The final phase of determining the remaining 13 teams advancing to the knockout stage of this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar begins with Groups A and B concluding games. Defending champions France (Group D), most decorated country, Brazil (Group G) and Portugal (Group H) have already booked their spots in the Round of 16, pushing to win their respective group.
For Africa, champions Senegal are among the likely knockout qualifiers. But they have an abstacle in South America’s Ecuador, who will be contended with a draw. After beating host nations Qatar 2-0 in the opening match of the competition, Ecuador settled for 1-1 group leaders Netherlands. In other words, Senegal must win this afternoon or face the journey back to Dakar.
The Dutch lead the group at the moment and face eliminated Qatar. But they must not take things for granted. If Qatar achieve the seemingly impossible by winning, and Senegal overcome Ecuador, Netherlands’ fate will be subjected to considerations like goal difference between them and the South Americans.
In Group B, all sides remain in contention, but England have the best of the chances to progress. Beating Iran silly (6-2) in their opening match and later playing goalless with the United States placed the Three Lions ahead of the pack here. A draw in the United Kingdom derby against Wales will therefore be enough to land England in the last 16.
Second placed Iran survived the whitewashing by England and delivered the deadly punches in their next match which ended 2-0 against Wales. Iran face the desperate Americans, who have only one point from two matches and languish at the foot of the table in the group.
The winners of Iran v United States will be among the last 16 teams.
For Wales to progress, they first have to beat England, hope a draw in the other match (Iran v United States) and bank on a goal difference advantage against Iran.
Today’s matches:
Group A: Ecuador v Senegal, Netherlands v Qatar (both 4 pm WAT)
Group B: Iran v United States, Wales v England (both 8 pm)
