June 22 – Closing second round matches have all sides needing a win for qualification security. The final round of group games starts Monday with each group’s matches kicking off at the same time.
Belgium v Russia
Belgium could seal qualification for the last 16 with a second straight win. After a narrow opening game victory against Algeria, it is likely Marc Wilmots will make changes but he may be forced into at least one if skipper Vincent Kompany fails to recover from a groin problem.
Fabio Capello insists his number one Igor Akinfeev has been forgiven for his simple error in the 1-1 draw with South Korea but his Russian side need a win to open up the group and show they have made real progress under the former England boss.
Head to Head games
22/05/66 Belgium v Russia 0-1 (International)
24/04/68 Russia v Belgium 1-0 (International)
06/06/70 Belgium v Russia 1-4 (World Cup)
01/07/82 Russia v Belgium 1-0 (World Cup)
15/06/86 Belgium v Russia 4-3 (World Cup)
24/04/96 Belgium v Russia 0-0 (International)
14/06/02 Belgium v Russia 3-2 (World Cup)
17/11/10 Russia v Belgium 0-2 (International)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Belgium: Rank: 11 Points: 1074
Russia: Rank: 19 Points: 893
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Belgium
First in UEFA Group A with 26 points (P10 W8 D2 L0 GF18 GA4)
Russia
First in UEFA Group F with 22 points (P10 W7 D1 L2 GF20 GA5)
Belgium – Russia stats
Russia have failed to beat Belgium since the end of the Soviet Union (W0 D1 L2).
Belgium beat Russia 3-2 in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup with current Belgium manager Marc Wilmots scoring the winning goal.
Belgium have not lost a match with Thibaut Courtois in goal (W12 D6 L0).
After scoring against Korea Republic, Aleksandr Kerzhakov is now joint-record goalscorer for Russia (with Vladimir Beschastnykh) on 26 goals.
South Korea vs Algeria
South Korean midfielder Ha Dae-sung has been ruled out with a damaged ligament in his left foot but the team go into the game knowing that three points will leave their fate in their own hands ahead of the final fixtures next week.
Algeria could be unchanged after stifling Belgium for large parts of the game before eventually being overpowered in the final quarter.
It is hard to separate the teams so don’t rule out a stalemate.
Head to Head games
30/01/85 Korea Republic v Algeria 3-1 (Nehru Cup)
13/12/85 Korea Republic v Algeria 2-0 (Four Team Tournament, Mexico)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
Korea Republic: Rank: 57 Points: 547
Algeria: Rank: 22 Points: 858
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Korea Republic
Second in AFC Group A with 14 points (P8 W4 D2 L2 GF13 GA7)
Algeria
First in CAF Group H with 15 points (P6 W5 D0 L1 GF13 GA4)
Play-off v Burkina Faso (First in CAF Group E): Burkina Faso 3 – 2 Algeria, Algeria 1 – 0 Burkina Faso
Algeria and Korea Republic have never met in the World Cup before.
Korea Republic’s two previous World Cup games against African sides include a 2-1 win against Togo in 2006 and a 2-2 draw against Nigeria in 2010.
Korea Republic have won just 1 of their last 6 World Cup group games (W1 D3 L2).
Algeria have scored just 2 goals in their last 11 hours and 25 minutes of World Cup football.
USA vs Portugal
An intriguing fixture in Manaus to finish off the day with US boss Jurgen Klinsmann keen to put one foot on the last 16 before having to meet his German compatriots in the final game.
The USA have won their last two against Portugal but will be without striker Jozy Altidore in the Amazon jungle after he suffered a hamstring strain during their opening win.
But Portugal will be without central defender Pepe following his red card in their 4-0 defeat to Germany on Monday and another key absentee is full-back Fabio Coentrao, who suffered a thigh injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.
There have been concerns over the fitness of their talismanic captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was seen in training wearing a protective brace on his troubled left knee. But rather like Luis Suarez against England, he will surely be risked in order to keep his country’s World Cup hopes alive.
Head to Head games
20/09/78 Portugal v USA 1-0 (International)
07/10/80 Portugal v USA 1-1 (International)
20/12/90 Portugal v USA 1-0 (International)
03/06/92 USA v Portugal 1-0 (US Cup)
05/06/02 USA v Portugal 3-2 (World Cup)
FIFA Ranking (June 5th 2014)
USA: Rank: 13 Points: 1035
Portugal: Rank: 4 Points: 1189
World Cup 2014 Qualifying
USA
First in CONCACAF Group with 22 points (P10 W7 D1 L2 GF15 GA8)
Portugal
First in UEFA Group F with 21 points (P10 W6 D3 L1 GF20 GA9)
Play-off v Sweden: Portugal 1-0 Sweden, Sweden 2-3 Portugal
USA v Portugal stats
The USA have won their last 2 games against Portugal, including in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup (3-2).
Current US coach Jürgen Klinsmann defeated Portugal as Germany coach at the 2006 World Cup.
The USA has only kept 2 clean sheets in their last 24 World Cup games.
Portugal’s 4-0 defeat against Germany their heaviest World Cup defeat.
Current Portugal head-coach Paulo Bento came on as a substitute in the 2002 USA win.
There were 2 own goals in the USA win against Portugal at the 2002 World Cup (the only time that has happened in the World Cup finals).