Group E
This is another tough group - for three teams. It's a battle of mediocrity as three average teams from three continents fight it out, while the Dutch walk on through to the next round. In theory, anyway.
NETHERLANDS
High: 2057 (2008/06/17)
Low: 1916 (2007/11/21)
Biggest rise: 52 (Italy 3-0 Neutral, UEFA European Championships, 2008/06/09)
Biggest fall: 60 (Russia 1-3 Neutral, UEFA European Championships, 2008/06/21)
The Dutch must've been pinching themselves after drawing such a poor group of opponents: they have no excuses for not progressing here. Euro 2008 was very eventful, as they tore Italy and France to shreds, only to be outplayed by the Russians. They've had two years to regroup, and at current form they should be aiming for the semi-finals.
DENMARK
High: 1896 (2006/09/06)
Low: 1743 (2010/06/05)
Biggest rise: 29 (Portugal 3-2 Away, WC Qualifier, 2008/09/10)
Biggest fall: 35 (Hungary 0-1 Home, WC Qualifier, 2009/10/14)
It's been a bad four years for the Danes. They were unlucky to miss out on the last World Cup after getting a tough qualifying group, but nothing's gone right since then. They failed to qualify for Euro 2008 (though one of their fans didn't exactly help matters) and they arguably got to this World Cup thanks to Portugal's even worse dip in form. Now they're in a group with two other teams going through similar bad runs, so although the last sixteen is a possibility, don't expect much more.
JAPAN
High: 1788 (2009/06/06)
Low: 1674 (2010/06/04)
Biggest rise: 27 (Egypt 4-1 Home, Afro-Asian Championship, 2007/10/17)
Biggest fall: 44 (South Korea 1-3 Home, East Asian Championship, 2010/02/14)
What can you say about Japan? After a poor World Cup in an admittedly tough group, they seemed to be making progress, though a lot of their good results were in friendly tournaments, and their qualifying was not the most challenging around. They come into the tournament having lost four consecutive friendlies: whatever you say about the merits of exhibition matches, that's not good preparation.
CAMEROON
High: 1785 (2008/02/07)
Low: 1685 (2008/01/22)
Biggest rise: 35 (Zambia 5-1 Neutral, CAF Africa Cup of Nations, 2008/01/26 & Ghana 1-0 Away, CAF Africa Cup of Nations, 2008/02/07)
Biggest fall: 43 (Egypt 2-4 Neutral, CAF Africa Cup of Nations, 2008/01/22 & Gabon 0-1 Neutral, CAF Africa Cup of Nations, 2010/01/13)
It's hard to know what to make of Cameroon. They walked into the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in bad shape, but left as runners-up to Egypt. They walked into the 2010 edition as one of the favourites, but lost to Gabon, scraped through on goal difference before Egypt (again) put them away. Once again, they've hit a real low coming into this tournament. Which Cameroon will turn up in South Africa?
Prediction: NETHERLANDS & CAMEROON QUALIFY
Group F
This group is interesting, in that the four teams seem quite evenly apart in their rating going into the tournament. As a result, it shouldn't be so difficult to figure out who will go through.
ITALY
High: 2023 (2006/09/02)
Low: 1909 (2009/08/12 & 2010/06/05)
Biggest rise: 36 (France 2-0 Neutral, UEFA European Championships, 2008/06/17)
Biggest fall: 52 (Netherlands 0-3 Neutral, UEFA European Championship, 2008/06/09)
It's hard to match winning the World Cup, but momentum has certainly not been with the Azzurri. A fair performance at Euro 2008 was followed by a comfortable qualifying campaign and a poor Confederations Cup. Even if you take the latter tournament out of the equation, this is not the Italy of four years ago. Semi-finals would be a great achievement.
PARAGUAY
High: 1841 (2009/02/11)
Low: 1721 (2007/06/02)
Biggest rise: 60 (Colombia 5-0 Neutral, Copa América, 2007/06/28)
Biggest fall: 48 (Mexico 0-6 Neutral, Copa América, 2007/07/08)
They faltered last time round, but they've been doing pretty well since then. A lively qualifying campaign saw them finish just a point behind Brazil, taking 4 points off Argentina and beating Brazil in the process. Their biggest danger is form: they took 23 points from their first 10 games, but only 10 from their remaining 8. To add injury to insult, star player Salvador Cabañas was shot in the head in January. And you thought England had injury worries: this guy's lucky to be alive.
NEW ZEALAND
High: 1594 (2008/09/10)
Low: 1487 (2009/06/17)
Biggest rise: 28 (Fiji 2-0 Away, WC Qualifier, 2007/10/17)
Biggest fall: 43 (Fiji 0-2 Away, WC Qualifier, 2008/11/19)
Now, let's be perfectly honest, New Zealand were always going to be making up the numbers. They're the best team in Oceania now the Aussies have left, so their play-off with Bahrain was assured. Thing is, Bahrain are not that great either, so it was going to be tight between the two. A headed corner kick was all it took to take New Zealand to the finals in their only important tie of the campaign. Never mind getting out of the group: a point would be cheered back home.
SLOVAKIA
High: 1708 (2007/03/24)
Low: 1576 (2008/09/10 & 2009/03/28)
Biggest rise: 40 (Wales 5-1 Away, EC Qualifier, 2006/10/07)
Biggest fall: 55 (Wales 2-5 Home, EC Qualifier, 2007/09/12)
In their first major tournament as an independent nation, Slovakia have made up enough ground on their Czech neighbours that they've qualified instead of them. They topped their group, only losing (twice) to fellow qualifiers Slovenia. Nevertheless, the World Cup group stage is a real test for them, and this is no easy group. They'll be determined to beat Paraguay to 2nd place, and they can certainly do it.
Prediction: ITALY & PARAGUAY QUALIFY
Don't forget to come back tomorrow with the final part, Groups G and H.
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