We're up to the final group games of this year's Draft World Cup. We've already got 14 teams confirmed in the knockout stages:
Today we find out the remaining two. We're covering the finales to Groups G & H today. Group G is almost sorted, but Group H is anyone's game. So let's get to it!
Group G
Group G
Brazil and Greece, the top two seeds, have earned two wins to secure their qualification a game early - only Germany managed this feat. Only one of these four matches was comfortable - Brazil's 3-0 triumph over Tunisia - and that earns the South Americans top spot on goal difference. So Greece need to win to top the group and (in theory) get a nicer draw in the next round. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan and Tunisia are playing for pride.
Team news: Brazil vs Greece
Brazil are missing Geromel through suspension, so Gil comes in. Filipe Luís and Gabriel Barbosa are rested to avoid the same fate, with Víctor Cuesta and Luiz Adriano coming in. Similarly, Greece's changes come with their players on a yellow card being replaced. Omar Elabdellaoui, Rúben Semedo and Maurício are replaced by Vieirinha, Fernando Varela and Miroslav Stoch, as they take the opportunity to try out a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Team news: Brazil vs Greece
Brazil are missing Geromel through suspension, so Gil comes in. Filipe Luís and Gabriel Barbosa are rested to avoid the same fate, with Víctor Cuesta and Luiz Adriano coming in. Similarly, Greece's changes come with their players on a yellow card being replaced. Omar Elabdellaoui, Rúben Semedo and Maurício are replaced by Vieirinha, Fernando Varela and Miroslav Stoch, as they take the opportunity to try out a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Team news: Kazakhstan vs Tunisia
Kazakhstan are unchanged, whilst Tunisia are without Sameh Derbali (their only player with an average rating above 7). Kader Ouslati comes in.
Kazakhstan are unchanged, whilst Tunisia are without Sameh Derbali (their only player with an average rating above 7). Kader Ouslati comes in.
BRAvGRE (13 mins): Greece start the stronger, using the full width of the pitch to good effect. At the other end Brazil want a penalty as Dani Alves goes down, but nothing is given. They shake off the disappointment and work a one-on-one chance for Luiz Adriano, but José Sá makes the save.
BRAvGRE (22 mins): Dani Alves fires in a free kick from the right wing. He finds Everton in space, but the winger takes a touch and Greece are able to charge down his shot. It comes to Gustavo Scarpa, who shoots. Sá saves, but it cannons into Luiz Adriano and in! I'm not certain it's intentional, but it doesn't matter!
KAZvTUN (30 mins): This hasn't been a good game so far, as both teams appear scared of finishing on 0 points. The highlight of the opening half hour is a missed header from Kazakhstan's Dorin Rotariu.
BRAvGRE (half time): Brazil nearly double their lead when Gil heads Hernanes' free kick against the post. The group leaders have been the stronger team since their goal, but it's been a fairly low-key affair. Still just the one goal between the sides at the break.
KAZvTUN (half time): Yawn. At least Kazakhstan have had some rubbish shots, Tunisia haven't had an effort on goal yet.
KAZvTUN (49 mins): Tunisia finally get an attack going, as Ouslati overlaps on the right. His cross is cleared, but Tunisia keep the ball and work it to Oussama Darragi. The talented attacking midfielder has had a poor tournament, but his shot from 25 yards is in the bottom corner, and Tunisia score from their first shot! Sums up Kazakhstan's tournament.
BRAvGRE (51 mins): Brazil continue controlling the game. And they make it 2-0 when Walter Kannemann's cross finds Everton to head home!
KAZvTUN (82 mins): Kazakhstan push men up, but Tunisia's defence is solid. There's nearly an equaliser when a defensive mix-up gives substitute Timur Dosmagambetov an open goal, but the ball is behind him and he hooks it over; the whistle had gone anyway for a Kazakh foul.
BRAvGRE (84 mins): As both teams take players off to protect them for the next round, the game loses a lot of spark (not that there was much beforehand). But there's some action at last, when Pontus Wernbloom shoots from the edge of the box, and his shot is flicked in by substitute Marko Livaja! Unfortunately for Greece, the flag is raised for a clear offside and Brazil keep their two-goal lead.
KAZvTUN (90+4 mins): Kazakhstan get a free kick, but Rade Dugalic heads over with the last touch of the game. Tunisia hold on for victory, and consign poor Kazakhstan to their sixth defeat from six DWC matches.
Final score: Kazakhstan 0-1 Tunisia
Player of the match: Bilal Ben Messaoud
Final score: Kazakhstan 0-1 Tunisia
Player of the match: Bilal Ben Messaoud
BRAvGRE (90+4 mins): The final whistle goes to end a fairly comfortable win for Brazil. They out-shot Greece 21-7, and deserved their win. It's a good showing, given that these two teams were ranked 8th and 9th at the start of the tournament.
Final score: Brazil 2-0 Greece
Player of the match: Danies Alves
Final table
Final score: Brazil 2-0 Greece
Player of the match: Danies Alves
Final table
Group H
So to our final group, and if Group G was a bit dull, this one may well make up for it. USA were put in trouble after a bad defeat to Netherlands, but they held on for victory against Saudi Arabia, and so they will get through if they beat Egypt. Netherlands could only draw with Egypt themselves, and it means they need to avoid defeat to Saudi Arabia if they are to ensure their progression.
Team news: Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia
Netherlands keep an unchanged side, but that's not possible for Saudi Arabia. RB Matías Aguirregaray is suspended after a yellow in each game, but far worse is key man Giuliano's injury, which rules him out of the tournament. Bruno Uvini and Marko Marin come in.
