World Cup: A lot still at stake as Groups A and B wrap up play today

Now would be an opportune time for World Cup aficionados to refresh the TV remote control batteries. Group play winds down through Thursday with two daily sets of simultaneous matches.

The clicking begins Monday with Groups A and B. Let’s set the stage for each.

Group A: Brazil has not dazzled but looms as the A-team to beat. Level with Mexico at four points apiece but with a greater goal differential, the tournament host faces Cameroon, which is winless, draw-less and scoreless. The Cameroons have nothing to lose, except their third straight game. They’ve already lost their cool, Benoit Assou-Ekotto having head-butted Benjamin Moukandjo near the end of their blowout loss to Croatia.

Unless Brazil does the unthinkable, the Mexico-Croatia outcome will determine the other group member to move on. A tie would satisfy Mexico, which has a leg up on goals difference -- even with only one scored. If goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa continues his otherworldly play, a third shutout is possible.

Group B: The Netherlands and Chile already have been waved through, but incentive to beat each other abounds. Brazil likely awaits the group runner-up. Robin van Persie, one of Holland’s three-time scorers, must sit after earning two yellow cards. The Dutch, owing to a better goal difference, would settle for a tie.

Only the morbidly curious might find interest in the other match to see if defending champion Spain completes its self-destruction -- or if an unofficial Cup record for lineup changes is set. Australia should be more charged up, but the absence of Tim Cahill (two yellow cards) limits an already anemic offense.