Just two more places remain to be filled in the quarter-final line-up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup as the final two matches from the second round stage take place in Brazil, both live on BBC One.
The 2014 World Cup has been lit up by left-footed players such as Colombia’s James Rodriguez and Dutchman Arjen Robben, so it would be no surprise if the contribution of two lefties proves decisive when Argentina meet Switzerland in the first of the day’s games in Sao Paulo.
Switzerland’s Xherdan Shaqiri became the first player to score a left-footed hat-trick in the World Cup as his side beat Honduras to reach the last 16.
Dubbed the ‘Lionel Messi of the Alps’, the Kosovo-born youngster has one goal fewer in Brazil than the Argentina captain, who is bidding to become the first player to score in four successive World Cup fixtures for La Albiceleste since 1930.
Yet despite four goals in the group stage, some have suggested Messi has not yet hit top form in Brazil, perhaps best reflected in their unconvincing performances in beating Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria in topping Group F.
The South Americans failed to reach their peak in any of those matches and manager Alejandro Sabella knows that needs to change on Tuesday, when they take on Switzerland for a place in the quarter-finals.
In truth, if it was not for Lionel Messi’s flashes of brilliance, then Argentina could have joined Spain, Italy and England by becoming one of the tournament’s high-profile casualties, though Switzerland will be wanting to cause a major upset of their own.
The 27-year-old has previously failed to reach his potential on the world stage but has shone in Brazil, netting in all three matches so far and he will again be key in Sao Paulo, with Sabella comparing him to Diego Maradona when Argentina last won the World Cup in 1986.
While Argentina are firm favourites to make it through, the final match of the last 16 phase in Salvador sees many pundits’ dark horses Belgium meet the United States, a country which has seemingly been gripped by ‘soccer’ fever, with record TV audiences for their matches in the tournament so far.
Seventeen members of the Belgium squad were not born the last time the national side reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1986, and standing in their way are the USA Red Devils, who reached the last eight most recently in 2002.
The Belgians may have failed to entertain so far in the tournament but they emerged from the group stage with maximum points, something they had previously never done.
Despite losing to Germany in their last group game, the USA believe they have momentum both on and off the pitch.
Backed by record-breaking number of fans both in Brazil and on TV back home, soccer has caught on in such an unprecedented way in the United States.
German football legend Jurgen Klinsmann leads the US team into battle as they aim to book their place in the quarter finals for the first time in 12 years.
The two teams have met just once before in the World Cup, at the first tournament in 1930, where the US ran out 3-0 winners in Montevideo, though Belgium have won the four subsequent meetings, keeping a clean sheet in three.
Nonetheless, the final match of the second round stage promises to be the biggest in both sides’ recent history.
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 19 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
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DAY 19: TUESDAY 1st JULY
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| ROUND OF 16 LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm Venue: Sao Paulo |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via BBC iPLAYER
The Arena de Sao Paulo plays host to the penultimate fixture in the last 16 stage as Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on Switzerland.
Argentina start as clear favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, as they look to end a barren spell for the nation, which has seen them fail to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup since they finished runners-up to West Germany in 1990.
As well as having won all of their group matches, each by a single goal, Argentina can take heart from being the last country to win this tournament on South American soil, when they made the most of home advantage in 1978 to be crowned champions for the first time.
With Lionel Messi having already scored four goals, the Swiss defence could face a torrid time, especially as they conceded five in defeat to France, with victories over Ecuador and Honduras enough to see them through to this stage.
This will be only the second World Cup meeting between the nations, with the last one taking place in 1966, resulting in a 2-0 win for Argentina.
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| ROUND OF 16 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.10pm Venue: Salvador |
WATCH LIVE ONLINE via BBC iPLAYER
The final match of the second round stage sees Belgium and the United States go head-to-head at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvado for the right to play Costa Rica in the quarter-finals.
Despite not yet seeming to have found top gear, Belgium won Group H with solid if unspectacular victories in all three of their group games against Algeria, Russia and South Korea respectively.
A number of Premier League-based players, including Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Kevin Mirallas are seen as part of a golden generation for the nation, though they and some of their colleagues have so far struggled to capture their best form so far during this tournament.
Despite losing their final Group G fixture 1-0 to Germany and being the group’s underdogs at the start of the competition, the Americans managed to progress to the knockout stages for a second consecutive World Cup with a victory over Ghana and a draw against Portugal.
The Americans won 4-2 in Cleveland last year in their most recent encounter against Belgium, with Christian Benteke scoring twice for Belgium that night, while Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini were also among the goals. Clint Dempsey and Geoff Cameron replied for the USA.
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SPORT ON THE BOX’S COMPLETE WORLD CUP TV GUIDE
Tuesday 1st July Match of the Day: World Cup Highlights – Day 18 (rpt) 7.35am-8.20am BBC Two ARGENTINA v SWITZERLAND Round of 16 – Sao Paulo | Kick-off: 17:00 LIVE: 4.30pm-7.10pm BBC One BELGIUM v UNITED STATES Round of 16 – Salvador | Kick-off: 21:00 LIVE: 8.30pm-11.10pm BBC One Match Replay: 1.05am-2.50am (Wed) BBC Two In the event of extra-time and penalties, TV times are subject to change.
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