The goals have really been flowing so far in the final round of games: only one of twelve matches has had fewer than three goals, and that still had two. It leaves the groups looking like this:
From our two remaining groups only South Africa are guaranteed a spot in the next round, who will join them?
Group G
The pattern of this group is actually the same as in Group F. The top two seeds played out a thrilling draw, whilst South Africa eased past Malaysia. Mexico then beat Malaysia and a narrow win for South Africa over Paraguay meant they qualified a match early:
Group G
The pattern of this group is actually the same as in Group F. The top two seeds played out a thrilling draw, whilst South Africa eased past Malaysia. Mexico then beat Malaysia and a narrow win for South Africa over Paraguay meant they qualified a match early:
With Malaysia eliminted it is a shootout between Mexico and Paraguay. Mexico just need a draw with South Africa to go through; a win means they top the group. If Mexico lose then Paraguay would challenge them for second place with a win over Malaysia, with a big goal difference swing needed.
Pre-match: Mexico vs South Africa
Mexico are without the suspended Byron Castillo, so Stefan Medina comes in, and there's a change with the opposite full back as Angulo replaces his fellow Jesús Gallardo. South Africa just make two changes to protect Reeve Frosler and Lasse Sobiech from suspension, as Khuliso Mudau and Rushine De Reuck start.
Pre-match: Mexico vs South Africa
Mexico are without the suspended Byron Castillo, so Stefan Medina comes in, and there's a change with the opposite full back as Angulo replaces his fellow Jesús Gallardo. South Africa just make two changes to protect Reeve Frosler and Lasse Sobiech from suspension, as Khuliso Mudau and Rushine De Reuck start.
Pre-match: Paraguay vs Malaysia
There's just one change for Paraguay for this must-win match: Alejandro Silva for Derlis Gonzalez. For Malaysia, they are now without Fernando Forestieri through suspension so Ezechiel N'Douassel starts.
There's just one change for Paraguay for this must-win match: Alejandro Silva for Derlis Gonzalez. For Malaysia, they are now without Fernando Forestieri through suspension so Ezechiel N'Douassel starts.
Kick-off
PARvMAS (11 mins): It's Malaysia who start the better, with N'Douassel shaving the bar with a header from a corner. But then Paraguay put it all together, Claudio Aquino slots a pass through for Brian Montenegro who leathers a powerful shot across Kevin Mendoza and into the bottom corner!
PARvMAS (11 mins): It's Malaysia who start the better, with N'Douassel shaving the bar with a header from a corner. But then Paraguay put it all together, Claudio Aquino slots a pass through for Brian Montenegro who leathers a powerful shot across Kevin Mendoza and into the bottom corner!
MEXvRSA (17 mins): It's a very fun game, with both teams pressing high and forcing turnovers. André-Pierre Gignac stings the palms of Ronwen Williams with a powerful shot from a tight angle, whilst Marcelo Allende's deflected strike tests the reflexes of Esteban Andrada.
PARvMAS (22 mins): A pretty aimless long ball from Aquino is met by Malaysia's players leaving it for each other, allowing Montenegro to bring it under control. He's not in a particularly threatening position, on the edge of the box near the by-line, which makes it inexcusable that Stefano Brundo pushes him over - penalty! Alejandro Silva is the man to take it... and he sends Mendoza the wrong way to make it 2-0!
MEXvRSA (34 mins): The chances keep on coming. Percy Tau and Gignac have further efforts saved, whilst Dória has a pair of headers from set pieces go narrowly off target.
MEXvRSA (45+1 mins): Both teams are playing some really nice football, but just cannot find the breakthrough. That is until Dória's rushed clearance is picked up by Gignac, who is able to drive to the edge of the South African box and cross for Hirving Lozano, who heads low into the bottom corner! A crucial goal for Mexico, that takes a lot of pressure off them!
PARvMAS (45+2 mins): There's been barely any action since the penalty. Paraguay lead by two at the break. Should Mexico slip to defeat Paraguay need to keep pushing to get that goal difference in their favour.
PARvMAS (53 mins): In match 1 Malaysia lost Ayron del Valle to injury. After match 2 they lost Fernando Forestieri to suspension. Earlier in this match they lost Diogo to injury, and now his replacement Óscar Arribas is forced off. When it rains...
MEXvRSA (68 mins): With Mexico toning down their tempo, the match is a bit less chaotic than in the first half. They do lose Jonathan Rodríguez to a light injury, but on the plus side they are keeping South Africa at bay and keeping themselves in position to progress.
PARvMAS (69 mins): Dion Cools, now filling in on the right side of Malaysia's midfield, picks up a knock because of course he does. And Malaysia's day gets even worse when Silva finds space on the right of the box and plays it into the 6 yard box for Montenegro to tap in!
