World Cup recap: History made, nervous big guns as knockout stage takes shape

That is a wrap on nine.com.au’s coverage of match day 14.

Thank you for joining us. We will be back tomorrow to follow the Socceroos through their final group stage game against Paraguay.

See you then!

The time is nearly here. The Socceroos will kick off at 12pm tomorrow.

Here is the order of action for Friday’s games.

5am| Curacao v Cote d’Ivoire

6am| Ecuador v Germany

9am|Tunisia v Netherlands

9am| Japan v Sweden

12pm| Turkiye v USA

12pm| Paraguay v Australia

The best third-placed team ladder is one to watch over the next 48 hours.

Scotland fans will be hoping that they stay just within the eight, although it will be a tough ask for everything to fall their way.

Here is how the eighth best third-placed teams look right now.

* Teams who are still to play their third group stage game

1. Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1-1)

2. Sweden* (1-0-1)

3. Croatia* (1-0-1)

4. South Korea (1-0-2)

5. Algeria (1-0-1)

6. Paraguay* (1-0-1)

7. Scotland (1-0-2)

8. Cabo Verde* (0-2-0)

South Africa have now joined the list of qualifiers heading into the round of 32, leaving South Korea among the bigger name contenders waiting for a spot in the next stage.

South Africa will take on host nation Canada in Los Angeles in the round of 32. Harry Kewell believes that is “a winnable game for South Africa”.

“I think they can go there and enjoy it,” Kewell said on SBS.

Here is how each team stands heading into the round of 32.

Qualified for round of 32: Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Germany, France, Norway, Argentina and Colombia

Eliminated: Qatar, Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama and Czechia

That is a wrap on the group stage for group A.

Mexico finish atop of the group with three wins. South Africa finish second after defeating South Korea, who will now wait to learn if they are in the round of 32.

It is the first time in South Africa’s history they have made it out of the group stage at the World Cup. Their next opponent will be Canada.

As for Czechia, their time at the World Cup ends with three losses.

Mexico have sent a clear warning to all ahead of them in the knockout rounds.

Czechia have been torn apart over the past 90 minutes and now Alvaro Fidalgo has added his name to the list of goalscorers.

It was just too easy for Fidalgo, who smashed the ball in without panic.

Not the ideal way to end your time at the World Cup for Czechia.

There will be six minutes of additional time in both matches.

Some concerning scenes for Czechia with minutes left in this match. Tomas Soucek has gone down with what looks to be a knee injury.

He had only just come onto the field 20 minutes ago to try and stop Mexico’s attack, but as he attempted to block a goalkeeper kick, he clipped the back of his knee and fell to the turf.

It was an awkward action for the Czechia star and Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made the referee immediately aware of Soucek’s condition.

He did manage to limp off the field with assistance from trainers in promising signs. The stretcher was ready to take him if need be.

It is rare that you see a goalkeeper sub, but Mexico has done exactly that.

Guillermo Ochoa has been injected into the game. He is a national hero of sorts for the Mexican fans, picked in the last six World Cup teams.

He will turn 41 the day after the World Cup final, meaning he is the sixth-oldest player to ever play in the tournament.

South Africa have finally found the back of the net, rightly so.

They have been the better team on the field against South Korea and Thapeli Maseko is the man to get the job done for them.

A perfect cross into the box found Maseko’s boot, with just three defenders including the goalkeeper nearby to attempt to stop him.

It was a perfect strike towards the bottom corner, the keeper was too slow ... it’s a GOAL!