World Cup 2018: Round of 16 qualifying scenarios for every team

Blake Birt

World Cup 2018: Round of 16 qualifying scenarios for every team image

The final round of World Cup group stage games are about to get underway.

Several teams have already booked spots in the Round of 16, but many more will need results to fall in place in order to move on.

Keep a link to FIFA's tiebreak rules handy, because things are going to get messy.

Here's a look at how all the groups stand heading into Matchday 3.

Group A Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Uruguay3300+59
Russia3201+46
Saudi Arabia 3102-53
Egypt  3003-40

Uruguay and Russia had already qualified to the knockout round when their match began so day three was all about bragging rights.

Despite making Egypt and Saudi Arabia look like Sunday league squads, scoring eight goals against the two opponents, Russia was unable to get anything against the baby blue Uruguayans, who took the game 3-0.

Luis Suarez's side will take on Portugal, and the host nation will take on Spain in the round of 16.

Live stream: Catch every World Cup game on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Group B Standings

Country  GP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Spain3120+15
Portugal3120+15
Iran311104
Morocco3022-21

Iran was really, really, really, really, REALLY close to getting through to the Round of 16, and knocking out Cristiano Ronaldo, in their final group-stage game of the tournament.

But their strong efforts weren't enough to break a 1-1 tie that was created when Iran was given a penalty thanks to VAR.

VAR also gave Spain a penalty in their game against Morocco to give them a late tie and send La Roja forward. 

Convention dictated that Spain and Porutgal would have been the ones to make it to the knockout rounds anyways, but no one saw it coming down to the wire like this. Unfortunately, VAR giveth, and it taketh away.

Group C Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
France3210+27
Denmark  3120+15
Peru310203
Australia3012-31

Group C's finale was devoid of any real drama, with Peru's move into third the only change in the standings.

France and Denmark knew a point apiece would suit each team perfectly, and a dull 0-0 tie was the predictable result.

Australia's impotent attack sees the team head home without a goal from open play.

Group D Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Croatia3300+69
Argentina3111-24
Nigeria  3102-13
Iceland3012-31

Argentina began Matchday 3 dead last in Group D, and ended it in the knockout stages after Marco Rojo saved the day.

The last-gasp win sent Nigeria home in a cruel end to the best-dressed team's campaign.

Croatia also scored late in its game against Iceland, heading into the Round of 16 with maximum points and the best goal difference (+6) so far.

Group E Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Brazil3210+47
Switzerland  3120+15
Serbia3102-23
Costa Rica3012-31

Matchday 3 changed nothing for Group E, as Brazil and Switzerland kept hold of the top two spots.

Brazil now moves on to a fascinating clash with Mexico while Switzerland faces Sweden.

Group F Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Sweden3201+36
Mexico3201-16
South Korea310203
Germany  3102-23

Mexico was utterly dominated by Sweden during their final match and all Germany, the defending World Cup champions, needed to do was score once to move on to the Round of 16. Injury time was listed as six minutes, and it looked like the Germans got the lifeline they needed. However, Korea had other plans.

They won't be rewarded for their efforts with a trip to the knockout round, but Korean players and fans can enjoy the fact that they beat the defending champs and sent a more deserving team through.

Live stream: Catch every World Cup game on fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Group G Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Belgium3300+79
England3201+56
Tunisia3102-33
Panama  3003-90

The good news is that not a single match in this group ended in a draw. The bad news is that this block of games produced the most boring final day in the tournament so far. Fans knew Belgium and England were moving on after the second game and not even the semantics of who would finish in first or second could was exciting. 

Group H Standings

CountryGP  W  D  L  GD  Pts
Colombia3201+36
Japan311104
Senegal  311104
Poland3102-33

Colombia booked their ticket to the knockout round with a second-half Yerry Mina header to put them up 1-0 over Senegal. The result put Japan, who lost 1-0 to Poland, even with Senegal on match points, but Japan moves on because of FIFA Fair Play rules that says Senegal gets eliminated because of yellow cards.

Round of 16 Fixtures

DateMatchupTimeLocationNetwork
Saturday, June 30France vs. Argentina10 a.m. ETKazanFox
Saturday, June 30Uruguay vs. Portugal2 p.m. ETSochiFox
Sunday, July 1Spain vs. Russia10 a.m. ETMoscowFox
Sunday, July 1Croatia vs. Denmark2 p.m. ETNizhny NovgorodFox
Monday, July 2Brazil vs. Mexico10 a.m. ETSamaraFS1
Monday, July 2Belgium vs. Japan2 p.m. ETRostovFox
Tuesday, July 3Sweden vs. Switzerland10 a.m. ETSaint PetersburgFS1
Tuesday, July 3Colombia vs. England2 p.m. ETRostovFox

Blake Birt

Blake Birt is a digital content producer for DAZN News. He has worked in media communications the past five years, including as a social media manager, writer and editor. He is located in Sydney, Australia.