With 32 of the 64 matches already played in Brazil, the 2014 FIFA World Cup has reached the halfway point and day 12 sees the start of four days of final round matches from the group stages.
All four of Monday’s games, featuring the final matches in groups A and B, will be shown exclusively live on ITV and ITV4, featuring some of the biggest names and teams in global football.
Group B’s final round of group games kicks proceedings off at 5.00pm when Louis Van Gaal’s Holland face a tricky final game against Chile in Sao Paulo.
As the South Americans proved against England last November, they are an impressive outfit and in Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez who scored both goals in that game at Wembley, they have a bona fide match winner.
Both sides are already guaranteed a place in the knockout phase, which means the same cannot be said for reigning world champions Spain, who take on Australia in the other Group B fixture kicking off at the same time, at the Arena Da Baixada in Curitiba.
Spain were sensationally out of the competition last week having lost both of their opening games, to the Netherlands and Chile respectively, scoring only one goal in the process and conceding seven.
The world champions and their opponents Australia are only playing for pride and both will look to secure what will be their first and only points of the campaign.
The hopes and dreams of the host nation are also on the line on Monday as Group A concludes with Brazil’s final group game against Cameroon in Brasilia.
Kicking off at 9.00pm, the hosts will be expected to win their final game against the African side, topping the group in the process and secure a favourable draw in the last sixteen.
Cameroon’s preparations for the tournament were affected by various pay disputes among the players and many feel this contributed to their downfall in the defeats they suffered at the hands of Mexico and Croatia, which ended their World Cup hopes early.
For Brazilian fans, there will be no option other than a comfortable victory for their team, while also kicking off at 9.00pm is the other Group A game sees Croatia take on Mexico in Recife.
Croatia have failed to match the heights of their first World Cup in 1998 when they made it to the last four in France, having beaten the Germans in a memorable quarter-final encounter.
Their 2014 side have a proven goal scorer though in the form of Mario Madzukic, and Real Madrid’s Luka Modric remains a class act in midfield.
Their opponents Mexico will look to the attacking talents of Javier Hernandez and Oribe Peralta who scored twice in the Olympic final in 2012 against Brazil.
You can watch all 64 matches from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil live across the BBC and ITV, with live streaming available online across multiple platforms.
Visit our dedicated World Cup page – sport-onthebox.com/worldcup – for a full rundown of both channel’s comprehensive coverage of the tournament.
SOTB’s TV viewing guide to Day 12 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
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DAY 12: MONDAY 23rd JUNE
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| GROUP B LIVE: 4.00pm-7.15pm Venue: Sao Paulo |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
Both the Netherlands and Chile are already guaranteed a place in the last 16 and their encounter at the Arena de Sao Paulo is a play-off for top spot in the group.
The two sides are assured of a place in the knockout phase after winning both of their previous matches against Australia and Spain. But the final standings in the group are still to be decided, with the winners of this contest set to face the runners-up from Group A next time out, while the losers will meet the winners of that same group, who play their final games later tonight.
This is only the second meeting between the two nations, with the first remarkably coming as far back as the 1928 Olympic Games, in a consolation match officially ratified by FIFA, but not by the Amsterdam Olympic organisation.
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| GROUP B LIVE: 4.00pm-7.05pm Venue: Curitiba |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
Arena da Baixada in Curitiba plays host to the final match of the reigning world champion’s miserable campaign as Spain take on Australia.
Having won Euro 2008 & Euro 2012, along with the World Cup four years ago, Spain go home early this time having already suffered a shock elimination after losing both of their opening contests, meaning they have failed to reach the knockout stage for just the third time in what is a sequence of 10 consecutive finals appearances.
They will look to restore a small semblance of pride against an Australian team that has also suffered an early exit from the tournament, but performed admirably when falling to a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands last time out.
ITV4’s build-up programme will be a simulcast of ITV’s coverage of the other match between Netherlands and Chile.
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| GROUP A LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm Venue: Brasilia |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
The hosts play their final group match of at Estadio Nacional in Brasilia against Cameroon with a point to prove following a stuttering start to their hopes of regaining the World Cup.
Brazil have left many in their country unimpressed with their two previous performances, but are still expected to have too much for a beleaguered Cameroon side that have already been eliminated after suffering two defeats without scoring a goal.
While a win or a draw will guarantee the host nation’s progression to the last 16, should they suffer a loss they could still reach the knockout stage if Mexico also beat Croatia in the other contest.
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| GROUP A LIVE: 8.30pm-11.05pm Venue: Recife |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
Both Croatia and Mexico have plenty to play for at Arena Pernambuco as they aim to book their place in the next round by securing victory in Recife.
Mexico enter this clash with the upper hand having earned four points to the European side’s three, so know that either a win or a draw will definitely see them advance to the next round.
While a draw could still prove enough for the Croats they would have to rely on an unlikely victory for Cameroon over Brazil if they are to benefit at their expense.
ITV4’s build-up programme will be a simulcast of ITV’s coverage of the other match between Cameroon and Brazil.
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SPORT ON THE BOX’S COMPLETE WORLD CUP TV GUIDE
Monday 23rd June Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Day 11 7.50am-8.20am BBC Two NETHERLANDS v CHILE Group B – Sao Paulo | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.00pm-7.10pm ITV AUSTRALIA v SPAIN Group B – Curitiba | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.00pm-7.05pm ITV4 CAMEROON v BRAZIL Group A – Brasilia | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm ITV CROATIA v MEXICO Group A – Recife | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.05pm ITV4 Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Day 12 11.35pm-12.35am BBC One Match Replay: 1.20am-3.05am (Tue) BBC Two.
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