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St. John’s is finally looking like a national championship contender 

St. John’s is finally looking like a national championship contender 

College basketball delivered another solid showcase matchup on Friday night when a raucous Madison Square Garden hosted No. 22 St. John’s battle with No. 3 UConn.

Circled on the calendar of college hoops fans all season, the Big East slugfest between two preseason top-five teams gave St. John’s a critical 81-72 victory — its most important win of the season. The Red Storm entered the 2025-26 season with national championship expectations. A sluggish 9-5 start, including a surprising Big East loss to Providence, derailed any early talk of titles.

Things have turned around for Rick Pitino’s team over the last several weeks. With a month left in the regular season, St. John’s is hovering closer to preseason standards. Nine consecutive wins puts the Red Storm in Big East title contention while vaulting them up the national rankings. Perhaps most importantly, the UConn win is the second Red Storm victory over a likely NCAA Tournament at-large team — quieting some concerns about a light St. John’s tournament profile.

Once considered a serious contender, St. John’s saw its national title odds dip to near triple digits before its recent surge. Is the UConn win a sign of bigger things to come for the Red Storm or merely the peak of a roller coaster first three months?

Balance gives St. John’s a consistent backbone

Last season saw St. John’s win the Big East on the way to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The trio of Big East Player of the Year R.J. Luis Jr., all-conference big man Zuby Ejiofor and guard Kadary Richmond was one of the most acclaimed groups in the sport.

Despite the star power, the Red Storm were ultimately upset by No. 10 seed Arkansas in the second round thanks to poor perimeter shooting and an untimely dud from Luis Jr. Finishing with only nine points on 3-for-17 shooting, a miserable shooting day from Luis Jr. — coupled with season-long 30 percent team 3-point shooting — sank a once-promising season before the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

Restocking the roster through the transfer portal, St. John’s couldn’t offset Luis Jr.’s NBA departure with individual production with only one player. Instead, they’ve effectively built a roster of effective portal additions around Ejiofor’s return inside.

Former Big East all-conference selection Bryce Hopkins provides adequate secondary scoring and a physical prowess that wears down opposing front lines. Athletic bursts from well-traveled former five-star forward Dillon Mitchell punctuates the frontcourt trio, with Mitchell’s defensive versatility adding to the group’s physicality.

The unconventional backcourt quartet of Ian Jackson, Oziyah Sellers, Joson Sanon and Dylan Darling all provide unique attributes that are beginning to click. Sellers and Jackson are starters and double-figure scorers. Sanon’s perimeter shooting prowess and Darling’s true point-guard abilities provide helpful minutes off the bench.

Although question marks remain about the lack of a true point guard in the starting lineup against elite teams, St. John’s is sharing the ball effectively and relying on the sum of all parts. Six different players have led a game in scoring this season and seven different players paced the Red Storm in assists for a matchup. Even if a main player is having an off-shooting game, there’s plenty of options to step up in the scoring column, something St. John’s lacked during last season’s upset against Arkansas.

With a top-25 offense and defense nationally, according to KenPom, the Red Storm boast a solid metric profile coupled with multiple capable scorers.

Improved perimeter shooting makes St. John’s more dangerous

A glaring weakness for St. John’s last season was the team’s horrendous 30 percent mark from 3-point range. There are still flaws with the retooled Red Storm roster. Perimeter shooting has noticeably come a long way since last season.

Up to a respectable 35 percent 3-point shooting as a team on the season, the Red Storm roster features significantly more perimeter shooting options than the previous season. After the UConn win, all four of Darling, Jackson, Sanon and Sellers are at or above 36 percent from 3-point range for the season.

Ejiofor also worked on his shooting range this offseason to improve to a respectable 33 percent from 3 on his limited looks — a noticeable improvement from 22 percent a season ago. Hopkins can also knock down tough perimeter looks despite only hitting 30 percent so far this season.

Nobody is mistaking St. John’s for an elite shooting outfit. But an elite defensive team boasting multiple capable perimeter shooters is a recipe for a dangerous matchup in March.

St. John’s still has work to do to become a true contender

One of the hottest teams in the country, St. John’s still has work to do to improve its underwhelming NCAA Tournament profile. Winning nine games in a row is a positive start for the Red Storm’s long-term outlook.

