World Cup 2014 Live Online: USA VS Portugal

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With Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal still has a chance to reach the second round at the World Cup. Without him, the advantage might just switch to the United States.

Ronaldo has been carrying an injury to his left knee, and the wor

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ld player of the year was seen using an ice pack on it during training on Wednesday. But he is still expected to play against the Americans on Sunday at the Arena da Amazonia in a match that Portugal can’t afford to lose.

“Cristiano is 100 percent fit to play,” backup Portugal goalkeeper Beto said this week. “Every match, if he starts to play, it is because he is fit to play.”

The Portuguese lost 4-0 to Germany in their opening Group G match, with Ronaldo playing despite the injury.

The United States, however, is going in the other direction. After being knocked out of the last two World Cups by Ghana, the Americans beat the African team 2-1 in their opening match and could even secure a spot in the second round this weekend.

If Germany beats Ghana on Saturday, and the Americans find a way to win on Sunday, then Portugal and the Ghanaians will be eliminated.

Ronaldo could have something to say about that, however.

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“It’s going to be something that we’re going to always be aware of him,” United States midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “Everybody’s going to have to have an eye when we’re on offense, on defense, and it’s going to take 11 guys playing offense and defense to win this game.”

Ronaldo has been one of the best players in the world for about a decade, and last year he even usurped Lionel Messi by ending the Argentina forward’s streak of winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or.

He has also excelled on the world stage, helping Portugal reach the 2004 European Championship final and the 2006 World Cup semifinals. The team also advanced out of the group stage at both Euro 2008 and the last World Cup, and then reached the semifinals at Euro 2012.

“We have to be ready for him,” United States defender Fabian Johnson said. “If he’s going to play or not, we have to be ready for him.”

Although the Americans won their opening match, the defense looked shaky as Ghana attacked throughout. They can expect more of the same from Portugal.

And that means something is probably going to have to change if they want to get all three points.
“Absolutely. I think our best defense is offense,” Beckerman said. “We have to be extremely clean with the ball.”

Portugal has several other world-class players in its squad, but not all of them will be available for the match against the Americans.

Defender Fabio Coentrao, Ronaldo’s teammate at Real Madrid, has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a muscle strain. And striker Hugo Almeida limped off mid-way through the first half against Germany with a muscle injury.

Pepe, another Real Madrid defender, is suspended.

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The starting lineup, however, won’t affect the team’s need for points, or the Americans’ game plan.

“We’ll see what happens if they come out a little different because they need the win,” Beckerman said. “We’ll be ready for them trying to come after us or sitting back, either one. We’ve got to be ready for everything.”

World Cup 2014 Live Online: South Korea VS Algeria

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Vahid Halihodzic hopes his that Algeria players can overcome the fear factor that he believes cost them a point in their opening Group H fixture against Belgium.

The Desert Foxes face South Korea in Porto Alegre today looking to make amends for conceding two goals in the final 20 minutes of their 2-1 loss to Belgium, and Halihodzic said it was important to learn from that painful experience.

“There was perhaps the fear of going for it and I saw players who won the ball and just stopping,” he said. “When you win the ball back, you have to carry on playing, attacking, trying to score a second, but there was fear and fatigue and it was psychological.”

Algeria have not won a World Cup finals match since 1982 and Halihodzic saw the evidence of a “psychological block” at the end of the Belgium match, even though his players did end a run of 506 minutes without a goal in the tournament thanks to Sofiane Feghouli’s first-half spot-kick.

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He added: “They played differently in the last 20 minutes. I said at half-time, it is good but you have to keep pressing and when you have the ball you  have to play it and attack. Why did we do otherwise in the last 20 minutes?”

Halihodzic would like a victory as a “nice present for the Algerian people” – not least because a defeat would eliminate them – but he stressed that it would “not be easy as the Korean team are better than Algeria”.

The Koreans’ World Cup record is certainly better and they are looking to maintain an unbeaten record against African teams in the competition. The Asian side’s coach, Hong Myung-Bo, was wary of Algeria – “they've got a lot of excellent forwards, they are very quick, very dynamic players” – and expects a more offensive approach from them than against Belgium. As for his own side, he predicts a positive effort to build on their opening draw with Russia. “We're going to play to win, because we absolutely have to win to hope to reach the next round,” said Hong.

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World Cup 2014 Live Online: Belgium VS Russia

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The Belgian manager Marc Wilmots has piled the pressure on Russia ahead of the two nations’ clash in Rio de Janeiro, insisting that Fabio Capello’s side had everything to do and that his own players can afford to be patient.

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Russia’s poor start to the tournament – a 1-1 draw with South Korea – has put the national side and Capello under pressure in Moscow. The Russians expected better, with a poll before the tournament finding that a fifth of the population actually thought their country could win this competition. Wilmots’ Belgian team started unconvincingly, too, against Algeria but they did come through to win the game, thanks to substitute Marouane Fellani who is expected to start instead of Tottenham Hotspur’s Nacer Chadli.

