21st	29		Brazil	vs.		Ivory Coast	Johannesburg	4:30am
Jun 21st	30		Portugal	vs.		North Korea	Cape Town	9:30pm
Jun 26th	45		Portugal	vs.		Brazil	Durban	12:00am
Jun 26th	46		North Korea	vs.		Ivory Coast	Nelspruit	12:00am

Group G
Five time winner Brazil are favourites at $1.62 in early markets to take this group from Portugal 4.25, Ivory Coast 4.50 and North Korea at the very big odds of $67.00.

Brazil are deserved favourites to win this group but they face some tough opposition in Portugal and the Ivory Coast on their way to the next round. Brazil appear to be a much more settled outfit going into this World Cup with much going right and they won their qualifying group in stylish fashion. They Brazilians are at their best on the world stage where their gifted players rise to the occasion and they should advance through to the knockout rounds all things being equal.

With Brazil likely to grab either first or second spot in this group, it means a battle between the Portuguese and Africans for the other qualifying position. The Ivory Coast have some very skilled footballers and are the best of the African teams competing at this event. Playing on their home soil the Ivory Coast are an exciting team who have the ability to match it with both Brazil and Portugal and are quite capable of getting through to the next round.

Portugal are a very talented outfit who play some very attractive football and they will provide plenty of competition for this group, although the reliance on Christian Ronaldo will ultimately determine how far they progress into the tournament. The Portugal defence may leak holes against the top attacking prowess of both Brazil and the Ivory Coast and although they are good enough to grab a top two spot they might just miss out this time round.

North Korea have done well to qualify, but they face a mammoth task to even gain a point in this group against such high quality opponents.

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Date	Match		Team 1			Team 2	Venue	Time
Jun 16th	15		Honduras	vs.		Chile	Nelspruit	9:30am
Jun 17th	16		Spain	vs.		Switzerland	Durban	12:00am
Jun 22nd	31		Chile	vs.		Switzerland	Mandela Bay	12:00am
Jun 22nd	32		Spain	vs.		Honduras	Johannesburg	04:30am
Jun 26th	47		Chile	vs.		Spain	Tshwane	04:30am
Jun 26th	48		Switzerland	vs.		Honduras	Mangaung	04:30am

Group H
Spain are the shortest priced of all the favourites to win its group at $1.31, while Chile is $5.50 from Switzerland $10.00 and Honduras at $21.00.

Spain are the reigning European Champions and they have been a formidable opponent in recent times in all competitions. Spain enter this World Cup as opening favourite to win the whole event at $5.00 and it looks a mere formality for them to snare top spot and go on to the next stage.

The battle for second spot is very much up for grabs and Chile and Switzerland seem best placed to fight it out. Switzerland are a well structured outfit with a sound defensive unit that generally proves hard to dissect and they are good enough to grab second in this group. Chile has the youngest team at the World Cup and their youth, speed and Brazilian like flair could see them up the ante here and see them through to the next round, although they will need to be mindful in defence as they conceded quite a few goals in the qualifying rounds.

Honduras have improved in leaps and bounds in recent times with players now competing in Europe competitions and while they have made great strides it would be very much a surprise to seem go through here as their big odds suggest.

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