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Day five results (click on the result for the full report):
90 mins Full-time Brazil 2-1 North Korea North Korea finish brightly and can be proud of their efforts against one of the favourite for the World Cup. Ramires, a late sub for Brazil, picked up an unnecessary yellow card. The South Americans have made an adequate start to their campaign, but they’ll need to improve to go deep in the tournament.
89 mins Goal Brazil 2-1 North Korea Ji Yun Nam scores North Korea’s first World Cup goal since 1966. Ji ran on to a team-mate’s header on the edge of the area passed a Brazilian defender and slotted the ball home.
86 mins Jong almost latches on to a long ball for Korea, but Juan intervenes with a lunging last-ditch tackle to put the ball out of play for a corner. Cesar clears the resultant corner with an unconvincing punch.
83 mins The excellent Robinho finds Lucio in the box with another incisive pass, but he loses possession.
79 mins Melo staring to blossom for the Brazilians.
75 mins North Korea have no answer to a now rampant Brazil side. Damage limitation now very much the order of the day, but that was probably the only goal from the start. However, Portugal and Ivory Coast could have problems breaking this side down and North Korea could still have a big say in who qualifies from this group. The Grim Reaper in the Group of Death, if you will.
72 mins The goalscorer is replaced by Dani Alves.
72 mins Goal Brazil 2-0 North Korea A sublime diagonal pass (left to right) rips the Korean defence apart. Elano latches on to the perfectly weighted ball and makes no mistake with his low shot inside the far post.
64 mins Fabiano is free in the area but blazes his volley his volley high into the night sky.
62 mins A Brazilain wit in the crowd is hold a banner aloft which reads ‘Kim Jong-il thinks I’m at work’. Kim is very much like the girl next door – if you happen to live next door to a kaki-clad despot.
60 mins Bastos’ effort proves too hot to handle for the Korean keeper, but the ball is cleared.
55 mins Goal Brazil 1-0 North Korea A superb goal from the mighty Maicon. The Brazilian surges into the box and picks up a perfect pass from Elano before tearing to the byline. Spotting the keeper advancing of his line in anticipation of a cross, he seizes the initiative and hammers the ball between the keeper and the near post.
53 mins North Korea win their second corner of the game. Hong’s corner is headed clear by Juan.
52 mins An Elano corner is punched wide by the Korean keeper, while Robinho drills another effort from outside the area pas the left post.
51 mins A reckless tackle on Kaka just outside the area gives Brazil a free kick in a promising position. Bastos blasts the ball right and wide.
50 mins Brazil are playing with far more urgency since the restart, but North Korea continue to defend with composure as Robinho has a shot blocked.
47 mins Fabiano is released in the area, but he fails to control the ball and danger is averted.
20.25pm Betting banter Brazil have drifted from a smidgeon over 1-10 on the betting exchanges to 1-3. The draw has hardened from a pre-match high of 12-1 to just under 4-1. Value the cry? North Korea are available at 30-1.
45 mins Half-time Brazil 0-0 North Korea.
43 mins An Elano corner comes to nothing for Brazil.
42 mins Cha concedes a corner under pressure from Robinho, but goes on to clear the resultant kick.
36 mins Sustained pressure from Brazil continues to be easily dealt with by North Korea. The South Americans play smacks of ‘Arsenal light’ rather than cutting edge, penetrative football.
35 mins A long-range effort from Bastos, which looked on target, is deflected wide. The officials somehow award a goal kick.
31 mins Lucio is forced to concede a corner as Jong runs with the ball to the byline. The corner ‘threat’ comes to nothing. The Koreans’ shooting looks a shade anaemic, which may not be a surprise from a country ravaged by untold famines.
28 mins Ri Myong Guk punches a Maicon shot behind for a corner. That corner fails to trouble the underdogs.
22 mins Pak Choi Jin looks a commanding figure at the back for North Korea. Very much in the John Terry mould, before that bit of bother.
19 mins Fabiano finds Robinho, but he shoots straight at the keeper.
17 mins Mun In Guk attempts to lob Cesar from inside his own area. The shot exhibits confidence, but like the shot, it was misplaced.
