:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60158699/977337590.jpg.0.jpg)
The overlying talking point coming out of last Sunday’s set of games was that two of the tournament’s favorites, Germany and Brazil, had very meh-worthy kinds of World Cup openers. Out of the two teams, they collected all of one combined point, and that was thanks to Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland.
Brazil, albeit in second-half stoppage time, was able to get a bounceback win on Friday.
Now, with all of the talent available to them, what can Germany do 24 hours later?
The lone Juventus player that will be taking the field today amongst the three-game schedule is on said German squad. Brother Sami Khedira, who looked more like early-season Sami rather than late-season Sami in Saturday’s loss to Mexico, will hope for both a personal and team bounce back kind of game against Sweden. That is, if Khedira even is in Germany’s starting lineup, something that might not happen knowing that there’s a clear-cut need for a big improvement following what happened in their first game at the World Cup.
If Germany goes 0-for-2 to start the World Cup, their time in Russia could be over by the time next weekend arrives.
If Germany picks up a win, though, Group F is going to be utter chaos on the final day of fixtures. And, honestly, chaos is fun. We all need a little chaos in our lives ... unless you’re a resident Mexico fan like one our writers just so happens to be. (Sorry, Sergio.)
We are moving quickly toward the final games of the group stage. That means some teams already know where they stand come the group stage finale. Some know they will be in Russia at the end of the month, while others are fighting to even have a chance to say there’s still hope come their game next week.
Maybe Germany will get back to its olds ways today.
Maybe Good Khedira will show up again.
Or maybe Joachim Loew won’t get caught playing Scratch & Sniff again.
All of these things are possible. How many of them are likely to happen, well, you’re just going to have to tune in to find all of that out.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Group G — Belgium-Tunisia: 8 a.m. Eastern Time, 5 a.m. Pacific (NBC link here)
Group F — South Korea-Mexico: 1 1 a.m. Eastern Time, 8 a.m. Pacific (NBC link here)
Group F — Germany-Sweden: 2 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. Pacific (NBC link here)
HOW TO WATCH
Television: Unlike previous days of the World Cup where things are split between two networks, all three of today’s games will be shown on FOX (United States); TSN4, TSN5 (Canada); UTV, STV Scotland, ITV1 UK (United Kingdom)
Online/mobile: Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (links above); Fox Sports Go (United States); TSN GO, RDS GO (Canada); The ITV Hub (United Kingdom)
Note: This post will be updated daily as the main World Cup viewing and off-topic thread here at BWRAO. Stay tuned to BWRAO for posts regarding Juventus’ representation in Russia as well as any transfer-related happenings that take place before, during or after the day’s schedule comes and goes.