“Russia must win and they are the team under pressure so we must be patient,” Wilmots said. “Russia need the win more than we do.” He defended his team selection against the Algerians, which did not work and – to the surprise of many on the Belgian camp – insisted all had been good against the North Africans.

“Against Algeria everything was fine,” he said. “When you don’t give the opponent an opportunity and you have six good opportunities, it’s a good game. It’s difficult to play against a [five-man defensive] block like Algeria.”

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Romelu Lukaku said that his side’s stuttering performance was a result of nerves and suggested that Fellani starting behind him would make the Belgians more slick. “It is always better for me when Fellaini plays. He is another player who can give power and presence in the box,” he said. “The defender has an eye for Fellani and that then creates space for me.”

The rescue job accomplished by Zenit striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov against the South Koreans might have earned himself a spot at Fabio Capello’s starting line-up.

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World Cup 2014 Live Online: France VS Switzerland

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Switzerland vs. France

2014 FIFA World Cup

June 20 | 3 pm ET | Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil

After winning their opening games, France and Switzerland both have eyes for the knockout rounds, and the winner of Friday’s game in Salvador would almost certainly earn one of Group E’s two tickets to the Round of 16.

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KEYED ON KARIM: Karim Benzema comfortably stepped into the attacking void left by Franck Ribery’s absence from the squad, only missing out on a hat trick in France’s 3-0 win over Honduras when opposing 'keeper Noel Valladares fumbled his shot into the goal. Switzerland are unlikely to be as generous, especially with the wily Ottmar Hitzfeld on the bench, and it’s entirely possible France will need to find another outlet for goals. Winger Antoine Griezmann (below, with Benzema) is as good a candidate as any, having looked bright in the the opener and with 16 La Liga goals to his name in the 2013-14 season.

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RANKING VS. REALITY: Switzerland sit No. 6 in the FIFA World Rankings while France sit 11 places behind them at No. 17, but ask anyone from the seeded Swiss team, and they’ll tell you it’s France and their star power who will have the advantage in this match. It’s probably the correct assessment, the discrepancy a product of the FIFA's funky ranking methods.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: These two teams boast some of the most exciting young talents in the game today, who we will see not only Friday but in World Cups to come. Many of the French players are already well-known – Paul Pogba is a star for Juventus in Serie A,Raphael Varane has found success at Real Madrid, and Mamadou Sakho was part of Liverpool’s successful Premier League season.

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Switzerland have their own big club player in 22-year-old Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri, and though much of the rest of their young core doesn’t have the same name recognition, the 2009 U-17 World Cup winning class including Haris Seferovic (below, celebrating his late winner in the 2-1 victory over Ecuador) could well grow their burgeoning reputation with a strong performance against one of the world's top teams.

World Cup 2014 Live Online: Italy VS Costa Rica

                                                                     (N:B: Scroll Down to get the Free Streaming Link)

Italy vs. Costa Rica

2014 FIFA World Cup

June 20 | Noon ET | Arena Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

There will be a battle for first place in Group D on Friday and it will not involve Uruguay orEngland. On the heels of shocking Uruguay 3-1 in the first game, tiny Costa Rica will hope to pull off another surprise against four-time world champions Italy, who started with three points after a 2-1 win over England.

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RAMPAGING TICOS: Costa Rica were not given much of a chance to advance out of Group D entering the tournament despite their performance in CONCACAF qualifying. That all changed with their first performance. Joel Campbell and Cristian Bolaños contributed a goal and two assists against Uruguay and now they face the challenge of getting through the notoriously stingy Italian defense. Don’t forget about 'keeper Keylor Navas, who put forth an outstanding effort against Uruguay.

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AZZURRI ON NOTICE: The Italians might have thought this would be the easiest game they would have at the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi may have put it best with this quote: “It should help us enter prepared like we did against England. If they had lost 3-0 or 4-0 to Uruguay maybe we wouldn't. But now I'm sure that won't happen.”

BALOTELLI ON FIRE: Mario Balotelli has now scored eight goals in his last 12 games in theAzzurri blue. The last one of those goals was the game-winner against England in the World Cup opener. That was not his only effort against the English defense either, as he got off three other shots and created one chance. Look for him to be just as active against the Ticos.

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World Cup 2014 Live Online: Spain vs Chile

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Tonight’s match will be taking place at the World C

  up final venue but Spain failed to convince anyone that they will be there on July 13. The defending champions must hope their wounds after the 5-1 mauling by the Netherlands have healed enough because Chile pose a serious threat, as proven by their dominant 3-1 win against Australia.

Manager Vicente Del Bosque is expected to make substantial changes in the starting line-up with goalkeeper Iker Casillas possibly being sidelined after his poor performance last week. Liverpool stopper Pepe Reina could be standing under the bar as Manchester United’s David De Gea suffered a leg injury that could rule him out for the rest of the group stage.

