Last updated on .From the section World Cup Harry Kane is the tournament's top goalscorer following his hat-trick during England's victory over Panama The final round of group matches at the 2018 World Cup has drawn to a close, and the last 16 has been finalised. But how did the teams progress - and who faces whom in the first round of the knockout stage? Group A Uruguay progress as group winners with hosts Russia through in second place. Uruguay play Portugal (the runners-up in Group B) in the last 16 while Russia play Spain (Group B winners). Group B Spain progress as group winners - on goals scored above Portugal, who are through in second place. Portugal were set to win the group until late goals in both games. Spain face hosts Russia (Group A runners-up) in the last 16, with Portugal up against Uruguay (Group A winners). Group C France are through as group winners - with Denmark through in second place following a goalless draw between the two sides in their final group game. France will play Group D runners-up Argentina, while Denmark face Croatia, the winners of Group D. Group D Croatia are through as group winners after scoring a late goal to beat Iceland and maintain their 100% record - they will face Group C runners-up Denmark. Argentina are through as runners-up after defeating Nigeria 2-1 and will play Group C winners France. Group E Brazil qualify as winners with two wins from three and will play Group F runners-up Mexico in the next round. Switzerland take the runners-up spot and will face Group F winners Sweden. Group F Sweden qualify as group winners following a dramatic victory over runners-up Mexico in their final game. The Swedes will face Group E runners-up Switzerland in the next round, while Mexico face five-time champions Brazil. Group G Belgium qualify as group winners following victory over runners-up England in their final game. Belgium will face Group H runners-up Japan in the next round, while England meet Colombia. Group H<doc-sep>As we enter the final matches of the group stage, here is how each group could shake out. The group stage of the 2018 World Cup has entered its final phase. With each team having played two matches, the outline of the knockout stage is coming into focus. As teams prepare to play their third matches of the group stage, we analyzed the advancement scenarios for every group. Some groups may come down to tiebreakers like goal differential or even fair play rules. For a complete breakdown of tiebreakers, click here. All times below ET. Group A Standings after two matches: Russia (6 points, +7 goal differential) Uruguay (6 points, +2) Egypt (0 points, -3) Saudi Arabia (0 points, -6) Russia and Uruguay have advanced. Egypt and SaudiArabia are eliminated. The final game between Uruguay and Russia will determine who wins the group; if the two teams draw, Russia will claim the top spot by virtue of their superior goal differential. Still to Play: Uruguay vs. Russia, June 25, 10 a.m. Egypt vs. Saudi Arabia, June 25, 10 a.m. UPDATE, Monday, Noon ET: Uruguay beat Russia 3–0 to win Group A; Russia qualified for the knockout stage in second place. Egypt and Saudi Arabia are eliminated. In Russia, a World Cup Surprise Party Celebration Group B Standings after two matches: Spain (4 points, +1) Portugal (4 points, +1) Iran (3 points, 0) Morocco (0 points, -2) Spain and Portugal lead the group with four points apiece, but Iran is just a point behind. If Iran defeats Portugal in its final game, it will advance. A draw would require Spain to lose by at least two goals for Iran to advance. The most likely scenario is that Portugal and Spain advance. Spain will advance with at least a draw against Morocco, and could potentially advance with a loss. Portugal will advance with a win or a draw. If Portugal beats Iran, then Spain is through no matter what. If both Portugal and Spain win, the winner of the group comes down to goal differential. Entering the final matchday, both teams are +1, so whichever team's margin of victory is higher would win Group B. If the goal differentials are identical, then it comes down to goals scored in group play—entering the final matchday, both teams are level. Morocco has been eliminated. Still to Play: Iran vs. Portugal, June 25, 2 p.m. Spain vs. Morocco, June 25, 2 p.m. UPDATE, Monday, 4 p.m. ET: Spain drew Morocco 2–2, and Iran drew Portugal 1–1. The result is that Spain and Portugal advance to the round of 16, with Spain winning the group. Spain Stable but Still Finding Footing at World Cup Under Band-Aid Manager Hierro Group C Standings after two matches: France (6 points, +2) Denmark (4 points, +1) Australia (1 point, -1) Peru (0 points, -2) With six points, France has clinched a spot in the