15 mins North Korea are a well-drilled, organised side. They certainly aren’t intimated by their opponents and are gaining more possession.
13 mins Neat build-up by the boys from Brazil, but Elano’s tame shot inside the area is saved.
11 mins Jong, who has promised to score tonight, gets North Korea's first shot of the game on target. It’s easily gathered by Cesar.
10 mins Bastos hits and hopes from outside the area. His hope is short-lived. Another speculative shot goes well wide. Brazil lacking imagination? I never thought I’d be typing those words.
6 mins The Brazilians haven’t found their shooting boots yet. Robinho follows the example of Elano and blasts the ball wide from a promising position 25 yards out.
6 mins Man City flop Elano shots left-footed from outside the area, but his shot sails wide.
2 mins The first meaningful attack sees Robinho drive into the area and feed the ball to Kaka in a dangerous position. The Real Madrid star is easily dispossessed, however.
7.30pm Kick-off.
7.22pm The players are making their way out onto the pitch as Johnny Giles predicts a 2-0 victory for Brazil. Anyone expecting an open and free-scoring affair is likely to be disappointed with Brazil looking much more conservative than usual under manager Dunga. It's a chilly evening at Ellis Park with temperatures predicted to drop as low as -3.
7.14pm Teams for Brazil v North Korea have been announced. Some familiar names among the Brazilians, not so much North Korea.
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos,
Felipe Melo, Silva, Elano, Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano.
Substitutes: Gomes, Doni, Dani Alves, Luisao, Thiago Silva,
Gilberto, Josue, Ramires, Julio Baptista, Kleberson, Nilmar,
Grafite.
Korea DPR: Ri Myong Guk, Cha Jong Hyok, Ri Jun II, Ri Kwang Chon, Ji Yun Nam, Pak Choi Jin, Pak Nam Choi, Mun In Guk, An Yong Hak, Jong Tae Se, Hong Yong Jo
Substitutes: M. Kim, M. Kim, K. Kim, An, Choe, N. Pak, Y. Kim,
Nam, C. Ri, K. Ri, K. Kim, S. Pak.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Full-time - Ivory Coast 0-0 Portugal. And it's another scoreless draw at the World Cup. There was lots of promise there and at times the game threatened to spark into an exciting encounter but we've had to settle for the sixth draw of the World Cup finals thus far. Blame it on the altitude, the vuvezelas, the Jubalini ball, whatever, but so far the World Cup is struggling to live up to expectations.
90+1 mins Portugal are really hanging as Ivory Coast suddenly come to life and throw everything forward in search of a winner.
90 mins Oh, real chance for the Ivory Coast. Keita slips the ball into Drogba with just goalkeeper Eduardo to beat but he delays just a fraction of a second too long and Alves gets across to help scramble the ball away.
85 mins The game is petering out to a dull conclusion. The impressive Gervinho comes off for Ivory Coast to be replaced by Kader Keita, while Portugal bring on Benfica midfielder Ruben Amorim for Raul Meireles.
81 mins Chelsea's Paulo Ferreira does just enough to put off Kolo Toure whose header from a free-kick drifts back across the goalmouth and away to safety.
79 mins Ronaldo blazes a 35-yard freekick over the wall and over the bar after being fouled by Tiene. A winner here is starting to look inceasingly unlikely.
76 mins Dindane, who has been full of running but short on end product, does it again and he charges down the right wing before blazing a cross/shot/interballistic missile yards over the goal and out of play.
72 mins Zakora takes the heels of Ronaldo on the right wing but Ivory Coast are able to deal with the resulting free-kick with ease. The game is going through a bit a lull, ironically since the introduction of Drogba.
70 mins Portugal have the ball in the net courtesy of a Ronaldo tap-in but it's disallowed for an Alves foul on Demel. Replays show that it was a very marginal decision.
65 mins Drogba is on! The Ivory Coast's star player comes on to a rapturous reception with Kalou going off.
61 mins The Ivory Coast have been in complete control this half and Ronaldo has yet to have a proper touch. Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz realises he has to shake things up and brings on Tiago for Deco. Bit of a odd decision as Deco was the only one offering a threat up front for Portugal.
