France, Norway and Mexico face World Cup last-32 tests
Three Round of 32 matches on Tuesday will decide the next teams into the World Cup last 16 after Germany and the Netherlands exited.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Three more places in the FIFA World Cup last 16 will be decided Tuesday, with Ivory Coast facing Norway, France meeting Sweden and Mexico playing Ecuador. The matches carry added pressure after Germany and the Netherlands were eliminated on penalties in the Round of 32, Al Jazeera reported.
According to Al Jazeera, Tuesday’s games include two matches in the United States and one in Mexico, where co-hosts Mexico will try to extend their tournament. Opta’s pre-match model makes Norway, France and Mexico the favorites to advance.
Tuesday schedule
- Ivory Coast vs Norway: noon (17:00 GMT) at Dallas Stadium, Texas, in the United States, according to Al Jazeera.
- France vs Sweden: 5pm (21:00 GMT) at New York/New Jersey Stadium in the United States, according to Al Jazeera.
- Mexico vs Ecuador: 7pm (02:00 GMT Wednesday) at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico, according to Al Jazeera.
Norway favored against Ivory Coast
Al Jazeera reported that Ivory Coast and Norway have not met before in a competitive match. The matchup also brings different records against teams from other confederations: Ivory Coast have struggled against European opposition at World Cups, while Norway have lost only two of 19 matches against African teams in all competitions, according to Al Jazeera.
Opta’s supercomputer gives Norway the stronger chance of winning inside 90 minutes. Across 25,000 simulations cited by Al Jazeera, Norway won in normal time 56.1 percent of the time, Ivory Coast won 21.6 percent and 22.3 percent of simulations were level after 90 minutes.
France gets strongest backing from Opta
France and Sweden have played 23 matches across all competitions, with France winning 12, Sweden winning six and five ending in draws, Al Jazeera reported. Their Round of 32 game will be their first meeting at a FIFA World Cup.
Opta gives France the clearest edge among Tuesday’s teams. In 25,000 simulations cited by Al Jazeera, France won in normal time 75.1 percent of the time, Sweden won 9.5 percent and 15.4 percent of matches went beyond 90 minutes.
Mexico holds edge over Ecuador
Mexico and Ecuador have met once at a World Cup, with Mexico winning 2-1 in the group stage in 2002, according to Al Jazeera. Their three most recent meetings all ended in draws, Al Jazeera reported.
Opta’s model rates Mexico as the favorite but points to a closer game than France’s or Norway’s ties. In 25,000 simulations cited by Al Jazeera, Mexico won in normal time 47.1 percent of the time, Ecuador won 23.7 percent and 29.2 percent finished level after 90 minutes.
When extra time and penalties are included, Opta gives Mexico a 61 percent chance of reaching the Round of 16 and Ecuador a 38.9 percent chance, according to Al Jazeera.
Who is through and who is out
Four teams have already reached the Round of 16, Al Jazeera reported. Canada beat South Africa 1-0, Brazil beat Japan 2-1, Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Morocco knocked out the Netherlands on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Those results mean South Africa, Japan, Germany and the Netherlands have been eliminated, according to Al Jazeera’s list of completed Round of 32 games.
Al Jazeera reported that Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in the shootout in Monterrey, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saving Crysencio Summerville’s penalty before Ismael Saibari scored the decisive kick. Morocco will play Canada in Houston on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera.
Paraguay’s win over Germany came after Julio Enciso scored before halftime and Kai Havertz equalized early in the second half, Al Jazeera reported. Paraguay won the shootout 4-3 after Germany failed to convert three of five penalties.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.