TODAY’S GAMES
GROUP E: NETHERLANDS VS. DENMARK
Where: Johannesburg. Time: 4:30 a.m. PDT.
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5 and KDLD-FM/KDLE-FM 103.1
The buzz: Dutch Coach Bert van Marwijk knows he has the players, knows he has the game plan and knows the Netherlands has a realistic chance to go far in the tournament. But Van Marwijk doesn’t like the game balls, the condition of the fields and the noise of the vuvuzelas. “The pitches are good and even,” he said, “but the foundation is harder than we are used to so it is tougher to keep standing.” He said the balls react differently at altitude than they do at sea level. Meanwhile, tournament organizers are once again reviewing whether to ban the vuvuzelas, the omnipresent plastic trumpets. Star winger Arjen Robben is still injured.
-- Grahame L. Jones
GROUP E: JAPAN VS. CAMEROON
Where: Bloemfontein. Time: 7 a.m. PDT.
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5, KDLD-FM/KDLE-FM 103.1
The buzz: Cameroon, the only African team to ever reach the World Cup quarterfinals, will have the crowd on its side against punch-less Japan in what figures to be a contrast in styles. Flashy Cameroon is led by striker Samuel Eto, a three-time African player of the year. But to be successful the Indomitable Lions will need to control the tempo of the game through its midfielders. The conservative Japanese, meanwhile, have a trio of playmakers in Shunsuke Nakamura, Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo.
-- Kevin Baxter
GROUP F: ITALY VS. PARAGUAY
Where: Cape Town. Time: 11:30 a.m. PDT.
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5, KDLD-FM/KDLE-FM 103.1
The buzz: Since 1950 only two defending World Cup champions have lost their opening match -- Argentina in 1982 and France in 2002. And Italy, plagued by injuries and coming off a series of lackluster warm-up performances, could add to that list. Coach Marcello Lippi has been coy about what system he will use, but there’s been speculation he will spring a surprise and play central defender Giorgio Chiellini at left back. Andrea Pirlo is definitely out while Mauro Camoranesi and Claudio Marchisio are coming off minor injuries. Paraguay had wins against Argentina and Brazil in qualifying.
-- Kevin Baxter