PARvMAS (74 mins): It's looking like it will be in vain, but Paraguay have the fourth goal that they needed! Robert Piris da Motta splits the poor (in both senses) Malaysian defence open to put fellow substitute Derlis González through, and he slides a shot past Mendoza.
MEXvRSA (90 mins): South Africa, keen to win a DWC group for the first time, bring on Bradley Grobler and move to a 4-2-4 for the final stages. And just before we reach added time a free kick is swung in by Khama Billiat and Ricardo Nascimento meets it with a header that evades the reach of Andrada and goes in! South Africa level! Should they get another, Mexico would be overtaken by Paraguay...
PARvMAS (90+3 mins): Paraguay ease off the gas, and see the match out. Time for their players to get the radios out to hear what's going on in the other match...
MEXvRSA (90+4 mins): Sensing Mexican nerves, South Africa go for the kill, but stoppage time brings few chances and it's a draw that both teams would have taken before kick off.
Final score: Mexico 1-1 South Africa
Player of the match: Ricardo Nascimento (RSA)
A very fair score from a really entertaining game. Mexico had a dominant spell either side of half time, but for South Africa's part they were often one good ball away from opening up Mexico in the first half.
Player of the match: Ricardo Nascimento (RSA)
A very fair score from a really entertaining game. Mexico had a dominant spell either side of half time, but for South Africa's part they were often one good ball away from opening up Mexico in the first half.
Final score: Paraguay 4-0 Malaysia
Player of the match: Alejandro Silva (PAR)
Malaysia looked competitive to begin with, but just completely shrunk away in this game. It's hard to blame them given the bad luck they've had. Paraguay did all they could, but it wasn't enough.
Player of the match: Alejandro Silva (PAR)
Malaysia looked competitive to begin with, but just completely shrunk away in this game. It's hard to blame them given the bad luck they've had. Paraguay did all they could, but it wasn't enough.
So it's South Africa who win a fiercely competitive group, joined by Mexico. Malaysia's debut DWC ends with them point-less:
Group H
Our final group has been the least predictable, as favourites Portugal have lost both games to leave them rock-bottom. They weren't top seeds however, that was Colombia and they have two wins from two:
Our final group has been the least predictable, as favourites Portugal have lost both games to leave them rock-bottom. They weren't top seeds however, that was Colombia and they have two wins from two:
Surprisingly though, Portugal aren't eliminated, and in fact have a pretty plausible route to qualification: a two-goal win over Wales coupled with Colombia beating Ivory Coast would be enough. Similarly, Colombia would be in trouble if they lost to Ivory Coast and Wales beat Portugal.
Pre-match: Colombia vs Ivory Coast
With qualification not certain, Colombia don't ring the changes. But they do make one: their key player Luis Díaz is a yellow away from suspension, so Dorlan Pabón starts. Ivory Coast also only make one change as Marc Goua replaces Willie Britto.
Pre-match: Colombia vs Ivory Coast
With qualification not certain, Colombia don't ring the changes. But they do make one: their key player Luis Díaz is a yellow away from suspension, so Dorlan Pabón starts. Ivory Coast also only make one change as Marc Goua replaces Willie Britto.
Pre-match: Portugal vs Wales
Nicolás Otamendi is suspended after his daft red card against Colombia, so Iván Marcano starts. Mehdi Taremi is also out of the XI after two poor performances, with Pedro Gonvalves in. Joe Ralls was player of the match for Wales against Ivory Coast, but he also picked up his second yellow of the tournament and is suspended. Jay Fulton replaces him.
Nicolás Otamendi is suspended after his daft red card against Colombia, so Iván Marcano starts. Mehdi Taremi is also out of the XI after two poor performances, with Pedro Gonvalves in. Joe Ralls was player of the match for Wales against Ivory Coast, but he also picked up his second yellow of the tournament and is suspended. Jay Fulton replaces him.
Kick-off
PORvWAL (5 mins): Pepe, with all his four decades of experience, saw his side slump to defeat last time after Otamendi's wild challenge earned him a red card. He takes all that into account... and flies in on Jaden Philogene to get a red card of his own! What an implosion from Portugal, what a terrible start to such a huge match!
COLvCIV (8 mins): That red card is potentially bad news for Colombia; should Wales win then an Ivorian win here would dump Colombia out. And there's an early scare Yannick Boli ghosts in and has a shot saved by Álvaro Montero.
PORvWAL (15 mins): Rafa receives a throw in by flicking it to Joao Félix in the box. The angle is tight but his shot has too much power for Ryan Allsop and it goes in! Portugal's first goal of the tournament, and despite being down to 10 men they lead!
COLvCIV (45+1 mins): Neither of these teams are the most attacking, and with a draw currently suiting both it is a half of few highlights. Colombia the better side but their total of 0.41xG from their seven shots tells you they haven't been able to penetrate the Ivorian defence.
