Key events
For more permutations chat, click below:
Samuel Dodson asks:
While it seems rather poor from a competitive vantage point that teams could theoretically advance from their groups after 2 out of 3 abject performances and losses; has anyone done the computations of what would need to happen in the remaining group games for Scotland to progress? Are we rooting for Australia to thrash Paraguay, Germany to draw with Ecuador, etc? Or perhaps Gianni thinks the fun is in finding out at the end ?
Should I at least give it a go? You’re right: they could do with Australia thrashing Paraguay – both are on three points, with Paraguay on -2 goal difference. They need Ecuador and Curaçao to avoid winning, and the Tartan Army will be rooting for Japan against Sweden. I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to dissect anymore – we’ll just have to wait and see.
Amid all the best third-placed teams confusion … Bosnia and Herzegovina have made it through to the last 32.
Ben Fisher watched them beat Qatar:
Our first stop today is at Group E, featuring Germany, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire and Curaçao.
Curaçao v Côte d’Ivoire – Philadelphia Stadium, 9pm BST, 4pm local time
Ecuador v Germany – New York New Jersey Stadium, same time
Germany have already won the group – Côte d’Ivoire just need a point to finish second and reach the knockouts for the first time.
Out of all the hosts, it’s Canada who have looked the most shaky. After losing to Switzerland, they’ll play their last-32 tie in Los Angeles instead of Vancouver.
Mexico are having a lovely time: three games, three wins, six goals scored, none conceded. Oh, and Guillermo Ochoa – part of their 2006 World Cup squad – got to play, too.
What an intro.
Andy Robertson: “If you ask me now, I don’t think it’s enough, I don’t think we’ve done enough.”
Steve Clarke: “I think we’re going home.”
It’s not looking great.
Preamble
Hello, hello, wonderful people. Remember this: it ain’t about how you start. Spain lost their first game in 2010, Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia in 2022 … and nine-man South Africa went down to Mexico a fortnight ago. No, I’m not saying they’re going to go and win it – but they are through to the knockouts for the first time after beating South Korea in Monterrey.
Scotland, on the other hand, haven’t scored since John McGinn’s winning strike against Haiti, leaving them with a nervous wait to see if their three points and -3 goal difference will be enough for a place in the last 32. Yep, the whole 48-team thing’s a bit off, structurally.
We’ll be reflecting on those results and looking forward to the next 24 hours: Groups E, F and D are all set to wrap up. Drop me a line and let’s talk ball.
