How the United States can advance to the knockout stage on the World Cup

Thanks to Iran’s surprising victory over Wales on Friday, the United States entered their highly-anticipated match with England figuring out that they may not be eradicated from the knockout stage, no matter that recreation’s outcome.

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

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

Four 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 huge.

The remaining flurry of the match started with a free kick for the United States within the ninety fifth minute. Everyone got here ahead for the United States, 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 United States 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 United States must do Tuesday to advance.

Group B Standings

Heading into the ultimate match of the group stage, right here is how issues at present 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 United States. Iran are in second, because of the victory over Wales, and the United States stand third, because of the pair of attracts.

Now here’s what has to occur Tuesday for the United States to advance. With Friday’s scoreless draw with England, the United States is in strong place on the subject of advancing to the knockout spherical, however there’s nonetheless work to be executed.

They have to win on Tuesday.

With a win over Iran on Tuesday, that may see the United States end group play with 5 factors. That could be sufficient to see the United States by means of 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 United States will win Group B if the England recreation in opposition to Wales ends in a victory for Wales. If England had been to win that match, they might win the group, whereas the United States could be the runners-up.

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

We will know a lot, far more on Tuesday. The United States 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 is 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. Right now, Netherlands and Ecuador are tied atop Group A, because of their draw in opposition to one another on Friday. Both groups have 4 factors, and each groups have a purpose differential of +2.

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

Both Netherlands and Ecuador can advance with a draw of their remaining matches, though the winner of the group on this state of affairs would doubtless come right down to the fifth tiebreaker, the “fair play record.”

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

Things get trickier if there are totally different outcomes. This snapshot from our associates at DK Nation is an efficient have a look at the eventualities 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: Eliminated if Netherlands win or draw, tiebreakers in play if Netherlands lose

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

Regardless of how Group A finishes, first issues first for the United States.

They have to maintain issues on Tuesday in opposition to Iran.

Which, for those who instructed United States supporters that was what they wanted to advance earlier than the World Cup started, they’d doubtless have taken it in a heartbeat.