World Cup: Monday`s preview and picks

World Cup: Monday`s preview and picks   
Covers.com staff

 

Switzerland (+166) vs. Ukraine (+180), Draw (+200)
Total: 2 ½, Over (+110), Under (-182)

 

Ukraine has looked like a final 16 team in exactly one match; it’s 4-0 blowout of Saudi Arabia. That result is bookended by two sub par performances; a 4-0 loss to Spain in its first match and a 1-0 win over an undermanned Tunisian team in its third.

 

There’s no doubt that Ukraine is a dangerous squad with Chelsea superstriker Andriy Shevchenko leading the way. If Ukraine plays with the confidence it showed against Saudi Arabia, it will contend against a tough Swiss squad.

 

Switzerland was as calm and controlled as any team in advancing though to the knockout stage and is the only team remaining in the tournament that hasn’t allowed a goal. The Swiss counter Shevchenko with a prolific striker of their own in French Leaguer Alexander Frei. The Stade Rennais FC star has scored two of Switzerland’s four goals in the tournament, a number equal to Shevchenko.

 

If Switzerland wins, it will do so without one of its top defenders, 21-year-old Philippe Senderos, who is out for the tournament after dislocating his shoulder in the last match against Korea. Another youngster in 19-year-old Johan Djourou replaces him.

 

Covers.com pick: Ukraine 2-1 (extra time)

 

Italy (-205) vs. Australia (+620), Draw (+220)
Total: 2 ½, Over (+110), Under (-154)

 

It took 32 years for Australia’s return to the knockout stage, but a split-second decision by coach Guus Hiddink nearly ended it all.

 

In a controversial and risky decision, Hiddink opted to start reserve keeper Zeljko Kalac for all three of Australia’s group play matches over Mark Schwarzer. The move was a bust. Kalac was average at best and allowed a soft goal to Crotia’s Nico Kovac in the 56th minute of Australia’s final group match.

 

A late goal by Harry Kewell saved the day but Kalac will sit for Monday’s game and beyond. There are still questions about Kewell’s availability as well. Kewell hasn’t practiced since Thursday’s draw with Croatia, potentially robbing the Aussies of their best striker.

 

That’s a little unsettling considering Italy has surrendered only one goal all tournament.

 

But while the Italians are playing solid defensively, Italy’s attack has been far from potent. Striker and Italian Serie A leading scorer Toni Luca remains without a goal through two matches.

 

That leaves Marcello Lippi with a tough decision: keep Luca alongside Alberto Gilardino, or somehow find room for Filippo Inzaghi, who notched a goal in Thursday’s win over the Czech Republic.

 

Covers.com pick: Italy 1-0

Preview: Brazil v Ghana

Preview: Brazil v Ghana   

 

Associated Press

 

Ronaldo and Brazil have the opportunity to set or extend many individual and team World Cup records in Tuesday`s second-round match against African newcomer Ghana in Dortmund.

 

Yet, those accomplishments will be secondary to the "Selecao" taking another step toward a sixth title.

 

As expected, Brazil swept through Group F by posting victories over Croatia, Australia and Japan by a combined 7-1 margin. After two narrow victories, the "Selecao" brought back the free-flowing "jogo bonito" style of soccer in Thursday`s 4-1 rout of Japan that capped group play.

 

The game also proved temporary vindication for Ronaldo, whose two goals gave him 14 at the World Cup, tying him with Germany`s Gerd Mueller atop the all-time list. Intensely criticized by Brazil`s media for listless and lazy play in the first two matches, Ronaldo scored his second goal with a world-class effort - a 20-yard right-footed strike that came off a quick turn above the penalty area.

 

"It`s always nice to break records," said Ronaldo, who passed Pele as Brazil`s all-time World Cup scorer with his first goal and France`s Just Fontaine with his second.

 

"But our main goal will always be to win the World Cup." Ronaldo is seeking his third World Cup title with Brazil, which is just two goals shy of becoming the first team to score 200 at this tournament.

 

Brazilian defender Cafu will make his team-record 19th World Cup appearance and is two games shy of 150 with the national team. He`s four victories short of being the first player in history to captain two World Cup-winning teams and three away from making his fourth finals appearance.

 

"It`s fabulous," said Cafu, part of 15 World Cup victories. "I`m very proud of these numbers."

 

This is the fifth World Cup and 20th match overall for coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led Brazil to the 1994 title. The 63-year-old Parreira also has led Kuwait (1982), the United Arab Emirates (1990) and Saudi Arabia (1998) to the World Cup, but started his coaching career in Ghana as he helped establish a foundation for soccer in 1967-68.

