The FIFA World Cup Round of 16 was a thrilling spectacle, filled with unexpected twists and turns. While some teams emerged victorious, others were left to rue their missed opportunities. Here's a deep dive into the winners and losers of this captivating phase of the tournament, with a heavy dose of personal commentary and analysis.
The Unlikely Heroes
Germany: The Underdogs' Tale
Germany's absence from the Round of 16 was a surprise, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Had they faced France, the German defense would have been torn apart, with three goals or more likely. Instead, they faced Paraguay, a defensively disciplined side that made hard challenges and refused to give up any space. This brick wall proved worthy to face the French superteam. The Germans can now point to Paraguay and say, 'Look! That's what we had to deal with!' This is slightly less embarrassing than being eliminated by a squad worth a fraction of the money Liverpool paid for Florian Wirtz. And a lot less embarrassing than being laughed off the pitch by the best players in the world.
Everyone Who Watched Mexico vs. England: A Match for the Ages
What a game! What a game! The best game of the World Cup so far. Incredible atmosphere. Dramatic goals. A penalty. A red card. Another penalty. Over half an hour of desperate attack versus nervous defense. Ten v ten in the final three minutes. Back to back corners right at the death. The commentator said it best: 'This feels like a World Cup final.' If the final is half as good as this was, then fans are in for a treat.
The Sleep Deprived
Insomniacs: Portugal vs. Spain
If you have trouble going to sleep, put on a full game replay of Portugal versus Spain. Boring doesn't begin to describe it. For those parts of the world where the games are broadcast well past midnight, watching this bang-average Spain team pass aimlessly for 80 minutes was nothing short of torture. At least it didn't go to extra time. Or penalties. Which is more than you can say about the game between Colombia and Switzerland. Just four shots on target (for both teams combined) after 90 minutes. Even with the likes of James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz on their team, Colombia were unable to break the Swiss defense. And the Swiss had their spells, but never really did anything consistently threatening. Eventually, the Swiss came out on top. At least the shootout was entertaining, but the rest of the game could replace a prescription for melatonin.
The Disappointments
Belgium: United by Off-Pitch Drama
Well that was something. You have to give Donald Trump some credit. By making sure FIFA rescinded Folarin Balogun’s red card, he united the entire football world against the USMNT. The rallying effect was especially true for Belgium, who had been suffering a tepid tournament up to that point. It even got regular Belgians, who typically don’t have a strong love for their national football team, to amplify support for what will likely be the last tournament of this golden generation. The 4-1 win over the USMNT was one of dominance and quality. The Americans were simply outclassed in terms of not just talent, but also tactics. Maybe, in another timeline, the Belgians might have gotten complacent and allowed their opponents a smash-and-grab 1-0 or 2-1 win. Off-pitch shenanigans made sure that did not happen. Belgium now go on to face Spain in the next round, with a view to going even further still.
Leo Messi: The Main Character's Charm
Being the main character means leading a charmed life. Not that Messi doesn’t work for it, but things always seem to go in his favor. Not just in games he plays, but everywhere else, like with Switzerland and Colombia going to extra time and an Argentinian refereeing team being assigned to France vs. Morocco. Oh well. Guess everyone else will have to live with it. Egypt certainly will.
The Disappointing Departures
Ismael Saibari: A Setback for a Rising Star
His country advanced, but he paid a steep price. Ismael Saibari had his World Cup cut short in the first half versus Canada on Saturday, going down with a hamstring injury shortly before the hydration break. The 25-year-old Moroccan was riding high on life, scoring for fun and having completed his move to Bayern Munich just a week earlier. Now he is set to miss the rest of his team’s run in this FIFA World Cup, and could even fail to appear for preseason at his new club. Personally and professionally, this represents a huge setback for Saibari.
Alphonso Davies: A Career Crossroads
The second Bayern Munich player to appear on the loser’s list (oh no!), Alphonso Davies watched from the bench as Canada succumbed to a 3-0 loss to Morocco. As painful as that must be, the implication is even more severe. Something is seriously wrong with him. Look at the signs. Jesse Marsch wouldn’t risk him even with a home World Cup on the line. Bayern Munich just spent a fortune signing Nathaniel Brown as a backup. Davies, at just 25 years old, faces a crossroads in his career. If his injury situation doesn’t get better, well … does it need to be said?
Brazil: A Team of Misery
Miserable. That is the only adjective you can use to describe how Brazil played against Norway. Well maybe not the only one. Abject, pathetic, cowardly, passive, insecure. You get the idea. Fans might accuse Carlo Ancelotti of phoning it in. What were those tactics? Aside from a short spell early in the second half and late after the second goal, the Vikings dominated Brazil. It wasn’t just a matter of pace or physicality, Norway were the superior team in all technical aspects as well. They played progressive, possession-oriented football, while Brazil bunkered down in a low-mid block and seemed ready to weather the pressure. They weren’t ready for Erling Haaland. What makes the loss to Norway more embarrassing is the fact that Brazil had two penalties. They still had the temerity to whine and surround the ref near the end when their loss seemed imminent. If they had spent half as much energy actually trying to play football, maybe the result would have been different.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A Whimpering Legend
So, thus ends the last World Cup of a footballing legend. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. None except the most ardent CR7 fan can deny the fact that, at 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo cannot lead a front line at the highest level. His movement is static, his physicality is missing. He is still capable of a ferocious shot, but rarely gets the time or space he needs to execute them. Compared to the dynamic threat posed by Lamine Yamal on the Spanish right-hand side, Ronaldo looked well short of the mark. It is a shame, really. Portugal came into this tournament with a star-studded roster. Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Cancelo, and Bernardo Silva, just to name a few. It wasn’t enough. They couldn’t carry a team that effectively played with 10 men. Now Portugal look to the future. A future without their global titan. What will that look like?
The FIFA World Cup Round of 16 was a thrilling spectacle, filled with unexpected twists and turns. While some teams emerged victorious, others were left to rue their missed opportunities. This phase of the tournament has set the stage for an exciting quarter-final, with some teams looking to build on their success and others aiming to turn their fortunes around.
