Five awesome World Cup matches you can now watch free
Now all the remaining World Cup group stage games are going to be shown on SBS, there are suddenly a lot more matches available free that are well worth watching.
We have picked five awesome matches you will not want to miss from the rest of the group stage that you should set your alarms for.
Group C: France v Peru
Friday June 22, 2am AEST, Ekaterinburg
This is a game with massive implications for Australia's immediate future in the tournament — but this will be interesting regardless of how it affects the Socceroos' involvement.
France flattered to deceive against the Socceroos with Didier Deschamps telling the French press they need to do "everything better" against Peru.
Deschamps is now toying with the idea of starting Olivier Giroud after admitting his much-vaunted trio of attacking superstars failed to fire.
Despite seeing Australia stifle the French with a packed midfield, Peru coach Ricardo Gareca has said Los Incas will continue to play their own way after creating 17 opportunities against a limited Denmark team in their 1-0 defeat.
The Peruvians should have got something from that game but were denied by some fine Kasper Schmeichel saves and hampered by Christian Cueva's first-half penalty miss.
If Peru are to continue with their open, attacking brand of football then the French could hurt them and all-but secure passage into the last 16.
Group D: Argentina v Croatia
Friday June 22, 4am AEST, Nizhny Novgorod
Argentina struggled to break down a dogged Iceland side in their opening clash and will face a tough Croatia side that won their opening game 2-0 against Nigeria.
The 2014 finalists are not of the same class as that side from four years ago — but a defeat here would see the Albiceleste on the brink of failing to qualify for the last 16 — an unfathomable prospect for a proud team containing one of the world's best players in Lionel Messi.
Messi though did not perform in his side's opening game, missing a penalty that condemned his side to a 1-1 draw.
Seeing whether he can cast aside the overwhelming pressure to succeed and revive his side's fortunes will be compelling viewing.
The Croatians were far from spectacular in their dour victory over Nigeria but will seal their progression to the Round of 16 with a win — which should encourage an attacking display.
Group H: Colombia v Poland
Monday June 25, 4am AEST, Kazan
Both teams suffered surprise defeats in their opening encounters, so simply have to win here to stay alive in group H.
With both teams blessed with world-class attacking talent, this game makes for compelling viewing for the neutrals.
Robert Lewandowski is a genuine superstar for Poland — his 16 goals in 10 qualifying games attests to his importance for the national team — but he has struggled in major tournaments for Poland, scoring just once in five matches at Euro 2016 and once in three at home in Euro 2012.
The Colombians could consider themselves unlucky in their 2-1 defeat against Japan after dominating the encounter despite losing Carlos Sanchez Moreno to a straight red card in just the third minute.
The South Americans have their own goal-scoring superstar in Lewandowski's Bayern Munich teammate James Rodriguez — who won the golden boot in 2014 with six goals in five games.
The former Real Madrid man has failed to hit the heights he achieved in Brazil four years ago and will be desperate to recapture the form that saw him net an average of one goal every 66 minutes in that tournament.
Group A: Uruguay v Russia
Tuesday June 26, 12am AEST, Samara
Before the World Cup kicked off, we would probably be talking about how many goals Uruguay would be putting past the hosts — but the opening two games have put paid to that idea as the surprise-packages have romped to two straight victories.
But are Russia the real deal now? Or have they simply been lucky?
Russia have had the best start to a tournament by a host team in World Cup history. They've scored eight goals in just two games — more than Spain managed in the entire tournament on their way to lifting the cup in 2010.
However, there is little doubt that this is the weakest of all the groups at this World Cup and the hosts are yet to face Uruguay who are by far the strongest team in it — on paper at least.
Uruguay needed a Luis Suarez goal to see off Saudi Arabia in their second game and laboured to a 1-0 victory over a Mo Salah-less Egypt in the first round — hardly inspiring much belief in their form.
Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has not had to make a save yet from open play in this tournament having only faced two shots — one of which was Salah's penalty.
Cavani and Suarez will likely change that in what is the biggest test of the tournament so far for the hosts.
Group G: England v Belgium
Friday June 29, 4am AEST, Kaliningrad
This was always slated to be a possible group G decider — and is still expected to be unless Tunisia or Panama can pull off a shock result.
Belgium have one of the most talented squads in the competition and despite some suggestion of dressing room disquiet with Roberto Martinez's tactics, the Red Devils comfortably accounted for Panama in their opening clash.
Gareth Southgate's England side won their opening game in dramatic fashion against an obdurate Tunisia side and will be hoping to use that as a platform from which to build into the tournament — just don't expect him to punch the air in joy should England prevail…
There is another layer to this match though that adds a level of intrigue.
After Die Mannschaft suffered defeat in their opening group F game, there is a real possibility that the reigning world champions will only finish second in their group.
That will put them on a collision course with Brazil in the round of 16, with the winner of that game potentially taking on the team that finishes second in group G.
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ABC .net
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