We are at the end of what will arguably be one of the most talked about of all time at a World Cup. Before we head into the Round of 16, we have some winners and losers as well as those who are in the middle stemming from the group stage in random order.
WINNERS – USA: This reporter felt that five points would be required to advance from Group B and five points is what they got. While the draw with Wales felt like a loss, the draw with England felt like a win. They then did the business against Iran to advance. Yes, they’ve only scored two goals, but have allowed just one and that was a penalty from Gareth Bale. The Stars and Stripes are hungry for more, though, and a win against Netherlands on Saturday (9am CT, FOX) will make this a really successful World Cup for the USA.
Gregg Berhalter was not the most popular picks and he has not been perfect, but he has led the USA to wins when they truly needed them so far. Is there another one coming on Saturday?
LOSERS – Mexico: El Tri had an unremarkable Octagonal during qualifying despite finishing second, and were equally unremarkable World Cup. The difference between qualifying and the Cup itself was that they would not be able to get away with it to advance at the World Cup. They did come close to advancing and needed just one more goal, but that goal never came and they limp out of Qatar not even reaching the “cuarto partido” let alone the “quinto partido”.
WINNERS – Australia, Japan, and South Korea: The A-League (8), J-League (10), and K-League (14) supplied a combined 32 players for this tournament and they are all going to continue in Qatar. It is the first time in World Cup history that three Asian sides have made it this far. Granted, the top players for all three teams play in Europe, but all three have punched above their weight by advance and pulling off shockers along the way against Denmark, Spain, Germany, and Portugal. They play should draw some eyeballs to the aforementioned leagues as well as the AFC Champions League (on Paramount+ here in the States). The road may end for all three in the Round of 16, but it may not given their respective spirits!
LOSERS – Belgium and Germany: Belgium should have been beaten by Canada, did deservedly lose to Morocco, and were too wayward with their finishing against Croatia. The term “Golden Generation” applied to any team is a curse and that befell Belgium this time around. It was a team while still were capable, were past their prime and went stale at the worst time. As for Germany, expectations were more tempered, but they did not even meet those. The match against Japan was an advertisement for the Bundesliga, but because both goalscorers for Japan in that match (and the one against Spain) play in the Bundesliga. Germany’s 2014 triumph was the culmination of “Das Reboot” after the shambolic Euro 2000. It’s now time for another one after this debacle.
WINNERS – Morocco: The Atlas Lions have been playing with great confidence in this World Cup and were rewarded as one of just two teams to claim seven points in the Group Stages with France. They were also one of the few teams to look better in every match–the last ten minutes against Canada not withstanding. For the first time since 1986, Morocco is heading to the knockout stages and now have eyes on going further against their neighbors across the Strait of Gibraltar.
LOSERS – Qatar: The hosts will have the dubious distinctions of being the first host country to lose all three group stage matches and will be classified as 32nd in the World Cup by virtue of scoring one less goal than Canada. The World Cup was supposed to be their coming out party, but ended up being crowded out by their guests in Netherlands, Ecuador, and Senegal. The 2019 Asian Cup champions still have a long way to go to gain global respectability at least on the pitch. It’s not likely to happen off the pitch anytime soon.
IN THE MIDDLE – Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Tunisia: It would be harsh to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Tunisia as part of the losers because all three did play admirably and each got a win in this World Cup and had shots of advancing going into the final group stage matches. That said, Morocco will be the lone representative of the Middle East and North Africa in the Round of 16.
IN THE MIDDLE – Canada: Canada did get a pair of goals in this World Cup, but their finishing betrayed them against Belgium, it was not a good idea to wind up Croatia, and Morocco did not look like dropping points. Canada did extraordinarily well to get to Qatar, and there is promise for 2026, but in the end there is still some ways to go to gain a more permanent foothold on the world stage.
That’s all for now. The Round of 16 awaits and we shall see if the shocks continue, or if normal service will resume.
