The group stage closed today, and the table sorted itself out in the usual mixture of justice and luck. Ecuador took Germany 2-1, a fine result that carried them through as the best of the third-placed sides, though Germany had long since secured the top of the group and lost nothing by it. Japan held Sweden to a draw and advanced again, as they somehow always seem to; the same point that sent them through second handed Sweden a third-place lifeline of their own. Ivory Coast saw off Curacao 2-0, but the island deserves a word: they were never going to manage it, and they played as though they might, which is its own kind of victory. The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 without ever being troubled, and could have made the margin uglier had they cared to. Turkiye, already eliminated before kickoff, finally found their teeth and put three past the United States. Of Paraguay and Australia I will only say that nil-nil was the kindest thing either side did all evening, and I would not mourn an early exit for both. What stays with me from the day is the standing of the hosts: Mexico alone came through undefeated, three matches, three wins, while the United States took two and Canada limped out of its group with a single victory. Co-hosting buys you a place at the table. It does not buy you the result.