Round of Sixteen (2nd Round)
— + remarks on the top 8 teams' performances & possibilities
The table that follows reflects the final standings in each of the eight 1st Round Groups, to which standings, the results of the fourth World Cup matches played by each of the squads, below, have been added. Winning teams appear in bold type.
See the previous page (Rating Criteria) for the criteria followed for the addition of points, beyond those with which each squad emerged from the 1st Round.
Besides this, also original is that, below, all teams are placed together, so as better to allow an overall sense of their campaigns thus far (the light green lines placed at every four teams have no meaning: they are simply there, in order to facilitate reading across the table). Finally, this joint table conveniently allows comparing also among the various Groups from which the listed teams have emerged.
Pls. see the brief notes following the table (click on each of the 
text images, on the table header) to understand what each column indicates.
Click on a squad's name or flag, to reach its page in this eBook, the same applying to a Group's letter (green image, on the left). The rows in bold type signal the squads moving on to the next stage of the World Cup (i.e., the winning teams, as above mentioned).
| Rank |
1Rnk |
Gr |
Pos |
Round of 16 |
Matches |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
Goals+ |
Goals– |
Points |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
3 |
 |
1 |
 Brazil |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
1 |
12 |
| 2 |
2 |
 |
1 |
 Germany |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
2 |
12 |
| 3 |
4 |
 |
1 |
 Portugal |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
12 |
| 3 |
6 |
 |
1 |
 Italy  |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
8 |
 |
1 |
 England |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
| 6 |
5 |
 |
1 |
 Argentina |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
2 |
9 |
| 7 |
1 |
 |
1 |
 Spain |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
9 |
| 8 |
13 |
 |
2 |
 France |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 9 |
7 |
|
1 |
 Switzerland |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
| 10 |
11 |
|
2 |
 Ukraine |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
| 11 |
9 |
|
2 |
 Netherlands |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
| 12 |
10 |
|
2 |
 Ecuador |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 13 |
12 |
|
2 |
 Ghana |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
| 14 |
14 |
|
2 |
 Sweden |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 15 |
15 |
|
2 |
 Mexico |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
| 16 |
16 |
|
2 |
 Australia |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rank |
1Rnk |
Gr |
Pos |
Round of 16 |
Matches |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
Goals+ |
Goals– |
Points |
Pos = First Round Group Placement–click on each Group letter, above, to see entire Group standings Points = Points helping portray Squads' performances, relatively to each other, as if in a championship based on points. Above are the teams that have played four matches. The next page (Quarter-Finals) displays teams that have moved on to their fifth match, both the Rank & the Points columns (dark green, on either side) reflecting the results
of their five matches, thus far.
Below is the same table as above, except that it includes just the teams moving on
to play their fifth match–i.e., the Quarter-Final matches– in the World Cup.
Related Remarks:
On the above table, one can see that a team from each First Round Group has made its way into the Quarter-Finals. This type of symmetry is not always the case. In the 2002 World Cup, for example, there were two teams from both Group C (Turkey and Brazil) and Group C (Korea Republic and the United States), whereas no team at all from either Group G or Group H, in the Quarter Finals.
It also emerges that, though France defeated Spain in the Round of Sixteen, Spain's overall 2006 campaign has actually been better than France's, even when taking into consideration that match in which Spain was ousted from the World Cup by conceding victory to the French side.
Though the contrast between their campaigns is less obvious, a glance at Switzerland's and Ukraine's numbers, above, offers a more or less analogous conclusion.
Of course different teams have faced challenges at different degrees within their Groups; so whatever cross-Group comparison (as enabled by the tables above, or below) can only indicate general trends. But bearing this disadvantage in mind, one finds that fairly similar numbers curiously emerge for Portugal, Italy and England, though the last two are two points behind Portugal, whereas England has conceded one more goal than the first two teams.
From the above, Germany and Brazil (albeit the latter still concealing the 'beautiful game' everyone had expected...) emerge both with the best campaigns of all, followed closely either by Argentina or by the above-mentioned European trio–depending on whether one chooses to focus on points (which are directly related to victories), or chooses to focus on goals scored⁄conceded (where Brazil has a slight advantage over both Germany and Argentina, the last of which, in turn, being at a disadvantage, points-wise, to both Germany and Brazil). In fact, from a mere points (or victories) perspective, Argentina's campaign surprisingly emerges in sixth place, above, just slightly superior to that of already eliminated Spain!
Two points of contrast, however, emerge, side by side with the likeness just remarked. The first [1] is that three out of Spain's nine goals in 2006 have been derived from penalty kicks, whereas all of Argentina's ten goals have sprung naturally, in the weaving of their skillful game (their last goal against Mexico, scored by Maxi Rodriguez, is possibly the most beautiful so far, this World Cup!). The second [2] and more relevant point is that, unlike what has so far seemed to be traditional of Spain (brief details here), Argentina has shown no such tendency toward dropping out of competition once the knock-out stages have begun.
To conclude the first part of the remarks on the above table, it is relevant to point that (possibly surprising to most), if the World up moved on as a competition by points (as in the 1st Round), Brazil would currently be on the lead, that is, using the criteria of points (3 for victories, 1 for draws) and of goals scored vs. conceded. Since Brazil has so far disappointed most, by not playing their usually exuberant football–except in the match against 
Japan, in which some of their known flame was certainly on the pitch–one would more likely expect to find Germany or Argentina topping the list.