But a road win at Villanova and Friday night’s home win against UConn are the only two tournament-quality wins for St. John’s all season. And, thanks to a down year in the Big East, St. John’s only gets two more guaranteed regular season matchups against tournament-caliber teams before the postseason.

Already hovering near the 5- or 6-seed line in many Bracketology projections, any unexpected loss not coming to UConn or Villanova could quickly derail momentum for St. John’s. In a season where the top 10 teams are all loaded with high-end talent, there’s little room for error for a team like the Red Storm during the rest of the regular season.

If St. John’s is to make a deep run in March, it will likely come from a seed outside of the top three. Unless significant help comes in the form of multiple top-ten teams freefalling down the standings, the Red Storm lack the quality wins (and opportunity for quality wins) of other teams competing for strong seeding.

The good news? Rick Pitino teams have a reputation for getting stronger during the season. The win over UConn doesn’t define St. John’s as a true title contender after its rocky start just yet. It was also the first time all season St. John’s finally started living up to its lofty preseason billing.

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elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group-G match between Belgium and Iran at the Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday. 

#Belgium #Iran #LIVE #Score #FIFA #World #Cup #BEL #IRI #Red #Devils #eye #win #edition #Lukaku #receives #early #yellow">Belgium vs Iran LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026: BEL 0 – 0 IRI; Red Devils eye first win of edition; Lukaku receives early yellow  Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois walks out onto the pitch before the match. 
                                                                          | Photo Credit:  
                                      REUTERS
                                                                      
                        Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois walks out onto the pitch before the match.
                                                  | Photo Credit:  
                          REUTERS
                                              elcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group-G match between Belgium and Iran at the Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday.   #Belgium #Iran #LIVE #Score #FIFA #World #Cup #BEL #IRI #Red #Devils #eye #win #edition #Lukaku #receives #early #yellow

