Group E
Netherlands Dutch star Wesley Sneijder is hungry for more honours after doing the treble with Inter Milan at club level this season. Sneijder, who scored a cracking volley in the Netherlands’ 4-1 win over Ghana this week, said: “Frankly, I’m really not tired, it gives me new energy. It is a huge incentive to take three titles with me to the Oranje, and I am hungry for more.”
Denmark The Danish lost 1-0 to Australia on Tuesday but defender Lars Jacobsen is happy for people to underrate them. He said: “If nobody is talking about us, we like it that way. We have not got big stars but we are a solid unit and work hard for each other.”
Japan Blue Samurai coach Takeshi Okada insists the result of Friday’s friendly against Ivory Coast holds no bearing for him, despite the fact he’ll be fielding a full-strength side. Under-pressure Okada said: “I have never thought it is OK to lose a game of football, but at the end of the day our main objective is to win matches at the World Cup.”
Cameroon The Indomitable Lions’ World Cup preparation hasn’t been great following comments made by legend Roger Milla was made star man Samuel Eto’o unhappy. Cameroon then were thrashed 3-1 by Portugal with Eto’o angrily sent off. Problems.
Group F
Paraguay The South Americans continued their impressive recent run with a 2-0 victory over Greece in Switzerland with Lucas Barrios scoring the sealer. The result follows a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast on Sunday where Paraguay came from two behind.
New Zealand The All Whites face Slovenia on Friday before travelling to South Africa and coach Ricki Herbert says the game won’t mean much. New Zealand have done well recently following a narrow 2-1 loss to Australia and 1-0 win over Serbia. “I think we’ve performed at a level that has shown what we can potentially do,” Herbert said.
Slovakia Slovakian striker Erik Jendrisek has stressed the importance of his side’s World Cup opener against New Zealand. He said: “In tournaments like this, it is very important that you start well. This is particularly true for teams like ours. Slovakia and New Zealand want to surprise the rest. We must go there to fight 100% in South Africa.”
Group G
Korea DPR North Korea’s sneaky attempt to take only two goalkeepers to South Africa has backfired on them with FIFA tell them striker Kim Myong-Won will only be allowed to play as a shot-stopper at the World Cup. He has been registered as Korea DPR’s third goalkeeper.
Portugal After last week’s woeful goalless draw against Cape Verde, Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz was more impressed after a 3-1 win over Cameroon with Raul Meireles scoring two. Queiroz said: “To win a game is always important. It was a good game. I asked my players for discipline and organisation and, even when we played against ten men, we managed to maintain our focus.”
Cote d’Ivoire Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has selected six strikers for his final 23-man World Cup squad. The Elephants, who face Japan on Friday, left out some notable players such as Abdoulaye Meite, Gilles Yapi Yapo and Bakari Kone.
Group H
Switzerland The recent loss to Costa Rica may have been a set-back for the Swiss but midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta isn’t too fussed ahead of their friendly against Italy. He said: “This is going to be a real test for us, but I think it is pointless playing against the so-called small nations just to build up self-confidence.”
Honduras Coach Reinaldo Rueda has slammed his side’s pre-World Cup performance in a goalless draw against European minnows Azerbaijan earlier this week. Rueda said: “”There’s nothing to be said. We’re not even going to give a defence. It is time to reflect. I do not see depth or aggression, or a team fit for the World Cup.”
Chile Chilean boss Marcelo Bielsa has controversially included injured striker Humberto Suazo in his final 23-man squad for the World Cup. Suazo picked up an injury on the weekend against Israel and is a major doubt.