Slovakia is New Zealand’s best chance for first World Cup win

Time: 4:30 a.m. PDT.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5, KDLD-FM/KDLE-FM 103.1

New Zealand will have to look to someone other than Coach Ricki Herbert for a rousing pep talk before its World Cup opener. “We could play the best we’ve ever done,” Herbert said, “and lose all three matches.” Not exactly inspirational — but true. Older and more experienced than previous All Whites squads, the Kiwis nevertheless look to be outclassed here. But with Italy and Paraguay to follow in group play, Slovakia represents New Zealand’s best chance for its first-ever Cup win. Especially with Slovakia, playing in the World Cup as an independent nation for the first time since the dissolution of Czechoslavakia, bothered by injury. Midfielder Miroslav Karhan, its most experienced player, is out with an Achilles’ tendon problem and strikers Filip Holosko and Robert Vittek are just regaining match fitness after their own injuries. That will leave 22-year-old midfielder Marek Hamsik to shoulder much of the team’s offensive burden.

--Kevin Baxter

Time: 7 a.m. PDT.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5, KDLD-FM/KDLE-FM 103.1

This game could go a long way toward deciding which country advances to the second round behind likely “Group of Death” champion Brazil. And Portugal appears to be peaking at the right time, with a pair of decisive tune-up wins over Cameroon and Mozambique this month. But to be fully productive they will need the world’s most expensive player, Cristiano Ronaldo, to find the back of the net, something he hasn’t done in a competitive match in two years. Ronaldo’s production becomes even more important now that Nani is out for the tournament with a shoulder injury. Ivory Coast has its own injury issues with star forward Didier Drogba. Originally thought to be out of the World Cup, Drogba is now seeking permission from FIFA to play with a cast on his broken arm. If Drogba is sidelined, Aruna Dindane, with 16 goals in 55 internationals, becomes the Elephants’ top scoring threat.

--Kevin Baxter

Time: 11:30 a.m. PDT.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes, Univision; Radio: Sirius/XM, KLYY-FM 97.5 and KDLD-FM 103.1

According to a rare and brief North Korean news conference, members of the DPR team that surprisingly reached the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup in England visited the 2010 team while it was preparing for its South Africa adventure and “gave us a lot of encouragement so we could make our Dear Leader proud.” That is unlikely to happen Tuesday, if at all, because North Korea will be playing five-time champion Brazil, second-favorite behind Spain to win it all. It is virtually impossible to image Robinho, Fabiano, Kaka, Ramires, Maicon and all the rest of the Selecao not overrunning their opponent, no matter how tough North Korea’s defense is. “Everybody thinks it is a game we cannot win but we have a brave heart and brave spirits,” said forward Jong Tae-se. Maybe so, but the Dear Leader had best not tune in to watch this one.

--Grahame L. Jones