Deadspin | MLB roundup: Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper help Phillies thrash Mets  Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts with infielder Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the New York Mets in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images   Kyle Schwarber had three home runs, including two in one inning, for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 15-3 rout of the visiting New York Mets on Saturday.  Bryce Harper hit for the cycle while going 4-for-5 for the Phillies, who had lost two in a row. Starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (9-3) held New York to one run on five hits in six innings.  Schwarber homered twice in a third inning which saw Philadelphia bring 12 batters to the plate and score eight runs, chasing Mets starter Freddy Peralta (5-6), who allowed 10 runs on 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings. With his final homer in the seventh inning, Schwarber is up to 28 homers, four more than anyone else in the majors this season.  Mark Vientos and Carson Benge accounted for New York’s offense with a homer apiece, but the team still saw its two-game win streak snapped.  Tigers 4, White Sox 1  Dillon Dingler had two hits, including his team-high 17th homer, and drove in two runs as host Detroit downed Chicago to clinch a series victory.  James Outman and Jake Rogers drove in the Tigers’ other runs in support of Troy Melton (4-0), who allowed a leadoff homer before surrendering no more hits or runs over six innings of work. Kenley Jansen secured his second save in as many days and his ninth of the season.  Sam Antonacci reached base four times, including the White Sox’s only RBI on the leadoff homer. Opener Sean Newcomb retired all nine batters he faced before Joe Rock (0-1) gave up the lead in Detroit’s two-run sixth inning.  Reds 10, Yankees 2  Rookie Sal Stewart drove in six runs, Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run and Cincinnati rolled to a rout of host New York.  Stewart tied his career high in RBIs. Rookie Edwin Arroyo had four of the Reds’ 15 hits, supporting Andrew Abbott (5-4) to his first win in five starts. The left-hander allowed one run on five hits over five innings.  Paul Goldschmidt gave the Yankees an early lead with his first-inning solo homer. But New York finished 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, taking its most lopsided loss of the season after Will Warren (7-2) allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.  Braves 4, Brewers 3  Ozzie Albies hit a pair of home runs, including a game-ending two-run shot in the ninth inning, as Atlanta earned a victory over visiting Milwaukee.  The Braves have won the first two games between the National League division leaders and handed Milwaukee its third straight loss. It was Atlanta’s fifth walk-off win.  Dylan Lee (3-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth, earned the win. Aaron Ashby (10-1) took the loss. Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison gave up two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. Atlanta starter Chris Sale was working for the first time in 10 days. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, both unearned, on five hits.  Rockies 2, Pirates 1  Jake McCarthy hit an inside-the-park home run and also doubled, Tomoyuki Sugano tossed six strong innings to outduel Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes and Colorado survived a chaotic ninth inning to beat the Pirates in Denver.  Sugano (8-4) scattered four hits over six innings and Jaden Hill got the final two outs for his second save.  Spencer Horwitz homered and singled for Pittsburgh, which started the game with back-to-back hits and had just four more the rest of the way. Skenes (6-7) allowed just two runs on four hits and fanned eight over six innings.  Red Sox 5, Mariners 1  Wilyer Abreu homered and Connelly Early overcame a shaky first inning to make a quality start as Boston defeated host Seattle.  The Red Sox have won the first two games of the series and will go for a sweep Sunday afternoon. Early (6-5), who had lost his previous three starts, went six innings and allowed one run on two hits.  Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (5-4) was charged with five runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.  Twins 16, Diamondbacks 8  Byron Buxton’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run fifth inning for Minnesota, allowing it to coast to a big win against Arizona in Phoenix.  Brooks Lee had four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs, Victor Caratini had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored, Ryan Kreidler had three hits and four RBIs, and Luke Keaschall also had three hits and scored three times for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Taj Bradley (6-3) allowed two runs and three hits over five innings.  Jorge Barrosa homered and doubled, Pavin Smith had two hits and an RBI, Tommy Troy had two hits and a run scored, and Ildemaro Vargas delivered a three-run double for Arizona. Zac Gallen (3-6) surrendered career highs of nine runs and 12 hits over four-plus innings.  Nationals 4, Rays 3   Andres Chaparro dribbled in the tiebreaking run, Washington’s bullpen finished with 6 1/3 strong innings and the Nationals beat Tampa Bay to even their series with the Rays.  CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews (two hits) each had a solo homer. Nasim Nunez was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI as the Nats won for the first time in six games against the Rays. Winner Mitchell Parker (3-3), Brad Lord and Clayton Beeter (fifth save) combined to allow just one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings while fanning nine and walking three.  For the Rays, Junior Caminero went 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and intentional walk but made a baserunning blunder in the seventh with the tying runner on third. Yandy Diaz had two hits. Taylor Walls doubled, scored, walked twice and stole two bases.  Padres 6, Rangers 4  Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the 10th inning to lift San Diego over Texas in Arlington, Texas.  Joe Ross (0-1) threw the 10th for Texas, walking Samad Taylor to place runners on first and second. Machado then crushed a 408-foot blast to give the Padres a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Mason Miller allowed Wyatt Langford’s two-out RBI single, but struck out Brandon Nimmo to secure his National League-leading 20th save.  Walker Buehler threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run, five-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one for the Padres.  Blue Jays 8, Cubs 6  Daulton Varsho and Kazuma Okamoto each hit three-run home runs as Toronto scored eight straight runs to top host Chicago.  Jeff Hoffman (5-4) picked up the win for the Blue Jays by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Louis Varland earned his 15th save by shutting down the Cubs in the eighth and the ninth.  Chicago jumped out to a 5-0 lead when Matt Shaw hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Pete Crow-Armstrong added a two-run shot in the sixth. Jacob Webb (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s RBI single that tied the game and Okamoto’s homer that gave Toronto the lead in the eighth.  Marlins 6, Giants 3  Heriberto Hernandez slugged a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer during a crucial four-run fourth inning as host Miami defeated San Francisco to climb above .500 for the first time since April 13.  Max Meyer improved to 8-0 with a 2.80 ERA. He allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings for the Marlins, who benefitted greatly from four San Francisco errors in the first four innings which created two unearned runs.  The Giants were led by Casey Schmitt, who hit his 16th homer of the season along with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Jung Hoo Lee went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs. Starter Trevor McDonald (2-5) contributed to the issues as he hit three batters and walked three in three innings, allowing five runs (three earned).  Guardians 8, Astros 1  Travis Bazzana recorded his first career four-hit game and first multi-homer game while Joey Cantillo worked a career-high-tying eight innings as Cleveland cruised past host Houston.  Bazzana finished 4-for-4 with three runs and five RBIs — also a single-game best. Teammate Kyle Manzardo finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Cantillo (6-3) logged more than six innings for the first time this season en route to his third quality start. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits and struck out a season-high-tying nine batters.  Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-3), the American League Pitcher of the Month in May, continued his June swoon. The right-hander allowed a season-worst six runs on six hits while posting eight strikeouts over six innings. Arrighetti is 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA across four starts this month.  Orioles 3, Dodgers 2  Left-hander Trevor Rogers gave up one hit over seven scoreless innings and Blaze Alexander had a two-run double as Baltimore escaped with a win over host Los Angeles.  Rogers (4-7) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and finished with two walks and six strikeouts. The Orioles improved to 2-3 on a West Coast road trip that started in Seattle and concludes against the Los Angeles Angels this coming week.  Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5) went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. After missing one game for the birth of his second child, Shohei Ohtani returned to the leadoff spot and hit a home run in the ninth inning for Los Angeles, which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.  Angels 7, Athletics 0  Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel delivered consecutive two-run doubles in a four-run sixth inning to help Los Angeles record a shutout over the host Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.  Denzer Guzman homered and Jo Adell and Donovan Walton had three apiece hits as the Angels ended a streak of five consecutive losses against the Athletics while winning for just the second time in the past seven contests. Walbert Urena (5-5) gave up four hits over five scoreless innings.  J.T. Ginn (5-4) of the Athletics was charged with four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Kyle #Schwarber #Bryce #Harper #Phillies #thrash #MetsJun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts with infielder Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the New York Mets in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Kyle Schwarber had three home runs, including two in one inning, for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 15-3 rout of the visiting New York Mets on Saturday.

