The 2023 World Cup had an interesting sub plot that added a late twist after the halfway mark. As the tournament entered the latter half of the group stage, it emerged that there was a lot more at stake than just a spot in the semi-finals.
Unlike the 2019 edition where some teams that were not in the race for the last four lost steam, this time all sides had a major incentive to keep fighting.
It came to light during the World Cup that only the top eight teams at the end of the group phase, including hosts Pakistan, would qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy tournament.
It came as a wake-up call for teams like England, who went on a losing streak and were out of contention for a last-four spot fairly early.
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