Paraguay give Germany a dose of their own medicine
Jose Canalé was the hero as Paraguay did what no side has ever done before: beat Germany in a World Cup penalty shootout.
Before dispatching the decisive spot-kick in Boston – after Paraguay had spurned two chances to win, allowing Germany to force sudden death – the centre-half was a rock at the back throughout normal and extra time, winning seven out of seven ground duels and finishing with a match-high 23 defensive contributions.
For Paraguay, it’s only a second-ever World Cup knockout victory – while Germany are still searching for their first since lifting the trophy back in 2014.
Brazil do what good teams do
Brazil proved the old adage that good teams find a way to win by fighting back from 1-0 down to beat Japan 2-1 in the Round of 32, Gabriel Martinelli completing the comeback deep into injury time in Houston.
Japan had been on course for an historic first-ever World Cup knockout victory after Kaishu Sano’s first international goal sent them at half-time with the lead, but the Samurai Blue ultimately paid the price for trying to hold onto their narrow advantage – they attempted just one shot in the second half.
Casemiro’s trademark header drew the five-time world champions level shortly before the hour mark and Martinelli finished the job in dramatic fashion.
In setting up Martinelli’s last-gasp winner, Bruno Guimarães moved to a tournament high four assists – one ahead of France’s Michael Olise and Sweden’s Alexander Isak.
Morocco move one step closer to even more history
Morocco held their nerve to triumph over the Netherlands after a shootout in which five penalties were missed.
The Atlas Lions – hoping to build on their historic semi-final run of 2022 by becoming the first-ever African World Cup finalists – had looked to be heading out, only for Issa Diop’s 91st-minute header to take the tie to extra time.
On balance, Morocco were great value for their win, outshooting the Dutch 11-6 and accumulating 1.38 expected goals (xG) to their opponents’ six, but they certainly didn’t do it the easy way in Monterrey.
A third straight penalty shootout exit from the World Cup for Ronald Koeman’s side would be a painful way for the coach to bring down the curtain on his second spell in charge of the Netherlands.
The next batch of last-32 ties begins with the Ivory Coast making their World Cup knockout debut against Norway in Dallas.
Then, it’s over to New Jersey as one of the most impressive teams of the tournament so far, two-time winners France, face Sweden.
And the action concludes with co-hosts Mexico taking on Ecuador in Mexico City in what will be the early hours of Wednesday morning for those watching outside of the Americas.
Will Norway’s all-round rotation pay off?
Group-stage casualties at their first three World Cups, Ivory Coast made it fourth time lucky in making it out of the group – beating Ecuador and Curaçao and impressing despite defeat to Germany.
They’ll be up against what should be a very fresh Norway side after head coach Ståle Solbakken made 10 changes for their final group game, a 4-1 defeat to France, safe in the knowledge the Vikings were already through.
While Ivory Coast have never made it this far at a World Cup, Norway have yet to win a knockout match at the tournament – and one player who’ll be determined that their journey doesn’t end here is Erling Haaland.
Despite being rested against France, the formidable frontman is right in contention for the Golden Boot at his first major tournament with four goals already – the joint second-most behind Lionel Messi (six).
Free-scoring France eye more goals against sieve-like Sweden
Arguably the team of the tournament so far, France powered their way into the last 32 with three group wins out of three, racking up 10 goals in the process – with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé bagging four apiece.
And those two, plus the rest of Les Bleus’ star-studded attack, must be licking their lips at the prospect of meeting Sweden – who advanced as a best third-placed finisher despite conceding seven goals.
Having missed the 4-1 win over Norway following the passing of his mother, Didier Deschamps is set to be back in the dugout as he continues his quest to end his long stint at the helm with a second World Cup success.
Sweden can call on two top-quality strikers of their own in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, but the fact they shipped five goals in their last encounter with a fellow UEFA nation – going down 5-1 to the Netherlands in their second group game – hardly augurs well.
The race for the Golden Boot
Mexico and Ecuador hit the heights
Having seen Canada progress, Mexico will hope to make it two host nations out of two into the last 16.
But El Tri could well be in for their sternest examination of the finals so far against a stubborn Ecuador side who saw off Germany in their final group match.
And there could be one great leveller at the iconic Azteca… Much has rightly been made of the altitude factor at this cathedral of football – where Mexico have only ever lost twice in 87 games, and conceded just twice in nine World Cup matches – but if there’s any team at these finals who ought to be able to cope with that, it’s Ecuador – whose national stadium sits almost 2,000 metres further above sea level!
