Australia vs. Spain
2014 FIFA World Cup
June 23 | 12 pm ET | Arena de Baixada, Curitiba, Brazil
TV: ESPN2, Galavision, UniMas, Sportsnet in Canada
How far the mighty have fallen. Despite winning every major of tournament that they have played in since 2008, Monday’s game against Australia will be Spain’s last game of the 2014 World Cup. La Furia Roja were eliminated from the knockout stages after losing their first two games by a combined score of 7-1. Fellow Group B bottom feeders Australia have also been eliminated after suffering back-to-back losses to open the tournament. All that’s left to play for is pride.
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THE KING IS DEAD: Spain’s eight-year hegemony in international soccer was brought to a sudden and spectacular conclusion in Brazil. La Furia Roja have looked immobile and flat, their trademark incisive passing largely absent. The upstart Aussies will be licking their chops.
NEW BLOOD: Australia, who for large stretches outplayed the Netherlands in their last outing, will play their last match of the tournament without talismanic goalscorer Tim Cahill. The New York Red Bulls midfielder has scored five of the Socceroos’ 11 all-time goals in World Cup play, but he will be serving a suspension against Spain after picking up yellow cards in the first two games. Without him, Australia will need to find someone else to step up and take on the load.
STRIKE TEAM:Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa made waves this year by choosing to represent Spain rather than the Brazilian Selecao in international play. The move was supposed to make an already dominant Spanish team unbeatable, but Costa has looked totally out of place and Spain’s offense has sputtered. Will head coach Vicente del Bosque decide to start him again, or go with either Fernando Torres or New York City FC acquisition David Villa?
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THE STAR YOU KNOW:Xavi, midfielder, Spain – The Spanish maestro has been the heart of his country’s midfield for years, but age, it seems, has finally caught up to him. Can he turn in one more virtuoso performance?
THE PLAYER WHO WILL SURPRISE YOU:Adam Taggart, forward, Australia – With Cahill out, the 21-year-old Taggart will likely fill in at striker for the Socceroos. Taggart scored 16 goals last season in the A-League and has three goals in six games for Australia.