59 mins A real chance for Ivory Coast to open the scoring goes begging after Gervinho's header in front of goal baloons over the bar. He really should have done better.
56 mins A rare foray forward from Portugal sees Deco burst down the left side to the by-line where his cut-back cross is met by the head of Liedson, but the striker can't get enough power or direction on it and it's easily dealt with by goalkeeper Barry.
54 mins The first substitution of the afternoon arrives as Portugal bring on veteran attacker Simao for Danny, who has had a pretty quiet match.
53 mins Eduardo is called on to make a save as Yaya Toure scamperers across the edge of the box and cuts the ball back to Kalou, who side-foots it first time but straight at the goalkeeper. Ivory Coast are still having a lot of joy down the right wing.
48 mins Ivory Coast are taking the game right to Portugal. An early second half corner is met by the head of Tiote but he gets under it and it falls kindly into the arms of Eduardo.
46 mins No changes at half-time mean Didier Drogba is left sulking on the Ivory Coast bench. The vuvuzela levels haven't hit the heights of some previous games but that may have something to do with the number of empty seats in the grounds, which is becoming a feature of this World Cup.
Half-time Well after a promising opening, the game has descended into a bit of a slog. It's the seventh game of the World Cup to be scoreless at half-time and surely Eriksson will be looking at bringing on Drogba to add to Ivory Coast's attacking options.
43 mins A wonderful shot of Didier Drogba on the bench who sighs, slumps his shoulders and throws his body back against the wall. Think Harry Enfield's angry teenager and you're halfway there. Neither goalkeeper have had much to do and outside of Ronaldo's rasper, there's been few chances.
40 mins The final ball from the Ivory Coast has been lacking, the lively looking Dindane is getting into some great crossing positions down the right flank but has been unable to find a telling pass.
36 mins The game is starting to get bogged down in midfield and it's starting to feel like a long time since Ronaldo's long range strike. The pace of the game has slowed down significantly after a frentic opening.
34 mins Raul Meireles, who has been rather anonymous for Portugal thus far, picks out a probing through-ball for Liedson to run onto but Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry just beats him to it.
28 mins Eboue needs treatment following a nasty looking challenge from Pedro Mendes who rakes his studs down the Ivory Coast player's shin. Mendes is very lucky to get away with that and there's a bit of bite developing here.
26 mins A great takle from Yaya Toure on Ronaldo is swiftly followed by an even better one at the other end as Ricardo Carvalho stops Emmanuel Eboue in the Portugal penalty area. Both teams have been impressive all over the pitch.
20 mins Referee Jorde Larrionda books Ronaldo and Demel. The Real Madrid winger is incensed not to be awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Ivory Coast penalty area and throws what can only be described as a strop, with some pushing and shoving following on both sides. In fairness, Portugal should have had a free-kick after a robust challenge from Demel and even though Ronaldo was going down before any contact was made, there was definate contact.
16 mins It's been an encouraging start with both sides showing their willingness to attack and take a chance with their shots of goal. Ivory Coast number 9 Cheik Tiote cuts in from the left to blast his effort goalwards but there's too much height on it and it sails over the bar.
14 mins Ivory Coast go close with a long range effort of their own. A freekick on the right is quickly taken by Siaka Tiene but his powerful effort curls just wide, much to the relief of Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo.
10 mins Well maybe I was a little hasty in criticising Ronaldo for taking on such a long range shot because he's just cracked the post with a stunning shot from roughly 35 yards out. A couple of inches to the right and we would have been talking about one of the goals of the tournament.
6 mins Didier Zakora picks up the first booking of the afternoon for making precisely zero contact with a hysterical Ronaldo. The former Manchester United man rolls around the floor in apparent agony but makes a miraculous recovery seconds later to step up and blast a free-kick from 40 yards out straight into the Ivory Coast wall. A waste.
4 mins Both sides look very comfortable on the ball with comes as a relief after some of the hoof-a-thons we've been treated to. Ivory Coast are showing a lot of early attacking intent, especially down the right side when Aruna Dindane and Guy Demel look like they're going to be a real handful for Portugal.
