Today: Brazil-Cameroon, Croatia-Mexico, Australia-Spain, Netherlands-Chile

The last round in the first stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup begins on Monday (Jun 23). Some matches are just dead rubbers, but others are to decide the future of the tournament. Games within the same group take place simultaneously.

In Brasília, the host country will face Cameroon at the Mané Garrincha Stadium at 5 pm. In Brazil’s 100th game in a World Cup, a tie is enough to have them qualified. To take Group A’s lead, Brazil must defeat the Africans and hope that Mexico, in case of victory, do not pull off a better goal difference. The Cameroonians did very little while in the country: two defeats, the latest of which when Croatia trounced them 4-0.

At the same time, Mexicans and Croatians will meet at Arena Pernambuco. A draw takes Mexico to the knockout stage.

Moving on to Group B, Spain, the current champion squad, will play against Australia at 1 pm, in the city of Curitiba. Eliminated after two defeats, the Spaniards have packed their bags and are on their way back home.

Although also out of the competition, the Australian team will likely get off the airplane to the cheers of a grateful crowd, as their performance against Chile and the Netherlands was simply remarkable.

Chile and the Netherlands have already qualified, and fight to take the lead of their group, also at 1 pm. A tie at Arena Corinthians, in São Paulo, gives the Group B crown to the Dutch.

Times are shown according to Brazil’s official time, UTC-03.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira