FIFA World Cup: Their paths to the Round of 16
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FIFA World Cup (AP)
Poland: Sitting in first place, Poland will advance to the knockout stage with a win or a draw against Argentina. Even if it loses to Argentina, it still has a chance of advancing in some scenarios in which Mexico and Saudi Arabia tie or Mexico wins, depending on tiebreakers such as goal differential.
Argentina: Second-place Argentina will advance to the knockout stage if it beats Poland in its last group game, but even a draw could do it — as long as the other group game is a draw or if Mexico wins but not by a hefty goal differential.
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Saudi Arabia: Following its monumental upset of Argentina with a loss, to Poland, Saudi Arabia complicated its hopes of a berth in the round of 16. If Saudi Arabia beats Mexico in its next game, it will advance, but it could also go through with a draw if Poland wins, or if Argentina wins (but that scenario would come down to goal differential).
Mexico: Chances of advancing are narrow but not impossible: If Mexico beats Saudi Arabia and Poland beats Argentina, it will head to the round of 16. If Mexico wins but Argentina beats Poland, Mexico would need a hefty goal differential to move ahead of Poland for the second-place spot in the group. Mexico could also advance if it wins and the other group game is a tie, but again it would depend on tiebreakers like goal differential.
France: The defending champion became the first team to clinch a berth in the round of 16. It will almost certainly advance as the top seed in the group, even if it loses its final game of group play against Tunisia.
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Australia: After dropping its first game, to France, Australia bounced back to defeat Tunisia and keep its hopes alive of a berth in the round of 16. It is now in second place in the group. A win against Denmark would see the Australians through. A tie would suffice if France beats or ties Tunisia.
Denmark: To advance, Denmark must defeat Australia. Even then, it would also need France to win or tie against Tunisia. If Denmark and Tunisia win their final matches, Denmark could win on goal differential. Right now, the two countries are tied on that measure.
Tunisia: A team that is at the bottom of the group and has yet to score a goal in this World Cup plays France in its third match. Yet Tunisia can still advance. Its simplest path is to defeat France and have Australia and Denmark tie. If Tunisia wins and Denmark wins, Tunisia could advance via tiebreakers like goal differential.
