FRIDAY’S WORLD CUP GAMES
Group A: MEXICO vs. CAMEROON
Where: Natal.
Time: 9 a.m. PDT.
TV: ESPN2, Univision.
The buzz: Mexico has lost its last two games and didn’t score in either. One reason for that could be the absence of midfielder Luis Montes, who broke his leg in a friendly last month and is out of the World Cup. Cameroon, coming off a 2-2 draw with Germany two weeks ago, will provide a stiff test.
Group B: SPAIN vs. NETHERLANDS
Where: Salvador.
Time: Noon PDT.
TV: ESPN, Univision.
The buzz: The last time Spain and the Netherlands met in the World Cup it was the final of the 2010 tournament and the Spanish won, 1-0, in overtime. Little has changed since then for Spain, which won the European title in 2012 and is ranked No. 1 in the world. Meanwhile, the Dutch have a new coach in Louis van Gaal and have fallen out of the FIFA top 10.
CHILE vs. AUSTRALIA
Where: Cuiaba.
Time: 3 p.m. PDT.
TV: ESPN2, Univision.
The buzz: This should be a walkover for Chile, which finished behind only Argentina and Colombia in South American qualifying.
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