World Cup Daily: Matches and storylines for June 28

We made it.

Group stage play is done, capped off by a draw (not entirely surprising) but with goals traded in stoppage time (that part was definitely surprising) between Algeria and Austria that cruelly knocked Iran out of the competition as the first third-place team out. There was also an Argentina-Jordan match that Argentina won handily, capped off by Lionel Messi coming on a sub and scoring on a free kick that extended his lead in the Golden Boot race.

Africa continued to qualify teams (nine out of 10!) in what has turned out to be an excellent tournament for that continent, and Asia finished with only Australia and Japan advancing of the nine teams it sent. (Australia is part of Asia for soccer purposes.)

Meanwhile, Concacaf's three co-hosts all advanced while the other three teams from the wildest federation did not, and Europe sent 13 of its 16 teams through. South America, meanwhile, sent five of six through, with only Uruguay going home, reportedly on commercial flights after its federation cancelled its charter flights.

Only one match happens on Sunday: My beloved Canada aims to advance, playing South Africa in Los Angeles' massive SoFi Stadium. After that, we get three consequential matches a day for the next few days.

Group A

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Mexico (9) / Winner: Mexico
• Projected runner-up: South Korea (31) / Runner-up: South Africa
• Projected 3rd-place team: Czechia (48) / 3rd-place team: South Korea
• Projected 4th-place team: South Africa (54) /4th-place team: Czechia

Group B

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Canada (32) / Winner: Switzerland
• Projected runner-up: Switzerland (16) / Runner-up: Canada
• Projected 3rd-place team: Bosnia & Herzegovina (62) / 3rd-place team: Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Projected 4th-place team: Qatar (61) / 4th-place team: Qatar

Group C

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Brazil (5) / Winner: Brazil
• Projected runner-up: Morocco (6) / Runner-up: Morocco
• Projected 3rd-place team: Scotland (41) / 3rd-place team: Scotland
• Projected 4th-place team: Haiti (88) / 4th-place team: Haiti

Group D

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: United States (15) / Winner: United States
• Projected runner-up: Türkiye (32) / Runner-up: Australia
• Projected 3rd-place team: Australia (25) / 3rd-place team: Paraguay
• Projected 4th-place team: Paraguay (37) / 4th-place team: Türkiye

Group E

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Germany (12) / Winner: Germany
• Projected runner-up: Ecuador (24) / Runner-up: Côte d'Ivoire
• Projected 3rd-place team: Côte d'Ivoire (30) / 3rd-place team: Ecuador
• Projected 4th-place team: Curaçao (82) /4th-place team: Curaçao

Group F

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Netherlands (7) / Winner: Netherlands
• Projected runner-up: Japan (17) / Runner-up: Japan
• Projected 3rd-place team: Sweden (36) / 3rd-place team: Sweden
• Projected 4th-place team: Tunisia (59) / 4th-place team: Tunisia

Group G

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Belgium (10) / Winner: Belgium
• Projected runner-up: Egypt (26) / Runner-up: Egypt
• Projected 3rd-place team: Iran (21) / 3rd-place team: Iran
• Projected 4th-place team: New Zealand (86) / 4th-place team: New Zealand

Group H

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Spain (3) / Winner: Spain
• Projected runner-up: Uruguay (18) / Runner-up: Cabo Verde
• Projected 3rd-place team: Saudi Arabia (58) / 3rd-place team: Uruguay
• Projected 4th-place team: Cabo Verde (64) / 4th-place team: Saudi Arabia

Group I

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: France (2) / Winner: France
• Projected runner-up: Senegal (19) / Runner-up: Norway
• Projected 3rd-place team: Norway (22) / 3rd-place team: Senegal
• Projected 4th-place team: Iraq (60) / 4th-place team: Iraq

Group J

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Argentina (1) / Winner: Argentina
• Projected runner-up: Algeria (29) / Runner-up: Austria
• Projected 3rd-place team: Austria (22) / 3rd-place team: Algeria
• Projected 4th-place team: Jordan (73) / 4th-place team: Jordan

Group K

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: Portugal (8) / Winner: Colombia
• Projected runner-up: Colombia (11) / Runner-up: Portugal
• Projected 3rd-place team: DR Congo (46) / 3rd-place team: DR Congo
• Projected 4th-place team: Uzbekistan (57) / 4th-place team: Uzbekistan

Group L

Predictions vs. Reality

• Projected winner: England (4) / Winner: England
• Projected runner-up: Croatia (13) / Runner-up: Croatia
• Projected 3rd-place team: Panama (42) / 3rd-place team: Ghana
• Projected 4th-place team: Ghana (65) / 4th-place team: Panama

Total: 28 of 48 correct (58.3%)

The knockout rounds: What we know

We've got the potential for amazing Round of 16 matches, including a possible rematch of the 2014 match between U.S. and Belgium, Spain vs. Portugal, France vs. Germany, and England vs. Mexico, though upsets are also a distinct possibility.

Note: All times CT

Sunday, June 28

• Canada vs. South Africa, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif. (winner plays winner of Netherlands-Morocco in Round of 16)

Monday, June 29

• Brazil vs. Japan, noon, Houston (winner plays winner of Côte d'Ivoire-Norway in Round of 16)
• Germany vs. Paraguay, 3:30 pm, Foxborough, Mass. (winner plays winner of France-Sweden in Round of 16)
• Netherlands vs. Morocco, 8 pm, Monterrey (winner plays winner of Canada-South Africa in Round of 16)

Tuesday, June 30

• Côte d'Ivoire vs. Norway, noon, Jerryworld (winner plays winner of Brazil-Japan in Round of 16)
• France vs. Sweden, 4 pm, East Rutherford, N.J. (winner plays winner of Germany-Paraguay in Round of 16)
• Mexico vs. Ecuador, 8 pm, Mexico City (winner plays winner of England-DR Congo in Round of 16)

Wednesday, July 1

• England vs. DR Congo, 11 am, Atlanta (winner plays winner of Mexico-Ecuador in Round of 16)
• Belgium vs. Senegal, 3 pm, Seattle (winner plays winner of United States-Bosnia and Herzegovina in Round of 16)
• United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7 pm, Santa Clara, Calif. (winner plays winner of Belgium-Senegal in Round of 16)

Thursday, July 2

• Spain vs. Austria, 2 pm, Inglewood, Calif. (winner plays winner of Group K runner-up-Group L runner-up in Round of 16)
• Portugal vs. Croatia, 6 pm, Toronto (winner plays winner of Spain-Austria in Round of 16)
• Switzerland vs. Algeria, 10 pm, Vancouver (winner plays winner of Group K winner-Group D/E/I/J/L 3rd place in Round of 16)

Friday, July 3

• Australia vs. Egypt, 1 pm, Jerryworld (winner plays winner of Argentina-Cabo Verde in Round of 16)
• Argentina vs. Cabo Verde, 5 pm, Miami Gardens, Fla. (winner plays winner of Australia-Egypt in Round of 16)
• Colombia vs. Ghana, 8:30 pm, Kansas City (winner plays winner of Switzerland-Algeria in Round of 16)

Where to watch

Inn Cahoots might be the move today? (I'll be watching this one from home.)

What to read

Here's a look at why the Trionda is performing the way it is from before the tournament, as well as how it might be messing with goalkeepers.

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