La Copa Mundial: Day 10

Approaching the final three games of Matchday 2, the Round of 16 gained a new member, while one more team all but solidified their chances of moving through as well. It was a great day of exciting soccer, so why don't we talk about the games?

Croatia missed a HUGE chance to get some critical points, tying Japan 0-0. It was a good match with plenty of excitement, but both teams needed the three points. Japan is practically finished, needing to win their final match. Unfortunately, that match is against Brazil. Croatia, on the other hand, has to play well and beat the Australians to advance. We'll see how that all goes.

Brazil beat Australia in a great match, plotting skill and flair against physicality and toughness. Brazil won 2-0, but Australia made a major case for my Surprise Team of the Tournament after their gritty effort. They showed a way to challenge Brazil, using their strength and a little bit of rough play to keep Brazil at bay for most of the match. The Aussies had a few chances to equalize, including Harry Kewell's heartbreaking miss that cost them the game. But don't fear, the Aussies are still in great position. The team they must focus on as their main contention for that second place spot is Croatia, the team they play on Thursday. So everything comes down to that match.

--This is how Group F breaks down:

Brazil is in and has won the group, with two wins and six points.

Australia goes through if they beat Croatia, simple as that. Croatia must beat Australia and hope that Japan either loses, ties or wins by just a goal against Brazil. Japan needs to beat Brazil by at least two goals and hope Croatia only wins by a goal -- if they beat Australia.

In my opinion, the Aussies and Croats will tie and Brazil will beat Japan. Therefore, Australia will move through with four points.

France fell apart in the final 15-20 minutes of their match with South Korea, exposing their lack of team unity. True, the French were robbed of a goal in the first half when South Korea goalkeeper Woon-Jae Lee stopped a shot that clearly passed completely over the goal-line. In other words, the save meant nothing and the French should've gone up 2-0. Instead, the save was validated and the South Koreans came back with a late goal after a flurry of attacks on the French back line. It was a gritty South Korean effort and it should pay off. Now, the French are in trouble, as the Swiss take on a dilapidated Togolese side tomorrow morning with a chance to grab four points after two matches.

Group G is interesting right now:

South Korea has four points at 1-0-1. France has drawn twice, holding a 0-0-2 record and two points. The Swiss have a golden opportunity, as I said before, to get three points against Togo. If they do, they will be 1-0-1. Togo is 0-1-0 and they only need a point to stay in contention for second place. But France gets Togo in their final match while the Swiss and Koreans play each other on the same day. That means that France can still get in easily with a win over the Togolese and a victory for either Switzerland or South Korea in that final match.

Teams that are in so far:

Ecuador, Germany, England, Argentina, Holland, Portugal and Brazil. South Korea, Sweden, Mexico and Australia are in great positions to qualify while Trinidad & Tobago, Angola, the Czech Republic, Ghana, the U.S., Japan, Croatia and France all hold a chance to get in. Stay tuned for more updates on the daily!