Ian JohnWe are now at the stage where every team has now played two of their three group stage games in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
For some teams, two wins from two means that they have already booked their place in the Round of 16 of the tournament and they can now consider resting some key men in the third and final group stage game.
For just two teams, the World Cup is over following this game as they are already eliminated, so they will want to end this World Cup with a bang.
However, for the vast majority of teams, there is still plenty to play for and I cannot remember a final group stage where so much has yet to be decided in each of the groups.
In this article, we’ll recap how things stand in each group and how the Round of 16 is shaping up.
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Let’s now take a closer look at how the eight groups stand ahead of the final set of games taking place over the next four days.
Key for the section below – Bold teams – Qualified, Italicised teams – Eliminated
Group A
Gamedays 1 & 2
- Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
- Netherlands 2-0 Senegal
- Qatar 1-3 Senegal
- Ecuador 1-1 Netherlands
Table
- Netherlands – Pts 4 (+2)
- Ecuador – Pts 4 (+2)
- Senegal – Pts 3 (0)
- Qatar – Pts 0 (-4) E
Final Group Games
- Ecuador v Senegal (3pm, Khalifa International Stadium)
- Netherlands v Qatar (3pm, Al Bayt Stadium)
Prediction
Netherlands should beat the already eliminated Qatar and if they do that then they will qualify, however, if Ecuador beat Senegal and do so by a greater goal difference than the Dutch do Qatar, then the Dutch will drop to second in the group.
A draw for Senegal would only be enough if the Netherlands lost 3-0 to Qatar, which looks unlikely, so the African Champions are going to have to beat Ecuador in order to progress.
For me though, I think Netherlands will top the group ahead of Ecuador who will do enough by securing the draw against Senegal.
Group B
Gamedays 1&2
- England 6-2 Iran
- Wales 1-1 United States
- Wales 0-2 Iran
- England 0-0 United States
Table
- England – 4pts (+4)
- Iran – 3pts (-2)
- United States – 2pts (0)
- Wales – 1pt (-2)
Final Group Games
- Iran v United States (7pm, Al Thumama Stadium)
- Wales v England (7pm, Al Rayyan Stadium)
Prediction
Provided England avoid a 4-0 loss to Wales, they will qualify and the Three Lions should be well capable of that here, so it is a case of which team will join them in the knockout phase.
Most likely is that the winner of Iran v United States will be the team, or Iran if they manage to secure a draw against their fierce American rivals.
However, if Wales were to win and Iran and the USA draw, then Wales would qualify on goal difference ahead of Iran.
I do feel that is unlikely however as I think England will top the group with the United States finishing second behind them.
Group C
Matchday 1 & 2 Results
- Poland 0-0 Mexico
- Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
- Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia
- Argentina 2-0 Mexico
Table
- Poland – 4pts (+2)
- Argentina – 3pts (+1)
- Saudi Arabia – 3pts (-1)
- Mexico – 1pt (-2)
Final Group Games
- Poland v Argentina (7pm, Stadium 974)
- Saudi Arabia v Mexico (7pm, Lusail Stadium)
Prediction
Argentina’s win over Mexico gave them a chance to qualify from the group and although they face Poland, I do expect them to win that game and qualify as the group winners.
The question is who will join them. Poland could still qualify with a loss and a Mexico victory over Saudi Arabia, provided Mexico don’t turn their goal difference into a better one than Poland’s and that doesn’t look likely.
So despite their loss, I think Poland squeak into the second phase with Argentina top of the table.
Group D
Matchday 1 & 2 Results
- France 4-1 Australia
- Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
- Tunisia 0-1 Australia
- Denmark 1-2 France
Table
- France – 6pts (+4)
- Australia – 3 pts (+1)
- Denmark – 1pt (-1)
- Tunisia – 1pt (-1)
Final Group Games
- Tunisia v France (3pm, Education City Stadium)
- Australia v Denmark (3pm, Al Wakrah Sports Complex)
Prediction
With France already through, it is simply a three-way fight for the second qualification spot.