Chelsea’s newest signing Cesc Fabregas along with Javi Martinez and Pedro seem likely to start at this must-win fixture whilst Gerard Pique and Diego Costa will  possibly be sitting on the bench.

Chile will be relying a lot on Alexis Sanchez who proved to be in great form last week as he scored one goal and made another against Australia. Much will be expected by midfielder Arturo Vidal who seems pretty dependable despite a recent knee injury.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 8pm

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PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Spain 2 (Soldado, Navas) Chile 2 (Vargas 2), International Friendly, September 2013

Spain 3 (Iniesta, Fabregas 2) Chile 2 (Isla, Vargas), International Friendly, September 2011

Chile 1 (Millar) Spain 2 (Villa, Iniesta), World Cup, June 2010

STATS…

The four-goal margin led to Spain setting the record of heaviest defeat by a defending World champion.

Last time Spain conceded more than five goals was against Brazil in 1950 where the Furia Roja lost 6-1.

Both sides have faced each other 10 times but Chile were never able to beat Spain. The defending champions have won eight of their last meetings.

After beating Australia last week, Chile have now won three of their last 18 matches in the World Cup finals since 1962.

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ODDS…

Spain to win: 13.20

Chile to win: 9.2

Draw: 10.3

World Cup 2014 Live Online: Australia vs Holland

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Australia v Holland, Estadio Beira-Rio, Po

rto Alegre, kick-off 5pm

PROBABLE TEAMS

Australia Ryan, McGowan, Wilkinson, Sprianobic, Davidson, Milligan, Jedinak, Leckie, Bresciano, Oar, Cahill.

Holland Cillessen, Janmaat, Vlaar, de Vrij, Martins Indi, De Jong, Sneijder, Blind, Robben, Van Persie, Lens.

Referee Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)

Midfielder was exiled for almost a year because the coach reckoned he'd become too big for his boots PLUS: Socceroos froze against Chile

Wesley Sneijder has healed his rift with boss Louis van Gaal – and Holland are reaping the rewards.

The Dutch midfielder was exiled for almost a year from the national side by van Gaal who reckoned Sneijder had become a big-time Charlie.

But Sneijder is back to his best after tough nut van Gaal criticised his fitness and lifestyle.

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Despite being Holland’s top scorer and star turn at the last World Cup in South Africa, Van Gaal stripped him of the captaincy a year ago and handed the armband to Robin van Persie.

Now, though, the Galatasaray star is a force again – and strike duo van Persie and Arjen Robben hope to profit from his re-birth against Australia in the Estadio Beira-Rio tonight.

Sneijder said: “That is in the past now, all that matters is the future and helping Holland in this World Cup. I had my problems with the coach but we are getting on okay again. In fact things are going quite well in the camp.”

Sneijder will again supply the bullets for van Gaal’s strikers against the Socceroos – and this time he hopes to get proper thanks from Robben if he tees up another goal:

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“I get enough recognition for the work I do for them but when Arjen scored that great goal after out-sprinting Sergio Ramos on to my pass I think he forgot! I did shout at him when he went to celebrate. I said: ‘Hey you, come here first!’ But he didn’t hear."
Van Gaal will revert to a 4-3-3 formation after plotting Spain’s downfall with a 5-3-2 system – the first time he has ever used that strategy in his 30-year coaching career.
It worked, and critics like Dutch legend Arie Haan, who hammered the move before the match, were left red-faced.
Former Manchester City enforcer Nigel de Jong also starts and warned: “We can get a lot better.”
De Jong says Holland will step it up against the Aussies – but they must stop Tim Cahill:
“It does not matter which system we play. I tell you that the Dutch can play even better than we did against Spain.
“Tim scored against Chile and he is going to be our biggest worry. If we can stop him, we can achieve another great result. But it means we have to stop crosses to him, we have to cut off the supply. This is Australia’s last chance and they will fight hard.”

Disappointment: Mile Jedinak (right) and Tim Cahill after Australia's defeat by Chile

Meanwhile, Mile Jedinak has warned his fellow Socceroos they cannot afford to freeze against Holland.

Crystal Palace star Jedinak has admitted Australia’s players were struck by World Cup stage fright in their 3-1 defeat to Chile.

They conceded two early goals and skipper Jedinak knows another poor start could lead to another avalanche of Holland goals.

The midfielder said “We did address it after the game, but obviously it was too late then.

"A lot of players were playing in their first World Cup, the biggest game of their careers and the occasion go to them a little. That was the unfortunate thing that happened in that game.

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“But the key part in that was the response, what you saw after that first 20 minutes. And I know that will drive the boys going forward.”

Australia found the steamy temperatures in Salvador hard to handle against Chile. But Jedinak believs the cool climate of Southern-most venue Porto Alegre will help his side cope with Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.

“The tempo will be able to be sustained for longer periods, which in itself is going to be an interesting proposition and one I think we’re going to be prepared for,” he said.

“We have a game plan for Holland and it’s a chance for us to try and rectify what we did against Chile. We won’t just sit back - we will try to take the game to them.”

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