The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, and it’s in full swing with teams finishing group play
On Thursday evening, the United States followed up its fantastic 2-0 win against Australia in Washington with a 3-2 loss to Turkey. It was America’s first loss of the World Cup, although it didn’t matter much because the U.S. clinched first in Group D with its win over Australia. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino had plenty of substitutes playing big minutes. However, it was still a rough loss since Turkey’s third goal was the final kick of the game in stoppage time.
But what’s going on with the rest of the World Cup? There’s plenty of important games for bettors, fans and interested viewers looking to learn more about the beautiful game. Brazil and Morocco both finished group play undefeated and look strong going into the Round of 32. Bosnia-Herzegovina advanced to the Round of 32 to play the U.S. Canada is into the knockout rounds for the first time.
Every couple of days, there will be a non-USA World Cup roundup recapping the tournament. This is the fourth installment of that series. The group stage is almost over, with the Round of 32 beginning on Sunday.
Where: Lumen Field, Seattle
What happened: Bosnia-Herzegovina needed a win to advance to the Round of 32, so it was no surprise it was the first to strike. Eighteen-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic ripped a shot from outside the 18-yard box into the top right corner for the 1-0 Bosnia-Herzegovina lead in the 29th minute. Bosnia-Herzegovina got its second goal from Qatar in the 34th minute. A cross was deflected by Qatar’s Mahmoud Abunada into his own net.
Qatar had the response before the half, although it was after Bosnia-Herzegovina hit the post on an attempt to make it 3-0. Qatar’s Hassan Al-Haydos’ slide pushed a cross into the back of the net in the 42nd minute to cut Bosnia-Herzegovina’s lead to 2-1 at the half.
The Middle Eastern country nearly had the equalizer with a shot off the post in the second half, but it was Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Ermin Mahmic who found the ball and finished it home in a crowd of players inside the 18-yard box in the 80th minute to make it 3-1.
Ramifications: Bosnia-Herzegovina finished Group B in third with a 1-1-1 record and will advance to play the U.S. in the Round of 32. Qatar’s tournament is over after a 0-1-2 record in group play.
Where: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
What happened: After a scoreless first half, Switzerland’s Rubén Vargas got on the board for the 1-0 lead in the 46th minute. Vargas was alone when he received a cross at the far post, and he finished past the Canadian keeper. Switzerland doubled its lead in the 57th minute when Johan Manzambi received a great layoff pass on a counterattack and finished from the right side through the Canadian keeper.
Canada didn’t go out without a fight. Promise David received a great ball from the right side and had a one-touch finish into an open net with the Swiss keeper out of position. Canada trailed 2-1 in the 76th minute. The home squad had a few looks, but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Ramifications: Switzerland finished first in Group B with a 2-1-0 record, while Canada finished second at 1-1-1. Both teams advance to the Round of 32, where Switzerland’s opponent is TBD, but Canada will face South Africa.
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
What happened: It was a wild game with six goals, so it’s not surprising that the first goal was only 10 minutes into the game. A Haiti cross went right to a Haitian striker and the Moroccan keeper, Yassine Bounou, with the striker flicking it off the keeper and into the goal. It was classified as an own goal by Bounou, and Haiti had the 1-0 lead.
Morocco had so many chances before Achraf Hakimi got to a ball on the goal line and guided it into the net in the 39th minute. What followed next was one of the goals of the tournament. Wilson Isidor hit a rocket from about 24 yards out into the top left corner to give Haiti a 2-1 lead in the 43rd minute.
Only three minutes later, Morocco had the response to go into halftime tied at two. Ismael Saibari made a great run into the center of the box and finished into the lower left corner.
Morocco showed its power in the second half, creating plenty of chances. Soufiane Rahimi scored in a crowded box in the 78th minute, and Gessime Yassine finished an easy goal in the 89th minute after a terrible turnover by the Haitian defense.
Ramifications: Morocco finished second in Group C with a 2-1-0 record and will play the Netherlands in the Round of 32. Haiti finished last in Group C with an 0-3 record and is out of the World Cup
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
What happened: Both teams could’ve used a win, but Brazil got off to a fantastic start in the seventh minute. A Scottish defender made the cardinal sin of getting stripped of the ball deep in his own half, allowing Vinícius Júnior to get the ball and finish in front of an open goal.
Vinícius Júnior was everywhere in the first half, almost scoring the same way as the first goal, but it was called off by the referees. He scored his second goal with a header at the far post in stoppage time at the end of the first half to put Brazil up 2-0.
Matheus Cunha had an easy finish in the 60th minute to erase all doubt about the victory.
