THE GROUP STAGES of the World Cup are set to draw to a close and we’re following the action all the way.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail fintan@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.
Results
Belgium 1-0 South Korea
Algeria 1-1 Russia
*********************
And so this is it, the end of the group stages in World Cup 2014 is drawing near. We already know 15 of the teams that are through to the knockout stages and 14 of the teams that are packing their bags and heading home.
Tonight the last team to qualify for the second round will be determined as the action in Group H concludes. Belgium are already through to the second round and only need a point to ensure they’ll clinch top spot. Algeria, Russia and South Korea all still have a chance to reach the second round as well but two of them are going to be exiting the tournament after tonight.
So what’s in store tonight? Here’s the two games down for decision.
Algeria v Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba, 9pm
South Korea v Belgium, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 9pm
Here’s the Group H table:
Here’s the starting teams in Sao Paulo. One Adnan Januzaj starts for Belgium.
South Korea: 21-Kim Seung-gyu; 12-Lee Yong, 3-Yoon Suk-young, 5-Kim Young-gwon, 20-Hong Jeong-ho; 16-Ki Sung-yeung, 14-Han Kook-young, 17-Lee Chung-yong, 9-Son Heung-min, 13-Koo Ja-cheol; 18-Kim Shin-wook
Belgium: 1-Thibaut Courtois; 5-Jan Vertonghen, 15-Daniel Van Buyten, 18-Nicolas Lombaerts, 21-Anthony Vanden Borre; 8-Marouane Fellaini, 14-Dries Mertens, 11-Kevin Mirallas, 19-Mousa Dembele, 16-Steven Defour; 20-Adnan Januzaj
The winners of Group H, Belgium or Algeria, will be heading to Salvador next Tuesday night in the second round to take on the United States.
The runner-up in Group H will be facing Germany in Porto Alegre next Monday night.
So what are the permutations tonight?
- Belgium - Only need a point to book top spot in Group H. Even if they lose and Algeria fail to win, the Belgians will still be top of the table.
- Algeria - Currently second in the table, Algeria will definitely qualify if they win and a draw is also likely to suffice unless South Korea win by a few goals against Belgium.
- Russia - A victory will see Russia through unless South Korea win their game by a greater margin to Fabio Capello’s side.
- South Korea - They also simply must win tonight and hope that they better Russia and Algeria on scoring difference.
Here’s how Algeria and Russia will line out:
Algeria: M’Bolhi, Mandi, Belkalem, Halliche, Mesbah, Medjani, Bentaleb, Feghouli, Brahimi, Djabou, Slimani.
Russia: Akinfeev, Kozlov, Berezutski, Ignashevich, Kombarov, Glushakov, Fayzulin, Samedov, Kokorin, Shatov, Kerzhakov.
We’re almost good to go in the two Group H matches. Predictions anyone?
And we’re under way in tonight’s two matches in Group H.
GOAL! Russia 1-0 Algeria: What an early boost for Russia as they hit the net after just six minutes.
Cracking header from Kokorin as he powered the ball brilliantly into the top corner.
Lovely cross by Kombarov there and Kokorin did the rest.
That’s a terrible start by Algeria, interesting to see can they regain composure.
Vertonghen lines up a long-range free-kick from distance for Belgium but the ball falls well wide.
Belgium find the net! But it won’t count as Kevin Mirallas is offside after being put through by Fellaini.
Here’s a look at that brilliant Kokorin header which has Russia in front.
http://vine.co/v/Mt0OUhHrAVP
Russia looking threatening as they pass the ball around the box but they can’t prise open South Korea for another clearcut chance at this stage.
What a miss by Belgium! Mertens had a glorious chance to open the scoring but he’s spurned it. He blasted over with the goal at his mercy.
Belgium really should have gone ahead there. They’re bidding tonight to complete the group stages with a perfect 100% record. The Netherlands in Group B, Colombia in Group C and Argentina in Group F have all already managed that feat.
Flicker of an opening for Algeria but Brahimi was crowded out of it as he got the ball at the edge of the box and Russia were able to clear.
We’re midway through the first-half and a quarter of a way through tonight’s two Group H matches. As it stands at the moment, it’s Belgium who are going to top the group with Russia finishing second.