PORvWAL (45+1 mins): Conceding the next goal would be very damaging for both teams, and so they stay withdrawn hoping their opponents will make an error or they can nick a goal from somewhere. The result is 30 minutes of virtually nothing happening. Wales stay ahead of Portugal in the table but if they can't get level they need Colombia to do them a favour.
Half time
Half time
COLvCIV (47 mins): Colombia, feeling cautiously optimistic of qualification, replace Juan Pablo Vargas and Carlos Bacca with veterans Cristián Zapata and Teo Gutiérrez at the break. And it takes less than 100 seconds for Gutiérrez to have an impact, as he chips a ball over to the fast post for Pabón, whose first-time volley finds the far bottom corner! What a finish! However, the flag is up... VAR says... it's a goal! Thrillingly, this goal puts Ivory Coast dead level with Wales, and they are currently heading towards the drawing of lots!
COLvCIV (52 mins): Colombia are in a groove now, and a pass in behind from David Mackalister Silva looks to have Gutiérrez through. Nathan Aké is the man back, but surprisingly he is beaten for pace and seems to bring Gutiérrez down! The referee gives a penalty, VAR concurs and Aké is very lucky to only get a yellow card! Against Wales Sérgio Mosquera scored a penalty. Against Portugal his effort was saved. Against Ivory Coast... he scores! 2-0 Colombia and it is now Wales going through as it stands!
PORvWAL (55 mins): Wales replace Fulton with Ruben Colwill at the break as their shape becomes a 4-2-3-1. It doesn't have much effect though, and it's Portugal who start the half stronger. When a corner is cleared it is worked back to the taker Álex Grimaldo. Despite a lack of run-up his 30-yard effort has good pace on it, and when it takes a nick off Mark McGuinness it beats Allsop and goes in! Portugal have that oh so crucial second goal! Portugal move into second; in the space of 10 second half minutes we've had four scenarios for qualification!
PORvWAL (67 mins): Hal Robson-Kanu comes on for the ineffective Philogene on the left, but it only a couple of minutes later he picks up an injury which forces him off, so Callum Robinson replaces him. This disruption doesn't help a Welsh team struggling for rhythm, although they nearly get a goal back when Joel Piroe's snapshot is pushed over by Diogo Costa.
COLvCIV (78 mins): Ivory Coast end up morphing into a 4-3-3 with sub Harlem Gnohere the focal point. He has a sight of goal from a slow-moving counter attack, but rushes his shot and it's tamely wide.
PORvWAL (83 mins): Wales are now playing a strange 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid, with Bale up front alongside Piroe. They struggle to create chances, but when they have a free kick wide on the right Ryan Manning's delivery is met by Piroe and it loops over Costa and lands in the back of the net! This means Wales return to second place!
COLvCIV (90+4 mins): Ivory Coast throw everyone forward, and it works as they create an overload. Gnohere gets it across to Christian Kouakou but the pass is a bit behind him and forces him to shooting first time, allowing Daniel Londono to make the block. And that's it, Colombia's win was never really in doubt, but Ivory Coast will be gutted they couldn't get that one goal. Over to the other two teams...
PORvWAL (90+6 mins): The end to this game is amazingly open, with Wales better at exploiting the spaces left by their knackered and outnumbered opponents. But they can't create anything clear, and it finishes 2-1 and it is Wales who go through! What a half!
Final score: Colombia 2-0 Ivory Coast
Player of the match: Sérgio Mosquera (COL)
It's funny how an easy and deserved two-goal win by the group's top seed against its bottom seed could still provide so much drama. Ivory Coast's defence, which has been their strength this season, ultimately conceded one goal too many; although had this game finished 1-0 it would still not have been enough.
Player of the match: Sérgio Mosquera (COL)
It's funny how an easy and deserved two-goal win by the group's top seed against its bottom seed could still provide so much drama. Ivory Coast's defence, which has been their strength this season, ultimately conceded one goal too many; although had this game finished 1-0 it would still not have been enough.
Final score: Portugal 2-1 Wales
Player of the match: Álex Grimaldo (POR)
Given the hand they were dealt five minutes into the game, what a valiant effort from Portugal, denied at the last by a set piece goal. For Wales, they didn't exactly convince against 10 men, but got that dramatic late goal and nearly nicked a draw to make certain.
Player of the match: Álex Grimaldo (POR)
Given the hand they were dealt five minutes into the game, what a valiant effort from Portugal, denied at the last by a set piece goal. For Wales, they didn't exactly convince against 10 men, but got that dramatic late goal and nearly nicked a draw to make certain.
So despite two defeats, Wales take our final knockout spot:
So there we are! Finally, we had a dramatic group, and boy was it good! Portugal are our first big casualties, and their result means that Wales will face South Africa to be a surprise quarter finalist. The other confirmed knockout match from today's games is Mexico vs Colombia, as one of those will get past the second round for the first ever time.
We'll cover half the second round games next time.
We'll cover half the second round games next time.