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A lot is at stake in the final matches of Group D, and the stakes are the highest in the game between the top two teams in the group - England and Japan.
England has won both of their games thus far, but just with a +2 goal differential. They’ve scored just three goals, but their 79th minute concession against Scotland is the only blemish on their defensive record. They’ve been on top in both of their games, but yet to overwhelm their opposition. Sitting on six points, and with third place Scotland with one, England has already qualified for the round of 16, but there is still incentive for them to get a result here. A win or draw wins them the group, and gets them a third place team in their knockout game, while a loss would set them up to face the winner of Group E, either the Netherlands or Canada. This will be their stiffest test.
Japan must really be kicking themselves for their 0-0 draw against Argentina to start the tournament. Had they won just 1-0, they’d be level with England, and tied all the way to the seventh tiebreaker. Instead, they need a win against the Lionesses to win their group, and earn a knockout match against a third place team. Japan is going to have to do better than their two goals thus far in the tournament, both of which came against Scotland.
I think we’ll see England win this one in a close contest, but stranger things have happened in this World Cup.
Location: Allianz Riviera (Nice)
Kickoff time: 3:00pm Eastern
Available TV: Fox Sports 1
Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!
Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
In the other game, it’s third place Argentina, with one point, squaring off against Scotland, who sits at the bottom of the group with zero points from two matches.
A win would assure Argentina of advancing, regardless of what happens with Japan, as four points is enough to qualify as a third place team. While they’ve been organized and resilient defensively, they’ve not done much to trouble the opposition goal, and they’ll need to score in order to win. I don’t like their odds.
Scotland have shown flashes of capability, but that’s no solace when they’ve suffered two consecutive 2-1 losses. Both of Scotland’s goals have come late, in the 79th minute against England, and the 88th against Japan, so there’s no reason to change the channel until the final whistle.
I think it’s going to be Scotland winning this, and waiting with bated breath to see if they go through as a third place team.
Location: Parc des Princes (Paris)
Kickoff time: 3:00pm Eastern
Available TV: Fox Sports 2, NBC Universo
Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!
Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Universo Now
For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.
What are you drinking?: I’ve got an after-work event, so I’ll be having whatever’s on tap.
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