Here's what South Korea needs to happen to make World Cup Round of 32 as 3rd-place team
Here’s what South Korea needs to happen to make World Cup Round of 32 as 3rd-place team originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
South Korea still has a chance.
The Korean side disappointed to close out group play, a 1-0 loss to South Africa putting them on the brink of World Cup elimination.
But in this expanded format, where eight third-place teams move on, the South Koreans aren’t done yet. Just close.
The final day of group play is Saturday, and there is a path to advancement still alive, although the chances are slim.
MORE: With Messi, history and magic go hand in hand
How can South Korea still advance in World Cup?
Three games matter to the South Koreans: Ghana-Croatia, Uzbekistan-DR Congo and Austria-Algeria.
They need at least two things to happen:
- Ghana defeats Croatia.
- Uzbekistan defeats or draws Congo.
- Austria defeats Algeria (or Algeria wins by two goals or more).
The key is that South Korea is on 3 points.
A win by DR Congo would give them 4 points. A draw by Croatia would give them 4 points.
And that Austria-Algeria game is lined up to end in a draw based on what both teams need, but South Korea can’t afford both of those teams to move up to 4 points with a draw.
It’s highly unlikely, but not impossible.
