Japan will be Brazil’s first opponent in the knockout stages of the World Cup, a position secured by the Asian team this Thursday (25), at the AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, metropolitan region of Dallas, after a 1-1 draw with Sweden, in a duel valid for the third round of Group F.
With the draw — goals from Daizen Maeda and Elanga —, the Japanese team reached 5 points and was in second place in their group, behind the Netherlands, who beat Tunisia in the other game of the round by 3-1 and added 7 points in the first phase.
The Dutch goals were scored by Skhiri (own goal), Brobbey and Van Hecke. Mastouri scored for Tunisia.
Sweden, with 4 points, is one of the teams classified as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The clash between Brazil and Japan is scheduled for Monday (29), at NRG Stadium, in Houston, at 2 pm (Brasília time). The Netherlands faces Morocco, second placed in Group C, Brazil, at the BBVA stadium, in Monterrey, Mexico, also on Monday, at 10pm.
GROUP D
After the last round of Group D of the group stage, Australia secured its qualification to the 32-team stage in second place by drawing 0-0 with Paraguay in the early hours of Friday (26).
The South American team also reached 4 points and is waiting for the end of the first phase to confirm its classification as one of the best third-placed teams.
In a match that was worth nothing, other than a celebration for the fans present at the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, the already classified United States played the reserve team and lost to the already eliminated Turkey 3-2.
First in the group, the United States will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of the eight best third-placed teams, in the knockout stages. Football’s highest governing body included the clash in the World Cup bracket, without explaining why the Bosnians will be the Americans’ rivals.
Second placed in D, Australia will face the second placed in Group G, which will be defined after the games that start at midnight this Friday (26).
Paraguay, which is currently the fourth best third-placed team (4 points and -2 goal difference), will need to wait for confirmation of their place and, if they pass, the definition of their rival in the knockout stage.
GROUP E
Ecuador counted on its fans to seek a 2-1 victory over Germany and guarantee, this Thursday (25), its classification in the World Cup knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.
In the other Group E match, Ivory Coast beat Curaçao 2-0, gained 6 points and finished second in the group, advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time and eliminating the newcomers.
Guaranteed as group leaders one round in advance, the Germans didn’t let their guard down and entered the field in New Jersey with the starting team, opening the scoring early on, in the 2nd minute, with Sané.
The Ecuadorians looked for a draw after 9 minutes (Angulo), and, driven by shouts of “sí, se puede” in the stadium, they achieved the turnaround in the second half, with a goal from Gonzalo Plata, a Flamengo player.
With 4 points, the team of striker Enner Valencia, ex-Internacional, guarantees its place in the round of 32 as one of the eight best third parties and awaits the end of the last round of the group stage, this Saturday (27), to find out the date of the next clash and its opponent.
