English

Noun

group stage ‎(plural group stages)

1. (sports) the stage of a competition where teams in the same group play each other, usually before the knockout stage.
   • 2011 December 7, Phil McNulty, “Man City 2 - 0 Bayern Munich”, in BBC Sport:

     Their ambition of qualifying from the group stage was helped by Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes' decision to relegate many of his key players to the bench, having already won the group. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Mario Gomez, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller all watched from the sidelines.