Group stage action on both international and club level! Who will qualify for the knockouts?
Group stages galore this midweek on the football calendar! Whilst some competitions like the CONCACAF Gold Cup are just getting started, it’s a chance for every nation in their respective groups to pick up as many points as early as possible. However, as for the group stages in both the UEFA European Under-21 Championship and CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, time has nearly run out! In both of these competitions, only one more match remains in the group stage and yet so much remains undecided. Whilst some teams have guaranteed qualification, many still need to make this last match count, who can continue their cup run and who will be left to pack their bags?
Not sure who to take a punt on? Then read our preview and place your bets wisely!
Contents:
- 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup – St Kitts and Nevis vs USA
- 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Portugal U21 vs Belgium U21
- 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Netherlands U21 vs Georgia U21
- CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores – Internacional vs Independiente Medellín
- CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores – Libertad vs Atlético Mineiro
2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup – St Kitts and Nevis vs USA
More Group A action in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup coming this midweek as the huge underdogs of the tournament face up against the reigning champions and co-hosts. This is St Kitts and Nevis’ first ever appearance at a Gold Cup, a miraculous run through qualifying got them here (including a mightily impressive victory against talent-laden Curaçao), however the tournament debut for the Sugar Boyz didn’t go entirely to plan with a difficult 3-0 defeat against Trinidad and Tobago. Nevertheless, this is the biggest footballing stage on the continent and this tiny Caribbean island nation, home to only 47,000 people, will see their players give everything in making this a memorable experience. How more memorable can it get than facing up against the reigning champions USA, a country which has over 7000x their population! St Kitts and Nevis have never faced the United States in their history and, with the USA opting for quite a weak squad in this tournament, you never know just what might happen!
The weakened USA squad was apparent as they ended up quite fortunate to draw 1-1 in their group opener against Jamaica, a late equaliser salvaging a point for Gregg Berhalter but not enough if they want to try and retain the title they lifted two years ago. Having drawn their opener, it puts even more pressure on the Yanks to earn victory here and, whilst it would take a miracle for them not to earn 3 points, miracles are far from unusual in major international tournaments. It was an unusual decision by the States to ignore the inclusion of the likes of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Giovanni Reyna, Tyler Adams, Cristian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson and Ricardo Pepi, many of whom boast the firepower that was clearly lacking in that Jamaica draw, but perhaps against lesser opposition in St Kitts and Nevis, it’s a chance for the players that were called up to shine on the international stage?
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Portugal U21 vs Belgium U21
There’s only one round of group stage matches remaining in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and yet so much is left undecided as to who will make the cut to the knockout rounds. Whilst a few teams have earned their place already, we see one group in particular (Group A) where ANY team can still qualify or be eliminated! It’s made all the more dramatic given that the underdogs in the group, and co-hosts of the tournament, are currently in 1st!
Currently it’s Georgia 1st (4 points), Belgium 2nd (2 points), Netherlands 3rd (2 points) and Portugal 4th (1 point). Therefore, there’s only one way for Portugal to make the knockout rounds, and it’s not entirely in their own hands: they need to win against Belgium but also hope that Georgia don’t lose against Netherlands. If Portugal win and Georgia lose, then Georgia will go through due to the better H2H record thanks to a 2-0 victory in the group opener. That defeat for Portugal has formed part of what has been a rather dismal campaign, the loss against Georgia was followed by a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, albeit an improvement, but not enough given the vast strength of the squad at Rui Jorge’s disposal. Only 1 goal scored could mean the criticism lies with their otherwise talented attack, but they have one more chance to make up for past errors and sneak into the knockout rounds.
As for Belgium, whilst they remain unbeaten in the competition it’s not exactly the run of form that they would have wanted. It’s 2 draws from 2 games, a goalless tie in the first match against Netherlands but it was their second match where they will look at potential failings should they not qualify for the knockout rounds. Why? Well, Belgium were 2-0 up against Georgia before the tournament co-hosts came from behind to draw 2-2 in the 87th minute for yet another shock result in the group. Had Jacky Mathijssen’s men held on for victory, they would be in a much more comfortable position, but now only a victory would guarantee progression to the knockouts. Belgium could draw this game, however they would need other results to go in their favour.
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship – Netherlands U21 vs Georgia U21
It’s a similar scenario for the Netherlands compared to Belgium. They too have drawn both their games in the group so far but are below Belgium in the table having scored fewer goals (their goal differences are the same, but Belgium have scored 2 goals whereas Netherlands only have 1). With that in mind, they need to either better Belgium’s result against Portugal or, if both results are the same, the Netherlands will need to make sure they’ve scored more goals than Belgium in the group overall. It’s another strong attack that the Netherlands have but, like many in this group, goals have been few and far between. Perhaps it’s a testament to how tough this group is but, before the start of this tournament, Erwin van de Looi’s men might have seen this final group game against Georgia as their easiest. Will they be thinking that now?
