The biggest event in the world of soccer/football is underway! The first games in group play are coming to a close, and the competition is fierce for the right to advance to the final tournament! Some nations like the U.S. are stuggling to live up to their great expectations, while others such as Trinidad & Tobago have already recorded stunning results. But who will advance? The next four weeks will reveal who achieves and who leaves early.

So, what are your thoughts on this year's tournament? Are you cheering for your favorite team? Have a particular player in mind? Planning to watch from home, or go there in person? Or are you even watching at all? Let us know what you have to say!

As an American, I can't help but root for the U.S. So their catastrophic 3-0 loss to the Czechs in their opener was very distressing for me. Hopefully the Italians are as shaky as some commentators have believed. Otherwise, the miracle team from 2002 won't last long in '06.

Also, I'll be updating these standings periodically. So stay tuned to this thread for all your World Cup news!


LAST UPDATE: After Match 36



WORLD CUP STANDINGS - GROUP PLAY

32 teams are divided into eight groups of four. Each team plays all other teams in the same group once, earning 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The top two teams from each group will advance to the single-elimination tournament. In the event of a tie between teams in a group, the superior team will be determined through a system of tiebreaks. Starting from the first tiebreak, each one will be considered in order until the tie is broken. Any remaining tiebreaks in the list will be irrelevant.

(a) Greater number of points in group
(b) Goal differential in group
(c) Goals scored in group
(d) Head-to-head result
(e) Head-to-head goal differential
(f) Goals scored head-to-head
(g) Drawn lots


Group A Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Germany 3 3 0 0 8 2 6 9 FINAL
2 Ecuador 3 2 0 1 5 2 3 6 FINAL
3 Poland 3 1 0 2 2 4 -2 3 FINAL
4 Costa Rica 3 0 0 3 3 9 -6 0 FINAL


Group B Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 England 3 2 1 0 5 2 3 7 FINAL
2 Sweden 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5 FINAL
3 Paraguay 3 1 0 2 2 2 0 3 FINAL
4 Trinidad & Tobago 3 0 1 2 0 4 -4 1 FINAL



Group C Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Argentina 2 2 0 0 8 1 7 6 Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro, Netherlands
2 Netherlands 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6 Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast, Argentina
3 Ivory Coast 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 0 Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro
4 Serbia & Montenegro 2 0 0 2 0 7 -7 0 Netherlands, Argentina, Ivory Coast


Group D Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Portugal 2 2 0 0 3 0 3 6 Angola, Iran, Mexico
2 Mexico 2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4 Iran, Angola, Portugal
3 Angola 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1 Portugal, Mexico, Iran
4 Iran 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0 Mexico, Portugal, Angola


Group E Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Italy 2 1 1 0 3 1 2 4 Ghana, United States, Czech Republic
2 Czech Republic 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3 United States, Ghana, Italy
3 Ghana 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Italy, Czech Republic, United States
4 United States 2 0 1 1 1 4 -3 1 Czech Republic, Italy, Ghana


Group F Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Brazil 2 2 0 0 3 0 3 6 Croatia, Australia, Japan
2 Australia 2 1 0 1 3 3 0 3 Japan, Brazil, Croatia
3 Croatia 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 1 Brazil, Japan, Australia
4 Japan 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1 Australia, Croatia, Brazil


Group G Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Switzerland 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 4 France, Togo, South Korea
2 South Korea 2 1 1 0 3 2 1 4 Togo, France, Switzerland
3 France 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 Switzerland, South Korea, Togo
4 Togo 2 0 0 2 1 4 -3 0 South Korea, Switzerland, France


Group H Standings GP W D L GS GA GD P OPP
1 Spain 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 6 Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia
2 Ukraine 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 Spain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia
3 Tunisia 2 0 1 1 3 5 -2 1 Saudi Arabia, Spain, Ukraine
4 Saudi Arabia 2 0 1 1 2 6 -4 1 Tunisia, Ukraine, Spain



Legend
GP: Number of Games Played
W: Number of Wins
L: Number of Losses
D: Number of Draws
GS: Goals Scored
GA: Goals Scored Against
GD: Goal Differential (GS - GA)
P: Points
OPP: Opponents (already played opponents grayed out)
Bolded teams have clinched advancement.
Bolded and italicized teams have clinched first place in their group.
Struckthrough teams have been eliminated from contention for advancement.


Teams Advancing (9, 7 spots left)
Ecuador
Germany
England
Argentina
Netherlands
Portugal
Brazil
Spain
Sweden


Teams Eliminated (8, 8 spots left)
Poland
Costa Rica
Paraguay
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Iran
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago


Remaining Teams (15)
Mexico
Angola
Italy
Czech Republic
Ghana
United States
Australia
Croatia
Japan
South Korea
France
Switzerland
Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
Ukraine



TOURNAMENT BRACKET