AUSTRALIA VS. JAPAN.

Byline: -- Scott French

Kickoff: 6 a.m., Fritz-Walter-Stadion,

Kaiserslautern.

TV: ESPN2 and Ch. 34.

In brief: Winner of the Group F opener will be in position to reach the final 16.

Australia update: Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, who guided South Korea to the 2002semifinals, is a master strategist, and his big, burly team will look to dominate the smaller Japanese, perhaps, it has been suggested, with rough play. Hiddink blasted suggestions his team plays dirty soccer, claiming such talk is gamesmanship meant to influence the officiating. Midfielder Mark Viduka and forward Harry Kewell remain less than 100 percent, but each said they can go the distance.

Japan update: Listless play in its preparation matches led to severe criticism from veteran midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata and consensus that the Japanese are the least likely team to advance from Group F. Forwards Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa have health concerns, and Japan will be at a severe disadvantage in a physical game.}

ITALY vs. GHANA

Kickoff: Noon, AWD Arena, Hannover.

TV: ESPN2 and Ch. 34.

In brief: Two big questions in this Group E clash: How has scandal impacted Italy? How good is Ghana?

Italy update: Thirteen players on the Azzurri's roster play for Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio or Fiorentina, the clubs implicated in the match-fixing scandal torching Italian soccer. Injuries might be a bigger concern. Starting left back Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso are sidelined with thigh injuries, and star defender Alessandro Nesta and playmaker Francesco Totti are battling to return from injuries and, if they play, won't be at full strength.

Ghana update: The Black Stars have won four African Nations Cups and been among the continent's dominant teams for decades, but they'd always faltered in World Cup qualifying, until now. This isn't their best team, but it has experience, with five players who play or have played in Italy, including captain Stephen Appiah. The most important player is 23-year-old forward Michael Essien, who plays for Chelsea.

CAPTION(S):

6 boxes

Box:

(1) GROUP A

(2) GROUP B

(3) GROUP C

(4) GROUP H

(5) GROUP F

(6) GROUP G