On the field, this World Cup sure has delivered some entertainment and drama so far.
Seven teams exited the tournament at the group stage this year after having earned four points. Used to be that you could be fairly confident of qualification with a tally like that. Not this year.
Pretty much every group went down to the wire, offering up gripping finales daily.
On Tuesday, England cruised but the USA were left hanging on. On Wednesday, Australia shocked Denmark and we almost had some fair play point shenanigans between Poland and Mexico. On Thursday, Japan binned off the Germans and Morocco and Croatia did for Belgium. And then yesterday, South Korea and Ghana combined to send Uruguay out and Switzerland came from behind to sneak through.
If the World Cup ended now, you wouldn't feel short changed by the actual football you've seen.
The last 16!
So long group stages and thanks for all the drama.
Cheers third and fourth-place finishers. Yeah, great job. Lovely stuff. Yeah, see you Wales, thanks Germany and Belgium, all the best Uruguay.
Live Reporting
Phil Dawkes
All times stated are UK
Great groups
On the field, this World Cup sure has delivered some entertainment and drama so far.
Seven teams exited the tournament at the group stage this year after having earned four points. Used to be that you could be fairly confident of qualification with a tally like that. Not this year.
Pretty much every group went down to the wire, offering up gripping finales daily.
On Tuesday, England cruised but the USA were left hanging on. On Wednesday, Australia shocked Denmark and we almost had some fair play point shenanigans between Poland and Mexico. On Thursday, Japan binned off the Germans and Morocco and Croatia did for Belgium. And then yesterday, South Korea and Ghana combined to send Uruguay out and Switzerland came from behind to sneak through.
If the World Cup ended now, you wouldn't feel short changed by the actual football you've seen.
The last 16!
So long group stages and thanks for all the drama.
Cheers third and fourth-place finishers. Yeah, great job. Lovely stuff. Yeah, see you Wales, thanks Germany and Belgium, all the best Uruguay.
Have they gone? You sure?
Great. Now let's get the real party started!