We're actually at the halfway point of the 2020 Draft World Cup. We've had 32 matches of a total of 64. Despite all this, only four teams have been eliminated, and only three are certain to go through to the next round:
One of those teams is Germany, and they will be in action today as we go through the final round of games in Groups A & B. As in real life, we'll do the games from each group simultaneously, to give the full sense of drama.
Group A
Group A
Germany are through, and they will secure top spot if they avoid defeat to Algeria, who are yet to even score a goal this DWC. This means that the focus is entirely on the other game, where Turkey vs Colombia is effectively a knockout game. Colombia have the advantage as a draw will see them through.
Team news: Germany vs Algeria
Leon Bailey's injury picked up against Colombia rules him out for two games, but they have a ready-made replacement in Serge Gnabry, who was so impressive off the bench last time. Mats Hummels is suspended after a yellow in each of his first two games, whilst Thiago is rested as he's one yellow away from suspension. In come Jerome Boateng and Leon Goretzka. Philippe Coutinho is also dropped after two poor games, with Dani Olmo getting his first start. Algeria are unchanged, although their wingers will be playing deeper than they did in previous games.
Team news: Germany vs Algeria
Leon Bailey's injury picked up against Colombia rules him out for two games, but they have a ready-made replacement in Serge Gnabry, who was so impressive off the bench last time. Mats Hummels is suspended after a yellow in each of his first two games, whilst Thiago is rested as he's one yellow away from suspension. In come Jerome Boateng and Leon Goretzka. Philippe Coutinho is also dropped after two poor games, with Dani Olmo getting his first start. Algeria are unchanged, although their wingers will be playing deeper than they did in previous games.
Team news: Turkey vs Colombia
Turkey are without the suspended Júnior Caicara, so Martin Linnes starts. There's no place for last time's match-winner Lukas Podolski in the XI. Similarly, Colombia's only chance is forced by suspension - Marlos Torres replacing Luciano Ospina - with no place for their goalscorer last time, Jefferson Duque.
Turkey are without the suspended Júnior Caicara, so Martin Linnes starts. There's no place for last time's match-winner Lukas Podolski in the XI. Similarly, Colombia's only chance is forced by suspension - Marlos Torres replacing Luciano Ospina - with no place for their goalscorer last time, Jefferson Duque.
GERvALG (1 min): It might be a long day for Algeria, as Marco Reus forces a save from Sofiane Khedairia 22 seconds into the game, and a minute later Álvaro Odriozola is denied from a one-on-one.
TURvCOL (17 mins): For a team that need to chase the game, Turkey don't start particularly well as they struggle to keep the ball. Andrés Pérez curls a free kick just wide. Turkey are forced into a change as Radamel Falcao picks up an injury (shock horror), and so Podolski comes on. Torres picks up a knock in the same challenge, but is okay to continue for now.
GERvALG (23 mins): This game remains highly one-sided, but Algeria are able to get bodies in the way of shots, and those that they don't go off-target. Germany eventually carve out a golden opportunity as Marco Reus' beautiful cross finds Gnabry 4 yards out, but Khedairia makes a superb block! But Germany finally get the breakthrough when Reus bends a free kick into the top corner!
GERvALG (31 mins): Olmo picks up a knock, but he's fit to continue - he'd be desperate to play on now he's been given a chance. Goretzka nearly adds another with a shot from range that clatters the post.
TURvCOL (half time): This has been a terrible game, and it's deservedly goalless at the break. That leaves Colombia happy, although they do decide to take Torres off at the break for Fáiner Torijano. He was responsible for both goals as Colombia lost 2-0 to Germany last year, so that might increase the nerves a bit.
GERvALG (half time): This is just attack vs defence. Germany rack up shots, but can't convert any more. The shot count is a whopping 21-1 at half time. Gnabry has been the most wasteful, and is on a yellow, so he is replaced by Jadon Sancho.
TURvCOL (52 mins): Domagoj Vida heads narrowly over from a free kick, before Diego Braghieri hits the post from an identical chance at the other end.
