NUREMBERG, Germany -- At such an early stage of the World Cup it is becoming apparent that it is an unforgiving one for less fancied nations, a tournament shorn of the first-round shocks of Japan-Korea four years ago.
This time, groups are panning out as expected. England and Germany are already through from Groups A and B, while Argentina and the Netherlands from Group C have booked their spots in the Round of 16, the victims of the Group of Death being Cote d'Ivoire and Serbia and Montenegro.
Japan and Croatia will both be hoping the same fate doesn't befall them in Group F when they meet on Sunday at Franken Stadion in Nuremberg, the same day Brazil and Australia do battle.