Toronto’s World Cup fans taking in today’s final slate of group matches will need to arm themselves with varying degrees of hope, depending on which country they’re cheering for, and a calculator to figure out the odds.
All eight teams involved are still mathematically in it, although for some, like Portugal, the odds are long.
In Toronto’s Little Portugal, anchored by Dundas Street West between Ossington (to the east) and Lansdowne (to the west) avenues, they will need a lot of hope with Portugal needing to beat Ghana by a big goal differential.
For its part, Ghana has the same task, they just don’t need to win by quite as much. A tie automatically eliminates them both. Both teams enter the game with a tie and a loss.
And even if Portugal (or Ghana) accomplish their task it could all be for naught depending on what happens in the other group match involving Germany and the U.S., who each sport a win and a tie. A tie between those two frontrunners would send them both on. Case closed.
A couple of World Cup hot spots for Toronto’s German community are Blue Danube, 1686 Ellesmere Rd. in Scarborough and Etobicoke’s Musket Restaurant, 40 Advance Road in Etobicoke.
Where it gets interesting is if there is a winner in both of the matches because the loser of the US/Germany match would then be tied in points with the winner of the Portugal/Ghana match.
Suffice it to say that the loser of a US/Germany match would still be in the best position to move on, provided that the winner of the Portugal/Ghana match didn’t manage to make up the difference in goal differential.
Portugal is in the worst spot because of their opening 4-0 lopsided loss to Germany.
Both games start at noon.
The four teams in the other group in action today are also all in contention, but again by varying odds. Belgium is already guaranteed to advance with two wins (6 points).
Also in that pool are Algeria with a loss and a win (3 points) and Russia and South Korea each with a loss and a tie (1 point).
The match-ups are Belgium/South Korea; and Algeria/Russia. Both start at 4 p.m., Toronto time.
Algeria can lock up the second spot with a win. Case closed.
Both Russia and South Korea can also advance with a win but also need a favourable outcome from the other match.
For all Toronto fans, we wish you much hope - and good calculating!
Friday is the tournament’s first off-day in Brazil with the round-of-16 elimination matches set to kick off Saturday.
Full details on our website at www.insidetoronto.com/news-static/4357132-world-cup-soccer-toronto-watches-the-world