1 min Sven's fashion faux-pas aside, everything looks set up for a really exciting encounter. The anthems are out of the way and Portugal kick-off. Some early step-overs from Ronaldo go nowhere as Ivory Coast look comfortable passing the ball around.
2.58pm A suspect looking Sven Goran Eriksson is wearing a tracksuit top over a suit, very dodgy.
2.50pm A good game, a good game, my kingdom for a good game. It's been a World Cup low on genuine quality encounters but hopes are high for this one. Mind you, I was just as optimistic ahead of yesterday's clash between Cameroon and Japan and look how that one turned out.
It's a puzzling decision by Sven Goran Eriksson to leave Drogba on the bench especially after he received clearance to wear a cast on his arm. It's not as if it's the type on injury that could be worsened by running and it's hard to see how Eriksson believes Drogba can be nursed through a broken elbow. Still with the likes of Dindane and Kalou, I still expect Ivory Coast to have too much firepower for a suspect Portugal defence.
2.33pm World Cup Group G: Ivory Coast v Portugal
Ivory Coast: Barry, Demel, Toure, Zokora, Tiene, Eboue,
Toure Yaya, Tiote, Gervinho, Dindane, Kalou.
Replacements: Zogbo, Angoua, Gohouri, Doumbia, Drogba, Gosso,
Romaric, Kone, Keita, Bamba, Yeboah.
Portugal: Eduardo, Ferreira, Bruno Alves, Carvalho,
Fabio Coentrao, Deco, Mendes, Raul Meireles, Ronaldo, Liedson,
Danny.
Replacements: Beto, Rolando, Duda, Simao, Miguel, Veloso, Pepe,
Ruben Amorim, Hugo Almeida, Tiago, Ricardo Costa, Fernandes.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)
2.31pm BREAKING NEWS: Didier Drogba will start on the bench for Ivory Coast.
2.28pm Slovakia and New Zealand opened play on day five of the World Cup. The points were shared thanks to a 93rd minute equaliser from Winston Reid.
Pictured below: Slovakia's Zdenko Strba (left) and New Zealand's Rory Fallon (centre) battle for the ball in Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.
2.24pm I cannot believe that! The All Whites were poor personified, but Slovakia sat back and took their two first choice strikers Vittek and Sestak off. With those two lads off the pitch the Slovaks failed to hold the ball up and NZ began to press. The Slovaks were so well organized at the back the whole match, but ball-watching at the death has cost them two points. Hammer blow to their chances of making the last 16.
FULL-TIME: NEW ZEALAND 1-1 SLOVAKIA
90+4 mins Just enough time to kick-off, but the referee soon blows up for full-time.
90+3 GOAL: NEW ZEALAND 1-1 SLOVAKIA (Reid 90+3)
GOAL: The ball is yet again crossed into the box from the far right, and the ball is perfect! Winston Reid nips into the box and gets between Durica and Strba to head home! The Slovakia defence fell asleep. It was the same kind of ball as NZ had played all day, but this time the header was excellent.
90+1 mins They've just shown Smeltz's header again. That was their best chance the whole match.
90 mins NZ attack down the right, another long hopeful ball lumped forward. Rory Wood tries to head it on to Fallon, but the ball is too high and he just heads it over the deadball line.
87 mins Slovakia are playing well. They are holding on to the ball with ease...as I say that they give it away. NZ move it to the left wing and as with every attack so far it is crossed to the box, but it's a great cross! Smeltz in unmarked in the box and heads toward goal, but his body position is all contorted and he heads wide. GLORIOUS CHANCE TO STEAL A POINT! Wasted!
86 mins To be honest very little to report at the moment!
85 mins I would say this one is over already. Slovakia look to solid to make a silly mistake and NZ look too inept to get anything.
83 mins SUBSTITUTION: Vittek is off for Stoch.
81 mins I wonder are NZ going to actually try to change something or are they going to go meekly into the night. Everything they've tried has been the same since the first minute. When they go on the attack I get the feeling I'm suffering from deja vu.
79 mins SUBSTITUTION: Holosko is on for Sestak.
79 mins Peter Browne:
Why couldnt we have played these all whites on saturday !! Might have been saved from that mauling at the hands of the All blacks!
