Spain and Sweden have booked a date in the semi-final on Tuesday after both team’s beat their opponents 2-1 on Friday.
After a rare World Cup-free day,the round of 16 kicks off in New Zealand with the first places in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
Groups B and C wrap up on Monday with our focus on tournament fancies Spain’s clash with Japan before Australia’s do-or-die showdown with Canada in Melbourne.
Australia’s group at the Asian Cup has been revealed – and the terrors that await in the next phase of the tournament could be keeping coach Graham Arnold up at night.
Vinicius jnr,Neymar,Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all made it onto the scoresheet in the first half as the five-time champions eye a deep run in Qatar.
Japan have failed again to reach the last eight at a World Cup finals after being beaten in a penalty shootout,thanks to three awful,softly taken spot kicks.
Two of the World Cup’s most recent champions are in action on the penultimate day of group stage matches in Qatar.
Germany finished third in the standings in group E,behind Spain on goal difference,with Japan top following their 2-1 win over the Spaniards,which had VAR drama critical to the victory.
Germany have suffered a shock defeat to Japan,becoming the second powerhouse after Argentina to get off to a poor start,while there were no such issues for the 2010 champions.
Could Kevin Muscat be the next coach of Australia? That’s a question he won’t answer out of respect for the incumbent,but he does have some free advice for Graham Arnold.
Some of the game’s most recognisable names will be missing from football’s biggest tournament when the World Cup kicks off next week.