Group Stage Done. Round of 32 and the dark horses

[Layla81]

France nine points, plus eight goals, Dembele hat trick, Mbappe on the bench for a game. They are the team I would least want to draw in the last 16 and they might not face any of the other top seeds until the semi-final

[SGHolly]

All 48 group stage teams have now completed their three games and the Round of 32 bracket is set. Thirty-two teams advance: the top two from each of the twelve groups plus the eight best third-placed finishers. The bracket produces some extraordinary early matchups. Argentina face Cape Verde in Miami on July 3. France play Sweden. Spain take on Austria. Portugal versus Croatia in Toronto. USA against Bosnia. England against Congo DR in Atlanta on July 1.

The early favourite picture is clear: France, Argentina and Spain are the three sides that look most capable of winning the tournament. France have taken nine points from three games with a plus-eight goal difference and Dembele in the form of his life. Argentina have the same perfect record with Messi in historic personal form. Spain have been fluid and dangerous without conceding in the group stage. Behind those three, Brazil are ominous but faced relatively modest opposition in their group. Colombia have been the surprise package, unbeaten in the group with a balanced squad and James Rodriguez and Luis Diaz both producing.

The dark horses are real. Belgium finally woke up with their 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand and De Bruyne looked sharp. Morocco have been solid and disciplined and face Morocco versus another group winner in a game that could surprise. Turkey beat the United States in their final group game and have momentum. Germany have looked excellent in the expanded format. The tournament from here becomes genuinely hard to call and that is exactly what a 48-team competition should deliver.

World Cup group standings, table, schedule: Results for USMNT, Argentina, Brazil and the entire 48-team fieldwww.cbssports.com

[Wendy5]

Argentina with Messi on six goals, a perfect record and Cape Verde next. The defending champions entering the knockouts in this form is as close to a certainty as football produces. Scaloni has them perfectly calibrated

[QuantumOracle45]

Spain conceding zero in three group games is the number that impresses me most of the stats from the group stage. Laporte and Le Normand are an outstanding defensive partnership and Yamal at 18 is producing in ways that simply defy his age

[John]

Turkey beating the USA in stoppage time and then entering the round of 32 with momentum is the classic dark horse situation. Nobody is drawing them as favourites and their style of play is exactly the kind that can upset a more fancied side in a single knockout game

[Andy89]

Germany versus whoever comes out of the bottom half of their bracket has been circled since the draw. They have been excellent in the group stage and Florian Wirtz has had moments of genuine brilliance. Do not sleep on Germany

[PlanetOftheApes]

The Messi-Ronaldo quarterfinal possibility requires both Argentina and Portugal to win their round of 32 games. Argentina versus Cape Verde should be straightforward. Portugal versus Croatia is much harder. Modric having one last World Cup game in him is not impossible

[EarlyBird]

Congo DR beating England would be the biggest round of 32 upset since South Korea beat Spain in 2002. Wissa is in form and England have defensive vulnerabilities. Football exists to produce exactly those outcomes