World Cup group stage tie-breakers & rules: What happens when teams are locked level?

With so much at stake, it is not surprising to see such a keenly competitive tournament, but what happens when teams are level on points?

The group stage of the 2018 World Cup is well under way and we will soon know the identity of the teams that will be competing in the last 16.

With such a high level of competitiveness in the tournament it is not surprising that some groups are particularly tight, with very little - and in some cases, nothing - separating the sides.

The final ranking of teams in each group is not only important in terms of securing qualification for the knockout stage, but also to finalise which teams will face which, with a first-place or second-place finish potentially…