World Cup capsules for Algeria-Slovenia, Serbia-Ghana, Germany-Australia

Sunday WCup lookahead capsules

Capsules for Sunday’s matches at the World Cup (FIFA rankings in parentheses):

The loser of this game can pretty much forget about advancing, with the English and Americans still on the schedule.

Algeria: The only Arab nation in the tournament. Coach Rabah Saadane benched captain Yazid Mansouri for the game because his form was not good enough.

Slovenia: Samir Handanovic is gaining a reputation as an elite keeper, but can the Slovenians score enough?

Notable Fact: Both Algeria and Slovenia needed playoffs after qualifying to reach the World Cup: Slovenia over Russia, Algeria over Egypt.

Four years ago in Germany, the Serbia-Montenegro team lost all three group matches, including 6-0 to Argentina. Ghana advanced to the second round in 2006.

Ghana: Minus star midfielder Michael Essien, Ghana will rely heavily on Sulley Muntari, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan this year.

Serbia: Serbia midfielder Dejan Stankovic also plays for Inter, and center back Nemanja Vidic is among the best in the world.

Notable Fact: Ghana is being led by its third Serb coach in eight years, Milovan Rajevac.

Germany has won three World Cups and made the final four other times.

Germany: Along with veterans Philip Lahm and Per Mertesacker, coach Joachim Loew has six players from the team that won the European under-21 title last year.

Australia: Australia has one of the top goalkeepers in Mark Schwarzer of Fulham and advanced to the second round in 2006.

Notable Fact: Germany, always a contender in big events, brings its second-youngest squad ever to a World Cup, average age under 25.