The last 19 editions of FIFA World Cup has experimented with various formats. 1934 and 1938 World Cups followed complete knockout format. In the editions that had only 16 teams, the top two teams of each group qualified directly for Quarterfinals. Never in the World Cup history all the 8 group leaders have together qualified for the quarterfinal after playing 2nd round. With 6 of them already winning their matches, can Argentina and Belgium win to create the record!!
Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group F, Group G, Group H
FIFA World Cup 2014: Points Table, Schedule and Results in Indian Standard Time, Goal Statistics, Goal Scores, Groups and Team Qualification
History and Records: History of All Previous Editions, History of Hattricks, Who Reached Top Four in Previous Editions!!
Before 32 teams were included, rest of the tournaments experimented with different format. Primarily they had either one level of group stage and then knock out from QFs, or else two levels of Group Stage and then direct semifinals, or else final and third place matches.
Belgium or Argentina: Can they!
- Argentina appears another certain team to get better of Switzerland, who are searching for their 4th quarterfinal place in 10th appearance. Since 1962 they have failed to move beyond second round.
Belgium, the dark horses have the biggest challenge among the top 8 teams at Brazil. They play USA, who were the group toppers at South Africa but failed to reach QF. They have qualified for quarterfinal in 2002.
Belgium topped Group H, while Argentina topped Group F
Switzerland finished 2nd in Group E, the only group from where two European teams qualified
USA on the other hand qualified 2nd from Group G.
6 Teams Have Qualified
Brazil, Colombia, Netherlands, Costa Rica, France and Germany have already qualified.
Colombia and Costa Rica have qualified for their first quarter finals in the World Cup, while Germany has maintained the tradition of qualifying for the quarterfinal since 1938 World Cup.
World Cup Statistics for QF Records
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The closest was 2010 FIFA World Cup when except USA the remaining 7 group toppers reached the quarterfinal.
1958 and 1966 World Cup saw the rare two instances of all the four group toppers reaching the semifinal.
After that since teams were increased to 24 in 1982 World Cup and then 32 in 1998 World Cup, there has been no instances of all the group toppers reaching even the quarterfinal.
Before 1998 World Cup there were only 24 participants, and even then the top 6 teams of 6 groups never qualified for the quarterfinals together, when they have had a knockout after group stage to reach the quarterfinal.
Results of 2010
- Group Toppers: Uruguay, Argentina, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Paraguay, Brazil, Spain
Ghana knocked out Group C topper USA in the Round of 16. Other seven teams qualified for QF.
Result of 2006
- Group Toppers: Germany, England, Argentina, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, Spain
Losers in Round of 16: France def Spain and Ukraine def Switzerland
Result of 2002
4 of the top 8 were knocked out in the Round of 16.
- Group Toppers: Denmark, Spain, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Japan
Losers in Round of 16: USA def Mexico, England def Denmark, Senegal def Sweden, Turkey def Japan
Result of 1998
- Group Toppers: Brazil, Italy, France, Nigeria, Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Argentina
Losers in Round of 16: Denmark def Nigeria, Croatia def Romania
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