Opinions will certainly have changed about Georgia within this group. Thanks to a phenomenal 2-0 victory against Portugal and an equally impressive comeback to draw 2-2 against Belgium, Ramaz Svanadze’s men sit top of this ‘group of death’ against all odds and have their destiny in their own hands to qualify for the knockouts. All Georgia need to do to guarantee progression is to avoid defeat against Netherlands. In fact, they could also lose, however in this scenario they would need Belgium to fail to win against Portugal. What is for certain is that they’re in the best position out of everyone in Group A, and we can only assume a large part of this success is thanks to the home advantage they’ve had so far. Their second game, the 2-2 draw against Belgium, broke the record for the highest attendance ever at a UEFA European Under-21 Championship match, 41,887 spectators bringing huge motivation to the players which is clearly paying off. Can they rally together once more, to guarantee their appearance in the knockouts of the tournament they are hosting?
CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores – Internacional vs Independiente Medellín
The group stages of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores have reached their most dramatic point. Only ONE game remaining in the groups and there are still so many qualification spots up for grabs for the knockout rounds. South America’s greatest club competition sees so much still undecided going into this final matchday, how will the pendulum swing?
Here, it’s a direct clash between 2nd and 1st in Group B, Internacional (Brazil) and Independiente Medellín (Colombia). Sitting 1st (Independiente, 10 points) and 2nd (Internacional, 9 points) ahead of the final matchday would, more often than not, offer comfort knowing your qualification is secure. However, with Nacional (Uruguay) lurking just behind in 3rd on 8 points, these two teams know that defeat in this final matchday could possibly see them drop out of the qualification positions! It’s made all the worse given that Nacional will be playing at home against Metropolitanos (Venezuela) who have lost ALL of their games in this group. With victory assumed for Nacional, it’s up to Internacional and Independiente Medellín to make sure they don’t slip down the table! Whoever loses here might be pounced upon!
To Internacional’s advantage, they will be playing at home. It’s an added bonus to what has already been an impressive Libertadores campaign for the Clube do Povo as they remain unbeaten in the group stage, only 1 of 3 teams in the tournament to retain this accolade after 5 matches. However, from those 5 matches, only 2 have been victories (3 draws), and it is this high amount of draws, despite their unbeaten run, that sees them 2nd in the table. Victory guarantees progression, a draw might not be enough given Nacional’s match against Metropolitanos! As for Independiente Medellín, they indeed know that a draw is enough for knockout qualification, the very result that they achieved in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, a 1-1 draw at home. It will be of course more difficult this time on their travels to Brazil, but a run of 3 consecutive victories in this group, which has revived their campaign, will give them the world of confidence ahead of this crucial encounter.
It's a match that neither team can afford to lose, because it all-but certainly means missing out on the knockouts!
CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores – Libertad vs Atlético Mineiro
More CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores drama can be seen in Group G. Athletico Paranaense (Brazil) have already booked their place in the knockouts, but who will join them? To decide that, it’s a direct clash between the two competitors desperate to get themselves into the Round of 16: Libertad (Paraguay) and Atlético Mineiro (Brazil)!
Atlético Mineiro currently have the advantage by being 2nd on 9 points, Libertad 3rd on 6 points. However, that can all change with this one game. For Libertad, they know that only a victory can see them qualify, but it NEEDS to be a victory with a 2-goal margin or higher in order to turn the goal difference. If they win by a 1-goal margin, both teams end on 9 points, but Atlético Mineiro would qualify thanks to a superior goal difference. Nevertheless, the Gumarelo will feel confident ahead of this match with it coming at home, and the only previous instance where they have welcomed Atlético Mineiro to Paraguay, back in 2017, it ended in a victory for Libertad. However, that was only a 1-0 win, a scoreline that won’t be enough here! Coincidentally, there is even more recent success against this opponent, as Daniel Garnero’s men won away from home against Atlético Mineiro earlier in the group stage. However, once again, that was only a 1-0 victory! They need to replicate the result, but score more goals!
Atlético Mineiro will be aware that their head-to-head record against Libertad needs improvement, not least given that they fell to defeat against the Paraguayans at their home of the Mineirão earlier in the competition, but they know that victory isn’t required in order to qualify. In that respect, would they necessarily be desperate for revenge? Of course, they can lose the match by a 1-goal margin and still qualify for the knockouts, however that scenario seems far too risky especially when playing away from home in a stadium full of Libertad fans desperate for progression. It was a nightmare start to the campaign for Galo, losing both of their opening 2 group stage matches, but 3 consecutive victories since then including the most recent being away from home will spur confidence in the players ahead of this final battle. Destiny is in their own hands, but beware of the team they’ve already lost against!