The group stage is over. Now comes the knock-out round, which will be played between the 16 teams who came through the four-team, eight groups stage.
The pre-quarter-final line-up:
GROUP D
P W D L F A Pts 1. S Korea 3 2 1 0 4 1 7 2. USA 3 1 1 1 5 6 4 ----------------------------------------- 3. Portugal 3 1 0 2 6 4 3 4. Poland 3 1 0 2 3 7 3
Before Friday's matches, South Korea and the United States needed draws to ensure their places in the last 16. Portugal needed to beat Korea in their final game, though a draw would suffice if the U.S lost. Poland were out of contention.
All these calculations were not required on a day of upsets, as Korea pulled of a stunning 1-0 win over Portugal, thereby knocking them out, and Poland shocked USA 3-1. But the US advanced, having secured more points than Portugal. Korea joined co-hosts Japan in the second round.
GROUP H
P W D L F A Pts 1. Japan 3 2 1 0 5 2 7 2. Belgium 3 1 2 0 6 5 5 ----------------------------------------- 3. Russia 3 1 0 2 4 4 3 4. Tunisia 3 0 1 2 1 5 1
Before Friday's matches, Japan and Russia both needed draws to advance. Belgium had to win and Tunisia needed a two-goal victory over the co-hosts to be certain of going through.
Japan settled the issue by beating Tunisia, 2-0. Belgium came from behind to beat Russia 3-2 and advance to the knock-out stage.
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts 1. Denmark 3 2 1 0 5 2 7 2. Senegal 3 1 2 0 5 4 5 ----------------------------------------- 3. Uruguay 3 0 2 1 4 5 2 4. France 3 0 2 1 0 3 1
Before Tuesday's final round, all four teams could reach the last 16. Denmark could go through as long as they did not lose by more than one goal. Senegal needed a draw. Uruguay and France had to win, with the world champions needing a two-goal margin. But Denmark emerged clear winners, beating the defending champions 2-0. Senegal took the second spot after surviving a second half onslaught from Uruguay in a 3-3 draw.
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts 1. Spain 3 3 0 0 9 4 9 2. Paraguay 3 1 1 1 5 5 4 ----------------------------------------- 3. S Africa 3 1 1 1 5 5 4 4. Slovenia 3 0 0 3 2 7 0
2. Paraguay 3 1 1 1 5 5 4 ----------------------------------------- 3. S Africa 3 1 1 1 5 5 4
4. Slovenia 3 0 0 3 2 7 0
Before the matches on June 12, Spain had qualified and Slovenia were out of contention. South Africa could qualify if they held Spain to a draw, and gained 1 point. Paraguay could advance if South Africa lost, and they beat Slovenia by three goals.
South Africa went down fighting 2-3 to Spain, while Paraguay came from behind to beat Slovenia, 3-1. Paraguay qualified for the second round, by virtue of scoring more goals than South Africa.
GROUP C
P W D L F A Pts 1. Brazil 3 3 0 0 11 3 9 2. Turkey 3 1 1 1 5 3 4 ----------------------------------------- 3. C Rica 3 1 1 1 5 6 4 4. China 3 0 0 3 0 9 0
Before Thursday's matches, Brazil were already through and China eliminated. Costa Rica had an outside chance if they snatched a point against Brazil. Turkey could advance if they beat China and overcome Costa Rica on superior goal difference.
This group was decided in spectacular style. Brazil thumped Costa Rica, 5-2. Turkey trounced China, 3-0 and advanced by virtue of having a goal difference of +2.
GROUP E
P W D L F A Pts 1. Germany 3 2 1 0 11 1 7 2. Ireland 3 1 2 0 5 2 5 ----------------------------------------- 3. C'roon 3 1 1 1 2 3 4 4. Saudi 3 0 0 3 0 12 0
Before the concluding matches in the group, Germany needed only a draw against Cameroon to make sure of a second round berth. Cameroon could have gone through had they won, or even drawn and Ireland lost to Saudi Arabia, who were already out of the reckoning. But all the calculations were not needed as Germany beat Cameroon 2-0 and Ireland easily overcame Saudi Arabia 3-0.
GROUP F
P W D L F A Pts 1. Sweden 3 1 2 0 4 3 5 2. England 3 1 2 0 2 1 5 ----------------------------------------- 3. Argentina 3 1 1 1 2 2 4 4. Nigeria 3 0 1 2 1 3 1
Before going into their final group matches, Sweden and England needed just a draw to qualify for the next round. And they achieved their end. Sweden held Argentina 1-1 while England drew goalless with Nigeria. Argentina had to win to ensure a place in the last 16 though a draw would have been enough had England lost, with goal difference being taken into account. Nigeria were already eliminated after losing their first two matches.
GROUP G
P W D L F A Pts 1. Mexico 3 2 1 0 4 2 7 2. Italy 3 1 1 1 4 3 4 ----------------------------------------- 3. Croatia 3 1 0 2 2 3 3 4. Ecuador 3 1 0 2 2 4 3
If Italy beat Mexico and Croatia beat Ecuador, the group would finish with three teams on six points. Mexico needed a draw to avoid the danger of becoming the first team to be eliminated at any World Cup finals after winning their first two matches.
Italy needed to win, although a draw would be enough if Croatia did not. Croatia also had to win by a margin of two goals to be certain of qualifying. Ecuador had faint hopes. They needed to win by at least three goals and hope for an Italian defeat.
With several permutations coming into play, this group was decided in the last quarter of the Italy-Mexico clash. Italy struggled to hold Mexico to a 1-1 draw. Ecuador did Italy a huge favour by beating Croatia 1-0 and knocking them out.
Mexico and Italy advanced to the second round.
