RecapSunday, June 28

Six Games, Eleven Goals, Zero Boring Draws: Matchday 3 Wraps Groups J, K & L

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England marched through as Group L winners, Argentina swept Group J in perfect style, Colombia nicked top spot in Group K despite a Ronaldo-shaped stalemate, and a 3-3 Algerian thriller nearly broke the internet — a gloriously chaotic final Tuesday of group football.

The pool went 67% accurate on outcomes today — nailing the England and Argentina wins with ease, but only 22 of you backed the Colombia–Portugal draw that caught 44 Portugal believers completely off-guard, and the Algeria–Austria 3-3 barn-burner left all 33 Austria-win pickers and all 18 Algeria-win pickers equally stunned.

Group L: England Do the Job, Croatia Edge a Nervy One

Panama were brave in heart if not in quality, but England were never really troubled in their 2-0 win — a result so well-telegraphed that 66 of our 71 pool members called it, and 24 of you nailed the exact scoreline. England finish top of Group L on 7 points, the Three Lions purring rather than roaring but efficient enough. Croatia, meanwhile, needed every ounce of their legendary big-game DNA to see off a stubborn Ghana side 2-1 in the simultaneous kick-off. The Ghanaians made a real match of it and their 4 points is a genuinely creditable return — they leave with heads held high. Croatia's 6 points and goal difference of zero means they sneak through in second. Thirty-nine of you had Croatia winning, and 12 nailed the exact 2-1 — well played. The five pool members who called a draw and the seven who went for Ghana can quietly close their laptops.

Group K: Ronaldo Silenced, Colombia Crowned, Congo Surge Through

This was the subplot of the day. Portugal came into their final group game against Colombia needing a result, Cristiano Ronaldo presumably ready to write another chapter of his eternal redemption arc. Instead: 0-0. A stalemate so stubborn it felt almost personal. Colombia finish top on 7 points, Portugal limp through in second on 5 — their superior goal difference (+5 vs Congo's +1) enough to hold off the Leopards. Speaking of DR Congo, they did their part emphatically, thumping Uzbekistan 3-1 in the simultaneous match to claim third place on 4 points. The pool heavily backed Portugal to win — 44 of you — while only 22 took the draw. Those 22 are the quiet geniuses of this round; only 1 person had the exact 0-0, and that individual deserves a ticker-tape parade. Uzbekistan depart with nine goals conceded across the group stage, their World Cup debut a steep but educational lesson.

Group J: Argentina Perfect, Algeria–Austria Produce the Night's Wildest Ride

Argentina finished the group stage with a flawless 9 points — maximum, unblemished, Scaloni's machine purring. Jordan gave them a goal to chew on (making it 1-3 at the final whistle) and at least avoided the dreaded clean sheet, but this was never really in doubt: 68 of our 71 pickers had Argentina, and 8 of you called the exact 1-3. Not a soul in the pool picked Jordan to win — not one. Perfect instincts, all round. But the match that had everyone reaching for their blood pressure medication was Algeria vs Austria. Austria led, Algeria equalised, Austria went ahead again, Algeria pegged them back, then chaos — a 3-3 draw that nobody truly predicted. The pool was split: 33 backed Austria to win, 20 called a draw, 18 fancied Algeria. Nobody — literally zero of the 71 — got the exact scoreline. Austria finish second in Group J on 4 points, Algeria third on 4 points too, goal difference the brutal separator: Austria's 0 edges Algeria's -2. The Desert Foxes are out, and they'll be haunted by those goals conceded for a long time.

The State of the Draw: Who Goes Through and Who Goes Home

As the dust settles on this final Tuesday of group football, the picture is sharp. England top Group L, Croatia second. Colombia top Group K, Portugal second. Argentina top Group J with a perfect record, Austria second. Ghana (4 pts), DR Congo (4 pts), and Algeria (4 pts) all bow out from their respective groups, each with something to be proud of — the Congolese especially, who showed real attacking quality against Uzbekistan. The round of 32 is taking shape, and after a day of 11 goals, two 3-3 thrillers in spirit if not both in scoreline, and one magnificent goalless tactical chess match, we are firmly in tournament football now. The pool sits at 67% accuracy for the day — respectable, but the Colombia–Portugal draw and the Algerian fireworks kept true perfection just out of reach.

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