Battle for the last three seats in the Round of 16 begins today

The last round of the group matches of the World Cup will be played on Thursday. 13 teams have already booked their seats in the last 16. Here's taking a look at how the rest currently stand.

Updated on: Jun 26, 2014, 09:16:53 IST

Hindustan Times | By Abhimanyu Kulkarni

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The last round of the group matches of the Fifa World Cup 2014 will be played on Thursday. The top two teams from each of the eight groups will advance to the knockout stages. 13 teams have already booked their seats in the last 16. Here's taking a look at how the various groups currently stand:

GROUP G

Qualified: No-one
Eliminated: No-one

The Germany-Ghana draw on Saturday has thrown the group wide open.

Germany is in the strongest position and should advance reagrdless of their result against the US on Thursday.

The US would move forward with a tie or a win against Germany. In case of a loss, they will then be rooting for a Ghana win in the Ghana-Portugal encounter.

Ghana needs to win and hope that the US loses against Germany, in which case the two would end up in a tie-breaker. Ghana is currently much better placed to win a tie-breaker with the US or even Portugal.

Portugal are in dicey waters. Not only do they need a win against Ghana, they will also have to hope that the Germany-US game doesn't end in a draw.

GROUP H

Qualified: Belgium
Eliminated: No-one

Algeria could join Costa Rica as the most unexpected teams to advance to the Round of 16, if they can manage a win or draw against Russia. Russia will advance if Algeria fail.

Belgium would end as table toppers in either case.

For South Korea to advance, it would need to defeat Belgium and hope that Russia doesn't lose at the hands of Algeria. In that case, South Korea and Russia will be heading into a tie-breaker.

GROUP A

Qualified: Brazil, Mexico

Eliminated: Cameroon, Croatia

GROUP B

Qualified: Netherlands, Chile
Elminated: Spain, Australia

GROUP C

Qualified: Colombia, Greece
Eliminated: Ivory Coast, Japan

GROUP D

Qualified: Costa Rica, Uruguay
Eliminated: England, Italy

GROUP E

Qualified: France, Switzerland

Eliminated: Ecuador, Honduras

GROUP F

Qualified: Argentina, Nigeria
Eliminated: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran

THE RULES:

According to FIFA regulations, the ranking of teams in each group is based, in this order, on:
- Points in all group matches, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw and none for a loss.
- Goal difference in all group matches.
- Goals scored in all group matches.
- Points in matches between tied teams.
- Goal difference in matches between tied teams.
- Goals scored in matches between tied teams.
- Drawing of lots.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abhimanyu Kulkarni
Abhimanyu Kulkarni has spent over a decade in newsrooms and currently heads the online news desk. He orchestrates the daily narrative of the digital newsroom, managing the homepage, planning long-term news events and writing about India and the World. Abhimanyu excels in high-pressure environments, thriving particularly when navigating the complexities of major breaking news cycles. His strategic approach to digital journalism combines a meticulous eye for detail with a broad vision for organizational growth. Beyond managing the immediate news flow, he is the primary architect for the outlet’s long-term editorial initiatives, ensuring that every project meets the highest standards of journalistic integrity and audience engagement. Expertise & Beat National Affairs: Comprehensive coverage of Indian politics, policy shifts, and election cycles. Geopolitics & World News: Analysis of international relations and global conflict. Beyond the Newsroom Abhimanyu’s professional drive is mirrored by his passion for the pulse of the world; where others see the chaos of a breaking story, he finds a compelling narrative. This innate curiosity about global structures ensures he brings a grounded, human perspective to every headline he manages.Read More

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