JOHANNESBURG - A look at Day 14 Thursday at the 2010 World Cup:
RESULTS
Paraguay 0, New Zealand 0, Group F, Paraguay wins group, New Zealand eliminated
Slovakia 3, Italy 2, Group F, Slovakia advances, Italy eliminated
Japan 3, Denmark 1, Group E, Japan advances, Denmark eliminated
Netherlands 2, Cameroon 1, Group E, Netherlands advances, Cameroon eliminated.
HIGHLIGHTS
Slovakia, in its first World Cup as an independent nation, moved into the second round by stunning Italy 3-2. The Slovaks were second in Group F and will play the winner of Group E on Monday in Durban.
Despite not making the second round, New Zealand acquitted itself well in Group F with three draws. In their only other appearance at a World Cup in 1982, the Kiwis lost all three matches.
In the 73rd minute at Cape Town, winger Arjen Robben made his debut at the World Cup almost three weeks after sustaining a left hamstring injury in a warmup game. And he immediately showed his value for the Netherlands. After tiptoeing carefully during his first moves, he was served a pass on the right in the 83rd. With a move so often seen during his sterling season with Bayern Munich, he cut inside, beat defenders and curled off the post that Klaas Jan Huntelaar poked in for the winning goal.
LOOKAHEAD
No. 1 meets No. 3 today, top-ranked Brazil and third-ranked Portugal facing off (7 a.m. at Durban) in Group G. With the seeding system FIFA uses for the tournament draw, such an early-round meeting is possible. Brazil already has advanced and wins the group with a draw or a victory. Portugal takes the group with a win.
Ivory Coast takes on North Korea (7 a.m. at Nelspruit) with the Ivorians holding only a slight hope of moving on. They need a nine-goal swing to pass the Portuguese - and only if Brazil wins its game.
Spain and Chile is another enticing matchup on the final day of the opening round. They meet (2:30 p.m. at Pretoria)