Number Crunching for World Cup Old Guard

It's by no means over for the major European teams, but their paths to the next round are complicated.

England is third in its group and the squad must stage a conclusive win against Slovenia if it wants to make it into the knock-out phase. Manager Fabio Capello is under increasing pressure to bring Joe Cole to the pitch as many of the fans and players believe his presence will save the English dream.

Italy will move ahead with a win and a New Zealand loss or draw. If Italy draws, it needs New Zealand to lose to advance. New Zealand faces the same scenario in reverse.

If Italy and New Zealand both draw, it goes to tiebreakers. The two sides are even on goal difference, goals scored and goals scored against each other. So, the team that scored the highest draw would advance.

But if the draws are the same score, FIFA would draw lots to see who goes into the next round.

After losing to Serbia for the first time in 37 years, the Germans shouldn't be too full of themselves even after their win against Australia 4-0. The squad, which is playing for its right to make it to the second round, needs to get their World Cup campaign back on track quickly. Germany goes through with a win over Ghana. It also advances with a draw and a Serbia loss or if Australia wins and fails to erase a goal difference of -7 with Germany.

Serbia advances with a win and a Germany-Ghana draw or any victory in the Germany-Ghana game. Serbia advances with a draw if Ghana beats Germany. The teams meet June 23, with England playing Slovenia and the U.S. against Algeria.

In simple terms, whoever wins advances in almost all cases. Draws become more complex.

The U.S. and England are tied on goal difference, but the U.S. has scored two more goals. Therefore, England would need to outscore the U.S. in a pair of draws by more than two goals to edge out the U.S. If England draws by two goals more than a U.S. draw (2-2 & 0-0, say), the tiebreakers would all be even and FIFA would draw lots to see who advances.

Slovenia automatically advances with a win or draw.

Algeria needs a win and an England loss or a Slovenia-England draw. If Algeria and England both win, Algeria needs to make up a 1 goal difference deficit to Slovenia to in its victory to edge it out. Slovenia has scored three times, Algeria none, so it would adv

Slovenia leads this bunched group with 4 points. The U.S. and England each have 2 and Algeria has 1. England plays Slovenia, the U.S. faces off against Algeria.

Number Crunching for World Cup Old Guard
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There's still a lot that's going to happen in World Cup in South Africa. It's still too early to predict winners.