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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
The final day of the round-of-32 continued with drama, with two extra-time games on Friday and an all-time classic between Cape Verde and Argentina that will long be remembered.
Looking at the final 16, despite all of the great play by smaller countries and that nine of 10 African teams made it to the round-of-32, Europe and South America are once again – as usual – responsible for most of those still playing:
● 2026: 7 Europe, 4 South America, 3 CONCACAF, 2 Africa, 0 Asia
● 2022: 8 Europe, 2 South America, 1 CONCACAF, 2 Africa, 3 Asia
● 2018: 10 Europe, 4 South America, 1 CONCACAF, 0 Africa, 1 Asia
● 2014: 6 Europe, 5 South America, 3 CONCACAF, 2 Africa, 0 Asia
● 2010: 6 Europe, 5 South America, 2 CONCACAF, 1 Africa, 2 Asia
Asia had Australia, Japan and South Korea in the last 16 in Qatar 2022, but all went out in the round-of-32 this time.
● Egypt 1 (4), Australia 1 (2) on penalty kicks ● Egypt’s “Pharoahs” were on offense from the opening kick at AT&T Stadium in Arlington,
In the 13th, a free kick in the Australian zone by midfielder Emam Ashour’s shot was blocked and the rebound came to striker Omar Marmoush, who pushed it to the right side to defender Karim Hafez. He saw Ashour near the back post and floated a cross from right to left and Ashour came off the picket line to meet it and headed it in for the 1-0 lead.
That score held through the hydration break, with Egypt at 64% of possession, but Australia had four shots to three for the Pharoahs. After the break, the Socceroos were pressing more and created some chances, but there were no more goals in the half. Egypt had 56% of the ball, but the Aussies ended the half with a 5-3 shots advantage.
The second half started with a near-miss for Egypt’s Marmoush, with a drive in the box going just wide. But Australia got even on a free kick in the 55th, also starting with a free kick on the left side, with midfielder Aiden O’Neill sending a looping kick into the box – right in front of goal – and among all the bodies, the ball actually bounced off the head of Egypt defender Mohamed Hany and into the net for the 1-1 tie.
The defenses were tightening and at the second hydro break, Egyptian possession steady at 56% and Australia had a 7-4 shots edge, meaning only three shots were taken in the “third period.” The game continued to be end-to-end, but both defenses were packed in, blocking shots and crosses.
Egypt had the ball for much of the five-minute stoppage time and at 90+4, a header by defender Ramy Rabia was online but was saved by the left hand of Australia keeper Patrick Beach, pushing the ball over the bar. No goals, so on to extra time. Egypt ended regulation at 56% possession and Australia had 12 shots to 10.
The first extra period settled nothing, with two shots for Egypt and none for Australia as the defenses were tight. Egypt was on offense to start the second extra period, with striker Mo Salah especially busy, but Beach and the Aussie defenders were equal. Beach was actually substituted out in the 119th minute for Matthew Ryan, ostensibly thinking of the coming penalty kicks.
Egypt ended play with 58% of the ball and the Socceroos had a 16-14 shots lead in this defensive struggle. On to penalties, with Australian midfielder Harry Soutter missing the first shot over the top and defender Lucas Herrington hitting the crossbar on the fourth and Egypt making four straight for the 4-2 decision. It’s Egypt’s first-ever World Cup elimination round win.
● Argentina 3, Cape Verde 2 (extra time) ● Warm conditions in Miami Gardens at Hard Rock Stadium, with 86 F and 70% humidity at kickoff, but with some cloud cover. Argentina has the most chances early, as expected, but no scoring through the hydration break. The defending champs had 64% of the ball and a 2-1 edge on shots.
But right after the re-start, superstar Lionel Messi snuck behind the defense and took a cross over the top from defender Lisandro Martinez, touched it down in the 29th at the right of goal and scored with his left foot, his record 20th career World Cup goal. 1-0.
Argentina got another good look in the 45th with midfielder Enzo Fernandez sending a blast from the top of the box to the far right corner, but it was saved by Cape Verde keeper Vozinha. But the half ended 1-0 with Argentina at 64% possession and 4-1 on shots.
The Argentines looked completely in control – 63% possession and 3-1 on shots actually on goal – but Cape Verde had the ball on the right side of goal, with striker Ryan Mendes dribbling to the right and sending the bell to midfielder Deroy Duarte close to the right post and he turned and right-footed the ball into the net for the stunning 1-1 tie in the 59th!
In reply, Argentina upped the pressure right away and Messi got free on a pass into the slot by forward Lautaro Martinez, and was one-on-one in front of goal, but his shot was saved in the 63rd by Vozinha. Then Messi quick-took a free kick from just beyond the box in the 72nd and sent a liner that was punched away by the alert Vozinha.
