Turkiye Kaan win a Match, or A Paraguay of Scoreless Teams, Fr-Australia-ting

 15/26ths of the World Cup

  

  

The United States entered their final Group Stage match knowing they would finish top of the Group and face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Turkiye knew they were heading home tomorrow, but needed to prove they could have played better. Auston Trusty would give the US a lead in the 3rd minute. Arda Guler would tie the match in the 10th minute for Turkiye. Baris Alper Yilmaz would score in the 31st minute to give Turkiye the lead. The US would scramble to draw the match in the 49th minute via Sebastian  Berhalter. Turkiye would find a way to secure 3 points when Kaan Ayhan would score in the 8th minute of stoppage time. The US lose momentum as they head to the Round of 32 for a battle with the tag team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Turkiye leave with 3 points, too little too late.

 

  

 

Paraguay were looking for a victory to guarantee a 2nd place finish and sure spot in the Round of 32. Australia knew they needed at least a draw to advance in 2nd place. The two teams would play to a scoreless draw. That would be enough to secure Australia as Runners-up. They will face the Runners-up of Group G.

 

 

 We saw 6 perfect picks across all players today. The performance of the day saw two perfect picks as Cote d'Ivoire defeated Curacao 2-0, and Ecuador winning against Germany 2-1. With a total of 34 points moving up from 5th to 4th, 3 cheers for Historicus.

 

 6 more matches played in tandem two at a time. Groups G, H, and I finalize their positions. The playoffs are approaching for opportunities at even more points. Details to come.

 

 

What a Dutch van Hecke of a Victory, or Sweden Elanga their Trip to the World Cup

29/52nds of the World Cup

  

 

Tunisia entered today's match knowing they were eliminated from becoming World Champions. Netherlands came into the day knowing that they could finish anywhere from Group Winners to 3rd depending on their performance and the results of Japan and Sweden. Tunisia would open up scoring via an Own Goal by Ellyes Skhiri in the 3rd minute to give Netherlands the lead. Just 4 minutes later, Brian Brobbey would double the Dutch lead with a proper goal for his nation. The nail in the coffin for Tunisia's only win at the World Cup came in the 62nd minute when Jan Paul van Hecke would score the 3rd for Netherlands. The Dutch win Group F and will Play Morocco in the Round of 32. Tunisia had back home wishing they could have done more for their nation.

 

   

 

Japan entered Thursday knowing they could finish anywhere from 1st to 3rd. They had everything to play for. Sweden also found themselves in a position to finish possible 1st to 3rd. They would need at least need a draw to finish with a 3rd place spot guaranteed to advance. Japan would strike first in the 56th minute taking a lead, but needing more goals to move ahead of Netherlands on goal differential. Sweden would retaliate quickly tying the match in the 62nd minute via Anthony Elanga. The draw would see Japan finish 2nd in the group with a date with Brazil in the Round of 32. Sweden qualify for the Round of 32 as one of the 8 best 3rd place teams. They await their fate in the playoffs hoping to keep their improbable tournament going.

 

 

Cote d'Ivoire put the Pepe in their Step, or Ecuador Gonzalo way to the Round of 32

7/13ths of the World Cup

  

 

Curacao entered the last match day of the Group Stage in 4th place looking at a ticket home. A victory over Cote d'Ivoire, and an Ecuadorian loss to Germany would see Curacao finish 2nd and head to the Round of 32. Cote d'Ivoire entered in 2nd place needing at least a draw to maintain their position. A loss and an Ecuadorian victory would see them drop to 4th. Enter Ivorian Nicolas Pepe. A goal on either side of halftime would be enough to push Cote d'Ivoire past the Group Stage for the first time ever. Goals in the 7th and 64th minutes will be how Curacao's World Cup Journey ends. An exciting story for the Caribbean Island nation with a bitter ending.

 

 

 

Ecuador started the day in 3rd place with 1 point. A loss could see them finish in 4th depending on Curacao's effort against Cote d'Ivoire. A win and a Cote d'Ivoire loss, along with a better goal differential could see them move into 2nd. For Germany, their future was never in doubt. Regardless of the result here, Germany have advanced as the winners of Group E. This match was all about keeping the momentum going into the playoffs. That momentum would show as Leroy Sane would score in the 2nd minute to give Germany a 1-0 lead. Ecuador, whose performance has been poor by their standards, quickly found the leveling goal in the 9th minute thanks to Nilson Angulo. Ecuador would prove to be the better team on the day when Gonzalo Plata scored in the 77th minute. Germany's 6 points see them fail to go perfect as they finish Group E Winners. They await to see which 3rd place team they will face in the Round of 32. Cote d'Ivoire qualify as the Group Runners-up and await the Runners-up of Group I. Ecuador have advanced to the Playoffs in the 3rd place position, and await to see where they wind up in the brackets. Curacao cut short their tournament, but will have memories to share with their family.

