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For a World Cup group stage that was supposed to be without much risk, it sure ended in drama. Sasa Kalajdzic’s 96th-minute equaliser, moments after Algeria went ahead, secured a 3-3 draw for Austria and their place in the knockouts.
In a way, it summed up the contrast between our fears and the reality of a World Cup that was full of fun. Algeria and Austria could have played out a goalless draw and both would have gone through. Instead, they scored six more goals to add to the long list.
They had a total of 215, a record for the group stage. And if you’re thinking there were just more games, that’s not the whole story. In fact, the 2.99 per game average is the highest since 1950. And there was not much beating.
Yes, that was it to bring us back to 32 teams – the number of countries that competed in each of the previous seven tournaments. But none of the newcomers really dishonored themselves. In fact, they lit up the summer alongside superstar names.
Curacao’s tie against Germany will be cherished forever. Jordan departed with three defeats but scored in every match, including against holders Argentina. The magical Cape Verde will face Lionel Messi and co in the last 32 and remain unbeaten.
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Cape Verde players and supporters celebrate as their fairytale run continues
For Messi, it was his hat-trick against Algeria that stirred things up but he is not alone. The quartet chasing him for the Golden Boot are Vinicius Junior, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. This is a Ballon d’Or shortlist. The stars have risen.
There will be some complaints of stat-padding and they are not entirely unfounded. A far cry from Paolo Rossi’s hat-trick against Brazil before a brace in the semi-final won the Golden Boot and his sixth goal in the 1982 final.
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Norway fans gather in Times Square ahead of their game against Senegal
Both of Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals came against Uzbekistan. Messi helped himself against Jordan. Haaland and Mbappe got two each against an Iraq side who rather sneaked out the back door, the beneficiaries of the extra space afforded to Asia.
Iraq missed out on the qualification spots going to South Korea and Jordan in their initial group, lost to Saudi Arabia in the subsequent group stage and still managed to come through the playoffs. There are those who think Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz has a point.
“Teams that qualify for this competition can turn it into something vulgar and ordinary,” he said on Saturday. “The World Cup should be something with meaning and significance. It should be rare. But, as you know, money talks today.”
The format certainly has its challenges. We only beat a trio of European teams. The Czech Republic was unexpected. Türkiye and Scotland appeared for the first time in 24 and 28 years respectively. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Uruguay not winning a game.
Kevin Pina scored a superb free-kick for Cape Verde against Uruguay
They were the only South American team not to make it past, while Tunisia was the only one of the 10 African teams to exit before the knockouts. A strong showing from the continent, in stark contrast to the representatives from Asia – seven of whom have already left.
It must have been a lot to eliminate those 16 teams – more games than ever before at the World Cup. But a tournament talk doesn’t quite define it. This thing, for all the tinkering that goes, still remains very special for that.
Ecuador beat Germany and brought color and value to the game
It’s Raul Jimenez’s emotional goal for Mexico and Folarin Balogan’s World Cup start to the party for the United States. Kerim Alajbegovic announced himself for Bosnia-Herzegovina at 18 and Vojinha is doing the same for Cape Verde at 40.
Travels of Giovanni Reiner Trivella and Marcelo Bielser. Rafiq Belghali got some help from a corner flag and Kevin Pina was doing it all himself. Ecuador’s joie de vivre. Austria’s desperation has been rewarded. In the meantime, the World Cup has been full of colors.
Still agree with Queiroz? no problem “The group stage is the warm-up and qualification for the next round is like a credit card. Now you have to start paying,” added the exasperated Portuguese. “Everything goes to the winner, every game is drama, nobody can hide.”
This World Cup is just starting.
