World Cup 2010: Group C and D standings

Four matches on the twelfth day of World Cup 2010 will decide which Group C and D teams go through to the next round.

JOHANNESBURG: Four matches on the twelfth day of World Cup 2010 will decide which teams go through to the next round.

Here is review of their current standings and how they have prepared for the upcoming decisive matches.

Group C

For England and the United states it’s simple. England needs to beat Slovenia to qualify and the US needs to beat Algeria to go through.

If both matches end in draws, Slovenia will cut through. And whoever from England and US has scored more goals will continue their dreams of the World Cup.

Slovenia needs at least a draw to get to the next round. For Algeria to qualify, they need to beat the Americans and hope that England loses to Slovenia.

This group currently stands on a knife edge. But both the Americans and the English are confident of progressing.

England

The England squad trained at the Bafokeng Sports Campus base on Tuesday before flying down to Port Elizabeth for their make-or-break match against Group C leaders Slovenia on Wednesday.

England will qualify if they beat group leaders Slovenia, but a draw would give the US or even Algeria the chance to qualify ahead of England if either side should win their match in Pretoria.

Slovenia

Slovenia’s coach Matjaz Kek said he will not change the team's strategy for the England match. He thinks it has been successful so far. It helped them defeat of Algeria 1-0 and the draw with the Americas 2-2.

USA

Only victory can guarantee the Americans a place in the second round.Coach Bob Bradley indicated he wants a better start than their previous games.

Against England, team USA conceded a goal in the fourth minute but came back to draw 1-1. They forced a 2-2 draw with Slovenia despite trailing by two goals.

Algeria

Algeria, full of confidence following their battling 0-0 draw with England, will most likely stick with the same team for their match against the United States.

Algeria are bottom of Group C with one point, but could still qualify for the next round if they beat the US and the result in the England vs Slovenia match goes in their favour.

Coach Rabah Saadane said his team will represent the whole of Africa and the Arab world and are now ready to make the second round of the World Cup for the first time.

Group D

This is the most unpredictable group. Germany has not been knocked out this early since 1938. But if Ghana and Serbia win, it will happen. The Aussies need to win big and hope Germany shells Ghana, while Ghana is the only African team with a realistic shot to advance.

Ghana

Ghana is looking to fly the flag for Africa, as they prepare to meet a tough German side today. This is the final match of World Cup Group D.

The Black Stars only need a draw to secure qualification. So far most African teams have disappointed their fans in the first World Cup to be held on their continent.

Cameroon was the first to be knocked out, while South Africa became the first host nation to fail to qualify from the group stages.

Nigeria was the third African team to bow out. This leaves Algeria which needs a difficult win to qualify. Ivory Coast is all but out thanks to Portugal's far superior goal difference.

Ghana sit top of Group D. There will be high expectations and pressures attached with this teams as it goes in for the match.

Germany

Forward Miroslav Klose is suspended for their final Group D game after being sent off in their defeat to Serbia and in-form Cacau looks set to win his 11th cap. German Coach Joachim Loew told reporters that he tended to think that Cacau could play from the start.

Germany need to beat Ghana to make sure they are not eliminated at the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history.

Loew said substitute strikers Stefan Kiessling and Mario Gomez were also ready to step in but the Brazil-born Cacau seemed to have the edge.

Loew did not rule out starting with two forwards after playing their first two games with a lone striker in Klose, to add more offensive punch to his team. Ghana could become the first African nation to advance to the next stage, something Loew said gave their rivals extra motivation.

Serbia

Serbia is hoping to make a historic move into the last 16 if they win a crucial Group D match against Australia.

Serbia, who are in their first appearance as an independent nation at this World Cup will be playing against determined Australia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

A draw could also be enough for the Serbians, depending on the outcome of the Germany v Ghana match in Johannesburg's Soccer City.

Serbian coach Radomir Antic has said that his players are impressive during training and the last two sessions have been the "best ever".

Australia

Australia captain Lucas Neill reacted angrily to suggestions that his team is a bunch of complainers.

The Australians have been criticised by the media back home for complaining about some of the refereeing decisions that have gone against them at the World Cup

In each of their two matches to date, the Socceroos have had a man sent off before half-time.

Australia had Tim Cahill sent off in their opening match against Germany which they lost 4-0. They then had Harry Kewell dismissed when they were leading Ghana 1-0, eventually drawing the match 1-1.

Coach Pim Verbeek says his line-up is strong, despite missing two players, including defender Craig Moore. Moore is out after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the match against Ghana.