Gallery: World Cup - Day 11

Updated / Monday, 23 Jun 2014 01:07
Day 11 of the World Cup saw Belgium overtake Russia, South Korea fall to Algeria and the USA face off with Portugal
Day 11 of the World Cup saw Belgium overtake Russia, South Korea fall to Algeria and the USA face off with Portugal

Take a look at some of the best photos from the eleventh day of the World Cup, featuring Belgium v Russia, South Korea v Algeria and USA v Portugal.

Belgium fans were feeling great at the start of the match at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro
Belgium fans were feeling great at the start of the match at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro
And Russia fans were equally as optimistic
And Russia fans were equally as optimistic
The match started out with an even, almost flat pace, as Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and the like kept good control of the ball but did little with it
The match started out with an even, almost flat pace, as Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and the like kept good control of the ball but did little with it
The Red Devils' supporters looked on at every detail...
The Red Devils' supporters looked on at every detail...
While Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld maintained the steady pace against Russia forward Maksim Kanunnikov
While Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld maintained the steady pace against Russia forward Maksim Kanunnikov
Big-haired Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini failed to make much of anything happen on the day...
Big-haired Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini failed to make much of anything happen on the day...
... despite his having quite a few doppelgangers cheering him on from the stands
... despite his having quite a few doppelgangers cheering him on from the stands
Russia star striker Alexander Kokorin lamented over missing a clear header just before the half
Russia star striker Alexander Kokorin lamented over missing a clear header just before the half
And his coach - ex-England manager Fabio Capello - likewise grieved the near chance, one of Russia's only on the day
And his coach - ex-England manager Fabio Capello - likewise grieved the near chance, one of Russia's only on the day
Elvis was most surely in the building for the start of the second half...
Elvis was most surely in the building for the start of the second half...
... which saw play continuing at the same lacklustre level as before. Here, Russia defender Vasily Berezutskiy clears the ball away after a drab Belgium attack
... which saw play continuing at the same lacklustre level as before. Here, Russia defender Vasily Berezutskiy clears the ball away after a drab Belgium attack
The under-performance had not dampened the enthusiasm of a certain dragon man, however
The under-performance had not dampened the enthusiasm of a certain dragon man, however
Then, finally, Russia ran out of juice and allowed the 19-year-old Belgium forward Divock Origi to score cleanly on a strike in the top of the net
Then, finally, Russia ran out of juice and allowed the 19-year-old Belgium forward Divock Origi to score cleanly on a strike in the top of the net
The goal - which flew past Russia keeper Igor Akinfeeve at 87' - was Origi's first in international competition
The goal - which flew past Russia keeper Igor Akinfeeve at 87' - was Origi's first in international competition
Belgium played out the final few minutes and escaped the day with a less-than-impressive 1-0 victory. Despite their underwhelming show, the Red Devils are now guaranteed a place in the knock-out stages
Belgium played out the final few minutes and escaped the day with a less-than-impressive 1-0 victory. Despite their underwhelming show, the Red Devils are now guaranteed a place in the knock-out stages
Then on to the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, where Group H foes South Korea and Algeria faced off in front of a rowdy crowd
Then on to the Estádio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, where Group H foes South Korea and Algeria faced off in front of a rowdy crowd
Which included this... happy... animal?
Which included this... happy... animal?
The Algeria fans were not fazed by the mysterious South Korean mascots afoot
The Algeria fans were not fazed by the mysterious South Korean mascots afoot
A few days prior, South Korean pop phenom Psy had performed to a massive crowd in Seoul
A few days prior, South Korean pop phenom Psy had performed to a massive crowd in Seoul
And that energy carried over quite nicely to Brazil
And that energy carried over quite nicely to Brazil
South Korea midfielder Son Heung-Min helped the match get off to a fast start working against Algeria defender Madjid Bougherra
South Korea midfielder Son Heung-Min helped the match get off to a fast start working against Algeria defender Madjid Bougherra
Algeria defender Carl Medjani showed promise of his side's height to come...
Algeria defender Carl Medjani showed promise of his side's height to come...
And forward Islam Slimani was first to score at 26' putting Algeria up 1-0
And forward Islam Slimani was first to score at 26' putting Algeria up 1-0
Slimani (L) celebrated creating the early lead
Slimani (L) celebrated creating the early lead
Just two minutes later, Algeria defender Rafik Halliche reached great heights to score on a gorgeous header, despite South Korea keeper Jung Song-ryong's attempt to punch it through
Just two minutes later, Algeria defender Rafik Halliche reached great heights to score on a gorgeous header, despite South Korea keeper Jung Song-ryong's attempt to punch it through
And just like that, Algeria were up 2-0 on the rattled South Korea
And just like that, Algeria were up 2-0 on the rattled South Korea
To complete the first half scoring spree, Algeria forward Abdelmoumene Djabou took advantage of a total collapse in the South Korea defence to make it 3-0
To complete the first half scoring spree, Algeria forward Abdelmoumene Djabou took advantage of a total collapse in the South Korea defence to make it 3-0
Algeria fans celebrated what looked to be a total rout heading into the half-time break
Algeria fans celebrated what looked to be a total rout heading into the half-time break
The South Korea team were determined to preserve some of their pride in the second, however
The South Korea team were determined to preserve some of their pride in the second, however
And Son Hueng-min delivered on that desire at 50' bringing some life back to South Korea now down 3-1