 

"Ghana was very amateur ... they were innocent then," Parreira said. "They are not anymore. Now they are much more professional."

 

Parreira is expected to make one change to Brazil`s lineup, restoring midfielder Adriano to replace the injured Robinho, who suffered a thigh injury in practice Saturday.

 

"It improved but he still is feeling pain," Brazil trainer Jose Luiz Runco said Sunday. "He will undergo a magnetic resonance test ... and then we will make a decision for the next match."

 

Robinho started Thursday`s match when Parreira rested some of his starters, and his speed was able to create gaps in Japan`s defense that Ronaldo was able to exploit up front.

 

Ghana is the lone African team in the round of 16 after finishing runner-up to Italy in what was a difficult Group E, and the presence of the "Black Stars" marks the sixth consecutive World Cup an African team has reached the knockout round. They are trying to become the third African team to reach the quarterfinals, joining the 1990 Cameroon and 2002 Senegal squads.

 

"We saw a lot of old players come to our dressing room," said Stephen Appiah, who scored the decisive penalty kick in Thursday`s 2-1 victory over the United States that sent Ghana into the second round. "It motivated us because we want to be like them. We have to go in and represent not only Ghana but represent the continent as well.

 

"After the (U.S.) game, friends called me from Senegal, Togo, Nigeria," Appiah added. "That tells me we are playing for Africa. There`s no rivals. Africans are proud of Ghana playing in the World Cup."

 

But passage into the round of 16 came at a heavy price for the "Black Stars," who will be without star midfielder Michael Essien in this match due to a yellow card suspension. His absence denies Ghana a vital offensive link midfielder, a role which Shelley Muntari must assume as he plays behind Appiah and Asamoah Gyan, who missed the U.S. match due to a yellow card suspension.

 

"We`re under no pressure. We have to show Brazil we`re here for business," said midfielder Razak Pimpong, who drew the foul that led to Appiah`s penalty kick.

 

Ghana is expected to play a physical style to slow and frustrate Brazil. The "Black Stars" committed 76 fouls in group play - the most of any World Cup squad - and their 12 yellow cards trailed only Tunisia.

 

Accordingly, Parreira has made a public plea to protect his skilled players.

 

"They play very aggressively," Parreira said. "We have seen the statistics and I hope the referees are able to curb this, especially to protect the soccer played with quality."

 

Brazil won the only match between the teams, 8-2 in a 1996 friendly. Ronaldo also rallied the Under-23 Brazil squad to a 4-2 quarterfinal win over Ghana in the 1996 Olympics, scoring twice.

 

The winner of this game will play either Spain or France in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Frankfurt.

Injured Robinho to miss Ghana match

Injured Robinho to miss Ghana match   

 

Associated Press

 

BERGISCH GLADBACH, Germany -- Robinho will not play for Brazil against Ghana in the second round of the World Cup because of a muscle injury.

 

The striker, who had medial tests in Cologne, is not seriously injured but will not be fit to face Ghana on Tuesday, the Brazilian Soccer Confederation said Monday.

 

"It was a small problem. I`ll continue treatment and, God willing, I will be available for next Saturday`s match if Brazil gets past Ghana," Robinho said.

 

The striker, who started in Brazil`s 4-1 win over Japan, was not expected to travel with the rest of the squad to Dortmund for the match against Ghana. He was likely to stay at the team`s hotel undergoing treatment.

 

"Everyone is relieved that it wasn`t anything more serious," CBF spokesman Rodrigo Paiva said.

 

Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco had said the full extent of the striker`s injury would not be known until after an MRI was conducted on Monday.

 

It wasn`t immediately clear how many days Robinho would be sidelined because of the injury. Robinho and Runco were expected to talk to the media later on Monday.

 

Robinho hasn`t practiced since the right-thigh injury occurred after a shot on goal at the end of Brazil`s training session Saturday.

 

Robinho put his hand on the leg immediately after and did not continue playing. He met with Brazil`s doctors on the sideline and was escorted to the locker room.

 

After playing well against Japan, the 23-year-old Robinho was hoping to get another chance in the match against Ghana.

 

He replaced regular starter Adriano against Japan after coach Carlos Alberto Parreira decided to rest some of the regular starters and give more playing time to some of the reserves.

 

Many in Brazil have been calling for Robinho to be included in the team`s starting lineup in all matches.

 

Robinho, playing in his first World Cup, was a starter when Brazil won last year`s Confederations Cup, helping the team win the title and earning praise from Parreira.

 

Robinho has six goals in 23 matches with Brazil. He led Santos to two Brazilian league titles before going to Real Madrid in 2005 in a deal reportedly worth €30 million.