The 2018 world cup of soccer in Russia is now complete with a few surprising results that included the shocker seeing the defending champions Germany get eliminated in the first round with some teams showing surprising results throughout the Championship.

The eight (8) group champions saw the teams with better results advance as expected all with close finishes in their matches.

Final finishes in their respective Groups 1 through 8 advancing to the knockout round with the some countries advancing to the second stage with the final standings of the round one of the 32 team tournament.

Group A

Uruguay finished in first place with an undefeated and impressed record of 3-0 outscoring their opponents managing to score 5 goals without allowing a goal against in a 3-0 victory over the host Russian squad, which was good for 9 points in the standings.

Russia being the host country was unable to grab first, but did manage to go 2-0-1 after winning their first two games outscoring their opponents by a 8-1 while dropping the last game of round one 3-0 to Uruguay.

Group B

Spain and Portugal were tied with five (5) points with a record of 1-1-1 but with the format being based on goals for and against; Spain took first place managing to outscore their opponents 6-5 in the championship.

Portugal matched their record and total points managing to score 5 goals, while allowing 4 goals against advancing to the knockout round.

Group C

France wound up in first with a 2-1-0 record scoring 3 goals while allowing 1 against for 7 points to runner up Denmark 1-2-0 with five points from three matches scoring twice while allowing 1 against to advance to the next stage.

Group D

Croatia went undefeated winning all three games outscoring their opponents by a 7-1 edge for 9 points, while Argentina struggled in the first round but somehow managed to advance with a record of 1-1-1 scoring 3 goals while allowing 5 advancing to the knockout round.

Group E

Brazil went 2-1-0 finishing with 7 Points in the standings outscoring their opponents 5  to 1 on the way to the knockout stage finishing in second was Switzerland at 1-2-0 with 5 points scoring 5 goals while allowing just 4 against as they advanced to the second round.

Group F

Sweden and Mexico were tied with 6 points each but based on the 3-0 win by Sweden over Mexico in the preliminary round was the tie breaker as both teams ended up with records of 2-0-1 to advance to the knockout stage of the event.

Finally in the last two groups Groups G of the first round of this years World Cup hosted by Russia in 2018.

Group G

Belgium took first based on a 1 -0 win over England managing to finish with a 3-0-0 record good for 9 points managing to outscoring their opponents 9-2, while England were 2-0-1 with 6 points with a 8-3 goal ratio for and against advancing in this year’s tournament.

Group H

Columbia win this group with a 2-0-1 record outscoring their opponents 5-2 and finishing with 6 points but with an interesting finish for second.

Japan and Senegal were both tied with 4 points, but based on their 2-2 tie in the opening round Japan managed to advance on a tie breaker.

Given that each team had the same records and goals for and against but based on head to head matches Japan advanced to the knockout round of 16 teams.

The knockout round of games begins Friday with matches going on over the next week with a total of 16 games seeing who will advance to the quarter finals vying for the right hoist the impressive World Cup of Soccer Trophy.

Thanks in part to Bruce Nolte Sportswave Media