Pistol
77 mins Sestak cuts in from the right wing. He plays it insie to Vittek - Vittek hits it first time over the NZ defence. Sestak continues his run but the ball doesn't come down for him and when it does he is closed down and is shot smahed wide. Great build-up play.
74 mins Sestak is played a through ball from Durica I think it was. He beats Smith but the pull-back finds nobody. Sestak is the playmaker in this Slovak team and is pulling the strings. Strangely he failed to score a single goal in the Slovakian qualifying campaign.
Now the Slovaks break on the left, Jendrisek is alone on the left and after beating his marker fires with venom at goal. Poor effort though - harmlessly wide.
72 mins Smeltz has a shot from 20 yards on the left for NZ. The ball is blocked and ricochets to Lockhead. His cross is beyond poor. He puts it the one place his team-mates had no chance of reaching. Ball cleared.
71 mins SUBSTITUTION: Killen is off for Chris Wood.
69 mins Smeltz, Killen and Fallon make aimless passes on the edge of the Slovak box, the do nothing with it and Slovakia intercept.
Slovakia break on the left and pass crossfield to Vittek, he slips a pass inside to Hamsik, who started the move, but Paston comes to claim. NZ were cut apart.
67 mins Hamsik is knocked over by Killen as the former turns with the ball. The free is cleared from the area by Smith with a firm header.
65 mins NZ have so much possession, but the Slovaks are holding their formation rigidly and the All Whites can't unlock them.
64 mins Long ball to Sestak, he is alone up front, but does superbly to hold the ball up and plays in Hamsik. He is leaning backwards as he shoots and as a result the shot balloons over the crossbar.
62 mins Come on NZ! Another cross straight into Mucha'a waiting arms. At 1-0 there is all to play for, they need to change something though. They're playing it around the back again, they make a mistake and Vittek steals possession. He crosses to the backpost but Jendrisek can't get to the ball.
60 mins Michael from Auckland, New Zealand:
Watching the game in Auckland, originally from Cork. You wouldn't evenknow the World Cup was on, half past midnight here and most if the houses around us are in darkness! I know they have played ok so far, but it's hard to not to compare the atmosphere here with what it would have been like in Ireland if we were there. Sour grapes maybe, but hard not to begrudge their place! Keep up the good work. Mick from Ballycotton
59 mins NZ need to show some creativity. All their attacks so far in this half involved them playing 20 passes in their own half. Giving Slovakia loads of time to settle their formation. Then when NZ break forward the final ball is usually a lob into the box - usually inaccurate.
58 mins Weiss, again, breaks down the right and beats Smith. Weiss follows the ball in on goal, but Elliott steams in to cover across. Paston comes to claim. Elliott is manning the pumps for NZ. He is everywhere.
56 mins NZ can't get out of their own half at the minute.
55 mins YELLOW CARD: Strba is booked for kicking Elliott in the back of leg.
54 mins The gauntlet is down for NZ now. What have they got. Slovakia break again. Sestak runs at the NZ defence, but Elliott chases him down and makes a superb sliding tackle.
51 mins Ooohhhh, that was offside actually! The replay shows that Vittek was just, just offside. Very narrow decision and I can see why the ref's assistant got it wrong. Offside though - NZ wil be fuming at that one.
GOAL: NEW ZEALAND 0-1 SLOVAKIA (Vittek 49)
49 mins GOAL: Weiss plays to Sestak who looks up 20 yards out on the right. He hits it with a pace toward the far left past. Vittek sneaks behind the NZ defence and gets a lovely header on the ball and clips it into the corner - keeper had no chance.
47 mins Strba tries to pick out Hamsik, Nelson stands strong and clears. Corner Slovakia. Let's see what Paston does this time! Jendisek takes it, but the ref blows for shirt pulling in the box. Free-out for NZ.
46 mins We're off again. Let's hope for some goals.
1.31pm Back to matters at hand. The teams are out on the pitch in Rustenburg.