 

 

It's not a Chess Board for Czechia and Mateo, or Africa versus Korea for the Better South

 27/52nds of the World Cup

 

 

Mexico were guaranteed to finish as Group A Winners, but were looking to go perfect and pick up the 9 points. Czechia sat in 3rd place with 1 point coming into this match. They needed the best result possible as they could finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th in the group. Their only prior meeting was in 2000's Chinese New Year tournament where Czechia would be 2 goals to 1 better. Mexico would labor to find a goal, scoring in the 55th minute thanks to Mateo Chavez. Julian Quinones would double the lead in the 61st minute. If there was any doubt as to which team would win, Alvaro Fidalgo would score in the 4th minute of second half stoppage time. Mexico had their perfect opening to the World Cup, while Czechia's fate would be determined in the other match of Group A.

 

 

 

South Korea sat in 2nd place of Group A looking for a big victory over 4th place South Africa to book a spot in the Round of 32. South Africa started the World Cup would a terrible performance against Mexico. They rescued a point against Czechia thanks to an 83rd minute penalty converted by Teboho Mokoena. South Africa have never escaped the Group Stage, and their backs were to the wall. The two sides battled back and forth, but the victory came in the 63rd minute thanks to Thapelo Maseko. The victory shot South Africa to 2nd Place and a match in the Round of 32. South Korea fall to Third. South Africa will face Canada on June 28th for a spot in the Round of 16. South Korea await their fate hoping at least 4 third place teams have worse performances. 

 

 

 Two players with perfect picks on the day. The better perfect pick was the selection of Brazil to defeat Scotland 3-0. With a monstrous 32 points on the day, and extending her lead at the top of the board from 7 to 12 points, all hail Praeceptor!

Tomorrow 6 more matches played 2 at a time. Groups D, E, and F finish up the Group Stage and the Round of 32 will take more shape. Who will win, what upsets will there be, and how will your playoff bracket compare to reality?

 

 

Morocco Goals than Haiti can Score, or a Brazilian ways to Lose in Miami

 1/2 of the World Cup

  

 

Morocco and Haiti have never played football against each other before. Haiti already found themselves eliminated from contention for the World Cup. Morocco knew that they could not finish lower than 2nd in the group, but had their eyes on first place. A Yassine Bounou own goal would give Haiti the 1-0 lead. Achraf Hakimi would tie the match in the 39th minute. Haiti would score a proper goal of their own in the 43rd minute thanks to Wilson Isidor. Ismael Saibari would tie the match in the 5th minute of first half stoppage time. The second half would belong to Morocco with goals by Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine in the 78th and 89th minutes. Final score 4-2 for Morocco.

 

   

 

Scotland knew they could not finish last in the Group, but were determined to finish higher than third. Brazil knew they were through to the Round of 32, but were keen to finish Group Winners. This matchup would be the fifth between Scotland and Brazil at a World Cup. 1974 would finish a scoreless draw, but Scotland would lose meetings in 1982, 1990, and 1998. Unfortunately for the Tartan Army, Scotland's traveling fan base, their World Cup drought against Brazil would continue. Vinicius Junior would score in the 7th and 3rd minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-0 lead going into the half. Matheus Cunha would put the match out of reach with a 60th minute goal to seal a 3-0 victory. Brazil and Morocco advance as Group Winners and runners-up. Scotland finish 3rd and await to see if they've played well enough to move on.

 

 

Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Qatar score to Defeat Qatar, or Switzerland have the Manzambi to Beat Canada

 25/52nds of the World Cup

  

 

Qatar were eliminated after their 2nd match at the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina knew they would have to play their part and hope for a big result in their favor between Switzerland and Canada to guarantee a trip to the Round of 32. In two prior meetings with Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina managed a draw and a loss. Playing when it matters brought the best out of them. Karim Alajbegovic made it 1-0 in the 29th minute. Mahmoud Abunada would score an own goal to give Bosnia and Herzegovina a 2-0 lead. Hassan Alhaydos would bring the match to a 1 goal deficit with a goal in the 42nd minute. Emin Mahmic would put the match away with a 3rd goal in the 80th minute. Victory for the Dragons.

  

 

  

Switzerland's only meeting with Canada was a friendly match that finished 1-3 in favor of Canada. The Cohosts of World Cup 2026 were set to face of with the Swiss for the Group Winner of Group B. Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi would score in the second half for Switzerland in the 46th and 57th minutes to give Switzerland a 2-0 lead. Promise David would score in the 73th minute for Canada to put the match within reach. Unfortunately for Canada, their time has run out in the match, but they still move on to the Round of 32 as the runners-up. Switzerland advances as Group Winners. Bosnia and Herzegovina will finish as one of the 8 best 3rd place teams.