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World Cup Group qualifying scenarios for knockout rounds

June 26, 2018 12:00:00


With the second series of World Cup group games completed on Sunday, qualification for the knockout rounds is now clearer, report agencies.

The top two teams in each group go into the last 16. In the case of teams finishing level on points.

Here is where things stand in each group going into final round-robin matches.

* Croatia have qualified and will be group winners with a point against Iceland.

* Nigeria will qualify with a win over Argentina. A point would be enough if Iceland do not beat Croatia.

* If Argentina and Nigeria draw, Iceland will make the last 16 if they beat Croatia by a two-goal margin and also score at least one more than Nigeria.

* Argentina will qualify with victory over Nigeria coupled with Iceland failing to defeat Croatia. If Iceland do beat Croatia, then Jorge Sampaoli's side can still qualify if they beat Nigeria by two more goals than Iceland win their game. If Argentina and Iceland win and finish with identical records their fate will be decided by their disciplinary records and then the drawing of lots. Argentina have picked up three yellow cards and Iceland have none.

* A draw for Brazil against Serbia will be enough for a place in the knockout stage.

* If both Brazil and Switzerland win then the group winner could be decided by disciplinary records: Brazil have three yellows, Switzerland four. If they both lose then it will be the second and third places potentially decided by the same process.

* The Swiss will qualify with a draw against Costa Rica, or if Serbia lose to Brazil.

* If Switzerland lose by one goal and Serbia draw, second place will be decided by goals scored. If the sides finish with identical records then Switzerland would go through because they beat Serbia.

* Serbia will qualify if they defeat Brazil. A draw would be enough if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica by more than one goal.

* Mexico need only a point against Sweden to qualify and finish top. They will go through, irrespective of their own result, if Germany fail to beat South Korea.

* Sweden are guaranteed to qualify if they better Germany's result. They will top the group if they beat Mexico and better Germany's result.

* Germany will qualify if they win by two or more clear goals.

* If both Germany and Sweden draw their games, then the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, then Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.

* South Korea can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose, and finish with a better goal difference than those two teams.

* England and Belgium have qualified and have identical records going into their final match.

* If they draw then the top two positions will be decided by the number of cards accumulated. England have two yellows and Belgium have picked up three.

* If both teams have the same number of booking points then lots will be drawn to decide the final positions.

* Japan and Senegal require only a point in their respective games against Poland and Colombia to qualify.

* Colombia will qualify with victory over Senegal. If Colombia win Japan will need to lose by fewer goals than Senegal to progress. Colombia can also qualify with a draw if Japan lose, because they have a better goal difference.


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