Pochettino joined in with the crowd's chants of "U-S-A!" after a giddy victory over Australia. He is not the only figure who thinks the USMNT can lift the World Cup trophy in July, though those optimists remain in the general minority. Pochettino and his legion of proudly American players have been at pains to point out that they back themselves in any matchup, Pochettino said:
We need to keep believing and approach every single day like we did from day one: Believing we could win.
That belief would be shared more widely across the tournament if the USMNT is paired with Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32. The battling side spearheaded by 40-year-old Edin Džeko still has work to do to get through its group, but a win over Qatar is hardly out of the question. Whether Bosnia & Herzegovina and its mass of boisterous fans can muscle past a co-host coasting on a wave of patriotic jubilation is another matter entirely.
Group winners and the new tiebreaker
Thanks to the new head-to-head tiebreaker introduced by FIFA for this year's group stage, several nations booked their spot in the knockout rounds as group winners with one game to spare. Co-hosts Mexico and the USMNT were the two first before being shortly followed by Germany and Argentina.
Three points and a decent goal difference will likely be enough for many sides still fighting for a place in the round of 32. This time around, several teams who have been beaten twice will qualify for the round of 32, a sharp contrast to the 2010 iteration of New Zealand. The All Whites were the only team in the entire tournament, including eventual champion Spain, to go through the World Cup in South Africa without losing a game, yet still did not make it into the knockouts.
Race for top spots
France and Norway both began with a perfect haul of six points, and the pair will meet on gameweek three to decide the victor. Erling Haaland's pessimism is understandable given that matchup, Haaland said:
They're probably going to win against us, they're probably going to win the whole tournament.
Had Norway not conceded a late consolation goal from Senegal's Ismaïla Sarr, Haaland and Co. could have secured top spot with a draw against France. Now a win is needed.
Spain has not wrapped up top spot in Group H either, but can do so with a victory against Uruguay. Marcelo Bielsa's desperately underwhelming South Americans need a result of their own to avoid the humiliation of being leapfrogged by Cabo Verde. If the tiny African island avoids defeat to Saudi Arabia, which would be the third-most surprising result of its summer, Cabo Verde will be playing World Cup knockout soccer.
There is an indirect shootout in Group F, with the Netherlands and Japan effectively trying to outscore each other in their final first-round games against Tunisia and Sweden respectively to finish top.
Qualification scenarios still in play
Scotland needs to avoid a thrashing from Brazil to continue the Tartan Army's journey through American breweries. Ghana could still lose to Croatia and advance in third place after battling to a point against England, yet Senegal has work to do.
After defeats to France and Norway, the dethroned AFCON champion must rack up a healthy victory over Iraq to harbor any hope of progression. If Pape Thiaw can shake this wonderfully talented group of players out of their collective funk, a big win should be well within their capabilities.
Potential round of 32 paths
Brazil's potential date with Japan would be the most mouth-watering fixture of the second round. Should the Seleção top Group C, which is by no means a guarantee with Morocco to consider, and Japan finish second to the Netherlands, the pair would meet in that projected second-round slot.
Featured names
- Projected Bracket
- Mauricio Pochettino
- Erling Haaland
- Marcelo Bielsa
- South Americans
- Saudi Arabia
- The All Whites
- South Africa
- As Pochettino
- Whether Bosnia
- Samurai Blue
- Hajime Moriyasu
- East Rutherford
- Estadio Azteca
- England Head
- Carlos Alberto
- Franz Beckenbauer
- Diego Maradona
- The Three Lions
- While France
- Independence Day
- Mohamed Salah
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Didier Deschamps
- Lamine Yamal
- Adrien Rabiot
- The World Cup
- Carlos Queiroz
- Thomas Tuchel
- Lionel Scaloni
- That Argentina
- Should Messi
- Grey Whitebloom
- Herzegovina Levi
- Philadelphia Where
