After two weeks of dramatic action with plenty of shocks, surprises and breathtaking goals, the group stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup concludes today as Groups G and H play their final round of fixtures, live on BBC & ITV.
The remaining three spots left in the round of 16 will be filled today, with all possibilities on the table in Group G and few games at this tournament will throw up as many intriguing subplots as the decider between the United States and Germany.
A draw in this match in Recife would send both sides through to the last 16 and they have been very quick to deny they will play for a mutually beneficial point.
This is given the cloud that will always hang over German football following the infamous ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ match at the 1982 World Cup, when the then-West Germany side and Austria appeared to play out a 1-0 win for the Germans that sealed both countries’ path in to the next round.
Nonetheless, the USA and Germany have never drawn in nine previous meetings and both sides will be desperate to win the group and avoid a probable second-round clash against Belgium.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal’s World Cup chances hang by a slim thread as they take on Ghana in the other Group G match in Brasilia, where qualification for both is out of their hands.
At least one of these sides will definitely be out of the tournament come the final whistle and both will go if the USA and Germany draw, so they must win to have any chance of progressing.
The final two group stage matches of the tournament take place in the evening as Group H draws to a close with also plenty still to play for.
Belgium have already qualified for the knockout stages after securing two solid victories in the opening two matches and are expected to top the group by virtue of beating South Korea in Sao Paulo.
The Koreans, along with Russia and Algeria, who meet in the other match in Curitiba, will all be fighting for the other qualification spot from the group, with the Algerians in the box seat having secured a 4-2 victory last time out against South Korea, so a point against Fabio Capello’s Russia should be enough to see them through.
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 15 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
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DAY 15: THURSDAY 26th JUNE
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| GROUP G LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm Venue: Recife |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via BBC iPLAYER
All permutations are possible in the final round of Group G fixtures, the tightest of all groups at this stage of the tournament, and the USA and Germany could qualify together if they draw in Recife.
The sides both need just a point from this meeting to progress to the last 16, with group rivals Portugal and Ghana winless so far, and a draw for Germany would see them top the group and progress to face the Group H runners-up.
The USA are managed by a familiar face to German football fans in Jurgen Klinsmann, who was a star striker for them between 1987 and 1998, winning the World Cup in 1990 and also managing them from 2004 until 2006, with current coach Joachim Low as his assistant.
A significant piece of World Cup history could await for Germany striker Miroslav Klose as he needs just one goal to become the record goalscorer at World Cup finals, having become only the third player in history to score in four different editions of the competition.
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| GROUP G LIVE: 4.55pm-7.00pm Venue: Brasilia |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via BBC SPORT WEBSITE
Portugal and Ghana meet in their final Group G match in Brasilia with qualification for the knockout stages out of their hands.
By their own admission, Portugal have not played like a side ranked fourth in the world by FIFA, having played poorly against both Germany and the United States in their opening two games.
Central to their malaise has been their talisman Ronaldo, whose frustration at his own fitness and his team-mates has been plain to see.
Ghana could progress to the last 16 if they beat Portugal and Germany beat the Americans, however should the USA lose by one goal and Ghana win with the same scoreline, then the USA would go through by virtue of their better head-to-head record against the Black Stars.
All outcomes are possible on what will be a dramatic afternoon in Brazil. This match will be shown via the BBC Red Button and Red Button HD, as well as online via the BBC Sport website.
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| GROUP H LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm Venue: Sao Paulo |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
Narrow victories for Belgium over Russia and Algeria mean they have already qualified for the last 16, while South Korea need a win to have any chance of progressing.
The Belgians are unbeaten in the three previous meetings between the sides, having earned a win and a draw in the respective 1990 and 1998 World Cups and, most recently, claiming a 2-1 victory in Seoul in 1999.
They will also fancy their chances on this occasion given the wealth of talent at their disposal. However, it is the Koreans who have the greater recent experience in this tournament, having qualified for every staging since missing out in 1982.
In contrast, the Belgians are making their first appearance in the finals since 2002, but, hopes were high going into the tournament that they could at least emulate their best-ever showing of fourth place in 1986, the same position their opponents finished in when co-hosts 12 years ago.
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| GROUP H LIVE: 8.30pm-11.05pm Venue: Curitiba |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via ITV PLAYER
Russia need to win to progress after a draw with South Korea and defeat to Belgium, while a point for Algeria may be enough to secure their progression alongside the Belgians.
Head coach Fabio Capello has past experience of facing the Algerians in this tournament, having met them in the group stage four years ago when he was England boss.
Neutrals will be hoping for a far more entertaining encounter than that turgid goalless draw, which saw the English unable to find a way past a defence marshalled superbly by then captain Antar Yahia and former Rangers man Madjid Bougherra.
The African outfit’s efforts in that match proved to be in vain as they were eliminated due to 1-0 defeats at the hands of Slovenia and USA either side of that contest.
ITV4’s build-up programme will be a simulcast of ITV’s coverage of the other match between South Korea and Belgium.
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SPORT ON THE BOX’S COMPLETE WORLD CUP TV GUIDE
Thursday 26th June Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Day 14 7.40am-8.20am BBC Two UNITED STATES v GERMANY Group G – Recife | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm BBC One PORTUGAL v GHANA Group G – Brasilia | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.55pm-7.00pm BBC Red Button SOUTH KOREA v BELGIUM Group H – Sao Paulo | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.15pm ITV ALGERIA v RUSSIA Group H – Curitiba | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.05pm ITV4 Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Day 15 11.20pm-12.20am BBC Two Match Replay: 1.20am-3.05am (Fri) BBC Two.
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