(SportingAlert.com) — With three different matches and a variety of team records and skill levels, day two of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is well set to be a very interesting one.
Live Streaming Coverage of the Games are on ESPN3.com and WatchESPN
Mexico v Cameroon 12:00 PM ET | Spain v Netherlands – 3:00 PM ET | Chile v Australia – 6:00 PM ET
The action gets underway from Group A where Mexico will take on Cameroon in what now seems like a must win game for either team, given the strength of their next opponents from the group.
Because these two teams share a group with two very strong teams — Brazil and Croatia, who played in the opener — it seems unlikely that Mexico or Cameroon will make it out of this round should either of them loses on Friday.
Mexico had a horrendous qualifying campaign in CONCACAF where they had to qualify via the playoff route, while the team’s World Cup preparations for the tournament in warmup games have not looked convincing either.
It was announced that Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez, who has been the shinning light for El Tri, will not be starting for Miguel Herrera in the opening game.
Meanwhile, Cameroon, as one of the few African countries to make the Cup, will be looking to represent their continent well.
The Samuel Eto’o captained side has been grouping in confidence and even played to 2-2 draw with Germany in a friendly game in their build up for the World Cup.
Day two will also see two exciting matches from Group B, with defending champions Spain taking on Netherlands and Chile facing Australia in the other.
Group B is well poised for excitement, as it contains three top teams, capable of beating each other on any given day.
The first match in the group will see Spain going against Netherlands, which is a repeat of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, and both teams will be looking to take an early advantage in what could be a very important game in race for the top spots from the round.
It seems leading striker Diego Costa is fit after playing more than an hour against El Salvador in the last friendly and he could start alongside David Villa in the attack.
Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque must also make a decision on who will start alongside Andres Iniesta in midfield with Xabi Alonso, Koke, Sergio Busquets and Xavi all available.
Elsewhere in Group B, Australia have a very difficult opener against the tricky and exciting Chile side, which will be hoping for a slip-up between Spain and Holland.
With Spain the most likely to come out first in Group B, the second spot really could go to either Chile or the Netherlands.
So can we call this one the real “Group of Death”?
