Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Algeria and Russia at the World Cup finals.

Tonight sees the group stages in Brazil come to a close but we have an exciting evening ahead of us as three teams battle it out for the one remaining spot in the last 16!

After their terrific 4-2 victory over South Korea, Algeria are in a favourable spot and the African nation only require a point this evening to all but assure themselves of a place in the knockout stages. However, if they lose this evening, Russia will overtake them to give them a huge chance of progression. South Korea can also qualify, but they need to beat Belgium by a couple of goals to have any chance, which is easier said than done!

The team news is in from Curitiba. Full details coming up shortly.

ALGERIA XI: Mbolhi, Mandi, Belkalem, Halliche, Mesbah, Medjani, Bentaleb, Feghouli, Brahimi, Djabou, Slimani

RUSSIA XI: Akinfeev, Kozlov, Ignashevich, Berezutskiy, Kombarov, Samedov, Glushakov, Faizuli, Shatov, Kerzhakov, Kokorin

Both managers have opted to make one change to their respective lineups. For Algeria, the experienced Madjid Bougherra has been replaced by Essaid Belkalem, while in the Russia team, Alexander Kerzhakov has been drafted in to start instead of Maksim Kanunnikov.

If you want to follow the match between South Korea and Belgium, guess what? You can! Just click here and all the pre-match build-up will be at your mercy.

In the event that some of you are unaware of the results of the matches earlier today, Germany and USA managed to progress from Group G. Germany recorded a 1-0 win over USA, but despite Portugal's 2-1 win over Ghana seeing the move level on points with USA, Jurgen Klinsmann's outfit moved through to the last 16 thanks to a superior goal difference.

All that means that the team who top Group H, likely to be Belgium, will face USA in the second round while the runners-up will be forced to go up against Germany.

While I'm on the subject of reviewing the day's news, I should tell you that earlier this afternoon, Luis Suarez was banned for nine international matches and for a four-month period. What that means is that the striker is going to be unable to play for his country for the next 12 months and he won't be able to feature for Liverpool until the end of October at the earliest! Ouch! But, it could have been worse...

Finally, let's talk about tonight's game. Algeria, who are competing in their fourth World Cup finals, are attempting to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history, but the same can be said of Russia. Since converting from the Soviet Union in the early nineties, Russia have played in two tournaments, but on both occasions, they have won one match and lost the other two.

These two teams endured contrasting fortunes in their last fixtures. Algeria, on the back of a narrow loss to Belgium, stunned South Korea by moving into a 3-0 advantage at the break before finally recording a 4-2 triumph. As for Russia, they matched Belgium for much of the fixture at the Maracana but they finally succumbed to a 1-0 defeat thanks to a goal two minutes from time. They will be hoping for a better time of it tonight!

The most notable selection in both lineups is the inclusion of Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The 84-cap veteran netted his team's equaliser in their match with South Korea, but spent the majority of the second fixture on the bench. I imagine that he will have a point to prove to Fabio Capello this evening!

PREDICTION! With so much on the line, I expect it to be a nervy affair in Curitiba and I'd be surprised if there were many goals. However, despite both teams being short of experience at the World Cup, Russia could hold the edge in attack and that could be enough for them to edge out Algeria. 2-1 to Russia.

The two teams have made their way out onto the pitch in Curitiba. It's far from a full house at Arena da Baixada, but the supporters that are in attendance are certainly up for this match. It's likely to be an historic night for their respective side.

Algeria get us underway.

There are plenty of boos for Russia - this is definitely a pro Algeria crowd - but it's the European side that are having the most of possession during the early exchanges. Algeria are happy to keep men behind the ball.

Well this is all pretty tentative. Even more so than Iran against Nigeria. Sorry, I got carried away, but you get the gist. The boos might have been for the lack of action because there is nothing going on.

I'm taking credit for that. I told you it was an entertaining start! Russia take the lead in Curitiba thanks to a fine header from Aleksandr Kokorin. It was a perfect cross from the left from Dmitri Kombarov that set up the chance, but Kokorin did excellently to powerfully head into the top corner from 12 yards. That's his sixth international goal.

If Algeria were tempted to try to play for a draw, they won't be now. In truth, that's probably the best thing that could have happened because it opens the game up.

Sofiane Feghouli has suffered a cut to the head early on, but he looks the most threatening for his team so far. Moments ago, he accelerated into the penalty area but his cross was well cut out by the Russian defence.

Denis Glushakov dances his way into the Algeria penalty area but he's crowded out and the ball rolls through to Raïs M'Bolhi. Algeria need to be careful that they don't fall 2-0 behind because Russia have already shown in this World Cup that they are strong at the back.

Russia are knocking the ball about with ease right now. Aleksandr Kerzhakov looks a threat when dropping a little deeper to retrieve the ball from midfield, while Oleg Shatov is having a lot of possession. This could be tough for Algeria.

The head wound that Sofiane Feghouli suffered in the early stages of this match has opened up again. It looks like a stitches job to me, but the Algeria camp insist on getting their star man back on the pitch.

