As you hopefully have your way to our page – you know – the countdown is on – less than two weeks!

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If you have not yet pulled your

“golden ball” you only have two matches left to do so!!

Please visit the rules page, but just to remind everyone:

For final rounds the score at the end of the game including extra time is used.

Goals in a penalty shoot-out are not taken into consideration.

The group stage of the World Cup in Russia has seen many records fall. The most important numbers are here before the knock-out phase starts on Saturday.

0 – for the first time since 1982 no African team survived the first round. Senegal were last to fall in Russia, agonizingly missing out on a last 16 place on fair play ranking.

2.54 – 122 goals were scored in 48 group matches. The average of 2.54 goals per game lies below the 2.67 from four years ago in Brazil. Only five World Cups have had a lower average but in contrast, a record 36 games were played before there was a goalless draw.

9 – the top scorer is clear: own goal. Nine times so far players have put the ball into their own net, breaking the previous record of six from the 1998 World Cup in France. England’s Harry Kane leads the race for the golden boot with five goals.

37 – while title-holders Germany are eliminated, more than half the players who operate in the Bundesliga advanced. Out of 67 Germany-based players, 37 made it to the last 16 including 10 Swiss and seven Japanese.

71 – Germany have 71 days to overcome their World Cup disappointment before beginning the Nations League against France in Munich on September 6.

226 – in the coming days, Germany could also lose their share of the historic scoring record in knock-out games. They are level with Brazil on 226 but the South Americans could claim the record for themselves by netting against Mexico in the last 16.

2,500 – Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Youssef scored the 2,500th goal of the World Cup in their win over Panama on Thursday.

Six teams have already qualified, but 10 spots are still up for grabs. Check out the groups to see what the teams need to do to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Russia and Uruguay have qualified from the group

Things get a little bit more complicated here.

• A point for Spain against Morocco would see them qualify.
• If the Spanish lose they can still go through if Portugal suffer a heavier defeat against Iran, or if that match is a low-scoring draw and and Spain lose by no more than one goal.
• Portugal will qualify with a draw against Iran.
• If both Portugal and Spain suffer defeats then team with the bigger loss would be eliminated. If they both win then the team with the biggest win will finish top of Group B.
• The top two teams currently have the same number of points, goal difference and goals scored – they are separated by Fair Play records (Spain have one yellow card and Portugal have picked up two).
• If all these elements are equal then there will be a drawing of lots to decide their final group positions.
• Iran will qualify with victory over Portugal – they would win the group unless Spain also won.

• France are through to the knockout round – a point against Denmark would see them finish as group winners.
• A point against France would see Denmark qualify, as would Australia’s failure to beat Peru. The Danes would top the group with victory.
• In order for Australia to qualify they must beat Peru, hope Denmark lose and also better the Danes’ goal difference.

• Croatia have qualified and will be group winners with a point against Iceland.
• Nigeria will qualify with a win over Argentina. A point would be enough if Iceland do not beat Croatia.
• If Argentina and Nigeria draw, Iceland will make the last 16 if they beat Croatia by a two-goal margin and also score at least one more than Nigeria.
• Argentina will qualify with victory over Nigeria coupled with Iceland failing to defeat Croatia. If Iceland do beat Croatia, then Jorge Sampaoli’s side can still qualify if they beat Nigeria by two more goals than Iceland win their game. If Argentina and Iceland win and finish with identical records their fate will be decided by their disciplinary records and then the drawing of lots. Argentina have picked up three yellow cards and Iceland have none.

• A draw for Brazil against Serbia will be enough for a place in the knockout stage.
• If both Brazil and Switzerland win then the group winner could be decided by disciplinary records: Brazil have three yellows, Switzerland four. If they both lose then it will be the second and third places potentially decided by the same process.
• The Swiss will qualify with a draw against Costa Rica, or if Serbia lose to Brazil.
• If Switzerland lose by one goal and Serbia draw, second place will be decided by goals scored. If the sides finish with identical records then Switzerland would go through because they beat Serbia.

• Mexico need only a point against Sweden to qualify and finish top. They will go through, irrespective of their own result, if Germany fail to beat South Korea.
• Sweden are guaranteed to qualify if they better Germany’s result. They will top the group if they beat Mexico and better Germany’s result.
• Germany will qualify if they win by two or more goals, or if they better Sweden’s result against Mexico.
• If both Germany and Sweden draw their games, then the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, then Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.
• South Korea can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose by a bigger margin than South Korea win.

• Mexico need only a point against Sweden to qualify and finish top. They will go through, irrespective of their own result, if Germany fail to beat South Korea.
• Sweden are guaranteed to qualify if they better Germany’s result. They will top the group if they beat Mexico and better Germany’s result.
• Germany will qualify if they win by two or more goals, or if they better Sweden’s result against Mexico.
• If both Germany and Sweden draw their games, then the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, then Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.
• South Korea can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose by a bigger margin than South Korea win.

• England and Belgium have qualified and are the only two teams to have identical records going into their final match.
• If they draw then the top two positions will be decided by the number of cards accumulated. England have two yellows and Belgium have picked up three.
• If both teams have the same number of booking points then lots will be drawn to decide the final positions.

• Japan and Senegal require only a point in their respective games against Poland and Colombia to qualify.
• Colombia will qualify with victory over Senegal. If Colombia, win Japan will need to lose by fewer goals than Senegal to progress.

What a start to the WorldCup 2018. We have seen some very good games – last minute goals, some VAR assistance supported issues – a decent amount of goals, some red and a lot of yellow cards.

Some of the surprises included the GER-MEX game with an unprecedented outcome, the tie between BRA-SUI, Russia almost trashes Saudi Arabia in the opening game, Iceland tie against Argentina and last but not least the missed penalty kick from Messi.

Am really looking forward to the next round of games – aren’t you?