For the first time, the World Cup will be played with 48 participating teams, which means that for the first time, there will also be round of 32 matches after the group stage.
Sweden is well on its way there – but it is not certain that three points will be enough to advance.
In addition to the two best teams in each group, eight out of twelve group third-place teams will also advance.
After the big victory against Tunisia, the predicted group winner, a lot has to go wrong for Sweden to finish last in Group E.
Should Sweden finish third in the group, it would mean at least four third-place teams would be worse – and then one more point may be needed from the two remaining matches. However, the team’s already recorded three points and continued good goal difference may also be enough.
Many on four points last time
In the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, with 32 teams, seven of eight group third-place teams finished with four points while the eighth had three points.
Four years earlier, in the World Cup in Russia, only two group third-place teams reached four points while the other six finished with three points.
In Brazil 2014, there were also two thirds who reached four points. Five thirds had three points and one third only two points.
Alone on three points
The easiest way to reach the round of 32 is of course to finish first or second in the group, so as not to have to worry about the results in the other groups.
Ahead of the continuation of the group stage – the Netherlands–Sweden and Tunisia–Japan on Midsummer Day – Sweden is the only team to top the table with three points. The Netherlands and Japan have one point each after the teams’ 2–2 meeting.
The first and second place in the group will face the second and first place in Group C in the round of 32. Brazil, Morocco, Scotland and Haiti will play there.
Sweden 3 points, Netherlands and Japan 1 point, Tunisia 0 points.
Remaining matches, this weekend: Netherlands–Sweden (7:00 p.m. on Saturday, local time in Sweden) and Tunisia–Japan (6:00 a.m. on Sunday).
Thursday, June 25: Japan–Sweden and Tunisia–Netherlands (1:00 a.m.).
In addition to the first and second place teams in each group, eight out of twelve third-place teams will advance to the round of 32 in the World Cup.
In the last three World Cup tournaments, 24 teams have finished third in their groups. Their results: Eleven teams on four points, twelve teams on three points and one team on two points.
