Last Day for Group Play

As we head in to the last day of the group stage, 12 teams have punched their ticket to the Round of 16 with 1st/2nd pairs of Canada/China (A), Germany/Norway (B), Japan/Cameroon (C), and USA/Australia (D), third-place qualifiers Netherlands (A, 4pts, 0 Goal Diff) and Switzerland (C, 4pts, 7 GD), Group E winner Brazil, and Colombia (F, 4 pts) reaching the knockout stage.  New Zealand (A), Ivory Coast (B), Ecuador (C), and Nigeria (D) are officially out with third-place Thailand (B, 3pts, -7 GD, 3 GF) chances slim-to-none.

Third-place Sweden (D, 3pts, 0 GD, 4 Goals For) with its 3 ties has to wait to see if they will make it.

Spain (E, 1pt, -1 GD, 1 GF) plays Korea Rep (1 pt, -2 GD, 2 GF) and a tie will knock both of them out while a win by either will get them through.  Will Brazil rest its starters vs Costa Rica (E, 2 pts, 0 GD, 3 GF) to allow the Ticos to steal a spot with a win or a 2-2 or better tie (they could also make it with a 1-1 (further tiebreaker w/SWE if ESP or KOR win or 2nd if ESP-KOR tie) or 0-0 tie if ESP-KOR tie).

Three teams can take Group F but only Colombia has qualified.  England (3pts, 0 GD, 2 GF) and France (3pts, -1 GD, 1GF) only need a tie to advance while Mexico (1pt, -1 GD, 1 GF) need a win vs France.  An England and Mexico/France win would send those two teams through.  An England and France loss (MEX 2nd place) would send SWE through and leave England, France, Costa Rica, Spain, and Korea Rep in the running for the final 2 spots (2nd E and final 3rd place team) since Group F matches will finish before Group E starts.

Fun, fun, fun!

BTW, for my Thai friends, Thailand would make the knockout stage if Spain and Korea Rep tie, Brazil beats Costa Rica, Colombia beats England 7-0 or 9-1 or better, and France beats Mexico.  Not that far-fetched for three of the matches but that Colombia thrashing of England -- highly unlikely.