Argentina recovered from its opening loss to Saudi Arabia and secured passage to the knockout stage. Poland also advanced, despite losing, because it had a better goal differential than Mexico.
Two games, played simultaneously in stadiums only six miles apart, settled the Group D standings: France (6 points) edged Australia (6) on goal difference, and left Tunisia (4) and Denmark (1) packing their bags.
If you desire truly cushy treatment, it’s not enough to be a V.I.P. What you want is to be a V.V.I.P., sipping free cognac and rubbing elbows with the emir.