The 2026 FIFA World Cup Spherical of 32 wrapped up on Friday, with a number of high groups combating for his or her spot within the knockout rounds.
Egypt, Argentina and Colombia received their matches to seal their positions within the match’s Spherical of 16; Australia, Cape Verde and Ghana had been eradicated.
Listed below are the important thing takeaways from a full day of World Cup motion:
Australia slipped by itself banana pores and skin
Of all of the Spherical of 32 fixtures on provide, none had “120 minutes and penalties” written throughout it fairly like Egypt versus Australia did. Each groups spent a lot of the group stage attempting very onerous to not lose, and people efforts typically made them cautious, methodical and—whisper it—boring. If each groups had frozen on the opening whistle, ready for his or her opponent to maneuver first, nobody would’ve been shocked.
Issues did not fairly go that means. Egypt and Argentina did convey some vitality and aptitude to this match, however they nonetheless could not be separated in 120 minutes of soccer, and that left their fates within the fingers of the cruelest mistress of all: the World Cup penalty shootout.
Australia misplaced it by getting a bit too intelligent. Coach Tony Popovic earned loads of plaudits within the group stage for his impressed lineup selections, however he took issues too far right here, subbing out (spectacular) goalkeeper Patrick Seaside in favor of veteran backup Mat Ryan. Popovic then shuffled his penalty taker order, slotting heart again Harry Souttar in for the opening shot.
The thought was clearly to get some skilled heads within the recreation at crucial second, however Ryan made zero saves, and Souttar skied his opening penalty to doom Australia earlier than it’d begun to compete. Popovic has at all times confronted accusations of being too loyal to “his” gamers like Ryan and Souttar: he’ll face loads extra when he returns dwelling along with his rightfully overwhelmed crew. Australia 1-1 Egypt (2-4 PKs)
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