1.24pm In response to you Gary. Yes, agreed, Ireland are no world beaters. However, we are, in my opinion good enough to get out of some of these groups. I think Group C, Group F and Group H are fairly weak and we would do well enough to make the last 16. If Robbie Keane, Shay Given and Damien Duff stay fit then Euro 2012 qualfication is realistic for us. Remember Slovakia are in our group and they look very average today. I agree that Shay Given is by a country mile our best player though.
1.20pm Gary Murphy reckons all of those who think Ireland deserve to be there are deluded:
Lads ye all need a reality check Ireland wouldn’t have got out of that group we have too many Joe averages
When I hear people rave about Kevin Doyle being worth 15million and that Shane long is our future number 9 then I start to worry. We are not producing the quality that we should be. Therefore we are struggling to name any players that you would consider World Class. The answer to that question is ONE - Mr. Given.
1.18pm Sadly that was another poor 45 minutes of football. It didn't plumb the depths that we saw in the Uruguay-France encounter or the Algeria-Slovenia game, but it wasn't pretty!
HALF-TIME: NEW ZEALAND 0-0 SLOVAKIA
45+2mins Last few seconds of action. Free-out for NZ...he hits it and the referre blows up. Half-time.
45 mins Free just inside the NZ for Slovakia. Strba takes it. Paston goes for it and attempts to punch it. He just about gets a touch and it skims off his fist and over the deaball line. The corner comes to nothing. Paston was laughing at himself because his attempted punch was so bad!
44 mins Slovakia have had all the ball, but NZ have had better chances. This one is delicate.
43 mins The free is played to Hamsik - he fires from 30 out, but Paston makes a solid save to tip it over. NZ clear the resulting corner-kick.
42 mins YELLOW CARD: Lockhead steps on Vittek's foot and is booked and gives away a dangerous free on the edge of his area.
40 mins Lockhead wins a corner as his cross is blocked down. Elliott gets a head to it, Reid fires the resulting breakign ball at goal - blocked again. This time Slovakia clear their lines.
39 mins Forget what I said earlier about Paston, he looks a bit dodge. Slovakia crossed and he came halfway for it then left it. The ball was bobbling toward goal and his left back Strba had to hoof the ball downfield.
37 mins The game needs a goal...NZ attack on the left. Lockheeds plays a neat pass to Fallon on the edge of the area. He dinks the ball over the Slovak backline to to the onrushing Smeltz - he hits it first time and it hits the side-netting. Lovely play for NZ. Best chance of the game.
36 mins Long ball hit at Slovakia - Cech heads back to Mucha.
35 mins Vittek takes a pop from 30 yards out. He keeps it down, but it is too far to the right. The long-range shooting so far in the cup has been poor and that effort was no different.
33 mins Slovakia well on top now. Paston tries to clear for NZ and mishits the ball - he actually kicks the ground by mistake! I did that playing five-a-side last week! Vittek was on to it but couldn't use it. He tried to finish himself from a tight angle but the white shirts got back in time.
31 mins Cian Guckian from Dublin:
The World Cup is great. I am enjoying every minute. I was happy to see South Africa get off to a decent enough start. Great to see the French struggle. But the competition is about to heat up. The previous contribution from one individual said that the world cup wasn't great and that Cork v Kerry was better. Well, it is the start of the competition and usually there are some poor matches I would agree but weren't Dublin a shambles against Wexford last Sunday. He should have tuned in to the German match against Australia. Germany won with style and quality usually not noted in a German team. To be honest, this is the first open World Cup which any of the 32 teams could win. Everyone is saying Spain to meet Brazil. But I think the Swiss will shock Spain and Portugal to beat Brazil. My money is on Deutschland to win it.
30 mins NZ build an attack on the right. Bertos takes a throw for NZ and tires to find Killen - he can't control it on his chest and the ball dribbles over the deadball line with Fallon cursing his touch.
29 mins Free-in for Slovakia: Fallon gets a head to it and puts it out for a corner. Weiss takes it and Paston comes for it and misses, but Sestak can't steer the ball home with the net gaping.
28 mins Weiss and Sestak play a neat one-two on the right of the area, Sestak receives a deft pass and strides into the box, he shoots but gets his angles wrong and puts it wide on the near side. Good little move. Weiss is looking dangerous.