GERvALG (54 mins): Algeria create their first decent chance of the game, as Rabie Meftah's overlap gets him in behind David Alaba, and his low cross finds Mustapha Djallit, but Manuel Neuer pushes it behind. The corner is cleared to Sancho, and he runs the length of the pitch, crossing to Reus but Khedairia makes the save.
TURvCOL (69 mins): Teó Gutiérrez goes close with a header following a corner, but generally Turkey are getting on top in this slow-motion match. Colombia switch to a 4-3-3 to try and protect their position. Two minutes later Podolski plays a pass through to fellow sub Kevin-Prince Boateng, but Wuilker Farinez blocks the shot.
TURvCOL (90+1 mins): This has also been a deadly quiet game, despite Turkey bringing on yet another striker, Max Kruse, and going all-out. In the first minute of added time Turkey have a free kick halfway into Colombia's half. Kruse curls it in towards Vida, but he can't reach it... but it bounces to Edin Visca who volleys it in for a dramatic goal that surely wins it!
TURvCOL (90+2 mins): Colombia kick off, and get it upfield to Duque, who replaced Gutiérrez earlier. He holds it up and plays it wide to Marlon Piedrahita, who swings in a cross. It's missed by Linnes and finds Andrés Ricaurte, who lashes in a volley! What is happening? After 90 minutes of turgid football we've seen two goals within 46 seconds!
GERvALG (90+4 mins): Very little has happened here. Germany are happy to see the game through with no casualties or suspensions, whilst Algeria are disjointed going forwards. The game drifts away, and the final whistle goes to end a pretty underwhelming game.
Final score: Germany 1-0 Algeria
Player of the match: Marco Reus
Final score: Germany 1-0 Algeria
Player of the match: Marco Reus
TURvCOL (90+4 mins): Colombia give up possession cheaply on the halfway line, and Podolski plays a quick ball out to Visca. He is somehow given enough space to run through completely unopposed. Farinez is out, and he makes a great save... but Visca is there to tap in the rebound! What. Is. Happening?
TURvCOL (90+5 mins): Colombia have no chance to reply, as the final whistle goes seconds after the restart. That was dramatic, and then some. The identify of the team qualifying from this group changed three times during added time, and I am sick of having to chance both teams' mentality to/from all-out attack. Anyway, Turkey are, somehow, through.
Final score: Turkey 2-1 Colombia
Player of the match: Edin Visca
Final table:
Final score: Turkey 2-1 Colombia
Player of the match: Edin Visca
Final table:
Group B
Surely there's no way that this group can be anywhere near as dramatic as Group A? Well, things are poised quite well for some drama. Whilst top seeds Portugal are in second, they are most likely to go through as a point against the already-eliminated Bolivia will do the job. Which means South Korea and Switzerland, like Turkey and Colombia, effectively are playing for the other spot. A draw sees the Swiss through, South Korea need a win.
Team news: Portugal vs Bolivia
Portugal have to replace Danilo Pereira due to suspension, with Julian Weigl coming in. Bolivia did well after changing shape against South Korea to a 5-2-3, and so they start with that, which means Juan Carlos Arce and Rafael Silva come in to replace Carlos Saucedo and Alejandro Meleán. Maximiliano Ortiz also comes in for the underperforming Adrián Jusino.
Team news: Portugal vs Bolivia
Portugal have to replace Danilo Pereira due to suspension, with Julian Weigl coming in. Bolivia did well after changing shape against South Korea to a 5-2-3, and so they start with that, which means Juan Carlos Arce and Rafael Silva come in to replace Carlos Saucedo and Alejandro Meleán. Maximiliano Ortiz also comes in for the underperforming Adrián Jusino.
Team news: South Korea vs Switzerland
South Korea are hit with the bad news that Cesinha will be out for 2 matches. They are also missing Kim Min-Hyuk through suspension, so Yoon Bit-Garam and Doneil Henry come in. Kim Seung-Dae's late winner against Bolivia earns him a return to the side in place of Adam Taggart. Switzerland are unchanged.