Bryce Harper hit for the cycle while going 4-for-5 for the Phillies, who had lost two in a row. Starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (9-3) held New York to one run on five hits in six innings.

Schwarber homered twice in a third inning which saw Philadelphia bring 12 batters to the plate and score eight runs, chasing Mets starter Freddy Peralta (5-6), who allowed 10 runs on 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings. With his final homer in the seventh inning, Schwarber is up to 28 homers, four more than anyone else in the majors this season.

Mark Vientos and Carson Benge accounted for New York’s offense with a homer apiece, but the team still saw its two-game win streak snapped.

Tigers 4, White Sox 1

Dillon Dingler had two hits, including his team-high 17th homer, and drove in two runs as host Detroit downed Chicago to clinch a series victory.

James Outman and Jake Rogers drove in the Tigers’ other runs in support of Troy Melton (4-0), who allowed a leadoff homer before surrendering no more hits or runs over six innings of work. Kenley Jansen secured his second save in as many days and his ninth of the season.

Sam Antonacci reached base four times, including the White Sox’s only RBI on the leadoff homer. Opener Sean Newcomb retired all nine batters he faced before Joe Rock (0-1) gave up the lead in Detroit’s two-run sixth inning.

Reds 10, Yankees 2

Rookie Sal Stewart drove in six runs, Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run and Cincinnati rolled to a rout of host New York.

Stewart tied his career high in RBIs. Rookie Edwin Arroyo had four of the Reds’ 15 hits, supporting Andrew Abbott (5-4) to his first win in five starts. The left-hander allowed one run on five hits over five innings.

Paul Goldschmidt gave the Yankees an early lead with his first-inning solo homer. But New York finished 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, taking its most lopsided loss of the season after Will Warren (7-2) allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Braves 4, Brewers 3

Ozzie Albies hit a pair of home runs, including a game-ending two-run shot in the ninth inning, as Atlanta earned a victory over visiting Milwaukee.

The Braves have won the first two games between the National League division leaders and handed Milwaukee its third straight loss. It was Atlanta’s fifth walk-off win.

Dylan Lee (3-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth, earned the win. Aaron Ashby (10-1) took the loss. Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison gave up two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. Atlanta starter Chris Sale was working for the first time in 10 days. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, both unearned, on five hits.

Rockies 2, Pirates 1

Jake McCarthy hit an inside-the-park home run and also doubled, Tomoyuki Sugano tossed six strong innings to outduel Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes and Colorado survived a chaotic ninth inning to beat the Pirates in Denver.

Sugano (8-4) scattered four hits over six innings and Jaden Hill got the final two outs for his second save.

