Picking up where we left off?
So, the Round of 16 – for the first time, not the first knockout round of the World Cup but the second – is in the books. And what did we learn?
Well, ostensibly, it was more competitive than the first-ever Round of 32. While that saw five out of 16 games won by a margin of two goals or more (31.25%), only two of the eight last-16 matches were as one-sided in scoreline (25%).
If we’re looking at things in proportion, the last 16 also produced a higher volume of World Cup classics. England’s 3-2 victory over Mexico – only the co-hosts’ third defeat in 90 competitive encounters at the iconic Azteca – was absolutely worth staying up into the early hours of the morning for, while Argentina’s monster-mentality comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt by the same scoreline was just as memorable (even with the conspiracy theories).
And lastly, it was a round in which the crème de la crème of world football came out to play once again. Kylian Mbappé kept his cool to decide France’s bad-tempered clash with Paraguay from the spot; Erling Haaland continued his dream debut World Cup with two more typically world-class goals as Norway saw off Brazil; England’s superstar duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane did the business again; and Lionel Messi, well… Lionel Messi was Lionel Messi.
FotMob Team of the Round
Three of those aforementioned stars made it into FotMob’s Team of the Week for the Round of 16, along with Mbappé and Messi’s France and Argentina teammates Dayot Upamecano and Cristian Romero, and six more players covering three other nations.
Morocco are the best-represented country in the XI, with both full-backs – Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui – and sought-after attacking midfielder Azzedine Ounahi all making significant contributions as the 2022 semi-finalists continued to prove that run wasn’t just a flash in the pan, dispatching co-hosts Canada 3-0.
Meanwhile, Belgium striker Charles De Ketelaere was one of four players to bag a brace in the Round of 16 as the Red Devils defeated the USA 4-1 to make it three hosts out of three eliminated at the same stage.
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The Big Guns continue to deliver
In surely one of the most thrilling Golden Boot races in World Cup history, four players are separated by two goals – and they’re all averaging better than a goal a game.
All-time record World Cup scorer Messi still leads the way on eight – despite missing both penalties he’s taken at this tournament – with Mbappé in hot pursuit on seven as he aims to go back-to-back and become the first player ever to win multiple Golden Boots.
But 2018 recipient Kane – who trails seven-goal Mbappé and Haaland by one – must fancy himself to do likewise. He and Haaland will also be acutely aware that one of them is going no further this summer…
The quarter-finals begin with a bang, with that rematch between France and Morocco the only game on the agenda today.
The remaining ties are spread over Friday and Saturday, with tonight’s victors going on face the winners of Spain vs. Belgium in the semis.
France’s quest continues against Morocco side out for revenge
For the second World Cup running, France and Morocco meet in the knockouts – this time, a round earlier.
Two-time winners France, aiming to reach a third straight final, had been in ominous form – but Paraguay, for all their nefarious tactics, proved the French threat can be nullified to a degree. That being said, Les Bleus still thoroughly dominated proceedings as they have done throughout the tournament, with Mbappé showing once more that he’s in the form of his life as he looks to win his second World Cup still aged just 27.
If Morocco are to do as Paraguay did – and, they’ll hope, inflict revenge on 2022’s 2-0 defeat in the final four – it won’t be purely through defensive resilience. The Atlas Lions more than proved themselves to be an attacking force to be reckoned with, with goals flowing freely from multiple sources – though three-goal striker Ismael Saibari, just signed by Bayern Munich, is an injury doubt.
Morocco centre-backs must be ready for unstoppable Mbappé
France’s terrifying forward foursome of Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Mbappé can each cause any defence a whole world of problems in their own right – but it’s the latter, their captain and talisman, who spearheads it all.
No team at this World Cup has prevented the Real Madrid striker from at least providing an assist, and he’s scored against four of France’s five opponents so far – so Morocco’s likely centre-back pairing of Issa Diop and Chadi Riad will know they’ll have to be at the top of their game as the African champions brace to come under the cosh more than they’ve done at any point this summer.
Hakimi could present Digne’s toughest test
The superstar of the Morocco team, skipper Achraf Hakimi must be in the conversation for a place in the Team of the Tournament.
The all-action PSG right-back has yet to miss a minute at these finals, asserting his reputation as one of the world’s finest operators in his position on both sides of the ball – and his attacking prowess will doubtless keep his opposite number, France left-back Lucas Digne, heavily occupied in Boston.
It’s been said that Digne is the weak link in Didier Deschamps’ side. Well, it’s time for the 32-year-old to prove he’s not and draw on his ample experience to try and shut down the considerable threat of Hakimi in what promises to be an intriguing individual battle.