South Korea are hit with the bad news that Cesinha will be out for 2 matches. They are also missing Kim Min-Hyuk through suspension, so Yoon Bit-Garam and Doneil Henry come in. Kim Seung-Dae's late winner against Bolivia earns him a return to the side in place of Adam Taggart. Switzerland are unchanged.
PORvBOL (10 mins): A clever pass from Rúben Dias gives Alex Telles space to put in a cross. He aims for the penalty spot, where Otávio is waiting, and his powerful volley has too much on it for Carlos Lampe, and Portugal lead!
KORvSUI (11 mins): Seung-Dae twists his knee, and it allows Switzerland to pen South Korea back with no outlet to clear it to. But they can't take advantage as Miralem Sulejmani heads wide.
PORvBOL (12 mins): Again, Portugal attack down the left. This time Telles puts in a low cross for Moussa Marega, but Anier Figueroa makes a challenge. Portugal want a penalty but don't get it, but it doesn't matter as Rafa fires home the rebound! A quickfire double, and Portugal look as good as through.
KORvSUI (22 mins): Sulejmani's set pieces paved the way for Switzerland's opening win over Bolivia. And he delivers another fantastic ball here, 45 yards out, and he finds Nicolas Ngamaleu in front of goal, and he pokes Switzerland into the lead!
PORvBOL (22 mins): Portugal are in a ruthless mood. They add a third after passing it around the box and working it to Pizzi, who belts in a wonderful goal from the edge of the box! That goal means that Portugal regain the top spot of the group, about 10 seconds after they lost it.
PORvBOL (33 mins): It's fair to say Bolivia are unlucky to be three goals down. They deserve to be behind, but Portugal have only had 6 shots. Their seventh nearly brings another goal, as Otávio bursts into the box and hits the post with a shot across goal. A couple of minutes later Bolivia have their first decent chance as Jorge Pereyra Díaz flashes a header wide.
KORvSUI (half time): Switzerland see the lead through to the break. They've not actually seen too much of the ball, but they have had considerably more chances than South Korea. Their opponents need two goals to stay in the tournament.
PORvBOL (half time): Portugal inflict no further damage to poor Bolivia. During the interval Portugal replace Pepe and Rafa as either would miss the next game with a yellow. Sebastián Coates and Luciano Vietto come on instead.
KORvSUI (49 mins): South Korea are far too ponderous, and Osmar has his pocket picked by Fabian Lustenburger. He plays it to Sulejmani, who runs at a South Korean defence trying to reset. He slips it to Jean-Pierre Nsamé, and he tucks it into the bottom corner!
KORvSUI (78 mins): Another quality Sulejmani free kick finds Nsamé, but his header is fractionally over. At the other end, South Korea muster their first decent attack, but Kim Seung-Dae's close-range header is straight at Jonas Omlin.
PORvBOL (90+2 mins): Bizarrely, there's not a single highlight in the second half. Portugal secure their passage to the second round, and Bolivia's debut DWC ends without them picking up a point.
Final score: Portugal 3-0 Bolivia
Player of the match: Pizzi
Final score: Portugal 3-0 Bolivia
Player of the match: Pizzi
KORvSUI (90+5 mins): Despite plenty of incentive to attack, South Korea can only muster five shots in the whole game. None of them are of much threat to Omlin's goal, and Switzerland hold on for a win that not only sees them through, but sees them avoid Germany in the next round.
Final score: South Korea 0-2 Switzerland
Player of the match: Miralem Sulejmani
Final table
Final score: South Korea 0-2 Switzerland
Player of the match: Miralem Sulejmani
Final table
So, it's European domination so far as Turkey, Switzerland and Portugal all join Germany in the next round. There'll be a heavyweight clash in the next round as Portugal will have to take on Germany, whilst Turkey face Switzerland.
Next time, we conclude Groups C & D. Spain will be looking to complete their escape, whilst one of Italy or China will likely be eliminated.
Next time, we conclude Groups C & D. Spain will be looking to complete their escape, whilst one of Italy or China will likely be eliminated.