knockout stage. Denmark holds a three-point lead over Australia, meaning a win or draw against France would put Denmark through. Australia still has a shot, though. Denmark holds a two-goal advantage over the Socceroos in goal differential, but the two teams have scored two goals each. If Australia wins and finishes with a better goal differential than Denmark, the Aussies advance. If they make up the goal differential but don’t swing the advantage to their side, they will need to score more goals against Peru than Denmark does against France, thus giving Australia the edge in goals scored. Peru is out no matter what. France will win the group with a win or draw. Still to Play: Denmark vs. France, June 26, 10 a.m. Australia vs. Peru, June 26, 10 a.m. Update, Tuesday Noon ET: France and Denmark advanced after drawing 0–0. Australia lost to Peru. Argentina Has Plenty of Blame to Go Around as Its World Cup Spirals Out of Control Group D Standings after two matches: Croatia (6 points, +5) Nigeria (3 points, 0) Iceland (1 point, -2) Argentina (1 point, -3) Croatia has clinched a spot in the knockout stage after victories over both Iceland and Argentina. They will win the group with either a win or a draw. As they currently lead Nigeria in goal differential by five goals, Croatia could lose and win the group as long as Nigeria either doesn’t win, or if Nigeria’s margin of victory plus Croatia’s margin of defeat doesn’t add to five or more. Nigeria enters its last game with three points—plus a goal differential two higher than Iceland—and needs a result to advance. Nigeria advances with a win, and could win the group as outlined above. They could advance with a draw if Iceland does not win by three or more goals. If Nigeria draws and Iceland wins by two goals, it would come down to goals scored, which Nigeria currently leads 2–1. If they have the same amount of goals scored, Nigeria would advance due to its head-to-head victory over Iceland. Iceland sits on one point entering the final match with group-leader Croatia. Iceland cannot win the group, but it's possible the country could advance with a win, although that hinges on the result of Nigeria–Argentina. If Iceland wins and Nigeria and Argentina draw, then Iceland would be tied with Nigeria on four points, and it would come to tiebreakers. If Iceland and Argentina both win, then they would be tied on points. Iceland currently has a one-goal advantage over Argentina in goal differential, so Iceland would advance as long as they win by the same or greater margin than Argentina. If Nigeria wins, than no matter the result of Iceland’s match, the World Cup's least populous country would be heading home. Despite sitting last in the group with just one point, Argentina has a clear path to the knockouts. Argentina will advance with a win over Nigeria, as long as Iceland either does not win, or wins by two fewer goals than Argentina does. If Argentina wins by one goal more than Iceland does (ex: Argentina wins 3-0 while Iceland wins 3-1), they would have the same goal differential. Both teams currently have the same number of goals scored, so whichever team scores more goals in this scenario would advance. If they are still tied after goals scored, because they drew in their head-to-head matchup the next tie breaker would be Fair Play Points—which comes down to yellow and red cards—and if they are tied in Fair Play points, the drawing of lots would determine which team advances. Still to Play: Nigeria vs. Argentina, June 26, 2 p.m. Croatia vs. Iceland, June 26, 2 p.m. Update, Tuesday 4 p.m. ET: Argentina beat Nigeria 2–1 to qualify for the knockout stage in second place, knocking out Nigeria. Iceland was eliminated after losing to Croatia 2–1. Croatia Meeting Its World Cup Potential As Chronic Chaos Subsides Group E Standings after two matches: Brazil (4 points, +2) Switzerland (4 points, +1) Serbia (3 points, 0) Costa Rica (0, -3) Brazil sits atop Group E with four points and a goal differential of +2, one higher than that of second place Switzerland. Brazil will advance with either a win or a draw. A Brazil loss, coupled either with Switzerland picking up points in their match or losing by a margin two goals less than Brazil does, is the only way for Brazil to be eliminated. Brazil will win the group with a win, as long as Switzerland does not win by more goals than Brazil does. Brazil also wins the group with a draw, as long as the Switzerland–Costa Rica game is a draw as well. Switzerland is currently in second in the group with four points and a +1 goal differential. Switzerland would advance with a win or a draw, as Brazil and Serbia cannot simultaneously reach five points. Switzerland could win the group with a win. It would require a Serbia victory; a Serbia and Brazil tie; or that Switzerland wins by two goals more than Brazil does. Switzerland would advance in second place with a loss if Brazil wins.<doc-sep>The Danes (four points) are unbeaten and on course to finish second with a draw, but if they fall behind, they will have to remain mindful of the Australia-Peru match in Sochi. The Aussies (one point) could pull level with Denmark on points (and pull ahead on goal difference) by defeating Peru.<doc-sep>