And Son Hueng-min delivered on that desire at 50' bringing some life back to South Korea now down 3-1
The fans were back in it as well - although, to be fair, they never really lost much energy or faith
The fans were back in it as well - although, to be fair, they never really lost much energy or faith
But then, Algeria midfielder Yacine Brahimi extended his side's lead back to three goals at 62'
But then, Algeria midfielder Yacine Brahimi extended his side's lead back to three goals at 62'
Up 4-1, it seemed Algeria had hammered down the final nail in South Korea's coffin
Up 4-1, it seemed Algeria had hammered down the final nail in South Korea's coffin
Refusing to give up, though, South Korea forward Koo Jae-chol led his spirited side to find the back of the net once again, bringing the score to 4-2 at 72'
Refusing to give up, though, South Korea forward Koo Jae-chol led his spirited side to find the back of the net once again, bringing the score to 4-2 at 72'
But, the score stood and Algeria was able to celebrate their first win at a World Cup since 1982. Party time had begun in the Algerian capital of Algiers
But, the score stood and Algeria was able to celebrate their first win at a World Cup since 1982. Party time had begun in the Algerian capital of Algiers
And finally, the marquee match of the day saw the USA take on Portugal, with both teams battling for survival in what many have called the Group of Death
And finally, the marquee match of the day saw the USA take on Portugal, with both teams battling for survival in what many have called the Group of Death
The USA crowd on the day was sizeable and proud...
The USA crowd on the day was sizeable and proud...
... with the Portuguese refusing to be out-done
... with the Portuguese refusing to be out-done
Just as in the USA's previous match against Ghana, a goal came in early, yet this time it came from an opposing player
Just as in the USA's previous match against Ghana, a goal came in early, yet this time it came from an opposing player
Portugal forward Nani cracked one past USA keeper Tim Howard at 5' while superstar Cristiano Ronaldo looked on
Portugal forward Nani cracked one past USA keeper Tim Howard at 5' while superstar Cristiano Ronaldo looked on
The goal put Portugal up 1-0 and created an early nightmare for a USA side that seemed skiddish to start
The goal put Portugal up 1-0 and created an early nightmare for a USA side that seemed skiddish to start
Slowly but surely, though, the USA played their way back into the game, evening out possession and creating numerous chances on goal. Midfielder Graham Zusi contributed to this cause
Slowly but surely, though, the USA played their way back into the game, evening out possession and creating numerous chances on goal. Midfielder Graham Zusi contributed to this cause
At 16' USA defender Kyle Beckerman made a messy - and malicious looking - tackle on Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles. Beckerman somehow escaped a booking, while his victim had to leave the pitch after the crude play
At 16' USA defender Kyle Beckerman made a messy - and malicious looking - tackle on Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles. Beckerman somehow escaped a booking, while his victim had to leave the pitch after the crude play
USA striker Clint Dempsey continued to ghost around the middle, threading his way through defenders and coming close to scoring more than once
USA striker Clint Dempsey continued to ghost around the middle, threading his way through defenders and coming close to scoring more than once
Yet, Portugal refused to rest on their lead, as Nani forced Howard to make a spectacular save just before the half-time break
Yet, Portugal refused to rest on their lead, as Nani forced Howard to make a spectacular save just before the half-time break
The Portuguese fans could rest for a few minutes, celebrating their team's 1-0 lead halfway through the competitive, balanced match
The Portuguese fans could rest for a few minutes, celebrating their team's 1-0 lead halfway through the competitive, balanced match
The second half began with Ronaldo working to keep hydrated and determined to make more of an impact than he did as a shadow in the first
The second half began with Ronaldo working to keep hydrated and determined to make more of an impact than he did as a shadow in the first
USA defender Geoff Cameron helped his side keep composure and discipline, still a goal down with the game wearing on
USA defender Geoff Cameron helped his side keep composure and discipline, still a goal down with the game wearing on
Tens of thousands of fans at Grant Park in Chicago watched on intently
Tens of thousands of fans at Grant Park in Chicago watched on intently
The American fans were rewarded at 64' when midfielder Jermaine Jones scored on a spectacular strike from distance to even the score at 1-1
The American fans were rewarded at 64' when midfielder Jermaine Jones scored on a spectacular strike from distance to even the score at 1-1
And eventually, Dempsey produced another magic moment at 81' with a goal off his gut that flew right past Portugal keeper Beto
And eventually, Dempsey produced another magic moment at 81' with a goal off his gut that flew right past Portugal keeper Beto
The USA - remarkably - had pulled ahead 2-1 with less than ten minutes to play
The USA - remarkably - had pulled ahead 2-1 with less than ten minutes to play
Fans erupted with joy, as it seemed the American squad might just pull off the biggest win in their country's history
Fans erupted with joy, as it seemed the American squad might just pull off the biggest win in their country's history
Yet, it was not to be. Within the final 20 seconds of extra time, Portugal forward Varela scored past Howard on a gorgeous ball from Ronaldo
Yet, it was not to be. Within the final 20 seconds of extra time, Portugal forward Varela scored past Howard on a gorgeous ball from Ronaldo
With that, the USA and Portugal finished one of the best matches of the tournament so far in a 2-2 draw. Fans of the USA will have to wait out one more match to see whether their side will make it through the group, as almost no one predicted they could
With that, the USA and Portugal finished one of the best matches of the tournament so far in a 2-2 draw. Fans of the USA will have to wait out one more match to see whether their side will make it through the group, as almost no one predicted they could

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