With the completion of the group stage today, only 16 teams are remaining in the 2010 World Cup. Lets see the match-ups for the round of 16, which will take place over the next four days, from June 26 until June 29.
June 26:
10:00AM ET: Uruguay vs. South Korea (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth) ESPN
2:30PM ET: U.S.A. vs. Ghana (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg) ABC
June 27:
10:00AM ET: Germany vs. England (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein) ESPN
2:30PM ET: Argentina vs. Mexico (Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg) ABC
June 28:
10:00AM ET: Netherlands vs. Slovakia (Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban) ESPN
2:30PM ET: Brazil vs. Chile (Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg) ESPN
June 29:
10:00AM ET: Paraguay vs. Japan (Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria) ESPN
2:30PM ET: Spain vs. Portugal (Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town) ESPN
Normally the group stage acts as a sifter, and only the best teams make it out. And this year is no exception.
Plenty of these matchups feature intense rivalries and set a stage for nations with plenty of history between them.
England and Germany had been fighting each other in wars for decades, and nasty feelings for each other began to really develop after World War Two. The two nations have met in many high profile matches, including the 1966 World Cup final (England won 3-2 in extra time) 1970 World Cup quarter-finals (Germany won 3-2 in extra time), and in the most recent meeting, a 2-1 win for England in an exhibition match in Berlin, the Germans first loss in that city in 35 years.
Four years ago, both the U.S.A. and Mexico were knocked out by the teams they are set to face, Ghana and Argentina. Both North American teams are looking for revenge in this World Cup. The U.S.A. was knocked out by Ghana in the group stage four years ago, and Mexico was knocked out by Argentina in the round of 16.
Football matches between neighboring countries can become very heated. Just look at USA and Mexico. And lucky for us, we get a chance to see the Iberian Peninsula nations of Spain and Portugal face off. The teams have faced each other 32 times (Spain has won 15 times, Portugal has won 5 times, and they have drawn 12 times) over 83 years, and while they havnt faced each other since 2004, this game will have plenty of emotions on both sides.
In the knockout stages of the World Cup, there are no more ties. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation, two 15 minute overtime halves will be played. If it is still tied after the extra time, then a penalty shootout will decide the winner of the match.
Be sure to catch these games and enjoy the beautiful game!