Spencer Horwitz homered and singled for Pittsburgh, which started the game with back-to-back hits and had just four more the rest of the way. Skenes (6-7) allowed just two runs on four hits and fanned eight over six innings.

Red Sox 5, Mariners 1

Wilyer Abreu homered and Connelly Early overcame a shaky first inning to make a quality start as Boston defeated host Seattle.

The Red Sox have won the first two games of the series and will go for a sweep Sunday afternoon. Early (6-5), who had lost his previous three starts, went six innings and allowed one run on two hits.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (5-4) was charged with five runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Twins 16, Diamondbacks 8

Byron Buxton’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run fifth inning for Minnesota, allowing it to coast to a big win against Arizona in Phoenix.

Brooks Lee had four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs, Victor Caratini had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored, Ryan Kreidler had three hits and four RBIs, and Luke Keaschall also had three hits and scored three times for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Taj Bradley (6-3) allowed two runs and three hits over five innings.

Jorge Barrosa homered and doubled, Pavin Smith had two hits and an RBI, Tommy Troy had two hits and a run scored, and Ildemaro Vargas delivered a three-run double for Arizona. Zac Gallen (3-6) surrendered career highs of nine runs and 12 hits over four-plus innings.


Nationals 4, Rays 3

Andres Chaparro dribbled in the tiebreaking run, Washington’s bullpen finished with 6 1/3 strong innings and the Nationals beat Tampa Bay to even their series with the Rays.

CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews (two hits) each had a solo homer. Nasim Nunez was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI as the Nats won for the first time in six games against the Rays. Winner Mitchell Parker (3-3), Brad Lord and Clayton Beeter (fifth save) combined to allow just one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings while fanning nine and walking three.

For the Rays, Junior Caminero went 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and intentional walk but made a baserunning blunder in the seventh with the tying runner on third. Yandy Diaz had two hits. Taylor Walls doubled, scored, walked twice and stole two bases.

Padres 6, Rangers 4

Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the 10th inning to lift San Diego over Texas in Arlington, Texas.

Joe Ross (0-1) threw the 10th for Texas, walking Samad Taylor to place runners on first and second. Machado then crushed a 408-foot blast to give the Padres a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Mason Miller allowed Wyatt Langford’s two-out RBI single, but struck out Brandon Nimmo to secure his National League-leading 20th save.

Walker Buehler threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run, five-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one for the Padres.

Blue Jays 8, Cubs 6

Daulton Varsho and Kazuma Okamoto each hit three-run home runs as Toronto scored eight straight runs to top host Chicago.

Jeff Hoffman (5-4) picked up the win for the Blue Jays by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Louis Varland earned his 15th save by shutting down the Cubs in the eighth and the ninth.

Chicago jumped out to a 5-0 lead when Matt Shaw hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Pete Crow-Armstrong added a two-run shot in the sixth. Jacob Webb (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s RBI single that tied the game and Okamoto’s homer that gave Toronto the lead in the eighth.

Marlins 6, Giants 3

Heriberto Hernandez slugged a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer during a crucial four-run fourth inning as host Miami defeated San Francisco to climb above .500 for the first time since April 13.

Max Meyer improved to 8-0 with a 2.80 ERA. He allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings for the Marlins, who benefitted greatly from four San Francisco errors in the first four innings which created two unearned runs.

The Giants were led by Casey Schmitt, who hit his 16th homer of the season along with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Jung Hoo Lee went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs. Starter Trevor McDonald (2-5) contributed to the issues as he hit three batters and walked three in three innings, allowing five runs (three earned).

Guardians 8, Astros 1

Travis Bazzana recorded his first career four-hit game and first multi-homer game while Joey Cantillo worked a career-high-tying eight innings as Cleveland cruised past host Houston.

Bazzana finished 4-for-4 with three runs and five RBIs — also a single-game best. Teammate Kyle Manzardo finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Cantillo (6-3) logged more than six innings for the first time this season en route to his third quality start. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits and struck out a season-high-tying nine batters.

Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-3), the American League Pitcher of the Month in May, continued his June swoon. The right-hander allowed a season-worst six runs on six hits while posting eight strikeouts over six innings. Arrighetti is 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA across four starts this month.

Orioles 3, Dodgers 2

Left-hander Trevor Rogers gave up one hit over seven scoreless innings and Blaze Alexander had a two-run double as Baltimore escaped with a win over host Los Angeles.