25 mins Reid pumps the ball into the penaltu area, but Fallon pushes SKrtel in the back and concedes a free-out. NZ were worrying the Slovak back four in the early stages and have lessened off with their crosses. Strange, it's been their best form of attack so far.
24 mins Foul by Nelson, free to Slovakia. Offside from the free. Jendrisek gets done for offside.
23 mins Slovakia are a little on top now. NZ need to get some phases of passing together.
21 mins Slovakia break fast down the right flank. It falls to Hamsik again, he looks up briefly and with a couple yards space he lobs toward the far post. It curls toward the top corner but is a half yard wide.
20 mins Kieran Reddan:
Hi i think Sestak will have a big influence on the lunchtime match and thsslovaks to win 2-0.
In the Ivory Coast Portugal match later I can see a 0-0 score line as both teams will not want to lose and both teams
very overrated ,I believe both will be happy with a draw as North Korea are not expexted to get any points so it will be down to goal difference to see who joins Brazil in the second round as runners up
And Brazil to win 3-0 as do not know anything about North Korea but if going by South Korea and Japan performances they might surprise.
19 mins Weiss beats Reid and has a look up on the right, he plays a woeful pass inside and NZ intercept. Weiss looks clever though. One gets the feeling both sides are just testing each other out here.
18 mins Peter in Dublin:
Anyone remember our own Joe Mc Grath use to manage New Zealand in the late 90s and brought three of their player to play for the Big Club Bohs. Harry Ngata, Jason Batty and Dean Dodds.
17 mins Fallon wins a free for NZ, Durica took him out in the air. Nelson is up for the free, but Elliott wastefully plays it over the deadball area. Annnoying for the All Whites.
16 mins Paston looks good in the NZ goal. He has just claimed a cross into the six-yard area and looked very assured. Very un-Rob Green like!
12 mins Vittec crosses from the right, no pace on the slight of the Jabulani football though. It goes to the far side where Hamsik has a pop-come-cross. Good idea, but he didn't really catch it right.
11 mins Vittec looks for a runner on his left as Slovakia again try to hit on the counter, he didn't look as he was passing and the ball is cut out with ease. They look a bit rusty the Slovaks.
10 mins Another cross into the six-yard area from NZ. Durica gets ahead of Fallon to put the ball out. Slovakia look uncertain in the air and NZ are using that avenue to apply presssure.
8 mins It's very windy out there and the ball has really got legs when it is hit with pace. Quite difficult for the palyers to judge how much power to give it.
6 mins A cross into the box has Skrtel and Durica scrambling - it drops over their heads though. Slovakia break and Vittek tries to play in Hamsik. Hamsik misses getting on to it by a whisker. The Slovaks are very fast to counter.
6 mins Free-kick for NZ on the right A great outswinging delivery lands in the box, Killen gets to it and heads at goal. It has pace but Mucha stands firm and holds on to it. Great chance - Killen outjumped Skrtel to get to it.
5 mins Slovakia have their front two sitting right up on the New Zealand defence. While, NZ seem to be man marking those two strikers - Vittek and Jendrisek
4min We're off. New Zealand are all in white and Slovakia are all in blue.
3 mins Killen disposses Hamsik in midfield, he drives at goal and unleashes a shot. It's off target, about five metres wide and a little high too. Not great.
1 mins Slovakia play an early long-ball at NZ, but Nelson heads clear with some ease.
12.28pm Well said Andy. Skrtel is quality. Very hard man to break down. Will he have an influence when the Slovakians push forward though. He starts as a right-sided centre back in a back four that has a sweeper playing just in front.
12.27pm Andy in Dublin:
Not forgetting their Captain Ryan Nelsen is a regular starter for Blackburn Rovers in the premiership
Also Martin Skrtel is on the books at Anfield, can be quiet a handful
12.26pm Royal Bafokeng is a great stadium. The stands rise up with no covers on three sides - old-skool!
12.23pm The team are in the tunnel and on the way out. The Slovakians look well tough. You wouldn't want to say the wrong thing to them after a few scoops I'd say!
