Australia vs Peru
Venue: Fisht Olympic Stadium
Kick off: 3pm
Australia will be chasing a slim chance of making the World Cup last 16 when they take on Peru in the final Group C game this afternoon.
For the Socceroos to qualify, they must beat Peru and hope Denmark lose by two goals or more to France to overturn the goal difference between them.
However, Australia coach Bert van Marwijk made it clear on Monday that what happens 1,000 miles away in Moscow does not matter if his side fails to beat Peru.
“They are proud players and they played two times. They won but they didn’t play the way they can play and they are one of the best teams in the world,” Van Marwijk said.
“I think they want to prove it and show it to the whole world. But I have no influence on that. The think I have influence on is the game against Peru.”
The Peru fans have been a highlight of the tournament, travelling to Russia in huge numbers to support their side at a first World Cup in 36 years, and their side have played some good attacking football and have had 27 shots so far at this World Cup, but are yet to score.
But captain Paolo Guerrero says Peru do not want to go home with nothing, telling a press conference: “We were very disappointed after being knocked out, it is hard to accept after playing so hard.
“But I see all my team-mates with the knife between their teeth. They don’t want to go home empty handed. We are looking forward to it and we’d like to at least go home with three points so we can give a little bit of joy to the fans who have come all this way and who are watching back home.”