Saturday
Round of 16
Uruguay v South Korea
Kick-off: 3pm Venue: Port Elizabeth. Referee: W Stark (Germany).
Lowdown Uruguay topped group A with two wins and a draw and are yet to concede. They are in the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years. Semi-finalists as hosts in 2002, this is the only other time that South Korea have reached the second round of the competition.
Injuries and suspensions: None.
Watch out for
Park Chu Young (South Korea)
The 24-year-old Monaco forward scores a goal every three international games on average and is considered the nation’s best marksman since Cha Bum Kun despite his own goal in the 4-1 defeat by Argentina.
Culture clash
Big country v Big population Plenty of space to breathe in Uruguay, with 68,000 square miles available and only 3.4 million to inhabit it. Hold your breath in South Korea, with 48.3 million to cram into only 38,000 square miles.
FINK TANK PREDICTOR: Uruguay win 56% South Korea win 18% Draw 26%
ROUND OF 16
United States v Ghana
Kick-off: 7.30pm. Venue: Rustenburg. Referee: V Kassai (Hungary).
Lowdown Going home until Landon Donovan’s winner in the second minute of injury time against Algeria, the US instead topped group C to advance into the knockout stages for the first time since 2002. Ghana eliminated the US four years ago in the last game of their group.
Injuries and suspensions: Ghana I Vorsah (knee).
Watch out for
Clint Dempsey (United States) The winger has had a lively tournament. He hit a post and had a goal wrongly disallowed against Algeria and is likely to play on the left tonight, in opposition to John Paintsil, his Fulham team-mate.
Culture clash
Ripe old age v Fifty and out
Life expectancy in the United States is pretty darn good, with men living to an average age of 77 and women to 81. Ghanaians have it much tougher, clocking in at 56 and 57 respectively.
FINK TANK PREDICTOR: United States win 46% Ghana win 28% Draw 26%
Sunday
Round of 16
Germany v England
Kick-off: 3pm. Venue: Bloemfontein. Referee: J Larrionda (Uruguay).
Lowdown England’s first World Cup finals meeting with Germany for 20 years promises to be the occasion of the tournament so far and fans could be treated to a spectacle to match. Joachim Löw’s youthful side are designed to attack and England are at their best when they set a high tempo, so the sparks could fly.
Injuries and suspensions: Germany B Schweinsteiger (thigh), J Boateng (calf).
Watch out for
Mesut Özil (Germany) The Werder Bremen midfield player destroyed England in last year’s European Under-21 Championship final, which Germany won 4-0, and is capable of repeating that performance on a big stage.
FINK TANK PREDICTOR: Germany win 33% England win 40% Draw 27%
Round of 16
Argentina v Mexico
Kick-off: 7.30pm.
Venue: Soccer City, Johannesburg.
Referee: R Rosetti (Italy).
Lowdown These sides met at the same stage four years ago, when Argentina prevailed thanks to an extra-time goal by Maxi Rodríguez. Few would expect Mexico to come so close this time round. Argentina have Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tévez and Gonzalo Higuaín rested after they were able to sit out the last game, against Greece.
Injuries and suspensions: Mexico C Vela (hamstring).
Watch out for
Rafael Márquez (Mexico) It is a tough ask for anyone to stop Messi et al, but Márquez may hold the key. He knows Messi through playing alongside him at Barcelona, so he may have an insight as to how to tame the young pup.
FINK TANK PREDICTOR: Argentina win 51% Mexico win 24% Draw 25%