How the US can advance to the knockout stage on the World Cup

Because of Iran’s surprising victory over Wales on Friday, the US entered their highly-anticipated match with England understanding that they might not be eradicated from the knockout stage, no matter that sport’s outcome.

Now that the match with England has resulted in a tie, we now know what the US has to do to advance to the knockout stage.

After a scoreless first half, the groups started the second half with the US seeing the run of play, very similar to how the primary 45 minutes drew to a detailed. However the stress by no means resulted in a purpose, and the match closed in on stoppage time with zeros nonetheless on the board.

4 minutes of stoppage time had been added, because of a comparatively clear match between the 2 sides. England had an opportunity early in stoppage time with a nook, however the ball into the field settled safely within the fingers of keeper Matt Turner. England had one other likelihood moments later, on a free kick simply exterior the field. Luke Shaw put a ball into the field, however a header from Harry Kane sailed broad.

The ultimate flurry of the match started with a free kick for the US within the ninety fifth minute. Everybody got here ahead for the US, together with Turner, however nothing would materialize, and the ultimate whistle blew, ending the match in a scoreless draw.

It was the primary scoreless draw for the US of their historical past on the World Cup.

Now that the mud is settled, right here is how issues stand within the group, and what the US must do Tuesday to advance.

Group B Standings

Heading into the ultimate match of the group stage, right here is how issues at the moment stand in Group B after Friday’s pair of matches:

As you possibly can see, England stay atop the group, sitting on 4 factors because of their win over Iran and their draw with the US. Iran are in second, because of the victory over Wales, and the US stand third, because of the pair of attracts.

Now here’s what has to occur Tuesday for the US to advance. With Friday’s scoreless draw with England, the US is in stable place with regards to advancing to the knockout spherical, however there’s nonetheless work to be finished.

They should win on Tuesday.

With a win over Iran on Tuesday, that might see the US end group play with 5 factors. That will be sufficient to see the US via to the knockout spherical, with the one query being whether or not they would emerge as winners of Group B, or as runners-up. With a win over Iran, the US will win Group B if the England sport towards Wales ends in a victory for Wales. If England had been to win that match, they might win the group, whereas the US can be the runners-up.

Alongside this path, if the match between England and Wales ends in a draw, that might put each England and the US on 5 factors. That will require tiebreakers to find out the group winner. With the primary tiebreaker being purpose differential, England would win the group until the US beats Iran by 5 targets or extra on Tuesday.

We’ll know a lot, far more on Tuesday. America squares off with Iran at 2:00 p.m. ET from Al-Thumama Stadium, whereas England and Wales kick off at 2:00 p.m. ET from Al-Rayyan Stadium.

Knockout Stage Permutations

Here’s what we all know for the knockout stage of the World Cup. The groups that advance out of Group B are slated to play the groups that advance out of Group A, with one match slated for Saturday, December 3, and the opposite slated for Sunday, December 4.

That first match will see the winner of Group A squaring off with the runner-up in Group B. Proper now, Netherlands and Ecuador are tied atop Group A, because of their draw towards one another on Friday. Each groups have 4 factors, and each groups have a purpose differential of +2.

Netherlands, one would suppose, have the within monitor to profitable the group, as they play host nation Qatar on Tuesday whereas Ecuador has to tangle with Senegal. Senegal is at the moment third within the group, having misplaced to Netherlands of their first match, however scoring a victory over Qatar on Friday.

Each Netherlands and Ecuador can advance with a draw of their last matches, though the winner of the group on this situation would seemingly come right down to the fifth tiebreaker, the “truthful play document.”

If one of many two groups wins, and the opposite performs to a draw, the workforce that wins of their last match would win the group, whereas the workforce that performs to a draw can be the runner-up.

Issues get trickier if there are totally different outcomes. This snapshot from our mates at DK Nation is an efficient take a look at the situations for Group A:

Netherlands win or draw: Qualify for knockout spherical
Netherlands loss: Qualify for knockout spherical if Ecuador win, tiebreakers in play if Ecuador-Senegal draw or Senegal win

Ecuador win or draw: Qualify for knockout spherical
Ecuador loss: Eradicated if Netherlands win or draw, tiebreakers in play if Netherlands lose

Senegal win: Qualify for knockout spherical
Senegal draw: Eradicated if Netherlands win or draw, tiebreakers in play if Netherlands loss
Senegal loss: Eradicated from knockout spherical

No matter how Group A finishes, first issues first for the US.

They should deal with issues on Tuesday towards Iran.

Which, should you informed United States supporters that was what they wanted to advance earlier than the World Cup started, they’d seemingly have taken it in a heartbeat.