The hydration break came in the 73rd, with a 1-1 tie, and Argentina with 66% possession now and 9-5 on shots. Awake, but tied.
Argentina kept pressing, and Cape Verde defender Pico Lopes made a foot save in the 81st on a shot that got past Vozinha. Messi got a free kick at 90+4 just above the box, and blasted it, but Vozinha saved it, his seventh of the game. At the end of regulation: Argentina had 68% of the ball and 15-6 on shots.
Argentina took over immediately in extra time, with Lisandro Martinez scoring from the right side at the top of the net after a clearance on a corner from the other side, in the 93rd. 2-1.
But not over. Defender Sidny Lopes Cabral was open on the left side and sent a right-footed liner to the far corner of the Argentina goal for the 2-2 tie in the 103rd, and Lopes Cabral ran into the stands to embrace his family! Argentina had 64% possession after the first period, with shots at 21-9.
Argentina took the lead again in the 111th, off a Messi corner that curled in and was headed by defender Cristian Romero at the back post, off the hand of Cape Verde defender Diney Borges (ruled an own goal). But Cape Verde came back again, with Lopes Cabral taking a free kick in the 116th that was barely saved by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez.
Argentina survived, 3-2, in an instant classic. The champs had 64% of the ball and ended 22-16 on shots. Vozinha, in a game for the ages, had eight saves.
● Colombia 1, Ghana 0 ● In Kansas City; Colombia was looking to score quickly in warm, sticky conditions with 85 F temps and 67% humidity at the start. And they did, taking the lead in the 14th, with striker Luis Suarez sending a seeing-eye pass from the right endline to midfielder Jhon Arias in front of goal and volleyed it into the far right corner of the net.
Colombia dominated, with 79% possession at the hydro break and 3-1 on shots. Ghana’s offense came alive in the “second period,” but without a goal to show for it. Ghana keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi made a fabulous one-handed save at 45+1 on a header by Colombia defender Johan Mojica to keep it at 1-0. The half came quickly after, with Colombia at 67% possession, but Ghana with six shots to five.
Ghana had a great chance in the 53rd, when forward Antoine Semenyo crossed the ball right across the Colombia goal from nearly the endline, but there was no one to touch it in. Then Colombia appeared to make it 2-0 in the 56th on striker Luis Diaz’s volley into the net from an Arias cross to the front of goal, but it was called offsides.
The game as more end-to-end, and the hydro break was called in the 69th, with Colombia at 63% possession and 9-6 on shots (and 4-1 in the “third quarter”). Ghana just could not get organized around the Colombian goal. But the Colombians kept attacking the goal, but could not find the net, or were stopped by Zigi, who finished with seven saves.
At the end, Colombia controlled possession and it ended 1-0, with Colombia holding 61% of the ball and 20 shots to eight (and a third straight shutout).
≡ PANORAMA ≡
The round of 32 is done. The round-of-16 runs from 4 to 7 July:
Saturday, 4 July:
● Canada vs. Morocco: In Houston (1 p.m. Eastern)
● Paraguay vs. France: In Philadelphia (5 p.m. Eastern)
Sunday, 5 July:
● Brazil vs. Norway: In East Rutherford (4 p.m. Eastern)
● Mexico vs. England: In Mexico City (7 p.m. Eastern)
Monday, 6 July:
● Portugal vs. Spain: In Arlington (3 p.m. Eastern)
● U.S. vs. Belgium: In Seattle (8 p.m. Eastern)
Tuesday, 7 July:
● Argentina vs. Egypt: In Atlanta (12 p.m. Eastern)
● Switzerland vs. Colombia: In Vancouver (4 p.m. Eastern)
After 27 straight days of matches, 8 July will be a football-free days in preparation for the quarterfinals on 9-10-11 July.
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A report from Octagon Media Rights Consulting showed that 97-98% of all U.S. English-language viewers on Fox stayed with the World Cup broadcasts during the hydration breaks. Although bitterly criticized by purists, what turned out to be commercial breaks were treated like commercials during other sporting events.
Halftime viewing saw a 14% decrease, noted to be similar to the experience with NFL games.
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The FIFA Social Media Protection Service, which uses artificial intelligence to scan social-media channels for abusive messages, checked more than six million posts during the group stage and identified 225,000 referred to platform operators for manual review.
The subsequent inquiries resulted in about 89,000 messages being deleted – about 1.5% – and FIFA’s announcement noted that “1,000 accounts have been identified for further investigation, while 181,000 hateful comments have been hidden as part of moderation effort.”
Analysis of the abusive comments showed the leading category was racial abuse, at about 11%.
The specific platforms reviewed were not specified.
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