VIEWER’S GUIDE
The Post’s Brian Lewis analyzes the first round, with the first two teams in each group advancing. In addition to networks listed, all games will be broadcast in Spanish on Univision. All ESPN and ESPN2 games also will be available on broadband ESPN360.
GROUP A
GERMANY
vs. C. RICA Fri., June 9 Noon, ESPN2
vs. POL. Wed., June 14 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. ECU. Tues., June 20 10 a.m., ESPN
POLAND
vs. ECU. Fri., June 9 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. GER. Wed., June 14 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. C. RICA Tues., June 20 10 a.m., ESPN2
COSTA RICA
vs. GER. Fri., June 9 Noon, ESPN2
vs. ECU. Thurs., June 15 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. POL. Tues., June 20 10 a.m., ESPN2
ECUADOR
vs. POL. Fri., June 9 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. C. RICA Thurs., June 15 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. GER. Tues., June 20 10 a.m., ESPN
Playing at home could lift defensively challenged Germany to its 11th semi. Watch for Chelsea-bound MF Michael Ballack setting up Bundesliga Player of the Year Miroslav Klose (25 goals and 14 assists). Poland F Maciej Zurawski, whose 20 goals led Celtic to the SPL crown, must do better than the two shots he mustered in the 2002 Cup. Costa Rica has attacking talent, but Ecuador struggles away from its high-altitude, home.
GROUP B
ENGLAND
vs. PAR. Sat., June 10 9 a.m., ABC
vs. T&T Thurs., June 15 Noon, ESPN2
vs. SWE Tues., June 20 3 p.m., ESPN
SWEDEN
vs. T&T Sat., June 10 Noon, ABC
vs. PAR. Thurs., June 15 3 p.m., ESPN
vs. ENG. Tues., June 20 3 p.m., ESPN
PARAGUAY
vs. ENG. Sat., June 10 9 a.m., ABC
vs. SWE. Thurs., June 15 3 p.m., ESPN
vs. T&T Tues., June 20 3 p.m., ESPN2
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
vs. SWE. Sat., June 10 Noon, ABC
vs. ENG. Thurs., June 15 Noon, ESPN2
vs. PAR. Tues., June 20 3 p.m., ESPN2
Clutch MF Steven Gerrard could get England through this group by himself; but if Fs Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney get healthy, the Brits could contend for the Cup. The Swedes, who always play England well, should advance behind aging Barcelona F Henrick Larsson, while T&T is likely just happy to be in Germany.
GROUP C
ARGENTINA
vs. I.C. Sat., June 10 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. S&M Fri., June 16 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. NETH. Wed., June 21 3 p.m., ESPN
NETHERLANDS
vs. S&M Sun., June 11 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. I.C. Fri., June 16 Noon, ESPN2
vs. ARG. Wed., June 21 3 p.m., ESPN
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
vs. NETH. Sun., June 11 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. ARG. Fri., June 16 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. I.C. Wed., June 21 3 p.m., ESPN2
IVORY COAST
vs. ARG. Sat., June 10 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. NETH. Fri., June 16 Noon, ESPN2
vs. S&M Wed., June 21 3 p.m., ESPN2
Want pressure? Not only has Lionel Messi been compared to Diego Maradona, the Argentinean great even said, “I think Lionel has all the necessary qualities to be the best in the world.” This is one of two Groups of Death, with the Dutch led by out-of-favor Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelroy, Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast is Africa’s best hope, and Serbia & Montenegro is talented as well.
GROUP D
PORTUGAL
vs. ANG. Sun., June 11 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. IRAN Sat., June 17 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. MEX. Wed., June 21 10 a.m., ESPN
MEXICO
vs. IRAN Sun., June 11 Noon, ABC
vs. ANG. Fri., June 16 3 p.m., ESPN
vs. PORT. Wed., June 21 10 a.m., ESPN
IRAN
vs. MEX. Sun., June 11 Noon, ABC
vs. PORT. Sat., June 17 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. ANG. Wed. June 21 10 a.m., ESPN2
ANGOLA
vs. PORT. Sun., June 11 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. MEX. Fri., June 16 3 p.m., ESPN
vs. IRAN Wed. June 21 10 a.m., ESPN2
Every year, Portugal has prodigious talent, and every year it squanders it. Remember the first-round exit in 2002 (beaten 3-2 by the U.S.)? Or the crushing Euro 2004 finals loss to Greece? Man U winger Cristiano Ronaldo is a star, but this is 33-year-old Luis Figo’s last shot at glory. Mexico may edge Iran, which is led by 36-year-old F Ali Daei, the all-time leading goal scorer in international matches with 107.