Team news: Netherlands vs Saudi Arabia
Netherlands keep an unchanged side, but that's not possible for Saudi Arabia. RB Matías Aguirregaray is suspended after a yellow in each game, but far worse is key man Giuliano's injury, which rules him out of the tournament. Bruno Uvini and Marko Marin come in.
Team news: USA vs Egypt
USA are without Nicolás Figal after his red card against Saudi Arabia, so Winston Reid returns to the starting XI. Egypt are also without a centre back through suspension, as Ali Gabr accumulates two yellows, so Saad Samir is in.
USA are without Nicolás Figal after his red card against Saudi Arabia, so Winston Reid returns to the starting XI. Egypt are also without a centre back through suspension, as Ali Gabr accumulates two yellows, so Saad Samir is in.
USAvEGY (7 mins): It's an eventful opening for Egyptian left back Mohamed Abdel Shafy, as he is robbed by Carlos Vela, whose effort is well blocked by Wilfried Kanon, before he gets up the other end and tees up Amor Layouni for a fierce effort that Andre Blake just pushes behind.
NEDvKSA (11 mins): Netherlands work the ball around, but Saudi Arabia's early defending is very good. And they create two really good one-on-one chances, for Sebastian Giovinco and Marko Marin, but both times they're denied by great stops by André Onana.
USAvEGY (17 mins): It's a fairly muted affair. USA threaten from a corner, but Vela's shot is again blocked. They get a free kick soon after, and Gonzalo Martínez's cross finds the former Arsenal man. His shot looks to be off-target, but it finds Diego Valeri who turns it in! That goal sees USA overtake both Saudi Arabia and Netherlands to the top of the group!
NEDvKSA (28 mins): This is an entertaining game. Netherlands find space through their full backs, but Saudi Arabia are very dangerous when Marin can get up to support the strikers. Saudi force another great chance when Daley Blind's pass is straight to Giovinco, and he slips in Bafétimbi Gomis, but again Onana makes a wonderful save! At the other end, Quincy Promes dances into the box and forces Marcelo Grohe into a good stop. The chances keep coming. Netherlands nearly go ahead when Donny Van de Beek's shot hits Dusan Tadic, but it hits the base of the post and trickles across the line, and Lucas Lima is able to clear!
NEDvKSA (44 mins): Netherlands slowly have got themselves on top, as they have started to boss possession and out-shoot Saudi Arabia. But they do continue to give the ball away in dangerous places, but Saudi Arabia can't punish them. Just before half time David Neres tries to play a ball through to Dusan Tadic, but Uvini is in there first. However, the defender's attempted backpass is too weak, and Tadic is in for an easy finish! There's the goal that gives Netherlands comfort!
NEDvKSA (half time): Netherlands have a little worry when Nicolás Tagliafico gives away a foul, as he's a yellow away from suspension. However, the referee just warns him. Giovinco crosses the free kick, finds André Pinto who heads it towards goal, and Karim El Ahmadi reaches the ball to poke Saudi Arabia level against his former team!
USAvEGY (half time): There's been little in the way of serious chances since the goal. USA look comfortable, although they would want to kill the game off just in case, since a draw in both games sees them eliminated. Egypt look incapable of mounting a serious attack.
NEDvKSA (46 mins): Netherlands kick off. Fredrik Midtsjo switches it to Promes, nods it down to Hakim Ziyech, in to Tadic and back to Promes, who bends into the bottom corner! It's a Total Football goal, and Netherlands restore their lead 20 seconds into the half! Wonderful stuff!
USAvEGY (64 mins): Incidentally, Egypt also nearly score 20 seconds into the half, but Layouni's effort is denied by Blake. Egypt's move to push Ferjani Sassi alongside Saleh Gomaa works well as they begin to threaten, although they nearly concede a fatal second goal as Vela's effort is pushed onto the post by Mohamed El Shennawy.
NEDvKSA (70 mins): Saudi Arabia have chances through Giovinco and El Ahmadi, but they don't really test Onana. Netherlands manage to overload Saudi Arabia on the right, and Van de Beek crosses. Ricardo Machado intercepts it but can't get it clear. Promes challenges, the ball runs free and Tadic pokes it in to put daylight between the two teams at 3-1!
USAvEGY (85 mins): Egypt have been better this half, but USA manage the game well. But Egypt get the chance they have been waiting for when Marwan Mohsen fires a wonderful pass into the path of substitute Mostafa, but he can't beat Blake. A great save!
USAvEGY (90+4 mins): The final whistle goals, and USA confirm their progression. A fairly tight game in the end, but USA never really looked like losing.
Final score: USA 1-0 Egypt
Player of the match: Gonzalo Martínez
Final score: USA 1-0 Egypt
Player of the match: Gonzalo Martínez
NEDvKSA (90+6 mins): That third Dutch goal has somewhat killed the game. Saudi continue to create decent chances, and substitutes André Carrillo and Ahmed Musa go close, but they can't find the breakthrough and the game ends with the sad sight of Saudi hero Giovinco down with a twisted knee.
Final score: Netherlands 3-1 Saudi Arabia
Player of the match: Dusan Tadic
Final table
Final score: Netherlands 3-1 Saudi Arabia
Player of the match: Dusan Tadic
Final table
The third round of group games were pretty kind to the favourites, with the top seeds progressing in every group, and the second seeds going through in five groups. A big shame is that this is the first DWC where no Asian or African teams have made the knockout rounds.
Next time we're going to cover the first half of the second round matches, and there's some very exciting match-ups in there!
Next time we're going to cover the first half of the second round matches, and there's some very exciting match-ups in there!