And on into the knockout stages

ALL the group matches are over and once again – despite the huge surprise of the Italians being knocked out, along with France and the hosts – the law of averages still managed to project 12 out of the last 16 correctly. And so we come to the business end of the competition, where it’s either win or be knocked out. So what does the law of averages say about those that remain?

(NB: Because matches cannot end in a tie, projected winning team determined by penalties)

June 26

Uruguay 2 – 2 South Korea (South Korea)

United States 1 – 1 Ghana (United States)

June 27

Germany 2 – 1 England (which will cause dismay in England, cheers in Germany – and the Welsh, Scots and Ulster Irish can decide what they want…)

Argentina 2 – 1 Mexico

June 28

Netherlands 2 – 1 Slovakia

Brazil 2 – 1 Chile

June 29

Paraguay 1 – 1 Japan (Japan)

Spain 1 – 2 Portugal

The final set of projections will be published on June 30 and will show the overall winner of the World Cup 2010.