Matchday three of the World Cup group stage kicked off on Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday in more rushed fashion than over the last two weeks of play as three group – 12 teams – played their final group games as FIFA hurries to wrap up the first stage and move the tournament to the elimination rounds.
For many teams the end of the group stage is a sigh of relief, as the top two finishers in each of the 12 groups gain automatic entry into the elimination rounds. But, for many others, this is where the anxiety begins.