Groups A and B kicked off Matchday 3 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Monday. In this third and final match of the group stage, all four teams in each group play simultaneously. This helps prevent match fixing by teams and players, which stems back to an incident during the 1982 World Cup. Why do the teams play at the same time? In the final match of group play that year, Germany and Austria played each other. Algeria was also in their group and had won its third match the day before. A win or draw by Austria would have seen Austria and Algeria advance. But a win by Germany would have sent Germany and Austria through. Germany took a 1-0 lead early in the match. After that, both the Austrians and Germans merely passed the ball around with no apparent desire to score. It was a lazy match that resulted in boos and the subsequent scheduling change. Nigeria 1 – 2 Argentina Argentina advances to the Round of 16 on a last-minute goal by Marcos Rojo Entering the match with three points, an unlikely Nigeria win would have put them through. Argentina had only one point. They needed the win to even have a chance, while hoping Iceland didn't have a big upset. Lionel Messi did his job, starting the scoring for Argentina in the 14th minute. Messi took a long ball from Banega in stride and placed a perfect top-corner shot across the face of the goal, beating the Nigerian keeper. It was the 100th goal of the 2018 World Cup. LIONEL MESSI GETS THE OPENER! What a ball by Banega, what a touch and finish by Messi. Argentina lead Nigeria 1-0. pic.twitter.com/ONbGOjKVkg — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2018 Nigeria drew level early in the second half on a questionable penalty call. Victor Moses converted the kick for the Super Eagles. Nigeria played tough defense and even mustered a few chances. Higuain missed a clear chance from seven yards out, epitomizing Argentina's frustration. Finally in the 86th minute, Marcos Rojo saved Argentina from an early exit. Marcos Rojo netted the cape winner with four minutes in regulation. MARCOS ROJO PUTS ARGENTINA AHEAD! pic.twitter.com/3yrzeq7hSu — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2018 Goals 14' - Lionel Messi (ARG) - Lionel Messi (ARG) 51' - Victor Moses (NGA) - Victor Moses (NGA) 86' - Marcos Rojo (ARG) Cards 32' - Leon Balogun (NGR) - Leon Balogun (NGR) 49' - Javier Mascherano (ARG) - Javier Mascherano (ARG) 64' - Ever Banega (ARG) - Ever Banega (ARG) 90' +1' - John Mikel Obi (NGR) - John Mikel Obi (NGR) 90' +4' - Lionel Messi (ARG) Full match recap, live blog, highlights Iceland 1 – 2 Croatia Croatia wins Group D and will face Denmark in the Round of 16 Iceland had an outside chance to advance in their first-ever World Cup. They did what they could, but to no avail. After an opening half with little action, Milan Badelj rocketed a screamer from distance to put Croatia up by one in the 53rd minute. Island would equalize in the 76th. But a late game-winner by Perisic sealed the win for Croatia. Perisic scores to put Croatia up 2-1! pic.twitter.com/VGklkN0fYk — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2018 Goals 53' - Milan Badelj (CRO) - Milan Badelj (CRO) 76' - Gylfi Sigurdsson (ISL) - Gylfi Sigurdsson (ISL) 90' - Ivan Perisic (CRO) Cards 14' - Marko Pjaca (CRO) - Marko Pjaca (CRO) 59' - Emil Hallfredsson (ISL) - Emil Hallfredsson (ISL) 64' - Alfred Finnbogason (ISL) - Alfred Finnbogason (ISL) 83' - Tin Jedvaj (CRO) - Tin Jedvaj (CRO) 84' - Birkir Mar Saevarsson (ISL) Full match recap, live blog, highlights Australia 0 – 2 Peru Both Australia and Peru are eliminated Peru had no chance to advance coming into the match, but still put on a performance. Australia had a chance of advancing with a win and help from France. But neither of those conditions were met. Peru leave the 2018 World Cup run on a high with a solid win, snatching third place in Group C from Australia. Peru got on the board quickly when Andre Carrillo scored in the 18th minute with a brilliant first-time shot just inside the box. It was Peru's first goal in the 2018 World Cup. They had to wait 36 years, but Peru finally get their goal! 🇵🇪🙌 Carrillo hits it one time from distance to put them up 1-0 on Australia.