World Cup permutations: Who is into the last 16 and when do they play?

Video caption, England dominate Wales 3-0 in thrilling game

Fifa World Cup

Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details

England will face Senegal in the World Cup last 16 at 19:00 GMT on Sunday, 4 December having topped Group B with the tournament's best group-stage record.

The knockouts begin on Saturday, 3 December when Netherlands face USA at 15:00 GMT in the last 16 before Argentina play Australia.

England or Senegal will take on the winners between holders France and Poland who play each at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

On Monday, 5 December Japan take on Croatia (15:00 GMT) and Brazil play South Korea (19:00 GMT). Then on Tuesday, 6 December the last 16 is completed with Morocco facing Spain (15:00 GMT) and Portugal playing Switzerland (19:00 GMT).

Some big teams fell in the group stages including four-time winners Germany and Belgium, the side ranked second in the world.

Wales, hosts Qatar, Ecuador, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Tunisia, Costa Rica, Canada, Cameroon, Serbia, Uruguay and Ghana also went out in the first round.

Here is the story of the group stages:

Group A

Image source, Getty Images

Three-time finalists the Netherlands advanced to the last 16 as Group A winners with a comfortable 2-0 win over hosts Qatar, who had already been eliminated from the tournament before kick-off.

Meanwhile, Senegal claimed a 2-1 victory over Ecuador as they progressed to the knockout stage for just the second time, having reached the quarter-finals on their debut in 2002.

Group B

England cruised into the last 16 with a 3-0 victory over Wales, who finished bottom of the group and were eliminated.

The USA went through in second spot behind England with a 1-0 victory over Iran, who had only needed a point to go through.

Group C

Image source, BBC Sport

Argentina claimed a 2-0 win over Poland on Wednesday to go through as group winners after they recovered from a stunning upset against Saudi Arabia in their opening game.

The Poles also progressed, narrowly on goal difference, after a dramatic final round of fixtures, with Mexico falling short despite beating the Saudis 2-1.

Group D

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Defending champions France had already clinched progression to the knockout stage after winning their opening two games and they finished top despite a shock 1-0 defeat by Tunisia on Wednesday.

That win was not enough to send the north African side through, however, as Australia beat disappointing Denmark 1-0 with Mathew Leckie's goal securing the runners-up spot for the Socceroos.

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Group E

All four teams in Group E were at one point progressing to the round of 16 in a thrilling final round of fixtures, but in the end it was Japan who topped the table, with Spain going through as runners-up.

For three second-half minutes Costa Rica were leading Germany 2-1, a result that would have seen them advance at Spain's expense.

But Germany bounced back to help Spain progress.

Group F

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Morocco, ranked 22 in the world, advanced as surprise Group F winners, beating Belgium and Canada either side of a goalless draw with Croatia.

Last tournament's runners-up Croatia rode their luck in a 0-0 draw with Belgium on Thursday to advance and send the Red Devils - semi-finalists in 2018 - home. Next edition's co-hosts Canada were already eliminated after two rounds of fixtures and failed to pick up a point in Qatar.

Group G

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Five-time winners Brazil secured their place in the World Cup knockout stages after two matches and a much-changed outfit lost 1-0 to Cameroon.

The African side were unable to advance with a win due to Switzerland's 3-2 victory over Serbia.

Serbia would have advanced if they had beaten the Swiss in their final group-stage match.

Group H

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Portugal joined France and Brazil in booking their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare thanks to a 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Monday.

Ghana were in second place going into the final round of fixtures but ended up finishing last in Group H after a 2-0 loss to Uruguay.

The Uruguayans were denied a spot in the last 16 due to Hwang Hee-chan injury-time winner against Portugal which saw South Korea advance.

Uruguay would have clinched the runners-up spot had they scored just one more goal against Ghana.

How was qualification decided?

If teams are level on points after the three group games, progress is decided by goal difference. The full tie-breaker criteria is:

  • Points accrued
  • Goal difference
  • Goals scored
  • Head-to-head results
  • Fair play: the team that has accumulated the fewest indiscipline points wins (a yellow card equals one point, a red card shown for two yellows equals three points, a direct red card equals four points and a direct red card shown to a player who was already on a yellow equals five points)
  • Lots drawn

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