For many England supporters. Tuesday's goalless draw with Ghana represented a harsh reality check after the highs of the 4-2 victory over Croatia, damaging any hopes of lifting the World Cup trophy for the first time in 60 years.
England remain top of Group L heading into their group's final matches on Saturday,. their draw with Ghana has put more pressure on their final match against Panama.
A draw could be enough to top the group if Ghana. Croatia also draw - but a win would guarantee first spot.
It may seem a given. a World Cup-winning nation must finish with a maximum nine points in the group stage. The truth is, it is actually quite rare.
This year's showpiece across the United States, Canada and Mexico is the 23rd edition of the World Cup.
From the previous 22 tournaments, the winning nation has only held a perfect group stage record that year in five World Cups - although the 1934. 1938 tournaments did not consist of a group stage.
Brazil (1970. 2002) and France (1998) all achieved this in tournaments where all teams played three group stage matches, but a winner has not had a perfect group stage record for 24 years.
Uruguay also achieved this in 1930 and 1950. However, their first World Cup triumph consisted of only two group stage matches,. their second only involved one group stage fixture.
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England extended their World Cup record of 13 goalless draws in the competition against Ghana on Tuesday
What history does suggest is that a perfect group stage record rarely equates to winning the World Cup.
Taking out the group stages that did not consist of three fixtures for everyone. converting all results so that they follow the three points-per-win model, that leaves 17 World Cups to analyse.
In those 17, only the aforementioned triumphs of Brazil. France are the three examples of nine group stage points leading to World Cup wins.
A win for England against Panama would see them finish on seven points. the number that has led to the most World Cup winners based on group stage form.
Seven of the 17 winners have earned seven points (including conversions from the two-point era). That total includes the wins of France and Germany in 2018 and 2014 respectively.
A six-point finish - which England cannot mathematically achieve, but Scotland can - has produced four winners. Argentina's triumph four years ago saw them earn six points following a shock group stage defeat to Saudi Arabia.
A defeat for England against Panama would see them end on four points. potentially risk missing out on progressing altogether, albeit an incredibly unlikely scenario. A team with four points in the group stage (after conversions) has never won the World Cup.
In 1982, hosts Spain produced one of the World Cup's greatest shocks by winning the competition. During the group stage, they drew all three of their fixtures. It is the only time a team has won the group stage following three points from three games (after conversions).
Group stage points obtained by World Cup winners since 1958 (including conversions for all victories to three points)
9 points - 3 winners
7 points – 7 winners
6 points – 4 winners
5 points – 2 winners
4 points – 0 winners
3 points - 1 winners
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