CLOSE! That’s an even better chance for Algeria. A corner comes across and it’s a free header for Simani but Akinfeev does brilliantly to tip the ball over the bar.
CLOSE! South Korea nearly break the deadlock but Ki Sung-yeung drives in a low shot from distance that is brilliantly tipped away by Thibault Courtois. Belgium need their goalkeeper again from the resultant corner as he clears the ball off the line.
RED CARD! Belgium down to ten men, Defour is sent off.
It looked innocuous at first glance but the replay shows that was a bad challenge. That’s a costly incident for Belgium ahead of the knockout stages.
Half-Time: Algeria 0-1 Russia: Fabio Capello’s side will be pleased with how the opening period has unfolded.
Half-Time: South Korea 0-0 Belgium 0: All square at the break but Belgium are down to ten men with Defour sent off.
Here’s that Defour challenge which saw him receive a red card.
http://vine.co/v/Mt0pzYPFEUr
Russia shaking things up at the break with Igor Denisov on for Glushakov.
We’re back underway for the second-half action.
Russia looking the more likely to add a second goal. If that happens, it’s surely curtains for Algeria.
Januzaj sends through a ball for Fellaini to run on to in the area, slight contact as a South Korea defender challenges but no penalty awarded and the teams play on.
Slimani nearly has a chance to bring Algeria level but Ignashevich gets back to clear and Russia are still in front.
GOAL! Russia 1-1 Algeria: Slimani scores and Algeria are sensationally level!
What a huge moment in this match. A free kick is swung over from the left and Akinfeev comes out to collect it but the Russian netminder is nowhere near it and Slimani nods in to the empty net.
Do Russia have cause for grievance there? It appears that Akinfeev had a laser shone into his eyes seconds before Algeria scored.
So that means Russia have to score or else they’re out. As it stands at the moment, Belgium will top the group and advance to play the USA while Algeria will finish second and take on Germany in the last 16.
Here’s that Slimani goal:
http://vine.co/v/Mt00unHPE02
Fayzulin tries to ignite a Russian revival by lashing in a shot from 25 yards out that M’Bolhi fumbles before gathering for Algeria at the second attempt.
At the moment in World Cup 2014, we’ve 15 teams qualified for the second round with six from Europe, five from South America, three from Concacaf and one from Africa. If Algeria go through, they’ll join Nigeria as the second African representative. South Korea need a miracle to ensure there’s an Asian side in the knockout stages.
Twenty minutes left, can Algeria hang on?
Still all square between Belgium and South Korea.
Russia test M’Bolhi through Kerzhakov but the Algerian goalkeeper is equal to it and gets down well to save. At the other end, Algeria counter-attack but an opportunity for Feghouli culminates in him sending a tame shot in to the hands of Akinfeev in the Russian goal.
Can Capello turn this around and help Russia get through to the knockout stages?
GOAL! South Korea 0-1 Belgium: And the deadlock is broken through Jan Vertonghen!
The ten men of Belgium hit the net as Vertonghen races in to tap the ball home after the initial shot was blocked.
That looks to be that for South Korea, they’re heading home. Belgium in contrast are on course for a perfect record in the group stages. Next up for them will be the USA.
Ten minutes left for Russia to save themselves.
A spell of Russian pressure yields nothing as crosses and deliveries into the box are overhit. Seven minutes left for Algeria to hang on.
There’s a bit of a debate about whether Belgium have impressed in the group stages. This stat about their displays is relevant.
It’s all Russia now, will they get one clearcut chance?
The Algerian fans want this to end. It’s approaching injury time.
Into injury-time.
Algeria have done it!
Full-Time: Russia 1-1 Algeria
Incredible scenes as Algeria’s players and fans are delirious. They’re getting set for the last sixteen.
Full-Time: Belgium 1-0 South Korea
So that means Belgium and Algeria go through. Belgium will take on USA on Tuesday while Germany are set to meet Algeria on Monday.
And here’s how Group H finishes.
That’s all from us for tonight. Thanks for joining in as we bade farewell to the group stages of World Cup 2014. Next up is the knockout stages which starts on Saturday. Join us then.
