Day 12: Final round previews: ESP v AUS, NED v CHI, BRA v CAM, MEX v CRO

June 23 – The final round of group games kick off today with Groups A and B playing to conclusion. The two matches in each Group match will have the same kick off times.

Spain v Australia

Spain are making their final stand after a disastrous campaign which saw them lose to Chile and be demolished by the Netherlands.

The reigning world champions have the chance to bow out gracefully and coach Vicente Del Bosque is expected to bring in some fresh faces into the starting line-up.

Australia, the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, are also eliminated after suffering two straight losses and coach Ange Postecoglou will be missing the services of his top scorer Tim Cahill due to suspension.

FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Australia: Rank: 62 Points: 526
Spain: Rank: 1 Points: 1485

World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Australia
Second in AFC Group B with 13 points (P8 W3 D4 L1 GF12 GA7)
Spain
First in UEFA Group I with 20 points (P8 W6 D2 L0 GF14 GA3)

Australia v Spain stats
These two teams have already been knocked out of the competition and are playing for pride. Spain have the worse goal difference so a draw will be enough for Australia to avoid the wooden spoon.
This will be the first ever match between Australia and Spain.
Australia have only won 1 out of 7 World Cup games against European opposition (2-1 v Serbia in 2010).
Australia have failed to keep a clean sheet in all of their last 9 World Cup matches.
Tim Cahill, who has scored 5 of Australia’s 11 World Cup goals, is suspended for this match.
The Socceroos have conceded in each of their last nine World Cup matches, shipping two or more goals in five of those games.
Spain have never lost all 3 games in a World Cup group
This match will see Andres Iniesta win his 100th cap.

Netherlands v Chile

This is all about battling it out for top spot in Group B and trying to most likely avoid Brazil in the next round.

The Netherlands have lost only two of their 11 World Cup games against South American opposition while Chile have never won three successive World Cup games within the same tournament.

Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli could be without Arturo Vidal who damaged his right Achilles tendon for what promises to be a fascinating encounter. A draw will suit the Dutch since they have scored more goals.

Head to Head games
None (except Olympics see below)

FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Netherlands: Rank: 15 Points: 981
Chile: Rank: 14 Points: 1026

World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Netherlands
First in UEFA Group D with 28 points (P10 W9 D1 L0 GF34 GA5)
Chile
Third in CONMEBOL Group with 28 points (P16 W9 D1 L6 GF29 GA25)

Netherlands – Chile stats
Both Netherlands and Chile have already qualified for the Round of 16. A draw would be enough for the Netherlands, but a win is necessary for Chile to win the group and avoid Brazil, the most likely winners of Group A.
Netherlands and Chile have only met before in the 1928 Olympics (a 2-2 draw which Netherland won by the drawing of lots).
The Netherlands have never won a World Cup game against a South American side in South America (0-0 v Peru and 1-3 v Argentina in 1978).
The Netherlands have lost only 2 out of 11 World Cup games against South American sides: (including the 1978 final against Argentina)
Chile have won only two of their last 11 World Cup matches against European opposition.
Netherlands have not lost a World Cup group game since 1994.

Mexico v Croatia

A win or a draw will guarantee Mexico a last-16 spot, a considerable achievement given the struggle of their qualifying campaign.

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had the game of his life against Brazil but now faces Mario Mandzukic who has the weaponry to send Croatia through instead.

Head to Head games
22/10/92 Croatia v Mexico 3-0 (International)
16/06/99 Croatia v Mexico 2-1 (Korea Cup)
03/06/02 Croatia v Mexico 0-1 (World Cup)

FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Croatia: Rank: 18 Points: 903
Mexico: Rank: 20 Points: 882

World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Croatia
Second in UEFA Group A with 17 points (P10 W5 D2 L3 GF12 GA9)
Play-off v Iceland: Iceland 0-0 Croatia, Croatia 2-0 Iceland
Mexico
Fourth in CONCACAF Group with 11 points (P10 W2 D5 L3 GF7 GA9)
Play-off v New Zealand (OFC Group): Mexico 5 – 1 New Zealand, New Zealand 2 – 4 Mexico

Croatia v Mexico stats
If Mexico win or draw this match they are definitely through to the next round. If Croatia win they are definitely through, a draw is enough only if Brazil are defeated by Cameroon.
Croatia’s win against Cameroon was their first win for 6 World Cup matches.
Croatia’s only defeat in 7 matches under Niko Kovac was the opener v Brazil.
Mexico could progress to the Round of 16 having scored only one goal.
Mexico have reached the knockout stage in each of their last 6 World Cup appearances.
In this match Mexico could become the first nation to lose 25 World Cup matches.

Brazil v Cameroon

The hosts are heavy favourites to win the whole tournament, but if results don’t go their way they may not even make it to the knockout stages.

That is unlikely to happen given how poor Cameroon have been. A draw will be enough to take Brazil through to a second-round clash with either Chile or the Netherlands.

After almost refusing to board their plane to the finals over financial disputes and then having teammates physically squaring up to each other, this has been a world cup to forget for the Africans. And manager Volker Finke will not have Alex Song at his disposal because of suspension.