If you’re a fan of Scotland, South Korea or any other team that finishes in third place in its group at the World Cup, the question is now: Are we in?
These teams are waiting in limbo, unsure whether they have done enough to advance to the knockout rounds. Unlike in past tournaments, where only each group’s top two teams advanced, this year, eight of the 12 third-place teams will move on to the Round of 32. Those standings are determined by points, then goal differential — and, perhaps most critically, they are not finalized until all groups have finished play. (The last group-stage…
These teams are waiting in limbo, unsure whether they have done enough to advance to the knockout rounds. Unlike in past tournaments, where only each group’s top two teams advanced, this year, eight of the 12 third-place teams will move on to the Round of 32. Those standings are determined by points, then goal differential — and, perhaps most critically, they are not finalized until all groups have finished play. (The last group-stage…