USA

The USA’s opponents will be the third place finisher from group B (Uruguay), group E (North Korea) or group F (Scotland or Costa Rica). There is 1 permutation out of 15 that it will be Uruguay and seven each that it will be North Korea or Scotland or Costa Rica.

The permutation chances should not be mistaken for probability which at this stage would be far more complicated.

Group B

In the late afternoon games Zambia beat Uruguay 2-0 with both teams playing most of the game with ten men. I had suggested on the FSR last night that the Uruguay Goicoechea was a bit of a disaster and he was sent off in the first half and Zambia scored from the resultant penalty.  The keeper miss-kicked and then pulled the Zambia player down.

Zambia had Nyambe sent off for a second yellow card just before half time. A second goal put Zambia well in control and the foul count of 23 to 4 would indicate that Zambia went out to take no prisoners. By finishing second Zambia will play the runner up from group F which will be Japan or Nigeria. Japan holds the edge if these two teams draw tonight and would then play the Czech Republic. 

At times Spain made heavy weather of their win over Jordan. They jumped into a three goal lead thanks to a hat trick from Lopez. But Jordan put together a plucky second half and scored a nice goal from Loiv Al Zaideh and a perfectly struck free kick from Abdallah Salim within eight minutes of each other.

The Spanish defense for a time looked like a boxer that had taken one too many on the chin. Spain was forced to bring on Capel and Stephen in an attempt to regain control and it worked as Marcos Garcia gave them a two goal cushion with ten minutes or so to go.

Spain will play Canada or Congo, Portugal or Gambia, or Brazil in the last sixteen. 

The full combinations of the four best place finishers can be found on page 28 of this FIFA link.  

Update - What Canada must do to move on.
1. Must beat Congo and…
2. Hope Scotland and Costa Rica draw or if Scotland or Costa Rica win…..
3. Canada must then win by enough goals to finish with a better record than the other countries that finish third with three points.

Link to an earlier blog describing how the last sixteen is decided.

You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.

You can also check out the National Post blog.