Ramifications: Brazil won Group C with a 2-1-0 record via goal differential and will play Japan in the Round of 32. Scotland finished third in Group C at 1-0-2 and will need a lot of help to get into the Round of 32.
Where: Estadio Banorte, Mexico City
What happened: It was a scoreless first half, although Mexico had its chances before its first goal in the 55th minute. Mateo Chávez had a one-on-one chance and buried it to send the home crowd into raptures. Only six minutes later, Julián Quiñones had the finish from close range after a scramble for the ball following a Czechia save.
Álvaro Fidalgo had the final goal in stoppage time off a perfect layoff pass.
Ramifications: Mexico became the first team to finish the group stage with three wins, winning Group A and advancing to the Round of 32 with the opponent TBD. Czechia’s World Cup is over after finishing last in Group A at 0-1-2.
Where: Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
What happened: Neither team could score in the first half, with each team threatening, although South Africa seemed to have the better of all the chances.
Thapelo Maseko’s goal in the 63rd minute was the difference. He received a pass on the top right side of the 18-yard box, took a touch and finished into the lower right corner with his left foot.
Ramifications: South Africa advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time by finishing second in Group A with a 1-1-1 record and will play Canada in the Round of 32. South Korea finished third in Group A with a 1-0-2 record, and it’s unclear whether it will make it to the Round of 32.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
What happened: Ivory Coast would secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time with a victory, and it got off to a great start. A poor pass by Curaçao led to a turnover near its own endline, resulting in a cross to Nicolas Pépé and a finish in the seventh minute for the 1-0 lead.
Pépé had the second goal of the game in the 64th minute. Ivory Coast moved the ball through the midfield before a great pass to Pépé, who finished from the right side into the top left corner.
Ramifications: Ivory Coast finished second in Group E with a 2-0-1 record, and its opponent in the Round of 32 is TBD. Curaçao’s tournament is over after finishing last in Group E with a 0-1-2 record.
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
What happened: It took two minutes for Germany to show why it had been at the top of Group E. Leroy Sané. Germany moved the ball off a throw-in and it eventually found Sané, who had a classy finish into the lower left corner in from about 15 yards out for the 1-0 lead.
But Ecuador responded rather quickly. In the ninth minute, Germany had a poor turnover in the midfield, which led to Nilson Angulo dribbling toward the box and finishing into the lower right corner for the equalizer.
The game went into halftime tied, and Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata was the difference maker. Ecuador created a few great chances in the prior minutes, but Plata got his foot on the ball off the corner and into the top of the net in the 77th minute for the 2-1 lead.
Ramifications: The game didn’t mean much to Germany, as it had basically already secured the top spot in Group E before, finishing group play with a 2-0-1 record. Germany’s opponent in the Round of 32 is TBD. It’s unclear if Ecuador will make the Round of 32 after finishing third in Group E with a 1-1-1 record.
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
What happened: The first half ended 0-0, and it was Japan that struck first. The Japanese played a beautiful combination of passes, with the final one going to Daizen Maeda, who finished into the lower left corner inside the box for the 1-0 lead in the 56th minute.
It only took Sweden six minutes to respond. Anthony Elanga got the ball on the top right corner of the box and shot a curling ball that made its way through the crowd and into the lower left corner for the equalizer in the 62nd minute.
Ramifications: Japan finished second in Group F with a 1-2-0 record and will play Brazil in the Round of 32. Sweden should advance despite finishing third in Group F with a 1-1-1 record.
Where: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
What happened: the Netherlands showed its offensive potential with two goals in the first 10 minutes to put the game out of reach.
The Dutch threatened with a dangerous cross that was deflected in by Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri in the third minute for an own goal for a 1-0 Netherlands lead. About four minutes later, the Dutch went up 2-0. A free kick was played into the box, then headed down to Brian Brobbey, who smashed it home from close range.
After trailing 2-0 at the half, Tunisia got on the board in the 54th minute. Tunisia played a corner to Hazem Mastouri, who headed it down and into the lower left corner to cut the Netherlands’ lead to 2-1.
Less than 10 minutes later, Jan Paul van Hecke got his head on a corner and a Tunisia defender could keep it out of the net as the Dutch took a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute.
Ramifications: the Netherlands finished first in Group F with a 2-1-0 record and will play Morocco in the Round of 32. Tunisia’s World Cup is over after going 0-3.
Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
What happened: Neither team had many great chances, although Australia had five shots on goal with Paraguay only having two. Australia also had 56% of possession, but couldn’t get the important win.
Ramifications: Australia finished second in Group D with a 1-1-1 record, and its opponent in the Round of 32 is TBD. Paraguay finished third in Group D with a 1-1-1 record thanks to a worse goal differential than Australia. It’s unclear whether Paraguay will make it to the Round of 32.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
