The German failure and at least zero on a board - group stage WC is complete

© Sputnik / Bogodvid Maxime

V 1/8 of the final will meet: France — Argentina, Uruguay — Portugal, Spain — Russian Federation, Croatia — Denmark, Brazil — Mexico, Belgium — Japan, Sweden — Switzerland, Colombia — England

Astana, 29 Jun — Sputnik. the group stage which has Come to the end on Thursday of the World Cup presented to fans only one supersensation — a departure of defending champions, but pleased with the mass of the heads and the minimum quantity of a zero draw, transfers information agency "RIA Novosti" .

Group A: Russian Federation with a question mark

For the Russian fans the main event of a group stage became an exit of team Stanislas Cherchesov in 1/8 finals. On the eve of tournament in nine control matches played from September till June, Russians could win only 2 victories — over Moscow "Dynamo" (this match did not go to offset of official games) and over Koreans. Just before start of the house World Cup the team lost Stanislas Cherchesov

But when business reached rather important games Russians changed — crushed Saudis in an opening match, and then without special problems got the best of Egyptians who were not helped even by Salakh Mohamed. The main Russian heroes of a group stage of steel Denise Cheryshev, the hammered 3 balls, Artem Dzyuba on which account there were 2 goals, and Golovin Alexander, assumed a role of the organizer of attacks.

did not manage to Continue a victorious series in a match against Uruguayans. Latin Americans got two heavy victories over Egypt (1:0 with a goal last minute) and Saudi Arabia (too 1:0), but they beat Russians largely — 3:0. Thus, the national team Uruguay appeared the only team which did not pass any ball at a group stage of the World Cup.

the True potential of a Russian team remained a riddle, after all in the third round she played without a number of key football players — Golovin Alexander, Youri Zhirkov and Fernandes Mario. Whether Russians are capable to win against top rivals, it becomes clear only after a meeting with Spaniards in 1/8 finals.

Stanislas Cherchesov even after defeat from Uruguayans kept optimism and found advantage of an exit in a playoffs from the second place." The only plus that we play in "Luzhniki" (1/8 finals), instead of Sochi. That a sin to conceal, we wanted to win, win first place. But a situation such as it is. Better today three less to speak on certain subjects … And "Luzhniki" — my stadium!" — the trainer on press conferences declared.

Group B: victory of experience

the Total alignment of forces in group B was such what it predicted before World Cup start — in 1/8 finals there were national teams Spain and Portugal. But it on paper. In reality the destiny of both favourites was decided last seconds of the third round. Moroccans and Iranians proved to be the real fighters — in matches against Europeans they battled till the end and were close to beating out one of two favourites from tournament.

the team was Least of all lucky

who lost to Iranians only because of Aziz Bukhadduz's autogoal, and was close then to a draw with Portuguese, but did not follow for Cristiano Ronaldo. In the last round lost every chance on an exit in 1/8 finals Moroccans almost "drowned" the national team Spain — they conducted in the account twice, "the red fury" was rescued from defeat only by Iago Aspas's goal on the 90th minute.

In a parallel match Iranians made by

everything to win the Portuguese team, carried out the most powerful ending of game, but as a result were limited to the only nobody's. Favourites left due to extensive tournament experience, but it is easy for them was not exact.

Group C: Saransk — the capital Peru

can call the Main heroes of this quartet the Peruvian fans. They captivated Saransk and promoted joke emergence that this city the capital not only Republic of Mordovia, but also Peru. Then cheerful Latin Americans painted in the colors Yekaterinburg and Sochi.

Alas, their command to please fans it was not possible — to Jefferson Farfan and companies frankly were not lucky in matches against Danes and the French lost with the minimum account, and the victory over Australians in the last round was useless.

Leaders of group French and Danes too did not please

became the penalty earned by Antoine Griezmann in a meeting with Australians. To make a final decision on this episode the arbitrator had to look at a video review — for the first time in the history of the World Cups. Then VAR system began to apply regularly, but Uruguayan judge Kunya Andres became the pioneer.

One more joint "achievement" of French and Danes became the first and only at a group stage a zero draw. A record productive series which came to the end on a match No. 37 was so interrupted — before so long without zero on a board in the World Cups did not do.

That fact that game in "Luzhniki" turned out boring, recognized even the head coach of French Desham Didier ". The objectives are achieved, the first place — the most important. The match was at the end a little boring, Denmark too this result approached. They were well protected, I do not think that Danes did not want to win, but the match moved ahead further, the more carefully they played" — Desham Didier told.

Group D: the sky in a section

This group became mix from sure game of Croats, hysterics of the Argentina press, mighty Icelandic "Hou" and nice game of Nigerians as a part of whom in all three matches the Petersburger Idovu Brian played.

