The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, and it’s in full swing with the Round of 32 about halfway over.
The United States is ready to play in the Round of 16 on Monday against Belgium after beating Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, 2-0. America is making its fourth Round of 16 appearance since 2000 with the win. It’s the first time the United States has won three World Cup games in the same tournament, and it’s only the second time America has won a knockout game. However, the United States will be without one of its best players, forward Folarin Balogun, who was sent off with a red card in the 64th minute.
But what’s going on with the rest of the World Cup? There are plenty of important games for bettors, fans and interested viewers looking to learn more about the beautiful game. The Round of 32 has been fantastic. The first five games of the Round of 32 were decided by a goal or less, with two of the games going to penalty kicks. More recently, England and Belgium overcame second-half deficits to advance to the Round of 16.
Every couple of days, there will be a non-USA World Cup roundup recapping the tournament. This is the seventh installment of that series.
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
What happened: The Congo was a big underdog entering this match, but that didn’t matter to the African country as it stunned England with the first goal of the game in the seventh minute.
A Congo midfielder played a ball from the midfield toward the top of the 18-yard box. The ball found its way past an England defender and Congo striker to Brian Cipenga all alone on the left side. He settled the ball and finished low and just inside the near post for the 1-0 Congo lead.
Both squads created breathtakingly close chances after that, with an England shot cleared off the goal line by a Congo defender or a Congo header hitting the post. But it took England until late in the second half to equalize the match.
England created the chance from the left side, with a short cross into the air into the middle of the box. England’s star forward, Harry Kane, ran onto it and headed it into the lower left corner for the 1-1 tie in the 75th minute.
About 10 minutes later, Kane saved the day. He dribbled from the top of the box to the right and fired a missile into the top right corner in the 86th minute for the 2-1 lead.
Ramifications: England avoided disaster and advanced to the Round of 16 for the third consecutive World Cup. It will play Mexico in Mexico on Sunday. The Congo’s fantastic World Cup showing is over.
Where: Lumen Field, Seattle
What happened: Senegal had chances early, nearly scoring off a cross that was kicked off the post. The African country converted one of those chances in the 24th minute. A header from a Senegalese player in the middle of the box hit the post. The rebound came right to Habib Diarra, who had an easy finish for the 1-0 lead.
After leading 1-0 at the half, Senegal padded its lead early in the second half. A defender played a beautiful long ball to the sprinting Ismaïla Sarr, who settled the ball with his chest on the run before unleashing a rocket into the top right corner with Belgian defenders around him. Sarr’s goal in the 51st minute gave Senegal a 2-0 lead.
Belgium didn’t give up despite being down 2-0 with five minutes left before stoppage time in the second half. Longtime star forward Romelu Lukaku got the scoring started for Belgium in the 86th minute with a cheeky finish from close range on the right side at a tough angle. Only three minutes later, a cross was played into the middle of the box. The Senegalese goalie came out to try and punch it away, but he couldn’t get there in time as Youri Tielemans headed it home to tie the match at two.
The match went into extra time and just before it looked like a penalty kick shootout would decide the outcome, Belgium finished the improbable comeback. A Belgian player was taken down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick in the 125th minute. Tielemans stepped up and finished into the top right corner for the game-winning kick.
Ramifications: Belgium completed an epic comeback to advance to the Round of 16 where it will play the United States on Monday. Senegal’s heartbreaking loss means its World Cup is over.
Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
What happened: Spain threatened to score many times in the first half, including a play where Spain kicked the ball into the back of the net off a corner kick, but the goal was called back due to some off-ball pushing. The Spanish squad finally capitalized on the 36th minute. A great ball was played in from the left side into Mikel Oyarzabal, who hit the ball on his first touch into the lower right corner of the goal for the 1-0 lead.
The 66th minute was when Spain doubled its halftime 1-0 lead. A great cross from the left side was fired into the back of the net by Pedro Porro’s running header. Spain’s third goal was probably its easiest. Oyarzabal made a run through the middle of the Austrian defense unmarked, and he got the pass for a one-on-one chance with the keeper, and he easily finished in the 89th minute.
Ramifications: Spain was one of the main favorites pre-tournament, and Spain looks deserving of that title as it advanced to the Round of 16. Spain will play the winner of Portugal and Croatia in the Round of 16. Austria’s tournament is over.
Where: BMO Field, Toronto
What happened: This match was a slow burner, with neither team scoring in the first half. Croatia got on the board first in the 53rd minute. Croatia quickly restarted on a throw-in and Croatia got plenty of space to play a cross from the right side. All alone past the far post was Ivan Perisic, who had time to settle the ball and finish into the lower left corner for the 1-0 lead.
Portugal’s equalizer came 15 minutes later. A corner was played into the box and a Portuguese player went down. After review, it was determined that he was taken down, giving Portugal a penalty kick. Soccer legend and one of the best goal scorers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, finished the penalty kick to tie the game.
Each team has goals that were taken away after players were offside. Portugal finally got its second goal to stick in the 94th minute. A brilliant, curling ball was played from the left side to Gonçalo Ramos, who jumped higher than his defenders to head the ball home inside the box for the 2-1 Portugal lead.
It looked like Portugal had the game wrapped up 10 minutes into stoppage time. However, Croatia wasn’t done and put a ball into the back of the net on a cross that was deflected, leading to a close-range shot. However, the goal was disallowed after a slight flick of a header made the Croatian goalscorer offside.
Ramifications: Ronaldo’s last run with Portugal continues as Portugal advanced to the Round of 16 to play Spain on Monday. Croatia and legend Luka Modric’s World Cup is over.
Where: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
What happened: The Swiss squad got an advantage early. A great run down the left side and on the end line allowed a pass across goal to Breel Embolo, who one-timed the goal into the back of the net for the 1-0 Switzerland lead in the 10th minute.
Switzerland got off to another fast start in the second half. Algeria got into trouble when it turned the ball over deep in its own half. An intercepted Swiss cross led to a poor clear by Algeria right to Switzerland’s Dan Ndoye, who had time and space to find the lower left corner from about 15 yards out for the 2-0 lead.
Ramifications: Switzerland advanced to the Round of 16 for the third consecutive World Cup. Switzerland will face the winner of Columbia vs. Ghana on Tuesday.