12.14pm A few decent English-based players starting for the All Whites. Rory Fallon plays for Plymouth Argyle, while Chris Killen is on the books at Middlesbrough.
12.09pm The teams are in:
New Zealand: Paston, Reid, Nelsen, Vicelich, Smith, Bertos, Elliott, Lochhead, Fallon, Smeltz, Killen.
Subs: Moss, Sigmund, Brown, Barron, McGlinchey, Clapham, Mulligan, Boyens, Wood, Christie, Brockie, Bannatyne.
Slovakia: Mucha, Zabavnik, Durica, Skrtel, Cech, Strba, Weiss, Sestak, Hamsik, Vittek, Jendrisek.
Subs: Pernis, Pekarik, Kozak, Sapara, Holosko, Jakubko, Stoch, Kucka, Kopunek, Salata, Petras, Kuciak.
Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)
12.08pm The referee for the Ivory Coast v Portugal game has okayed Drogba to wear a cast on his arm in today's game - so it looks like he will play.
12.05pm Keith O'Brien is nay to impressed with the World Cup so far:
The world cup has failed to really excite me yet….. the Cork Kerry game on Sunday was the best game in all sports at the weekend!
Up the Dubs! Keith
12.04pm Interestingly Zizou Zidane has ripped apart France coach Raymond Domenech in the French newspapers today. He has said the French boss is 'not even a coach at all.'
12.03pm Colm O'Donnell has emailed to let us know:
I agree completely with Greg, I really think Ireland could have done very well considering we got the group that France got. When you look at teams like New Zealand and Slovakia playing each other, you've got to wonder how we don't deserve to be there when these teams do. Here's to 2014.
12.02pm Coverage has started on RTÉ - Didi Hamann and Ronnie Whelan in studio to guide us through the first of today's clashes.
11.56pm I would tend to agree with Karl. I think an on-form Côte d'Ivoire could take Portugal. While Brazil could easily put four or five or more in the onion sack against North Korea. New Zealand-Slovakia is harder to call. They are both a bit of an unknown quantity and inexperienced. Any thought on a winner? Or anybody have any interesting info about either team?
11.52pm Karl Byrne has a feeling it may be a good day for the Ivory Coast and Brazil:
I think if Didier Drogba plays today ivory coast have a great chance of beating Portugal. Portugal are an ageing team and are relying on Ronaldo to do all there work. Ivory Coast have some good players (drogba, kalou, yaya toure, kolo toure, eboue, zakora) and can be a dark horse in this world cup. I also think Brazil will win tonight at least 4 0 with robihno getting a brace, hopefully cause I backed him to be top scorer at 40/1
11.38pm Greg Clarke has got in touch to say:
The more games I see, the more I think it's a genuine shame Ireland are not at the World Cup, we may not play the most attractive form of football, but at least the guys play with passion, which is more than can be said for a large percentage of the teams we've seen so far.
10.35pm Right, I'll be back closer to kick-off (12.30pm) - see you then.
10.32pm In other news, Portugal gaffer Carlos Queiroz and Brazil supremo Dunga have been talking up their squads' respective chances.
10.06pm Blacburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelson (pictured below) is New Zealand captain and has talked-up the All Whites hopes: 'We are very competitive. The reality of World Cup football is that you can play really well and lose all the games but we're a very good team and we want to win. It's as simple as that.'
10.02pm Every four years there is one and this year Group G has been dubbed the Group of Death. Although to be fair, North Korea are probably a little bit dead in the water already - it's hard to see them taking points off Brazil, Portugal or the Ivory Coast; however, you never can tell.
9.59pm Today's three matches are:
Group F: New Zealand v Slovakia, Rustenburg, kick-off 12.30pm.
Group G: Ivory Coast v Portugal, Port Elizabeth, kick-off 3.00pm
Group G: Brazil v North Korea, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, kick-off 7.30pm.
9.58pm Yesterday's encounters promised a lot, but ultimately failed to deliver the excitement this World Cup badly needs. Most annoying was the Dutch-Dane match which was as damp a squib as there could be. So, here's hoping for an improvement in today's clashes.
9.57pm Good morning and welcome to another day of World Cup action. Tadhg Peavoy.
