The insanely hard path to the final that awaits the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden
The Netherlands, Japan and Sweden will all be wondering what they did to deserve such bad luck as the World Cup bracket has given each of the Group F occupants a nightmare Round of 32 tie.
Thursday sees the final game of the group played out but the three teams still left in contention go into it knowing they have a tough next fixture, regardless of where they finish in the group.
The standings are finely poised. Both the Netherlands and Japan have four points with a +4 goal difference. Sweden are one point behind on a neutral goal difference after being hammered 5-1 by the Dutch.
In the final fixture, Japan face Sweden while the Netherlands play already-eliminated Tunisia but the bracket has been especially unkind to all of them.
The winner of Group F will play runner-up of Group C which is confirmed as Morocco. Get through that and it is the winner of South Africa v Canada before likely either France or Germany. Spain are also confirmed to be on that side of the bracket.
Meanwhile the runner-up of Group F will play Group C’s winners Brazil. After which, they will most likely face Erling Haaland’s Norway. Get through that test and it will likely be one of England or Mexico in the quarter-finals. Argentina then potentially await in the semi-final.
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As for the third-place team, currently they are projected to face France in the Round of 32. As a reward for getting through that, they would face Germany in the Round of 16.
The favourites to go through as winners have to be the Netherlands who face a Tunisia side that has scored just one goal this tournament and shipped nine.
Meanwhile, Japan and Sweden face off, both knowing only a win will suffice if they want to top the group. For Japan to do so, they need to beat Sweden by a scoreline greater than the Netherlands beat Tunisia. For Sweden to do so, they need to beat Japan and hope the Dutch fail to win.
Whoever finishes third will most likely also make it through with the current predictions suggesting three points with a goal difference of -2 would be enough.
Predicting the path for the third-best team is a lot more guesswork given we do not know what order they will finish in as of yet. Currently, Sweden are due to play Scandinavian neighbours Norway in the Round of 32.
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