World Cup Group Stage - 3rd Round Matches

bosnian_red

Worst scout to ever exist
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
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Location
Canada
Wednesday June 24th
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Qatar (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Switzerland - Canada (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Morocco - Haiti (6pm EST, 11pm GMT)
Scotland - Brazil (6pm EST, 11pm GMT)
Czechia - Mexico (9pm EST, 2am GMT)
South Africa - South Korea (9pm EST, 2am GMT)

Thursday June 25th
Curacao - Ivory Coast (4pm EST, 9pm GMT)
Ecuador - Germany (4pm EST, 9pm GMT)
Japan - Sweden (7pm EST, 12am GMT)
Tunisia - Netherlands (7pm EST, 12am GMT)
Paraguay - Australia (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
Turkiye - USA (10pm EST, 3am GMT)

Friday June 26th
Norway - France (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Senegal - Iraq (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia (8pm EST, 1am GMT)
Uruguay - Spain (8pm EST, 1am GMT)
Egypt - Iran (11pm EST, 4am GMT)
New Zealand - Belgium (11pm EST, 4am GMT)

Saturday June 27th
Croatia - Ghana (5pm EST, 10pm GMT)
Panama - England (5pm EST, 10pm GMT)
Colombia - Portugal (7:30pm EST, 12:30am GMT)
DR Congo - Uzbekistan (7:30pm EST, 12:30am GMT)
Algeria - Austria (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
Jordan - Argentina (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
 
Most games here are at unwatchable times, e.g. group L with a kick-off at 11pm continental time. Truly a shame as I won‘t be able to watch many games.
 
Bit pointless having this thread up now? Seems people will just get confused and post in here about the eight second round games that are still left.
 
Valencia Shin Crosses said:
Sort of a bummer that this will be a round of largely meaningless games. Even the more favored teams that have been disappointments aren't at any risk of being knocked out I don't think.
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It's by design, 72 largely pointless games from a sporting perspective to eliminate 10 teams. Then the tournament actually starts properly... Keep the big TV ratings teams in.

Get fans paying $500 a ticket for these games and the TV money... Rinsed.

CL is the same with a pointless ultra bloated group stage before the actual tournament jeopardy starts.
 
Mb194dc said:
It's by design, 72 largely pointless games from a sporting perspective to eliminate 10 teams. Then the tournament actually starts properly... Keep the big TV ratings teams in.

Get fans paying $500 a ticket for these games and the TV money... Rinsed.

CL is the same with a pointless ultra bloated group stage before the actual tournament jeopardy starts.
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Meh yeah it's by design but even the "crap" matchups have been very good.

Bigger issue is the GD change. It mathematically eliminates teams that otherwise might have a chance.
 
Its funny, normally I hate it when the amount of games a day goes down as we get into the knock outs. Now I can't wait.
 
Gums said:
Insightful BBC article about multiple problems related to the third place table and head-to-head trumping goal difference.

Have World Cup changes made final group stage games unfair?
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Bizarre how they’ve decided to come up with that and just create endless dead rubbers. The single only benefit of the 3rd place teams qualifying is that nearly all teams had something to play for going into the final round of group games.
 
Here in Seattle for the Bosnia - Qatar match tomorrow.... Expecting it to feel like a home match for us with how many bosnians I've seen.
 
This’ll be the round where the broadcasters go out of their way to ruin the results of the game you don’t watch so you can’t watch it with the tension and stakes it might carry otherwise.

Will be watching 1 game from 5 live per day and likely the tastier ones on catch up.
 
There really is only a handful of dead rubber games in the last 24.

Groups A to C: All six games count for something.
Group D: USA - Turkey is not important, Paraguay - Australia is.
Groups E to I: All ten games matter.
Group J: Jordan - Argentina is not important, Austria - Algeria is.
Groups K and L: All four games matter.

Quite obviously, not every game has the same importance, and more obviously, even the important games are not important for both teams involved, but the fact remains: outcome of 22/24 will bear importance on the final standings and the list of teams that make it to the knockout stage.
 
He's not going to admit it....but Clarke's going to be playing for a 1-0 defeat tonight isn't he? Would give Scotland -2 and 3 points.

Looking at other groups in that scenario to qualify Scotland will need:

Czechia and South Africa not to win respective games. Weirdly despite starting the tournament this group concludes after Scotland group.

Bosnia not beating Qatar. Pretty unlikely I think and Scotland will know this result before they kick off.

Ecuador not beating Germany. Possible given Ecuador's goal issues although Germany could easily put out second string.

Belgium beating Iran and New Zealand not beating Egypt, probable.

A winner in Cape Verde/Saudi and Uruguay losing to Spain, possible.

Senegal not beating Iraq, very unlikely.

Algeria losing to Austria, pretty likely.

So a few possible scenarios although whether four groups could produce 3rd place with fewer than three points is debatable. Worth remembering in the Euros Scotland played incredibly negatively in the final game v Hungary, lost in last minute and Hungary didn't actually qualify once all the groups had been concluded.

I think in the build up all of McTominay, McGinn, Robertson will believe they can get a draw off Brazil. I don't think Clarke will do and also not sure what the tactics will be other than lumping it up to Dykes or Shankland as Gabriel will handle that with ease.

A potential new way for Scotland to exit groups this time. Win the easy game and lose the ones everyone expects them to.
 