Well, what can the table above suggest, in terms of results to come? (that is, bearing in mind that soccer and logic are not necessarily congruent, and often are not!) In the coming World Cup matches, the winner of Germany x Argentina will be measuring forces against the winner of Italy x Ukraine , whereas the winner of Brazil x France will be measuring forces against the winner of England x Portugal . Then, the two teams that win twice (i.e., Quarter-Final and Semi-Final matches), among each of the four pairs of teams just mentioned, will be playing the Final Match. Are the likely candidates thus beginning to emerge before your eyes?...
Teams' performances & 
possibilities–based on the above:
World Cup tradition has so far played an undeniable role in the 2006 World Cup (see Records & Memorable Details), such as in the match involving France and Spain, which Spain might have started as the more likely team to win, only to overpowered by a French side that has a stronger overall World Cup curriculum. Should this same trend continue, Italy is likely to have the edge over Ukraine (a result which would appear logical, in addition, considering both their 2006 campaigns)–that is, as long as the Italian nerves do not fall prey of all the problems that have been escalating, back home. By the same token, England may likewise have the final edge over Portugal, despite appearing slightly behind Portugal, on the above table, and despite the outcome of their recent European Cup duel (in which Portugal prevailed, after a penalty shoot-out). In addition to being far more a World Cup regular than Portugal, England has the edge, historically speaking: in the 21 matches the two teams have played, Portugal has won only 3 times.
Tradition and history apart, 'Lady Luck' seems to be leaning toward the English camp, moreover, an asset that could certainly be enhanced by Svend-Göran Eriksson's successfully working out what seems to have been an English middle field 'puzzle,' thus far. For whereas it looks like Gary Neville will be fit to play, besides Wayne Rooney's progressing in form & confidence, the situation is not nearly as favorable on the opposite camp, though Luis Figo is confirmed (after the threat of a suspension by FIFA for his 'mix-up' in heading a Dutch player instead of the ball). But two important mid-field players in the Portuguese squad (Costinha and Brazilian-born, Portuguese-naturalized, Deco) are definitely out, due to red cards in their Round of Sixteen 'pseudo-war' staged against the Netherlands–undoubtedly the tensest and most violent match, so far, in this World Cup, where there was sadly little football to enjoy, even from a renowned player as Luis Figo.
So, luckily once more for England, not only the Portuguese middle field will be depleted, but also the Portuguese boys are forced to hold their horses and behave sportingly, worrying primarily about kicking the ball–lest Luis Felipe Scolari should end up with an insufficient number of players for their next match, against Brazil or France...if they make past England. Moreover (a possible third smile from 'Lady Luck'), Cristiano Ronaldo's recovery (from injuries suffered in that same 'pseudo-war') is uncertain–although, admittedly, his absence may not be such a great loss for the Portuguese side, after all, given that the young Portuguese striker has not yet lived up to the reputation that preceded him to this World Cup. (Could the striker finally find his best game against England?...) On the other hand, in this context of the Portuguese firing power, Deco's absence is undoubtedly a significant loss in England's behalf, given that Deco's likely replacement, Simão, is a more defensive player, whereas Deco lends the team equally talented offensive⁄defensive versatility. What must not be forgotten (and a fact that plays in Portugal's hands) is -() Luis Felipe Scolari's respectable record of World Cup match victories (see Records & Memorable Details). Not only is Scolari a very experienced coach but also, and differently from the composed -() Eriksson, Scolari becomes a sort of twelfth player, once a match kicks off.
The matches involving Germany x Argentina and Brazil x France , on the other hand, both of which are 'replays' of previous World Cup Final Matches, hardly allow any room for logical reasoning, though France's campaign has been a bit beneath Brazil's, thus far, the same going (though less intensely so) for Argentina's (despite their impressive exhibition against 
Serbia and Montenegro) in view of Germany's straight wins, thus far. But the advantageous fact that Germany is the host team, this World Cup (2006), can by no means be overlooked. So, possibly, Germany and Brazil emerge with a slight margin of advantage over their respective rivals, this constituting, however, nothing sufficient to suggest any real tendency.
Supposing that Italy's and England's matches follow what might be called World Cup logic (albeit its often failing to work...), they would more likely than not be playing the 3rd.Place Match than the Final Match. For, if both make it past Ukraine and Portugal, respectively, their chances would probably not be as good, that is, in principle, when they face the winners of Germany x Argentina and Brazil x France , respectively–unless France defeats Brazil in the Quarter-Finals...then Italy's chances could increase. For since France has not had anything close to a convincing campaign, so far, this fact would tend to suggest that they could be slightly at a disadvantage, or in a fairly analogous situation to that of Italy, in the Semi-Finals. But perhaps the French side has suddenly 'woken up' against Spain...their next match (against Brazil) probably allowing an insight in this regard. Italy, in turn, has many a time not played convincingly, to start with, only to rise powerful and threatening toward the World Cup final matches...
Argentina's campaign, in turn, started out with a sound 6-0 over (a now known) weakened Serbia and Montenegro side (most surprisingly, the weakest of all 2006 World Cup campaigns–see First Round Round-up). But taking a global outlook, Argentina's 2006 campaign suggests a more likely analogy to that of Spain, as already remarked above, than to the campaigns of France or Brazil, who are hopefully upping their games.