GROUP E
ITALY
vs. GHA. Monday, June 12 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. U.S. Sat., June 17 3 p.m., ABC
vs. CZE. Thurs., June 22 10 a.m., ESPN2
CZECH REPUBLIC
vs. U.S. Mon., June 12 Noon, ESPN2
vs. GHA. Sat., June 17 Noon, ABC
vs. ITA. Thurs., June 22 10 a.m., ESPN2
UNITED STATES
vs. CZE. Mon., June 12 Noon, ESPN2
vs. ITA. Sat., June 17 3 p.m., ABC
vs. GHA. Thurs., June 22 10 a.m., ESPN
GHANA
vs. ITA. Monday, June 12 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. CZE. Sat., June 17 Noon, ABC
vs. U.S. Thurs., June 22 10 a.m., ESPN
Unfortunately for the U.S., this is the other Group of Death. Three-time champ Italy could either be distracted or driven by a gambling scandal, chief among them Gianluigi Buffon, one of the world’s best keepers. The Czech Republic is sublimely talented and is No. 2 in the world in the FIFA rankings. The U.S. is fifth, although it needs captain Claudio Reyna healthy and in form. Ghana has a boatload of speed and attacking players. The second-place team likely gets Brazil in Round 2.
GROUP F
BRAZIL
vs. CRO. Tues., June 13 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. AUS. Sunday, June 18 Noon, ABC
vs. JAP. Thurs., June 22 3 p.m., ESPN
CROATIA
vs. BRA. Tues., June 13 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. JAP. Sun., June 18 9 a.m., ABC
vs. AUS. Thurs., June 22 3 p.m., ESPN2
AUSTRALIA
vs. JAP. Mon., June 12 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. BRA. Sunday, June 18 Noon, ABC
vs. CRO. Thurs., June 22 3 p.m., ESPN2
JAPAN
vs. AUS. Mon., June 12 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. CRO. Sun., June 18 9 a.m., ABC
vs. BRA. Thurs., June 22 3 p.m., ESPN
Brazil is what the Dream Team used to be. Everybody else hopes to advance; the Brazilians expect to win. Ronaldinho is the best player in the world, Kaka is a midfield marvel and Adriano could become the planet’s best striker. Oh, yes, there’s also three-time FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldo. The rest of this group is an afterthought, although a potential Italy-Brazil matchup in Round 2 is sweet.
GROUP G
FRANCE
vs. SWI. Tues., June 13 Noon, ESPN2
vs. S.K. Sun., June 18 3 p.m., ABC
vs. TOGO Fri., June 23 3 p.m., ESPN
SWITZ.
vs. FRA. Tues., June 13 Noon, ESPN2
vs. TOGO Mon., June 19 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. S.K. Fri., June 23 3 p.m., ESPN2
SOUTH KOREA
vs. TOGO Tues., June 13 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. FRA. Sun., June 18 3 p.m., ABC
vs. SWI. Fri., June 23 3 p.m., ESPN2
TOGO
vs. S.K. Tues., June 13 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. SWI. Mon., June 19 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. FRA. Fri., June 23 3 p.m., ESPN
Sure, F Thierry Henry may be the world’s best forward, but as soon as MF Zinedine Zidane came out of international retirement, this became his team – for better or worse, considering he’s 33 and retiring again after the Cup. F Alexander Frei is Switzerland’s only scorer, but he has more help than lanky 21-year-old Togo F Emmanuel Adebayor, who led African qualifying with 11 goals. Korea won’t advance despite Man U’s Park Ji-Sung.
GROUP H
SPAIN
vs. UKR. Wed., June 14 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. TUN. Mon., June 19 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. S.A. Fri., June 23 10 a.m., ESPN
UKRAINE
vs. SPA. Wed., June 14 9 a.m., ESPN2
vs. S.A. Mon., June 19 Noon, ESPN2
vs. TUN. Fri., June 23 10 a.m., ESPN2
TUNISIA
vs. S.A. Wed., June 14 Noon, ESPN2
vs. SPA. Mon., June 19 3 p.m., ESPN2
vs. UKR. Fri., June 23 10 a.m., ESPN2
SAUDI ARABIA
vs. TUN. Wed., June 14 Noon, ESPN2
vs. UKR. Mon., June 19 Noon, ESPN2
vs. SPA. Fri., June 23 10 a.m., ESPN
With talented F Fernando Torres just 22 and in his first World Cup, the pressure of Spain’s hopes fall on Real Madrid’s Raul. More often than not, he’s crumbled under it, in both the last World Cup and in Euro 2004. He missed three months with a knee injury, and had just five goals this year, none since October. Torres called Ukraine “Andriy Shevchenko and 10 others,” and he may be right; but 2004’s European Footballer of the Year may be enough to advance.
TV sked for Second Round through Finals on page 58 Complete Cup coverage at nypost.com/World Cup
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1) BERLIN – Olympiastadion; Capacity: 74,220
2) COLOGNE – FIFA Cologne Stadium; Capacity: 46,120
3) DORTMUND – Westfalenstadion; Capacity: 65,982
4) FRANKFURT – FIFA Frankfurt Stadium; Capacity: 48,132
5) GELSENKIRCHEN – FIFA Gilsenkirchen Stadium; Capacity: 53,804
6) HAMBURG – FIFA Hamburg Stadium; Capacity: 51,055
7) HANOVER – Niedersachsenstadion; Capacity: 44,652
8) KAISERLAUTEN – FritzWalterStadion; Capacity: 43,450
9) LEIPZIG – Zentralstadion; Capacity: 44,199
10) MUNICH – FIFA Munich Stadium; Capacity: 66,016
11) NUREMBERG – FIFA Frankfurt Stadium; Capacity: 41,926
12) STUTTGART – FIFA Frankfurt Stadium; Capacity: 53,200