Rogers (4-7) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and finished with two walks and six strikeouts. The Orioles improved to 2-3 on a West Coast road trip that started in Seattle and concludes against the Los Angeles Angels this coming week.

Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5) went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. After missing one game for the birth of his second child, Shohei Ohtani returned to the leadoff spot and hit a home run in the ninth inning for Los Angeles, which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.

Angels 7, Athletics 0

Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel delivered consecutive two-run doubles in a four-run sixth inning to help Los Angeles record a shutout over the host Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

Denzer Guzman homered and Jo Adell and Donovan Walton had three apiece hits as the Angels ended a streak of five consecutive losses against the Athletics while winning for just the second time in the past seven contests. Walbert Urena (5-5) gave up four hits over five scoreless innings.

J.T. Ginn (5-4) of the Athletics was charged with four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Kyle #Schwarber #Bryce #Harper #Phillies #thrash #Mets">Deadspin | MLB roundup: Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper help Phillies thrash Mets  Jun 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) reacts with infielder Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a home run against the New York Mets in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images   Kyle Schwarber had three home runs, including two in one inning, for the Philadelphia Phillies in a 15-3 rout of the visiting New York Mets on Saturday.  Bryce Harper hit for the cycle while going 4-for-5 for the Phillies, who had lost two in a row. Starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (9-3) held New York to one run on five hits in six innings.  Schwarber homered twice in a third inning which saw Philadelphia bring 12 batters to the plate and score eight runs, chasing Mets starter Freddy Peralta (5-6), who allowed 10 runs on 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings. With his final homer in the seventh inning, Schwarber is up to 28 homers, four more than anyone else in the majors this season.  Mark Vientos and Carson Benge accounted for New York’s offense with a homer apiece, but the team still saw its two-game win streak snapped.  Tigers 4, White Sox 1  Dillon Dingler had two hits, including his team-high 17th homer, and drove in two runs as host Detroit downed Chicago to clinch a series victory.  James Outman and Jake Rogers drove in the Tigers’ other runs in support of Troy Melton (4-0), who allowed a leadoff homer before surrendering no more hits or runs over six innings of work. Kenley Jansen secured his second save in as many days and his ninth of the season.  Sam Antonacci reached base four times, including the White Sox’s only RBI on the leadoff homer. Opener Sean Newcomb retired all nine batters he faced before Joe Rock (0-1) gave up the lead in Detroit’s two-run sixth inning.  Reds 10, Yankees 2  Rookie Sal Stewart drove in six runs, Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run and Cincinnati rolled to a rout of host New York.  Stewart tied his career high in RBIs. Rookie Edwin Arroyo had four of the Reds’ 15 hits, supporting Andrew Abbott (5-4) to his first win in five starts. The left-hander allowed one run on five hits over five innings.  Paul Goldschmidt gave the Yankees an early lead with his first-inning solo homer. But New York finished 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, taking its most lopsided loss of the season after Will Warren (7-2) allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.  Braves 4, Brewers 3  Ozzie Albies hit a pair of home runs, including a game-ending two-run shot in the ninth inning, as Atlanta earned a victory over visiting Milwaukee.  The Braves have won the first two games between the National League division leaders and handed Milwaukee its third straight loss. It was Atlanta’s fifth walk-off win.  Dylan Lee (3-0), who pitched a scoreless ninth, earned the win. Aaron Ashby (10-1) took the loss. Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison gave up two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings. Atlanta starter Chris Sale was working for the first time in 10 days. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, both unearned, on five hits.  Rockies 2, Pirates 1  Jake McCarthy hit an inside-the-park home run and also doubled, Tomoyuki Sugano tossed six strong innings to outduel Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes and Colorado survived a chaotic ninth inning to beat the Pirates in Denver.  Sugano (8-4) scattered four hits over six innings and Jaden Hill got the final two outs for his second save.  Spencer Horwitz homered and singled for Pittsburgh, which started the game with back-to-back hits and had just four more the rest of the way. Skenes (6-7) allowed just two runs on four hits and fanned eight over six innings.  Red Sox 5, Mariners 1  Wilyer Abreu homered and Connelly Early overcame a shaky first inning to make a quality start as Boston defeated host Seattle.  The Red Sox have won the first two games of the series and will go for a sweep Sunday afternoon. Early (6-5), who had lost his previous three starts, went six innings and allowed one run on two hits.  Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (5-4) was charged with five runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.  Twins 16, Diamondbacks 8  Byron Buxton’s grand slam highlighted a 10-run fifth inning for Minnesota, allowing it to coast to a big win against Arizona in Phoenix.  