By Nick Mitchell
It's D-Day for Italy as Marcello Lippi's men aim to turn their World Cup around against Slovakia, while Denmark and Japan fight it out for the remaining qualifying spot in Group E.
Picture of the Day: Former US President Bill Clinton congratulates some of the American players including goalkeeper Tim Howard (left) in their dressing room after a 1-0 win against Algeria yesterday. Picture: Getty
Today's match schedule
• Paraguay v New Zealand, 3pm
Paraguay have made a bright start to their World Cup campaign and they will go into their final Group F match with an attacking line-up to confirm their progress. New Zealand are expected to be unchanged for the third successive game, and if they win they'll make the last 16 - unthinkable before the tournament began. Draw and the All Whites will have to rely on Slovakia.
• Slovakia v Italy, 3pm
Italy will be determined to put Sunday's alarming draw with New Zealand behind them and live up to their status as champions in this final group game. Coach Marcello Lippi is likely to ring the changes, and could bring in strikers Antonio Di Natale and Giampaolo Pazzini. Slovakia must win to keep their slim hopes alive, and hope that Paraguay beat New Zealand.
• Cameroon v Netherlands, 7.30pm
This game may be meaningless but it could still provide excellent entertainment. Cameroon's draw with Denmark was one of the games of the tournament so far, and Samuel Eto'o and his less celebrated teammates will be aiming to go out on a high. The Dutch will be equally determined to maintain their 100% record, and with an unchanged team, they'll be hoping to add some flair to their clinical form so far.
• Denmark v Japan, 7.30pm
Few fancied Japan to make it out of Group E, but if they draw against the Danes this evening, that's exactly what they'll do, thanks to a slightly superior goal difference. Denmark have struggled in their first two games but took their goals well against Cameroon. Coach Morten Olsen may well hope his side's height advantage is a key factor at set pieces.
Yesterday's 140 character match reports
#AUS Australia 2 – 1 #SRB Serbia: Serbia miss out as second-half goals from Tim Cahill and Brett Holman send them out of the Cup. #worldcup What's happening?
#GHA Ghana 0 – 1 #GER Germany: Germany will play England in the last 16 as Ozil's second-half strike proved the difference against Ghana. #worldcup What's happening?
#USA United States 1 - 0 #ALG Algeria: Landon Donovan slots in a sensational late winner to take USA to top of Group C, knocking #SVN Slovenia out #worldcup
#ENG England 1 - 0 #SVN Slovenia: England make it through to last 16 of #worldcup What's happening? after a nervous 93 mins. Jermain Defoe got the crucial 1st half goal.
• Follow us on Twitter for 140 word match reports on the final whistle
From today's Scotsman
• Capello praises team spirit as Defoe sets up last 16 clash with Germany
• Alan Pattullo: BBC team's appetite for farcical hype swings between famine and feast once more
• Italians will keep cool in group decider with Slovakia
• Dutch won't take foot off pedal and lose rhythm
• All Whites aim to make history against Paraguay
• Danes urged to treat crunch clash with Japan as a final
Fact of the Day
Japan's former Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has an asteroid named after him: Asteroid 29986 Shunsuke.
Team of the Day
Cameroon
The World Cup will say goodbye to one of its most colourful teams (in kit and playing style) when Cameroon bow out against the Netherlands today. After a poor start against Japan with Eto'o out of position, they regained some pride against Denmark, and Paul Le Guen's men will no doubt enjoy this evening's match against the Dutch.
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