The killer run of the 2026 World Cup is leaving some of the biggest nations in utter despair while paving out dream runs for deserving “smaller” nations. The Round of 32 showed why the knockouts are so dangerous. The size of the dog does not matter, it is truly the fight in the dog that matters. Paraguay, Cape Verde, Senegal and DR Congo brought unyielding grit whereas the more traditional countries brought the flicks, tricks, ingenuity in unlocking the tough defenses of their oppositions. Here are the biggest winners
and losers from this round.
Winners
Hosts
Canada, USA and Mexico have truly lit up the FIFA World Cup. FIFA host nations always tend to punch above their weight, but from where this edition’s hosts come from and the kind of electric performances put on show, they truly deserve a standing ovation. With all three of them having qualified for the Ro16, they have given their home and away audience a surging drive to support the host nations.
Harry Kane
Cometh the moment, cometh the man! DR Congo had troubled every team they came across in the World Cup so far and England was no different. The watertight structure suffocated them and tested the Three Lions to their limits. After going behind early and having being shut off at the back for the rest of the game, England needed someone to step up and Kane came in clutch to score the brace and deliver the victory. His goal into the top corner was the touch of a supreme center forward at the peak of his abilities.
Carlo Ancelotti
The mastermind has been mercurial in his man management of a star studded Brazil lineup. Against the precise and disciplined Japanese side, Brazil was perhaps the only team to be able to unlock a hardened low-block put up by Hajime Moriyasu’s men. This was also the first instance since 2002 that Brazil came back behind and win in a knockout game of the World Cup. Brazil’s pacing of the game allowed them to reserve energy for a final push in the last 10 minutes that led to their 2-1 win.
The Underdogs
Paraguay, Cape Verde and DR Congo deserve a lot of praise for being the frontrunners of a gritty underdog contingent that showed up in North America. While only one of the above had managed to qualify for the next round, let that not take away the struggle their opposition went through to eliminate Cape Verde and DR Congo. This underdog run on the soil of underdog hosts will go down in history as one of the most memorable ones.
Losers
Germany
The biggest disappointment as a unit and as individuals has to be Germany. A strong start gave hope for the four time champions but the ugly monster created due to the deep problems in the German team reared its head at the wrong moment. With absolutely no creative intent or output it was a very difficult watch for German fan.
Paraguay took the game away with a well executed goal and their overtly aggressive gameplay could never be matched by the Germans. The substitutions did not work to the extent intended. Add to it the elimination in the penalty where people just didn’t want to take a shot was an embarrassing sight.
Julian Nagelsmann
The 40 year-old coach has looked out of ideas and out of time as neither his tactics nor his man management could lift this incohesive unit to a level deserving of the German national team. After initially refusing to step down after his team’s defeat to Paraguay, the DFB and Nagelsmann have parted ways. Nags is at all time low and has not left much of an impression of his coaching skills. The path ahead for him is rough.
Netherlands
The Dutch went down to Morocco in a surprisingly meek manner. They were dominated and outplayed in attack and defence by Achraf Hakimi and co. Ronald Koeman was clearly bested by Mohamed Ouahbi as the Netherlands exited unceremoniously after a promising run.
The officiating
It is a controversial opinion to comment on the refereeing contingent. But, this round deserved it. Germany vs Paraguay had a punishing intervention in extra time to take away Germany’s goal that eventually led to their elimination. The Paraguay players could get away with murder in a game where a soft touch on their keeper led to a serious intervention that altered the final result.
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