Brooks Lee had four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs, Victor Caratini had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored, Ryan Kreidler had three hits and four RBIs, and Luke Keaschall also had three hits and scored three times for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Taj Bradley (6-3) allowed two runs and three hits over five innings.  Jorge Barrosa homered and doubled, Pavin Smith had two hits and an RBI, Tommy Troy had two hits and a run scored, and Ildemaro Vargas delivered a three-run double for Arizona. Zac Gallen (3-6) surrendered career highs of nine runs and 12 hits over four-plus innings.  Nationals 4, Rays 3   Andres Chaparro dribbled in the tiebreaking run, Washington’s bullpen finished with 6 1/3 strong innings and the Nationals beat Tampa Bay to even their series with the Rays.  CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews (two hits) each had a solo homer. Nasim Nunez was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI as the Nats won for the first time in six games against the Rays. Winner Mitchell Parker (3-3), Brad Lord and Clayton Beeter (fifth save) combined to allow just one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings while fanning nine and walking three.  For the Rays, Junior Caminero went 3-for-3 with a run, RBI and intentional walk but made a baserunning blunder in the seventh with the tying runner on third. Yandy Diaz had two hits. Taylor Walls doubled, scored, walked twice and stole two bases.  Padres 6, Rangers 4  Manny Machado hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the 10th inning to lift San Diego over Texas in Arlington, Texas.  Joe Ross (0-1) threw the 10th for Texas, walking Samad Taylor to place runners on first and second. Machado then crushed a 408-foot blast to give the Padres a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Mason Miller allowed Wyatt Langford’s two-out RBI single, but struck out Brandon Nimmo to secure his National League-leading 20th save.  Walker Buehler threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run, five-hit ball, striking out seven and walking one for the Padres.  Blue Jays 8, Cubs 6  Daulton Varsho and Kazuma Okamoto each hit three-run home runs as Toronto scored eight straight runs to top host Chicago.  Jeff Hoffman (5-4) picked up the win for the Blue Jays by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Louis Varland earned his 15th save by shutting down the Cubs in the eighth and the ninth.  Chicago jumped out to a 5-0 lead when Matt Shaw hit a three-run homer in the second inning and Pete Crow-Armstrong added a two-run shot in the sixth. Jacob Webb (1-2) allowed three runs on three hits, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s RBI single that tied the game and Okamoto’s homer that gave Toronto the lead in the eighth.  Marlins 6, Giants 3  Heriberto Hernandez slugged a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer during a crucial four-run fourth inning as host Miami defeated San Francisco to climb above .500 for the first time since April 13.  Max Meyer improved to 8-0 with a 2.80 ERA. He allowed seven hits and two runs over five innings for the Marlins, who benefitted greatly from four San Francisco errors in the first four innings which created two unearned runs.  The Giants were led by Casey Schmitt, who hit his 16th homer of the season along with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Jung Hoo Lee went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs. Starter Trevor McDonald (2-5) contributed to the issues as he hit three batters and walked three in three innings, allowing five runs (three earned).  Guardians 8, Astros 1  Travis Bazzana recorded his first career four-hit game and first multi-homer game while Joey Cantillo worked a career-high-tying eight innings as Cleveland cruised past host Houston.  Bazzana finished 4-for-4 with three runs and five RBIs — also a single-game best. Teammate Kyle Manzardo finished 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Cantillo (6-3) logged more than six innings for the first time this season en route to his third quality start. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits and struck out a season-high-tying nine batters.  Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-3), the American League Pitcher of the Month in May, continued his June swoon. The right-hander allowed a season-worst six runs on six hits while posting eight strikeouts over six innings. Arrighetti is 0-2 with a 6.95 ERA across four starts this month.  Orioles 3, Dodgers 2  Left-hander Trevor Rogers gave up one hit over seven scoreless innings and Blaze Alexander had a two-run double as Baltimore escaped with a win over host Los Angeles.  Rogers (4-7) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and finished with two walks and six strikeouts. The Orioles improved to 2-3 on a West Coast road trip that started in Seattle and concludes against the Los Angeles Angels this coming week.  Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5) went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. After missing one game for the birth of his second child, Shohei Ohtani returned to the leadoff spot and hit a home run in the ninth inning for Los Angeles, which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.  Angels 7, Athletics 0  Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel delivered consecutive two-run doubles in a four-run sixth inning to help Los Angeles record a shutout over the host Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.  Denzer Guzman homered and Jo Adell and Donovan Walton had three apiece hits as the Angels ended a streak of five consecutive losses against the Athletics while winning for just the second time in the past seven contests. Walbert Urena (5-5) gave up four hits over five scoreless innings.  J.T. Ginn (5-4) of the Athletics was charged with four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Kyle #Schwarber #Bryce #Harper #Phillies #thrash #Mets

