The group stage is complete – and half of the teams are going home, leaving 16 to duke it out in the Knockout Stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

That means no more draws, but much more drama.

That also  means more cheering, more excitement and more yellow cards.  It also means more dramatic acting and fake falls to try and trigger unnecessary fouls.

So, before we move on to the Knockout Stage, let’s first recap the final group standings.  Let’s also toss in some statistics, facts and final thoughts on group play.  Then, let’s toss in a bracket preview for good measure.  Because, well, why not? 

After all, extra time doesn’t get measured here.

2010 FIFA World Cup – Final Group Standings

2010-world-cup-logo

Group A

  • Uruguay: 2-1-0 > GD: +4 > 7 points
  • Mexico: 1-1-1 > GD: +1 > 4 points
  • South Africa: 1-1-1 > GD: -2 > 4 points
  • France: 0-1-2 > GD: -3 > 1 point

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • South Africa made a valiant effort in its win over France, but fell short (due to goal differential with Mexico).  It is the first host nation not to advance from group play
  • France was the biggest disappointment, although Italy was a close second.  But the French failed to win a game in its group, while adding in day-after-day of team drama.
  • Uruguay goalkeeper Nestor Fernando Mustera has recorded three shutouts.

Group B

  • Argentina: 3-0-0 > GD: +6 > 9 points
  • South Korea: 1-1-1 > GD: -1 > 4 points
  • Greece: 1-0-2 > GD: -3 > 3 points
  • Nigeria: 0-1-2 > GD: -2 > 1 point
    lionel-messi-argentina

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • A wide-open net missed by Nigeria in its final game (vs. South Korea) was the difference between going home and moving on to the Knockout Stage
  • Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina is tied for the World Cup lead with 3 goals scored
  • Lionel Messi (Argentina) has the most shots thus far in the World Cup – with 20

Group C

  • United States: 1-2-0 > GD: +1 > 5 points
  • England: 1-2-0 > GD +1 > 5 points
  • Slovenia: 1-1-1 > GD: 0 > 4 points
  • Algeria: 0-1-2 > GD: -2 > 1 point

michael-bradley-of-usa-celebrates-second-goal-vs-slovenia-world-cupKP’s Final Thoughts:

  • The obvious highlight here is Landon Donovan’s heroic goal in extra time vs. Algeria, which not only kept the Americans alive, but also vaulted them to the top of the group
  • More than halfway through its second game, Slovenia was in the Group C driver’s seat – and now the team is homeward bound
  • England has the most corner kicks in the World Cup to this point – with 29

Group D

  • Germany: 2-0-1 > GD: +4 > 6 points
  • Ghana: 1-1-1 > GD: 0 > 4 points
  • Australia: 1-1-1 > GD: -3 > 4 points
  • Serbia: 1-0-2 > GD: -1 > 3 points

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • Ghana’s only two goals were scored on penalty kicks
  • The Socceroos from Australia played very well in its last two games, but the 4-0 blowout suffered against Germany was just too much to rebound from
  • Ghana is second in the World Cup in total shots – with 55

Group E

  • Netherlands: 3-0-0 > GD: +4 > 9 points
  • Japan: 2-0-1 > GD: +2 > 6 points
  • Denmark: 1-0-2 > GD: -3 > 3 points
  • Cameroon: 0-0-3 > GD: -3 > 0 points

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • Cameroon was the first team to be eliminated from this year’s World Cup
  • Japan (along with Group F winner Paraguay) has the lowest total number of corner kicks among the teams to advance – with only 7
  • Japan also has the most fouls suffered in this year’s World Cup (70)

Group F

  • Paraguay: 1-2-0 > GD: +2 > 5 points
  • Slovakia: 1-1-1 > GD: -1 > 4 points
  • New Zealand: 0-3-0 > GD: 0 > 3 points
  • Italy: 0-2-1 > GD: -1 > 2 points

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • Italy – the 2006 World Cup champions – finished last place in its group
  • Robert Vittek of Slovakia is one of two players to have scored 3 goals in the World Cup

Group G

  • Brazil: 2-1-0 > GD: +3 > 7 points
  • Portugal: 1-2-0 > GD: +7 > 5 points
  • Ivory Coast: 1-1-1 > GD: +1 > 4 points
  • North Korea: 0-0-3 > GD: -11 > 0 points

brazil-kakaKP’s Final Thoughts:

  • Brazil’s Kaka is one of three players in the World Cup with two assists.  It’s also important to note, because he sat out the final match due to a controversial second yellow card vs. the Ivory Coast
  • Portugal is one of two teams that did not allow a goal during group play
  • North Korea by far had the worst performance of the World Cup, losing all of its games.  But by the end, North Korea scored just one goal, while giving up 12

Group H

  • Spain: 2-0-1 > GD: +2 > 6 points
  • Chile: 2-0-1 > GD: +1 > 6 points
  • Switzerland: 1-1-1 > GD: 0 > 4 points
  • Honduras: 0-1-2 > GD: -3 > 1 point

KP’s Final Thoughts:

  • Chile has been offsides more than any other team in the World Cup thus far
  • After losing its opening game against Switzerland, Spain responded by winning its last two, and winning its group
  • Honduras was one of two teams to not score a goal in this year’s World Cup.  For what it’s worth, Algeria was the other team

2010 FIFA World Cup – Knockout Stage

Here’s a look at the bracket, featuring the 16 remaining teams of this year’s World Cup.

2010-fifa-world-cup-knockout-stage-bracket

The 2010 FIFA World Cup continues Saturday June 26, 2010, starting with South Korea vs. Uruguay.  Then, the real madness begins when the United States face Ghana.  So, pack up your vuvuzelas (actually, don’t), prepare your voice for lots of cheering and let’s get ready to go.

Be on the lookout for The Wife Hates Sports making predictions on how the bracket will unfold – as we’ll be looking for your own personal predictions.