Wrapping Up the Group Stage

12/02/2022 Wrapping Up the Group Stage

By: Jeff Yoder

Belgium & Germany Bounced From World Cup; Japan, Spain, Croatia & Morocco Join the Knockouts

Two European juggernauts came crumbling down Thursday in Qatar in a wild day of group-stage action at the World Cup. Both Belgium and Germany were eliminated from Groups E and F despite a German win and a Belgium draw. Japan took the top spot in Group E while Spain held on to advance past Germany on the tiebreaker goal differential (by one). In Group F, Morocco’s Cinderella story continued with a win over Canada that allowed Croatia to claim the second spot by holding Belgium to a draw. Germany and Belgium, are out. The final two spots in the Round of 16 will be claimed today before the Knockout Stage begins Saturday.

 

World Cup Highlights

Group E: Japan def. Spain (2-1)

Group E: Germany def. Costa Rica (4-2)

Group F: Morocco def. Canada (2-1)

Group F: Croatia draw Belgium (0-0)

 

Teams Advanced (14): Japan, Spain, Croatia, Morocco, Argentina, Poland, Australia, USA, England, Senegal, Netherlands, France, Brazil & Portugal

 

Today’s Schedule

Group H: South Korea vs. Portugal (10:00 am ET)
Group H: Ghana vs. Uruguay (10:00 am ET)

Group G: Serbia vs. Switzerland (2:00 pm ET)

Group G: Cameroon vs. Brazil (2:00 pm ET)

 

Portugal and Brazil have already won Groups G and H, but two spots are still up for grabs.

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Germany Captain Thomas Muller Calls World Cup Exit ‘Absolute Catastrophe’

Yahoo! Sports: Morocco Wins Group F, Keeps Canada Pointless in World Cup

 

Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty Images