The weekend brings with it the World Cup’s knockout stage
⚽ The group stage of the World Cup wraps up this weekend, with the knockout stage set to kick off on Saturday. The Egyptian league also has a few matches to keep an eye on over the weekend.
It’s going to be a few days of nail-biting for the final breath of the World Cup group stage: We’re watching to see what happens today for Group E (all options are on the table) and Group F (our hearts are with Morocco), before directing our attention tomorrow to the outcomes for Group G (a clash of three titans) and Group H (an epic showdown between Ghana and Uruguay).
Group E- Germany heads into its decisive match against Costa Rica at 9pm today, at the same time as Spain and Japan hit the field. German hearts are hanging in the balance for the country’s last chance to proceed in the tournament, after the national team put itself in a bind by losing to Japan and drawing with Spain. Now, Germany’s fate is somewhat out of its hands — it must win against Costa Rica, but Japan must also lose against Spain to allow the Germans to move onto the knockout stage. Spain has already secured its spot in the round of 16, regardless of the outcome of Costa Rica’s showdown with Germany.
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Points |
|
|
???????? Spain |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
|
???????? Japan |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
???????? Costa Rica |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-6 |
3 |
|
???????? Germany |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
Group F- Morocco’s face off against Canada begins at 5pm, with the North African team looking for a victory and nothing but, in order to ensure its qualification to the knockouts, without having to rely on any other outcomes. At the same time, Belgium and Croatia kick off their match. Canada has already lost out on its chance to qualify, but the rest of the group still have a fighting chance.
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Points |
|
|
???????? Croatia |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
|
???????? Morocco |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
|
???????? Belgium |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
3 |
|
???????? Canada |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
-4 |
0 |
Group G- Brazil, which has already secured a spot in the round of 16, will play Cameroon at 9pm tomorrow, while Switzerland and Serbia face off. Brazil needs just one point (meaning a win or a draw will be enough) to secure its lead in the group. Meanwhile, Cameroon is looking for a much-needed victory and is hoping for a gift from the Serbia v Switzerland match in order to qualify. It’s a tight race in this group — the possibility of a team qualifying on goal differential or yellow cards is still very much alive.
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
T |
|
|
???????? Brazil |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
|
???????? Switzerland |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
???????? Cameroon |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
|
???????? Serbia |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-2 |
1 |
Group H- Ghana v Uruguay kicks off at 5pm tomorrow, at the same time as Portugal v South Korea. Ghana’s showdown with Uruguay will bring back bitter memories of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez blocked a would-be goal for Ghana with an infamous handball — blocking with it Ghana’s hopes of advancing to the 2010 championship’s semi-final match. A draw would be enough to allow Ghana to move on to the next stage this year, but there are other accounts to be settled.
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
T |
|
|
???????? Portugal |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
|
???????? Ghana |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
???????? Uruguay |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-2 |
1 |
|
???????? South Korea |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
Round of 16 matches on Saturday:
Netherlands v United States (5pm)
Argentina v Australia (9pm)
Egyptian Premier League:
Zamalek v Al Masry (7pm tonight)
Ismaily v Smouha (2:45pm Friday)
Al Mokawloon v Ceramica Cleopatra (2:45pm Friday)
Al Ahly v El Gaish (7pm Friday)