SHOT! Russia come so close to doubling their advantage! Despite being under pressure, Oleg Shatov drove towards the Algeria defence before unleashing a 30-yard strike on goal. The ball managed to beat Raïs M'Bolhi, but it drifted wide of the upright at the last second.

Islam Slimani forces a superb one-handed save from Igor Akinfeev after heading the ball towards the top corner, but the referee had already blown for an infringement. Not sure what for, though.

Both teams put together decent moves at each end of the pitch, but on both occasions, the final ball was lacking. It has been like that for the majority of these opening 34 minutes.

Gary Lineker has just tweeted that this match is "wonderfully entertaining". I really hope that he was being sarcastic...

I know most of you will be watching the Belgium game, but Russia against Algeria is wonderfully entertaining. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 26, 2014

BOOKED! Aleksandr Kerzhakov bulldozes his way past Djamel Mesbah, but the Algerian defender brings down the attacker on the byline. He's booked for his troubles. The resulting free kick comes to nothing.

Algeria win a corner after Aleksei Kozlov puts the ball behind, and they almost net the equaliser when Islam Slimani wriggles free of his marker but his header from eight yards is straight at Igor Akinfeev.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle has been blown in Curitiba and Russia have the advantage after Aleksandr Kokorin's superb header in the sixth minute. Algeria improved as the match moved towards half time, but at the moment, it's Russia who will be taking their place in the last 16.

Somewhat surprisingly, Algeria are edging most of the half-time statistics. They've had more possession, more shots on target and more corners than Russia, but with their opponents in the lead, it counts for nothing.

In the other game in Group H, South Korea are currently being held by Belgium. Remember, South Korea need to win that match to have any chance of reaching the second round.

Russia have made a change at the break. Denis Glushakov has been replaced by Ignor Denisov. It's presumably injury-related. We are underway in the second half.

Denisov's first contribution to the game is to Yacine Brahimi, but for a reason only known to the referee, he doesn't receive a yellow card. The resulting set piece is punched clear by Igor Akinfeev.

Aleksandr Kerzhakov drives towards the Algerian defence and is left one-on-one with Carl Medjani but the former Liverpool man does well to get his body in the way and prevent the Russian striker's shot finding the target.

Both team have come out for the start of this second half intent of attacking their opponents at any opportunity. Like in the first half though, neither goalkeeper is being worked all that hard.

BOOKING! Dmitri Kombarov is booked for a late challenge on the right flank and Algeria have a set piece in a threatening area. The ball into the area is a good one, but the referee blows his whistle for a foul before the ball can reach its intended target.

Now we have a game! Algeria equalise through Islam Slimani, who rises above the Russia defence to head home a free kick six yards. It should be noted that Igor Akinfeev was been targeted by a laser as the ball was swung into the box, but it's hard to say whether it had any effect on his effort to claim the ball.

That goal for Algeria means that they are now in the box seat as far as the second round is concerned. Russia need a second goal.

We've still got 24 minutes to go but Algeria have already started to waste time. It's a shameful effort from goalkeeper Raïs M'Bolhi, who rolls around on the floor after the slightest of touches from Kokorin. The referee needs to clamp down on that.

CHANCE! Russia break sharply down the right-hand side and a chance is eventually created for Aleksandr Kerhakov, but his low strike from 14 yards is well claimed by M'Bohli.

Russia have started to throw more men forward, but they are immediately caught on the break by Algeria. Sofiane Feghouli surged towards Vasili Berezutski, but despite twisting and turning on the edge of the penalty area, he could only direct his shot straight into the hands of Igor Akinfeev.

SUBSTITUTION! Nabil Ghilas has entered the action in place of Abdelmoumene Djabou. The winger has put in a real shift this evening.

In the other game in this group, Belgium have taken the lead against South Korea. That should be enough to confirm Belgium as the winners of this group.

There's less than 10 minutes remaining in Curitiba, and Russia need to improve in the attacking third if they are to get anything from this match. There are more players in offensive areas, but when they get the ball, they aren't doing anything with it.

Everyone apart from Islam Slimani is behind the ball now. Algeria have very much settled for the draw. However, Russia have a free kick after a needless challenge from Nabil Ghilas.

What a poor set piece. Aleksandr Samedov is the taker but the ball flies into the hands of Raïs M'Bolhi. Three minutes plus injury time for Algeria to hold on.

Dmitri Kombarov wins a corner off Nahil Ghilas, but the referee blows his whistle for an infringement in the box. It's going the way of the African nation so far. There will be three minutes of added-on time.

There goes the final whistle and Algeria have qualified for the last-16 of the World Cup. I repeat, Algeria have qualified for the last-16 of the World CUp.

They started slow in Curitiba, but it's hard to begrudge Algeria their moment of glory. They had the greater determination in that second half and Russia had no answer.

That point means that Algeria will face Germany in the second round. Group winners Belgium will go up against USA.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us! Goodbye for now.