group-stage

The slip-ups—a draw and a defeat—both came at Celtic in Glasgow in group-stage matches.

British Soil May Be Barca's Great Neutralizer 2011

Laurent Blanc, France's head coach, expressed his dismay that they had been seeded in Pot 2 after group-stage exits at the most recent World Cup and European Championship.

Frank Lampard: England have little chance of winning 2014 World Cup 2011

Mancini's celebration after Agüero's tap-in four minutes into added time was worthy of a Champions League final more than a group-stage game.

Manchester City hit the big time but stage fright is still an issue | Paul Hayward 2011

He'll attend an appeals hearing in front of European soccer officials in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday in an attempt to reduce a sentence that would rule him out of England's group-stage games against France, Sweden and Ukraine.

England Sweat Over Rooney Jonathan Clegg 2011

The second-ranked Russian's withdrawal ensures that Caroline Wozniacki will finish the year with the No. 1 ranking, despite losing her group-stage match against Russia's Vera Zvonareva.

Maria Sharapova Out Of WTA Championships, Ensuring Caroline Wozniacki No. 1 Ranking The Huffington Post News Editors 2011

Last week, Australia surrendered its 34-match unbeaten run in the World Cup in a group-stage defeat by Pakistan, while the five-wicket defeat by India in Ahmedabad means it leaves the tournament having beaten just one of the top eight nations—a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the group stage.

End of an Era for Cricket Jonathan Clegg 2011

The southern hemisphere powerhouses won 10 and lost just two games in last year's Autumn Internationals in Europe, while European nations had previously recorded just one group-stage win over the southern hemisphere's elite teams in the 24-year history of the World Cup.

Ireland Sets World Cup on Fire Jonathan Clegg 2011

All of which helps to explain why many a team has survived a group-stage hiccup at this tournament, but none has ever gone on to win the World Cup.

Ireland Sets World Cup on Fire Jonathan Clegg 2011

As the group-stage round of qualifying for Euro 2012—Europe's quadrennial football tournament—nears completion, this year's San Marino side has a shot to become the worst in the history of the tournament.

When Success Means Only Taking a 5-0 Beating 2011

The second-ranked Russian's withdrawal ensures that Caroline Wozniacki will finish the year with the No. 1 ranking, despite losing her group-stage match against Russia's Vera Zvonareva.

Maria Sharapova Out Of WTA Championships, Ensuring Caroline Wozniacki No. 1 Ranking The Huffington Post News Editors 2011