The World Cup 2014 schedule is live and the last matchup has Japan and Greece playing Thursday from Natal with ESPN TV coverage and a live stream online from WatchESPN and that Group C matchup is crucial for the two teams after losing their first matches in Brazil and a loss likely means they are done and the match is starting up at 6 pm ET.
Japan and Greece are the low teams in Group C and they come into the game looking to get some points here and they have no choice but to do it. Japan has a short team and Greece has a strong front and the two sides will try and get things done here to stay alive in the tournament. England lost to Uruguay and that came after Wayne Rooney scores his first World Cup goal and then Luis Suarez broke the hearts of everyone with his second goal of the game.
Suarez returned to the pitch for Uruguay after missing their friendly matchups and the game against Costa Rica and that is a major boost for the team, as he has been one of the best players in the world over the past year. Suarez led the EPL in goals this season with over 30 for Liverpool and he had the Reds in position to win the title before falling to Manchester City in the table standings. Suarez was the best player in England last season and now he is trying to bring that to the World Cup.
The United States has been one of the surprising teams in the World Cup and they come in after getting a win over Ghana and that was huge for the team, as they had lost to Ghana in the last two World Cups and were eliminated. The team now has the chance to play against Portugal and if they win that match they will be in position to move to the knockout stages.
England has a strong record at the World Cup despite not making it to the finals since they won the Cup back in 1966, as they have not been knockout out before the next stage in the past six tournaments. On top of that they haven't been knockout that early in the Euros over the past two tourneys either and that adds even more pressure onto the team. Uruguay will next play Italy and that match comes on after Costa Rica plays the Italian side on Friday.
The Three Lions have a tough test and Roy Hodgson knows his side will be ready after a strong few days of training and he said he is expecting a big game from Wayne Rooney, who is likely playing in his last Cup for the team. England is at risk of falling out of the knockout stages for the first time in years and that's what happens when a team drops its first matchup. England and Wayne Rooney know what is at stake and they have to find a way to win this match for a chance at advancing.
Check here for the Japan and Greece live coverage from ESPN for the World Cup.
