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Wayne Rooney has vowed to achieve redemption for his red card exit from the last World Cup by firing England into the knockout stages of this tournament.
England face Algeria on Friday with bigger issues at stake than whether they can beat the north Africans to regain control of World Cup Group C.
If you cannot beat the vuvuzela, the Swiss squad decided, you might as well embrace the cacophony which is blighting Africa's first World Cup for many fans and players.
Holders Italy, written off at home as no-hopers to retain their world title and traditionally slow starters, are in danger of being caught napping by in-form Paraguay in their Group F opener on Monday.
DPR Korean midfielder An Yong-Hak believed his team are mentally tougher than five-time World Cup winners Brazil.
Didier Drogba joined his Ivory Coast teammates for practice Friday but remains in doubt for the team's opening World Cup match against Portugal because of his broken arm.
World beaters or first-round flops? France have been at both ends of the tournament spectrum in recent years and go into Friday's Group A opener against Uruguay with fans still unsure which is this year's likely path.
The theory in Germany goes that the loss of Michael Ballack could actually work in their favour, giving an outstanding crop of fresh-faced, fleet-footed players a chance to flourish at this World Cup.
Striker Jong Tae Se of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) team expressed his confidence of the World Cup match against Brazil on Tuesday.
Germany may have the pedigree of having won three World Cup titles but Joachim Loew's side will not have an easy ride against Australia, Ghana and Serbia in Group D.
Semifinals Fixtures
| July 7 |
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July 8 |
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Top Scorers
|
Player |
Team |
Goals |
David Villa | ESP | 5 |
| Sneijder | NED | 5 | |||
| Diego Forlan |
URU |
5 | |||
| Mueller |
GER |
5 | |||
|
Vittek |
SVK | 4 | |||
|
Klose |
GER |
4 |
|||
|
Higuain |
ARG |
4 |
|||
|
Asamoah Gyan |
GHA |
3 | |||
| Donovan | USA | 3 | |||
| Luis Suarez | URU | 3 | Fabiano | BRA | 3 |
URU 2 - 3 NED 
GER 0 - 1 ESP 