Croats looked so surely that dared to experiment structure in the third round, left on a bench Ivan Rakitic, Mandzhukich Mario, all main defenders and all the same won against Icelanders. Defeat of Argentinians in the second round became the most outstanding part of performance of the checkered national team.

the Head coach combined Croatia Zlatko Dalich called

team performance historical." We fine played in group: gathered 9 points, finished a stage with a difference of balls 7:1. Showed impressive soccer in a meeting with such strong rival, as Argentinians. For the national team Croatia performance in this World Cup already became history, but we are not going to stop. We prepare for game with Danes" — Dalich told journalists.

Argentinians Cruelly scarified by the press after all could collect will in a fist and pulled out the permit in 1/8 finals at Nigerians, thanks to a goal of the former Spartacist Marcos Rojo last minutes of a match.

Group E: doubtful eagles

Here not only scored goals, but also rowed. Players combined Switzerland Dzhak's Dzhaka Granit and Shakiri Dzherdan have kosovarsky roots and after the heads in gate combined Serbia put hands, showing the Albanian eagle. For it both football players were fined FIFA on 10 thousand Swiss francs everyone.

Goals from Dzhaka Granit and Shakiri Dzherdan actually deprived of Serbians of hope for an exit in 1/8 finals. Krstaich Mladen started from a victory over kostarikanets, but then conceded to Swisses and Brazilians.

Neymar and company, as expected, left from the first place in group. Thus Brazilians gradually gathered a course — began with a draw with team Switzerland (1:1), pressurized kostarikanets at the end of the game (2:0), and in the third round without special problems beat Serbians (2:0).<"122>"

Group F: the fallen Lev

the loudest sensation of a group stage happened

In this quartet. The national team Germany confirmed the sad rule of the last five World Cups — the defending champion Europe never leaves group. Failures happened earlier to France in the 2002nd, to Italy in the 2010th, to Spain in the 2014th. Problems at this stage were avoided only by Brazilians on ChM-2006.

Joachim Lev was so confident by

in the team that did not take in Russian Federation one of leaders "Manchester City" Leroy to Golovin Alexander and paid for it. Germans started from sensational defeat from Mexicans (0:1), then managed to pull out a victory at Swedes, thanks to a goal Kroos Tony on the 5th added minute, but in decisive game against Koreans came to full grief — defeat 0:2.<"126>"

On the first line at the last minute Swedes who largely beat Mexicans in the last round (3:0).<"127>"

Group G unexpectedly jumped: two skating rinks

the National teams Belgium and England two steam skating rinks were passed by

on rivals on group. However, approach at favourites was a miscellaneous. British in the first round gave hope to Tunisians — till last minutes on a board two units burned, but in an ending Keyn Kharri scored a victorious goal. To a double in the first game the forward added a hat trick in gate of Panamanians and with 5 balls became the best goal-scorer of a group stage.

Belgians acted with

de Breyne Kevin, Mertens Driss hammered 4 balls, but Eden Azar, Axelle Laurent Anzhel Lamber Witsel and even a joker Batshuayi Mikhail too made a big contribution to success of the national team.

In the third round leaders played

among themselves, but bright fight it did not turn out: British left on a bench Keyn Kharri, and Belgians — Lukaku Romel. As a result the outcome of a match was turned by one goal Yanuzay Adnan at the beginning of the second time. In a quartet "red devils" got the first place.

Group H: Japanese politeness

One more innovation from FIFA worked

in group H — for the first time in the history the national team could leave in a playoffs thanks to fair play points. In other words, Japanese bypassed Senegalese only because they had less yellow cards — four against six.

Asians started

, but lost to Colombians in the last round. At equality of the points, an identical difference of balls and a draw in personal meeting it was necessary to consider those points of a fair play. And here firm Japanese politeness bore fruits.

Winners of group Colombians after defeat from Japanese got two dry victories in a row, and the best goal-scorer they had not Falcao Radamel and not Rodriges Khames, and Yerri Minh's defender. From the football player of "Barcelona" suffered both Poles and Senegalese — both that, and he hammered with another on a goal.

B 1/8 of the final the following teams will meet:

• France — Argentina (on June 30, Kazan),
• Uruguay — Portugal (on June 30, Sochi),
• Spain — Russian Federation (on July 1, Moscow),
• Croatia — Denmark (on July 1, Nizhny Novgorod),
• Brazil — Mexico (on July 2, Samara),
• Belgium — Japan (on July 2, Rostov-on-Don),
• Sweden — Switzerland (on July 3, Saint Petersburg),
• Colombia — England (on July 3, Moscow).