I expect France to beat Tunisia which would see Tunisia eliminated and as such, the winner of the Denmark v Australia game would qualify and for me, that should be the Danish side.
Therefore, I expect both the big European sides to make it out of this group.
Group E
Previous Games
- Germany 1-2 Japan
- Spain 7-0 Costa Rica
- Costa Rica 1-0 Japan
- Spain 1-1 Germany
Table
- Spain – 4pts (+7)
- Japan – 3pts (0)
- Costa Rica – 3pts (-6)
- Germany – 1pt (-1)
Final Group Games
- Japan v Spain (7pm, Khalifa International Stadium)
- Costa Rica v Germany (7pm, Al Bayt Stadium)
Prediction
Could Germany exit the World Cup at the group stage for the second tournament in a row? They certainly could do and will do if Japan beat Spain and Germany can’t match Spain’s 7-0 win over Costa Rica.
However, I expect Germany to beat Costa Rica comfortably and that would likely mean the Spain v Japan is an eliminator for the loser, unless we get a very high scoring draw and a low scoring win for Germany.
I can’t see that happening and I think Spain qualify as Group Winners with Germany just qualifying in second spot.
Group F
Previous Games
- Canada 0-1 Belgium
- Morocco 0-0 Croatia
- Belgium 0-2 Morocco
- Croatia 4-1 Canada
Table
- Croatia – 4pts (+3)
- Morocco – 4pts (+2)
- Belgium – 3pts (-1)
- Canada – 0pts (-4)
Final Group Games
- Croatia v Belgium (3pm, Al Rayyan Stadium)
- Canada v Morocco (3pm, Al Thumama Stadium)
Prediction
We essentially have two win and in games here. Morocco will qualify if they beat Canada, regardless of what happens in the game with Croatia and Belgium, while a draw will also be enough for the Moroccans to qualify.
So assuming they can achieve that against Canada, it is now a straight shootout between the in form Croatia and the out of sorts, but World Ranked number 2, Belgians for a spot in the Round of 16.
A draw will be enough for Croatia, but I have a sneaking suspicion Belgium may find some form here and snatch the win, which will see them qualify behind Morocco in the group.
Group G
Previous Scores
- Cameroon 0-1 Switzerland
- Brazil 2-0 Serbia
- Brazil 1-0 Switzerland
- Cameroon 3-3 Serbia
Table
- Brazil – 6pts (+3)
- Switzerland – 3pts (0)
- Cameroon – 1pt (-1)
- Serbia – 1pt (-2)
Final Group Games
- Serbia v Switzerland (7pm, Stadium 974)
- Cameroon v Brazil (7pm, Lusail Stadium)
Prediction
Brazil have already qualified from this group and Switzerland have put themselves in the best place to join them. A win over Serbia will make that certain even if Cameroon were to beat Brazil.
However, if Brazil beat Cameroon, as I expect, then it will be the winner of the Serbia v Switzerland game that goes through, that would be on goals scored if it is a one-goal victory or goal difference in the event of a two or more goal victory.
I have been impressed with Serbia here despite just landing one draw in the tournament so far, so I am backing them to cause an upset here and pip Switzerland to that second spot in the group.
Group H
Previous Scores
- Portugal 3-2 Ghana
- Uruguay 0-0 South Korea
- South Korea 2-3 Ghana
- Portugal 2-0 Uruguay
Table
- Portugal – 6pts (+3)
- Ghana – 3pts (0)
- South Korea – 1pt (-1)
- Uruguay -1pt (-2)
Final Group Games
- South Korea v Portugal (3pm, Education City Stadium)
- Ghana v Uruguay (3pm, Al Wakrah Sports Complex)
Prediction
With Portugal already through, it is a case of who joins them in the next phase of the tournament and whether they will clinch top spot.
I do expect Portugal to clinch top spot with a win or draw against South Korea and I feel that Ghana will probably have enough to clinch a draw against Uruguay which should be enough to put the African side into the next phase.
Qualifiers And Eliminated Teams
Teams Qualified For The Round of 16 – France, Brazil, Portugal
Teams Eliminated – Qatar, Canada
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