day eight

We're still at the point where every match matters, but since Spain played today, I was mostly distracted away from the other matches.

In Group E, Costa Rica, who looked so terrible losing 7-0 to Spain, managed to defeat Japan, who had beaten Germany earlier. Germany got a late goal to earn a draw with Spain, leaving a complicated table going into the final matches:

Spain 4 points (+7 Goal differential)
Japan 3 points (0)
Costa Rica 3 points (-6)
Germany 1 point  (-1)

Spain will advance with a win or draw against Japan. It's possible they will advance even if they lose. Costa Rica probably needs to beat Germany, although a draw and a Japan loss would send Costa Rica into the next round. If Japan beats Spain, they win the group, if they draw they might advance, if they lose and Germany also loses they will probably advance. Germany needs to beat Costa Rica and hope Spain deals with Japan, although if Spain-Japan is a draw and Germany beats Costa Rica by 2+ goals, they will pass Japan.

I think. I'm calculating all of this in my head, so I may have it all wrong.

Group F is also a bit bonkers. Canada scored their first-ever World Cup goal in the 2nd minute against Croatia. They then proceeded to lose, 4-1, and are now eliminated. Anything is possible with the other three teams, after Morocco surprised Belgium, 2-0:

Croatia 4 points (+3)
Morocco 4 points (+2)
Belgium 3 points (-1)

Morocco gets Canada in their final game ... hard to know how the Canadians will react to being eliminated. Croatia-Belgium is the crucial match, with Belgium probably needing a win.

Meanwhile, tomorrow's big match is Brazil-Switzerland (both teams won their first games in Group G).