World Cup 2014 TV schedule: Who to watch Monday, June 23
The second week of World Cup 2014 gets underway with a quartet of matches Monday: Spain vs. Australia, Chile vs. The Netherlands, Brazil against Cameroon, and Croatia vs. Mexico.
Robin van Persie of the Netherlands runs with the ball during a training session at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, June 22, 2014. The Netherlands will play Chile in a match that will decide the winner of Group B at the 2014 soccer World Cup.
Wong Maye-E/AP
The final World Cup group matches start Monday, with Groups A and B completing their initial schedule of tournament games. And there's still a lot on the line for most teams.
There will be a pair of Group B matches at noon Eastern time: Australia vs. defending champion Spain and The Netherlands taking on Chile.
For the Spaniards and Socceroos, this is the last opportunity to earn a World Cup victory. Both teams have come up short – with no wins, no ties, and no points – though the Australians have given both Chile and the Netherlands everything they've got and more. Spain, on the other hand, seemed to forget to bring their talent (or at least their goalkeeper) across the Atlantic for the World Cup tournament, giving up eight goals in two games. This match at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba will be televised on ESPN2 and Galavision.
Having been a runner-up in previous World Cup tourneys, The Netherlands seems poised to break through this year. The Orange men scored eight goals in two matches, but know they'll have their work cut out for them against the Chileans Monday at noon. Britain's SkySports.com reports that the Dutch have historically failed to win their two games against South American opposition when the World Cup has been held in South America (0-0 v Peru and 1-3 v Argentina in 1978). This match at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo will be broadcast on ESPN and Univision.
Both teams have already qualified for a berth in the Knockout Round. But the winner of today's match will decide the winner of Group B, and thus avoid being matched against the winner of Group A in the next round.
Two more matches will take place at 4 p.m. Eastern time Monday: Cameroon takes on host country Brazil and Croatia versus Mexico.
Brazil is currently in control of Group A and looking to finish on a high note. Still, Brazil must win or draw to ensure it advances.
Cameroon, on the other hand, is a totally different story, as The Independent's Konstantinos Lianos explains.
For Cameroon this has been a World Cup to forget with tensions in the squad sky-high. After almost refusing to board their plane to Brazil over financial disputes, the nation is still coming to terms with star midfielder Alex Song being sent off for throwing a ridiculous elbow at [Croatia's] Mario Mandzukic.
Cameroon isn't playing for points, but for pride. And that could make them fearless.
The Brazil-Cameroon match takes place at Estádio Nacional de Brasilia in the nation's capital. It will be broadcast on ESPN2 and Galavision.
Mexico and Croatia meet at Arena Pernambuco in Recife for the other Group A match. Croatia will need more scoring from Mandzuric, who potted a pair versus Cameroon last week, The Independent reports.
The Mexicans, behind the terrific goalkeeping of Guillermo Ochoa, are looking for a win or a draw to take their spot in the next round of the World Cup. A win could put them above Brazil in Group A.
If Croatia wins, they'll go to the Round of 16.
Mexico-Croatia can be seen on ESPN and Univision.