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All 32 nations in the World Cup have played two of their three group stage matches. Just three nations – reigning champions France, favourites Brazil, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal – have won both of their matches to guarantee progression to the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, two nations – hosts Qatar and underdogs Canada – have no chance of reaching the knockout rounds, having both lost their two opening matches.
That means that there’s all to play for in the final slate of group stage matches, with qualification still up for grabs for 27 other nations!
Here’s what every team needs in their final group stage matches.
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FULL FIXTURES: All the key games, times and every Socceroos match in Qatar
Souttar addresses PL transfer whispers | 01:43
TIEBREAKERS
If two or more teams are level on points, the following order decides who progresses:
1) Goal difference
2) Goals scored
3) Head to head (H2H) result
– If there are three teams level, then a mini-table is created with teams split by points, goal difference, then goals scored in all the matches between the three teams
4) Fair play points
– A yellow card is minus one point. An indirect red card (from two yellow cards) is minus three points. A straight red card is minus four points. A yellow card succeeded by a red card is minus five points. The team with the better record (smallest deduction) will progress.
5) Drawing of lots
ALREADY CONFIRMED
Qualified: France, Brazil, Portugal
Eliminated: Qatar, Canada
How Boyle discovered his injured ACL | 02:52
GROUP A
Final games: Ecuador vs. Senegal, Netherlands vs. Qatar
Netherlands:
Will qualify with a win or a draw against Qatar.
Will qualify if they lose and Ecuador beat Senegal.
If Ecuador-Senegal is a draw:
– Netherlands will qualify if they lose by one goal.
– If they lose by two goals, it comes down to group goals scored. If level, Netherlands will qualify (based on head-to-head).
– If they lose by three goals, the Netherlands can’t qualify.
If Netherlands lose and Ecuador lose, second place will be decided on goal difference, then goals scored, then fair play (currently, Netherlands -1, Ecuador -3).
Ecuador:
Will qualify with a win or a draw against Senegal.
If Ecuador lose, their only chance is if Netherlands also lose – then second place will be decided by goal difference etc as above.
If Ecuador win and Netherlands win, first place will be decided by goal difference and so on.
Senegal:
Will qualify with a win over Ecuador.
Will qualify with a draw if Netherlands lose by three goals
Will qualify with a draw if Netherlands lose by two goals AND Senegal have scored more goals in the group.
Will NOT qualify with a draw if Netherlands win the other game, or if it is a draw.
Qatar: Eliminated.
Socceroos final prep for Denmark clash | 07:16
GROUP B
Final games: Iran vs United States, Wales vs England
England:
Will qualify with a win against Wales.
Will qualify with a draw.
Will qualify if they lose by up to three goals and Iran or USA win.
Will qualify if they lose by up to five goals and Iran-USA is a draw (and maybe more depending on the number of goals Iran scored)
Iran:
Will qualify if they win against USA.
Will qualify if they draw against USA and Wales lose or draw.
United States:
Will qualify if they beat Iran.
Wales:
Will qualify if they beat England and Iran draw with USA.
Will qualify if they beat England by four or more goals (and either USA or Iran win).
Ghana ERUPTS after downing Korea | 00:49
GROUP C
Final games: Poland vs Argentina, Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Poland
Will qualify with a win or a draw.
Will qualify if they lose by one or two goals and Saudi Arabia draw with Mexico.
If they lose by three goals and Saudi Arabia draw with Mexico, it comes down to goal difference, then goals scored (if both are level, Poland qualifies on H2H).
Will not qualify if they lose by four or more goals and Saudi Arabia draw.
Will not qualify if they lose and Saudi Arabia win.
Argentina:
Will qualify if they win against Poland.
Will qualify if they draw and Saudi Arabia draw with Mexico.
Will qualify if they draw and Mexico win by one or two goals.
If they draw and Mexico win by three goals, it comes down to goal difference, then goals scored (if level, Argentina qualify).
Will not qualify if they draw and Mexico win by four or more goals.
Will not qualify if they draw and Saudi Arabia win.
Will not qualify if they lose.
Saudi Arabia:
Will qualify with a win over Mexico.
Will qualify if they draw and Poland beat Argentina.
Will qualify if they draw and Poland lose by four or more goals. If Poland lose by three goals, it comes down to goal difference, then goals scored (if both are level, Poland qualifies on H2H). If Poland lose by one or two goals, Saudi Arabia cannot qualify.