On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain">World Cup 2026: How Germany clinched Group E and what scenarios remain  On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.What are the Group E standings?Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsGermany20092+76Ivory Coast1012203Ecuador01101-11Curaçao01117-61What are the next Group E matches?Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.What are the current scenarios for Group E?Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.  #World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain

first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain">World Cup 2026: How Germany clinched Group E and what scenarios remain

On Thursday night, Mexico became the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, there is a chance for a team in Group E to join them.

Entering Saturday’s two group stage matches, both Germany and the Ivory Coast have a chance to book a spot in the Round of 32. And, as the scheduling gods would have it, those two sides will meet in Toronto Saturday afternoon.

Here are the clinching scenarios for Group E.

Update: Deniz Undav’s goal in stoppage time for Germany broke a 1-1 tie against the Ivory Coast, and booked a spot in the Round of 32 with Germany’s 2-1 win. Germany will win Group E if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao later tonight.

Update (Saturday night): With the draw between Ecuador and Curaçao, Germany has won Group E. Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao can all still advance.

What are the Group E standings?

Here are the current standings in Group E after Ivory Coast-Germany:

Team

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Points

Germany20092+76
Ivory Coast1012203
Ecuador01101-11
Curaçao01117-61

What are the next Group E matches?

Four matches remain in Group E, starting with a pair on Saturday, June 20. All times listed are Eastern.

Germany 2, Ivory Coast 1
Ecuador 0, Curaçao 0

Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 p.m.

What are the current scenarios for Group E?

Here is what you need to know entering the matches on Saturday, June 20, starting with the tilt between Germany and the Ivory Coast.

Germany can book a spot in the Round of 32 with a win, and could win the group with a win and some help. If Germany beats the Ivory Coast, they will book a spot in the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group.

However, if they win, they will clinch the group if Ecuador draws or loses to Curaçao. More on this when we discuss the tiebreaker scenarios. The winner of Group E will play a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.

The Ivory Coast has a similar path to winning the group on Saturday. If they win on Saturday, they are into the Round of 32 as they are guaranteed to finish in the top two of the group. If they beat Germany, then they will clinch Group E and take on a third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F provided Curaçao does not beat Ecuador.

On the other side of the coin, Curaçao can be eliminated on Saturday with a loss to Ecuador, and an Ivory Coast win or draw against Germany.

Ecuador also faces elimination on Saturday. If they lose to Curaçao, and Germany wins or draws against the Ivory Coast, then Ecuador is eliminated.

Now we get to the tiebreaker scenarios that come into play with Group E, starting on Saturday, June 20.

Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year. If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.

In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.

If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.

If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.

That brings us to the scenarios entering play on June 20, and we will use Germany as the first example. As noted above, Germany clinches Group E with a win against the Ivory Coast, provided Ecuador does not beat Curaçao. With a win against the Ivory Coast, Germany would move to six points in Group E play.

But if Ecuador beats Curaçao, they would have three points, and since Germany and Ecuador play in the final match of Group E play, under these tiebreakers Ecuador could still win the group. In this scenario, if Ecuador goes on to beat Germany, both teams would have six points in group play, but Ecuador would have the “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned,” and would win the group. But if Ecuador loses or ties against Curaçao, then this tiebreaker cannot come into play.

This is also why the Ivory Coast needs a win, plus a Curaçao loss or tie, to clinch Group E.

#World #Cup #Germany #clinched #Group #scenarios #remain

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