World Cup 2014 Open Thread: Australia v Netherlands, Spain v Chile, Cameroon v Croatia

It's another great day of World Cup soccer on ESPN. While yesterday increased the draw total to three. One of those was actually exciting (Mexico and Brazil!). Group H thanks to the 1-1 between Russia and Korea is basically wide open for their non-Belgium participants. Belgium beat Algeria, but the Fennecs netted a rare World Cup goal.

Today's matches feature teams with red in their flag. All of them. This is the first time during the 2014 World Cup. TRIVIA!

JUNE 18TH, 2014

GROUP B18 JUNE, 2014 - 12:00 ET	AUSTRALIA	VS	NETHERLANDS
GROUP B18 JUNE, 2014 - 15:00 ET	SPAIN	VS	CHILE
GROUP H18 JUNE, 2014 - 18:00 ET	CAMEROON	VS	CROATIA

For Sounders fans you may want to watch Australia because they have that Cahill cat. If you've forgotten the New York Red Bulls are having a rather pedestrian season. Currently at 5th in the East they would be below eight Western teams by PPM. They also lost to the Cosmos in the Open Cup. Australia advancing could help New York make rash decisions in the second half of the season.

Spain v Chile is interesting because it's going to be great soccer. David Villa will eventually play in MLS, so that's neat. But the more important thing here is that Mark Geiger is the center ref. He earned a second assignment and he gets one that could finish Spain's time in Brazil (a loss and their third game has no meaning).

Cameroon v Croatia doesn't have a single MLS connection. That's getting more rare. It may be of interest to you because as the AFC and CAF continue to lay eggs there is a chance that CONCACAF gets a boost to a full four slots.

This is the up-to-date table for the 2014 cross-Confederation matches

This is your World Cup open thread.