Monday: Groups A and B
The group stage of the World Cup is almost over: All 32 teams have completed their second of three games of group play. Now is the time many serious fans start to do the math to determine what their teams must do to ensure a place in the knockout stage of the competition.
In the early games, Uruguay beat Russia, 3-0, topping Group A, and Saudi Arabia scored a late winner against Egypt in the group’s game between the eliminated teams. In the later matches, both games ended in a draw with Spain winning the group and Portugal also advancing.
Group A
Uruguay 3 0 0 5 0 +5 9
Russia 2 1 0 8 4 +4 6
Saudi Arabia 1 2 0 2 7 -5 3
Egypt 0 3 0 2 6 -4 0
Uruguay won the group with a 3-0 win over Russia. It will play the second-place team from Group B, Portugal.
Russia has exceeded expectations by clinching a berth in the next round, and scoring eight goals in the group stage. It will play Spain, the Group B winners.
Saudi Arabia was eliminated, but earned its first World Cup win since 1994 after beating Egypt, 2-1.
Egypt was eliminated but we’ll be talking about how Mohamed Salah was drawn into a political controversy during his team’s stay in Chechnya for the tournament.
Group B
Spain 1 0 2 6 5 +1 5
Portugal 1 0 2 5 4 +1 5
Iran 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
Morocco 0 2 1 2 4 -2 1
Spain clinched advancement, and won the group over Portugal on a tiebreaker of goals scored. It will play Russia, the host team, in the round of 16.
Portugal advanced with a draw against Iran in its final game of group play and will face Uruguay next.
Iran was eliminated after tying Portugal, 1-1.
Morocco was eliminated before its final game, but it earned a point in its 2-2 draw with Spain.
Group C
France 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6
Denmark 1 0 1 2 1 +1 4
Australia 0 1 1 2 3 -1 1
Peru 0 2 0 0 2 -2 0
France has clinched a spot in the next round and can win the group with a victory or draw against Denmark.
Denmark can win the group with a victory over France. It advances with a draw. If it loses, it could be eliminated, but only if Australia beats Peru.
Australia is out if it loses to Peru or draws. If it wins and Denmark loses, it will almost certainly advance, although Denmark could still get through with a few odd score combinations, such as Denmark losing by one in a high-scoring game and Australia winning by one in a low-scoring affair.
Peru is out, but its fans have made the most of Peru’s first World Cup appearance since 1982.
Group D
Croatia 2 0 0 5 0 +5 6
Nigeria 1 1 0 2 2 0 3
Iceland 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1
Argentina 0 1 1 1 4 -3 1
Croatia has advanced. It will win the group unless it loses to Iceland and Nigeria beats Argentina, and the combined margin is five goals or more.
Nigeria advances with a win over Argentina. If it draws, Iceland could catch it with a big enough victory, say two or three goals for Iceland (the exact number depends on how many goals are scored in the Nigeria draw).
Argentina must defeat Nigeria. Even then, it could be knocked out if Iceland beats Croatia by the same margin or better.
Iceland must defeat Croatia, and hope for one of two results in the other game: Argentina winning against Nigeria, but not by a larger margin than Iceland’s win; or Nigeria drawing Argentina, as long as Iceland wins by two goals or more (again, the exact number depends on how many goals are scored in the draw between Nigeria and Argentina).
Group E
Brazil 1 0 1 3 1 +2 4
Switzerland 1 0 1 3 2 +1 4
Serbia 1 1 0 2 2 0 3
Costa Rica 0 2 0 0 3 -3 0
Brazil advances with a win or draw against Serbia. If it loses, it could still back in, but only if Switzerland also loses, and not by fewer goals. To win the group, Brazil needs to win by at least the same margin as Switzerland does.
Switzerland advances with a win or draw against Costa Rica. If it loses, it would still get in if Brazil beats Serbia. If Brazil and Serbia draw in that scenario, Switzerland might sneak in if it loses by only one goal.
Serbia would advance with a win over Brazil. If it draws, it is out, unless Costa Rica beats Switzerland, preferably by two goals or more. If it loses, it is out.
Costa Rica is out.
Group F
Mexico 2 0 0 3 1 +2 6
Germany 1 1 0 2 2 0 3
Sweden 1 1 0 2 2 0 3
South Korea 0 2 0 1 3 -2 0
Mexico has very nearly clinched its advancement. It just needs a win or draw against Sweden. If it loses, it would still advance if Germany doesn’t beat South Korea, or if Germany wins but finishes with a smaller goal differential.
Germany probably advances with a win over South Korea, but could still be out even then if Sweden wins and the scores fall just right: if Germany wins 1-0 and Sweden wins 2-1, for example. Germany would also advance with a draw if Mexico beats Sweden. If both matches end in draws, it would come down to which team, Germany or Sweden, scored more goals in their final group games, with Germany winning if the scores are equal. Germany could even advance if it loses in some scoring scenarios, as long as Mexico wins.
Sweden would advance if it wins and Germany does not. If both win, it will come down to the goal difference between Germany, Sweden and Mexico. If Sweden draws, it must hope Germany loses or draws scoring fewer goals. If Sweden loses, it could back in only if it loses by one goal in a higher scoring game, like 3-2, and South Korea beats Germany narrowly.
South Korea must beat Germany by two goals or, preferably, more. And it would also need Sweden to lose against Mexico.
Group G
England 2 0 0 8 2 +6 6
Belgium 2 0 0 8 2 +6 6
Tunisia 0 2 0 3 7 -4 0
Panama 0 2 0 1 9 -8 0
Belgium has advanced. It will win the group if it beats England.
England has advanced. It will win the group if it beats Belgium. If the teams draw, the group winner will be decided by the sixth tiebreaker: their disciplinary records. England currently has two yellow cards to Belgium’s three.
Tunisia is out.
Panama is out.
Group H
Japan 1 0 1 4 3 +1 4
Senegal 1 0 1 4 3 +1 4
Colombia 1 1 0 4 2 +2 3
Poland 0 2 0 1 5 -4 0
Japan advances with a win or draw against Poland. If it loses, it would still advance unless Colombia beats Senegal by a smaller margin, or Senegal and Colombia draw.
Senegal advances with a win or draw against Colombia. If it loses, it can get in if Japan loses to Poland by a larger margin.
Colombia advances with a win over Senegal. If it draws, it can continue if Japan loses.
Poland is out.