Will not qualify if they lose, or if they draw and the other game is a draw.
Mexico:
Will qualify if they win by four or more goals (regardless of other results).
Will qualify if they win and Poland win.
If they win and Poland lose, it comes down to goal difference (currently four goals in Poland’s favour), then goals scored etc.
If they win by three goals and Poland-Argentina draw, it comes down to goal difference etc.
Duke told son he would score | 03:30
GROUP D
Final games: Australia vs. Denmark, Tunisia vs. France
France: Have already qualified.
Australia:
Will qualify if they win.
Will qualify with a draw if France win or draw with Tunisia.
Will not qualify with a draw if Tunisia win.
Denmark:
Will qualify if they win, and France win or draw with Tunisia.
If they win and Tunisia win, it will be decided on goal difference (currently -1 each), then goals scored etc.
Tunisia:
Will qualify if they win and Australia-Denmark draw.
If they win and Denmark win, it comes down to goal difference then other tiebreakers.
Will not qualify if Australia wins (even if Tunisia win).
Unlikely hero rescues point for Germany | 00:56
GROUP E
Final games: Costa Rica vs Germany, Japan vs Spain
Spain:
Will qualify if they win.
Will qualify if they draw and Costa Rica draw or lose.
Will qualify if they lose and Costa Rica-Germany draw – UNLESS Spain lose by 13 or more goals.
Japan:
Will qualify if they win.
Will qualify if they draw and Costa Rica draw.
If they draw and Germany win by one goal, it goes down to goals scored (if level, Japan qualify on H2H).
Costa Rica:
Will qualify if they win against Germany.
Will qualify if they draw and Spain beat Japan.
Will qualify if they draw and Japan beat Spain by 13+ goals – unlikely as that may be.
Germany:
Will qualify if they win and Spain win.
If they win and Japan win, it comes down to goal difference (Germany currently eight goals worse than Spain)
If they win and Spain-Japan draw, it comes down to goal difference etc.
Croatia eliminate Canada from World Cup | 00:50
GROUP F
Final games: Canada vs Morocco, Croatia vs Belgium
Croatia:
Will qualify with a win against Belgium
Will qualify with a draw against Belgium.
If they lose and Canada win, it comes down to goal difference (currently +3, ahead of Morocco’s +2).
Morocco:
Will qualify if they win against Canada.
Will qualify if they draw against Canada.
Will qualify if they lose and Croatia win.
If they lose and Croatia-Belgium draw, it comes down to goal difference etc (Morocco will not qualify if they lose by four or more).
If they lose and Belgium win, it comes down to goal difference.
Belgium:
Will qualify if they win against Croatia.
If they draw and Morocco lose, it comes down to goal difference etc.
Canada: Eliminated.
Morocco STUNS Belgium in another upset | 00:55
GROUP G
Final games: Cameroon vs Brazil, Serbia vs Switzerland
Brazil:
Have locked in their place in the Round of 16.
A win or draw with Cameroon locks in top spot in the group, which they will also secure if Switzerland don’t beat Serbia. If Brazil lose and Switzerland win, it comes down to goal difference.
Switzerland:
Will qualify if they win against Serbia.
Will qualify if they draw and Brazil win or draw against Cameroon.
If Switzerland draw and Cameroon win, it comes down to goal difference and tiebreakers.
Cameroon:
Must win and hope Switzerland don’t win.
If both Cameroon and Serbia win, it comes down to goal difference (currently Cameroon are ahead).
Serbia:
Must win. Will qualify if Brazil win or draw against Cameroon. If both Cameroon and Serbia win, it comes down to the tiebreakers.
3-3! Cameroon earn draw vs. Serbia | 00:59
GROUP H
Final games: Ghana vs Uruguay, South Korea vs Portugal
Portugal:
Have booked their place in the Round of 16. Will claim top spot unless they lose to South Korea and Ghana beats Uruguay by at least three goals.
Ghana:
Will qualify if they win against Uruguay.
Will qualify with a draw if Portugal win or draw with South Korea.
Uruguay:
Will qualify if they win against Ghana, unless South Korea beat Portugal (in which case, it will go down to goal difference, with South Korea currently superior).
South Korea:
Must win.
If they beat Portugal, and Uruguay beat Ghana, it comes down to goal difference.
If they beat Portugal and Uruguay and Ghana draw, it comes down to goal difference.
If Ghana beat Uruguay, South Korea is eliminated.
