FIFA 22 Group Analysis

The 2022 FIFA World Cup continued Wednesday with Group C at the forefront.

Argentina stayed alive as it won 2-0 over Poland (1-1-0) at Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud, Qatar. Despite the loss, Poland will also advance because Mexico didn't beat Saudi Arabia by enough goals. 

Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny stood on his head in the first half, saving nine shots. However, Argentina broke through in the opening minutes of the second half with Alexis Mac Allister scoring and Julián Álvarez adding another later. 

Argentina bounced back to win Group C with its win against Poland. The team will face Australia (runners-up in Group D) in the Round of 16.

Poland finished second in Group C by winning the goal-differential tiebreaker over Mexico and advanced to the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986. The team will face France (Group D winners) in the Round of 16.

Group-by-group scenarios for each team in the tournament

GROUP C

Mexico, despite its win against Saudi Arabia, finished third in Group C and failed to advance out of the Group Stage for the first time since 1978.

With its loss against Mexico, Saudi Arabia finished fourth in Group C and was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup.

GROUP A

The Netherlands won Group A with a win over Qatar. The team will face USA (runners-up in Group B) in the Round of 16.

Senegal finished as the runner-up in Group A with a win over Ecuador. The team will face England (winners in Group B) in the Round of 16.

Ecuador was eliminated with a loss on Tuesday. Qatar was eliminated in its second group stage match.

GROUP B

England won Group B with its win against Wales. The team will face Senegal (runners-up in Group A) in the Round of 16.

USA finished as the runner-up in Group B with a win over Iran. The team will face the Netherlands (Group A winners) in the Round of 16.

Iran was eliminated with its loss to the USA, and finished in 3rd place in Group B.

Wales was eliminated with its loss against England, and finished in 4th place in Group B.

GROUP D

France finished atop Group D by winning the goal-differential tiebreaker over Australia despite a loss to Tunisia. The team will face Poland (runners-up in Group C) in the Round of 16.

Australia finished as runners-up in Group D with its win against Denmark, and advanced to the knockout round for the first time since 2006. The team will take on Argentina (Group C winners) in the Round of 16.

Despite its win against France, Tunisia finished in third place in Group D and was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup.

With its loss against Australia, Denmark finished in fourth place in Group D and was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup.

GROUP E

Spain qualifies with a win or tie against Japan. A win would guarantee them the top spot in group while a draw would also so long as Costa Rica draws or loses as well. If Spain loses, it is eliminated if Costa Rica beats Germany. With any other result in the Costa Rica vs Germany game, Spain goes into a tiebreaker — and has a current goal differential of +7. If Costa Rica and Germany tie, Spain would have to lose by 13 goals to not finish as runners-up.

Japan advances with a win against Spain and is eliminated with a loss. Japan can also top the group with a victory if Costa Rica draws or loses. If Japan draws, it is eliminated if Costa Rica wins. With any other result, Japan goes into a tiebreaker for second place. The one tiebreaker scenario of note is the event in which Japan draws and Germany wins, as Germany would advance as runners-up over Japan if they defeat Costa Rica by more than one goal. If both of the Group E matches end in a draw, Japan would advance as runners-up.

Costa Rica advances with a win against Germany and is eliminated with a defeat. A victory would also give Costa Rica the top group spot if Japan-Spain ends in a draw. If Costa Rica draws, it advances if Spain beats Japan but will not advance if Spain and Japan draw. If Costa Rica draws and Japan wins, then "Los Ticos" will need to overcome a goal-difference deficit of 13 goals.

Germany is eliminated with a tie or a loss. Germany qualifies as the runners-up if it beats Costa Rica and Spain beats Japan. If the Germans win and Spain loses to Japan, it would have to overcome a goal difference deficit of eight goals.

GROUP F

Morocco qualifies with a win or tie against Canada. Morocco would be the group winner if they win and if Croatia loses or draws against Belgium. If Morocco and Croatia both win, then the top spot would be decided by goal differential and subsequent tiebreakers. Morocco is guaranteed to finish at least runners-up if both games are draws, or if it draws and Croatia wins. Morocco also advances with a loss if Croatia beats Belgium, or if it wins a second-place tiebreaker in the event of a Croatia-Belgium draw. In that tiebreaker, Morocco would have to lose by four or more goals to not qualify. If both Morocco and Croatia lose, Belgium would win the group and the runner-up spot would be decided in a tiebreaker as well.

Croatia qualifies with a win or draw against Belgium. Croatia will win the group with a win if Morocco draws or loses. If both matches end in a draw, then Croatia will still win the group. If they draw and Morocco wins, then Croatia would be runners-up. Belgium qualifies with a win against Croatia, and wins the group if Morocco draws or loses. Belgium can also qualify with a tie, but only if Morocco loses to Canada and it wins a second-place tiebreaker. If Belgium draws and Morocco wins or draws, then Belgium is eliminated

Canada has been eliminated.

GROUP G

Brazil has qualified and would be guaranteed to top the group with a win or tie against Cameroon, or if Switzerland does not beat Serbia. If Brazil loses and Switzerland wins, the group winner will be decided by goal difference and subsequent tie breakers if necessary.

Switzerland would qualify with a win against Serbia. It would also qualify with a tie, unless Cameroon beats Brazil and wins a second-place tiebreaker. If the Swiss drew and Cameroon won, then the two countries would each have four points and the ensuing tiebreaker would be implemented. Switzerland cannot qualify with a loss.

Serbia qualifies with a win against Switzerland, if Cameroon fails to beat Brazil. If Serbia and Cameroon both win, then Serbia would need to win by a greater margin to catch up on goal differential.

GROUP H

Portugal has qualified and would be guaranteed to top the group with a win or tie against South Korea, or if Ghana does not beat Uruguay. If Portugal loses and Ghana wins, the group winner would be decided on goal difference and subsequent tiebreakers.

Ghana would qualify with a win against Uruguay. It would also qualify with a tie, unless South Korea beats Portugal and wins a second-place tiebreaker. South Korea would need to beat Portugal by two or more goals for this to happen. Ghana cannot qualify with a loss.

Uruguay qualifies with a win against Ghana, and takes the runners-up spot if South Korea loses or draws. If both Uruguay and South Korea win, then both teams would be tied with four points behind Portugal. At that point, tiebreakers would be implemented.

South Korea is eliminated if Ghana beats Uruguay. It can qualify with a win against Portugal if Ghana/Uruguay is a tie or if Uruguay wins, but only if it wins a tiebreaker.

This is the FIFA World Cup group scenarios as to what each team needs to advance….