Both Portugal and Brazil booked their places in the Round of 16 joining France. Qatar and Canada are already out of the running for the knockout stages. That leave 27 teams with a shot for 13 spots in the Round of 16. the New York Times supplied scenarios with lovely charts. If your time is short, here’s a brief rundown for each group from A to H as we head to the final set of group matches:
GROUP A:
Ecuador: A draw against Senegal will be enough to go through. Bettering the result the Dutch get against Qatar will give them the group. They will be eliminated if they lose to Senegal and the Netherlands get at least a point.
Netherlands: A draw against Qatar will be enough to see the Dutch through. Bettering the result Ecuador gets against Senegal will give them the group. A loss only eliminates them if the outcome in the other match wipes away the Dutch’s goal difference advantage.
Senegal: The Lions of Teranga needs a win to advance. A draw won’t be enough unless Qatar inflicts a heavy defeat on the Dutch.
Qatar: Qatar are eliminated from contention.
GROUP B:
England: A draw will be enough to advance. A win will give them the group. The only way they can be eliminated is if they lose to Wales by 4+ goals and Iran-USA does not end in a draw.
Iran: Victory over the USA will see Team Melli through. They will win the group if they win and England fail to defeat Wales. A draw will be enough to advance unless Wales defeats England. A loss will eliminate them.
USA: It’s win or go home against Iran. Nothing else will do.
Wales: Wales still have a chance, but they to defeat England and get help (but not too much) from Iran and the USA. If Iran-USA ends in a draw, then a simple win will suffice for Wales. If not, then Wales will need to win by 4+ goals.
GROUP C:
Poland: A draw against Argentina on Wednesday will suffice. A win will give them the group. However, if they lose and Saudi Arabia defeat Mexico–or if Mexico wins and makes up the goal difference–then that would eliminate Poland.
Argentina: A win over Poland will see them advance. A draw will only be enough if Saudi Arabia and Mexico draw or if Mexico wins, but fail to make up the goal difference.
Saudi Arabia: A win will see the Green Falcons advance for the first time since 1994. A draw will be enough only if Argentina loses.
Mexico: To just get to the “Cuarto partido”, they need to defeat Saudi Arabia and hope Poland defeats Argentina. Otherwise, they would also need to make up the goal difference to Argentina if the latter draws with Poland, or with Poland themselves if they lose to Argentina.
GROUP D:
France: France is assured a place in the Round of 16 and a draw will be enough to win the group.
Australia: A win against Denmark will see Australia advance for the first time since 2006. A draw will only be enough if Tunisia fail to defeat France.
Denmark: The Danes need to defeat Australia to advance and hope Tunisia fail to defeat France (or not defeat France by a greater margin).
Tunisia: The Carthage Eagles need a win against France to have any shot. A draw in the Australia-Denmark game will be most ideal for Tunisia as they would just need a simple win over France. A Denmark win would require Tunisia to win by a larger margin.
GROUP E:
Spain: A draw against Japan will be enough to advance. A loss to Japan and a Costa Rica win over Germany would eliminate them.
Japan: A win over Spain will see the Blue Samurai through. A draw will be enough if Costa Rica-Germany also ends in a draw or if Germany wins by a goal, but score less goals the Japan does in a draw.
Costa Rica: The Ticos advance with a win over Germany. A draw is only enough if Spain defeat Japan.
Germany: Germany can advance if they defeat Costa Rica and if Spain defeat Japan. If Japan draw, then victory by 2+ goals will suffice.
GROUP F:
Croatia: Croatia will advance if they avoid defeat against Belgium.
Morocco: Morocco will also advance if they avoid defeat against Canada or if Belgium loses.
Belgium: Belgium need to defeat Croatia to advance. A draw will require Canada inflicting a heavy defeat on Morocco.
Canada: Canada are eliminated from contention.
GROUP G:
Brazil: Brazil have already advanced to the knockout stage and can win the group with at least a draw against Cameroon.
Switzerland: The Nati can advance with a win over Serbia. A draw will be enough if Cameroon fail to defeat Brazil.
Cameroon: The Indomitable Lions need to defeat Brazil to have a chance of advancing. From there, it will go down to goal difference if Serbia-Switzerland ends in a draw or if the Serbs win.
GROUP H:
Portugal: Portugal have already advanced to the knockout stage and can win the group with a draw against South Korea.
Ghana: The Black Stars advance if the defeat Uruguay. A draw will be enough if South Korea fail to defeat South Korea fail to defeat Portugal.
South Korea: The Taeguk Warriors need to defeat Portugal to have a chance and maintain a goal difference against Ghana if they draw or agains Uruguay if they win.
Uruguay: Uruguay need to defeat Ghana and South Korea fail to defat Germany and maintain their goal difference edge.
Hold on tight. The roller coaster is about to begin again!