Scotland can get pumped and still likely make it.

As it is - this Brazil team are bang average with a sprinkle of genius. They can scab a famous draw.
 
Can't help but feel we'll regret having taken our foot off the gas against Haiti. I'm heading to Houston for the next round with my family and we need Brazil to be there!
 
Could we end up in a situation where 2pts is enough to get out of the group?

Absolute farce if so.
 
Group A and E likely to remain on 1 point for the 3rd place team, max 2 I'd say. Group G and K might be on 2, but I'd guess one of those gets to 4 points as 3rd place. Which leaves just 1 3rd placed team who will probably drop out with 3 points. Scotland just need to keep it tight I think. -2 probably on the edge of ok?
 
bosnian_red said:
Group A and E likely to remain on 1 point for the 3rd place team, max 2 I'd say. Group G and K might be on 2, but I'd guess one of those gets to 4 points as 3rd place. Which leaves just 1 3rd placed team who will probably drop out with 3 points. Scotland just need to keep it tight I think. -2 probably on the edge of ok?
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65%-75% chance on that depending on your model :)
 
Oranges038 said:
Could we end up in a situation where 2pts is enough to get out of the group?

Absolute farce if so.
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Theoretically yes. It's not very likely though.

In group A 2 teams can still end up with 1 point., group B, E and I as well. In group G, H and K you can have a team with 1 point and one with 2. So one of those could scrape through with 2 points, but again not very likely.
 
bosnian_red said:
Group A and E likely to remain on 1 point for the 3rd place team, max 2 I'd say. Group G and K might be on 2, but I'd guess one of those gets to 4 points as 3rd place. Which leaves just 1 3rd placed team who will probably drop out with 3 points. Scotland just need to keep it tight I think. -2 probably on the edge of ok?
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Playing on the first day is a big disadvantage. If Scotland loses 2-0 for example, a team like Senegal will know a win against Iraq puts them over Scotland no matter the score.
 
Ramos said:
Playing on the first day is a big disadvantage. If Scotland loses 2-0 for example, a team like Senegal will know a win against Iraq puts them over Scotland no matter the score.
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I really dislike this, qualifying from your group shouldn't be dependent on what happens in other groups before you've played.

In some groups maybe a draw might suit both teams and they might just see that out.
 
Switzerland - Canada. Are they going to go for it to try and get first place, or rest players as both teams have qualified?
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Qatar. Either team can secure qualification by winning the match. A draw suits neither team.
 
Nearly all the games are unwatchable due time difference. But then most of the matches will be meaningless.
 
bosnian_red said:
Wednesday June 24th
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Qatar (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Switzerland - Canada (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Morocco - Haiti (6pm EST, 11pm GMT)
Scotland - Brazil (6pm EST, 11pm GMT)
Czechia - Mexico (9pm EST, 2am GMT)
South Africa - South Korea (9pm EST, 2am GMT)

Thursday June 25th
Curacao - Ivory Coast (4pm EST, 9pm GMT)
Ecuador - Germany (4pm EST, 9pm GMT)
Japan - Sweden (7pm EST, 12am GMT)
Tunisia - Netherlands (7pm EST, 12am GMT)
Paraguay - Australia (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
Turkiye - USA (10pm EST, 3am GMT)

Friday June 26th
Norway - France (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Senegal - Iraq (3pm EST, 8pm GMT)
Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia (8pm EST, 1am GMT)
Uruguay - Spain (8pm EST, 1am GMT)
Egypt - Iran (11pm EST, 4am GMT)
New Zealand - Belgium (11pm EST, 4am GMT)

Saturday June 27th
Croatia - Ghana (5pm EST, 10pm GMT)
Panama - England (5pm EST, 10pm GMT)
Colombia - Portugal (7:30pm EST, 12:30am GMT)
DR Congo - Uzbekistan (7:30pm EST, 12:30am GMT)
Algeria - Austria (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
Jordan - Argentina (10pm EST, 3am GMT)
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I see a draw on Suisse - Canada match and Bosnia should beat Qatar.

Morocco and Brazil to win

Mexico and S Korea to win
 
Fully Fledged said:
Switzerland - Canada. Are they going to go for it to try and get first place, or rest players as both teams have qualified?
Bosnia & Herzegovina - Qatar. Either team can secure qualification by winning the match. A draw suits neither team.
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I believe it’s in Canada’s best interest not to lose as they would then lose home advantage for some of the rest of the tournament if they came 2nd. It would be risky to drop players for that.

Japan and Sweden looks a good game. Japan are already through but a defeat would see them qualify in third place and probably a slightly harder route. To be honest though, that group is the group of death as no matter where anyone finishes they’re in for a rough set of fixtures.
 
Norway beating France would be interesting as teams seem likely to want to avoid the French and everyone has been assuming they’ll top their group.
 
Ramos said:
Playing on the first day is a big disadvantage. If Scotland loses 2-0 for example, a team like Senegal will know a win against Iraq puts them over Scotland no matter the score.
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Only way to avoid that would be to play ALL the third games of all groups at the same time, which will never happen.

We might see a remake of West Germany-Austria at the WC 1982 on steroids.

This format is absolutely horrible.
 
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Can't see either Canada or Switzerland busting a gut to win this seeing as a draw will guarantee them first and second. Suggests this won't be a classic.
 
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