Group C - 9:00am CDT
This is definitely a 2 TV day! Sputtering England and Goalie-Giveth-but-Ref-Taketh-Away USA are trying to beat out plucky Slovenia and annoying Algeria for the 2 spots in the next round. All can still qualify for the Round of 16.
England play Slovenia, and it's win-and-in for either. Slovenia are guaranteed to move on with a draw, and can still get through with a loss as long as Algeria beats or ties the US team. If England draw, it needs to be a high-scoring affair to overtake the USA's +2 in the goals scored column and they need the other game to be a draw, preferably of the 0-0 variety. Essentially, it's win or go home for the group's seeded team.
USA takes on an Algerian side that has shown it can be quite organised in defense, but has yet to score a goal. Algeria will progress with a win, regardless of what happens in the other game (although certain bizarre and unlikely score permutations may trip them up). USA is also guaranteed to move forward with a win, and can also move on with a draw as long as England has a low-scoring draw or loses.
So here we are. Perhaps the purest group in the tournament. Every team is win-and-in, lose-and-go-home! Wear your asbestos undercrackers, because there should be some fireworks this morning.
Game to watch: Both.
Group D - 1:30pm CDT
While Australia still has a mathematical possibility to come second in this group, their inability to keep 11 players on the field, and the 4-0 tonking they got from Germany, makes a knockout berth a virtual impossibility. That leaves Ghana, group leader on 4 points, playing Germany (3 points), both being chased down by Serbia who earned their 3 points with a shock win over Germany.
Neither Ghana or Germany will be comfortable playing each other while Serbia has a relative lay-up against the Aussies. Either moves on with a win, while a draw favours Serbia who could leapfrog 'em both, putting Germany out. Either could lose and stay in, if Serbia loses to Australia, but a German loss and a Serbian draw puts Germany out. Ghana go if they lose and Serbia wins, but likely survive if Serbia draws.
Serbia are chasing the top two but have the easier game...on paper. The Aussies have never been credited with an abundance of smarts, but they do hate to lose. They could put up an almighty fight, ending in a glorious fuck you to the Serbs, or ignominious defeat as they finish the game with only 8 men. Unless the Serbs trip over their dicks - and how could they - this game should be a given.
Game to watch: Ghana vs. Germany.
