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.

The best chances of the first half best fell to Nigeria as Scotland struggled to get out of their own half. When the Scots’ did string a couple of passes together the move broke down as the final pass found its way into touch or to a Nigerian player.

Ideye had a couple of excellent chances in the first forty five minutes and both times Scottish keeper Andrew McNeil redeemed himself for a disastrous display against Japan. Jamie Adams (Kilmarnock) picked up a yellow card – his second in two games – after a brutal challenge that saw Sodiq leave the field with a head wound. Adams went in with a high challenge that saw his boot make contact with Sodiq’s head.

Adams will now miss Scotland’s final group game against Costa Rica. Perhaps a more pertinent question would how a player of such limited ability managed to be picked for the first two games?

Nigeria’s first goal came early in the second half and came not unexpectedly from a couple of defensive screw-ups. A routine cross was first misplayed by Cuthbert and Bala thumped the loose ball trough the legs of keeper McNeil. 

A couple of Scotland substitutions with three-quarters of the game gone offered a glimmer of hope but as it turned out Nigeria doubled their lead. McNeil was unable to handle a shot from just outside of the penalty box and Bala headed the ball home for his second of the game.

Ambrose picked up a second yellow card with ten minutes to go forcing Nigeria to play short-handed. Scotland mounted a few frantic attacks but failed to break the Nigerian shut-out.

Sodiq was a rock at the centre of Nigeria’s defense while Bala was a constant irritant for Scotland with his speed and aggression.

With two wins Nigeria joins Japan in the last sixteen and which team will remain in Victoria for the first knock-out round will be decided on Saturday. Japan will take top spot with a draw given that the two teams are tied on points and goal difference but Japan has scored more goals.

Scotland and Costa Rica play the same day in a game that could mean nothing except pride. As it is the chances of either team qualifying as one of the four best third place finishers appears to be remote.

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.