Matchday five and six saw equal eight goals scored as the Qatar World Cup entered its business stage without the home team. The Netherlands, England and Ecuador all stood the chance to seal a last 16 berth Friday as the first batch of teams but had to be content stuck on four points heading into the final matchday where all the games will be held simultaneously. While African champions Senegal are still alive, and Iran continued Asia's feel-good run, hosts Qatar will be a conspicuous absence from the Round of 16 party. Here are the talking points from the drama-filled Group A, B, G and H action:
Pragmatist Southgate, Iran-USA takes on added significance
A recurring theme of Gareth Southgate's six-year tenure as England boss is that his playing approach tends to lean towards pragmatism. It briefly showed signs of going away after the 6-2 hammering of Iran, but the Three Lions were brought down to earth by an energetic USA side in what turned out to be the fifth goalless draw – exactly a quarter of the whole tournament. This was England's 12th such stalemate in World Cup history – the most by any nation - but none under Gareth. He has taken England to the semi-finals in 2018 – for the first time in 28 years – and Euro 2021 final, which they never achieved before. Following the USA draw, the England tactician asked his charges to drown out the outside noise and focus on the British derby against Wales where the illustrious neighbors can very well finish as group champions. But Southgate, a modern coach who keenly follows other sports like the NFL for pointers, knows fully well that his disciples have to improve if they are to leave a mark in the first ever Arab World Cup. They were uninventive at the back as John Stones and Declan Rice struggled to push or pass forward, while in a few days Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham saw opposite sides of the coin as both of them were substituted after colorless displays. A fit Kyle Walker will be breathing down Kieran Trippier's necks following two unconvincing performances. The midfield was also listless and all of Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Saka will look over their shoulders for Phil Foden, who did not come on as a sub. Harry Kane is also yet to impress after two games, but as the captain and leading scorer of the side, he is perhaps undroppable, just two goals shy of Wayne Rooney's English all-time goal-scoring record of 53 goals. The only England players who looked their part on the pitch were goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Manchester United duo Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, who enjoyed another assured outing in his 50th cap. With the England team lacking imagination, the currently out of favor United defender completed eight long balls in an attempt to speed up the game, and made eight vital clearances. The 1966 champions have done just about enough, given their sizeable goal difference and goals scored (first two criteria to determine progression in case teams are locked on equal points). The Iran-USA clash has now taken on added significance, as if political rivalry was not enough. Iran had the last laugh when the two sides met in 1998.
Also Read - Talking points from Group A, B action
Ecuador, Netherlands and Senegal all in as hosts crash out
Qatar are the first host nation in history to bow out of the World Cup after matchday two. South Africa had also exited in the first round in 2010 but the Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were at least alive heading into matchday three. Asian champions Qatar are one of two nations from the continent alongside Australia (Socceroos play in the Asian World Cup qualifiers) yet to pick up a point. Making their World Cup debut, the Qataris failed to convince in their two defeats against Ecuador and Senegal, and departed meekly as the first team of the competition. The Gulf state's Spanish tactician Felix Sanchez put on a brave face following the exit, and said the experience will serve them in good stead as they bid to make their presence felt in the world stage after conquering Asia. The other three teams in contrast, will all have their eyes on the last 16 after the Netherlands' draw with Ecuador. The Dutch take on demoralized Qatar in their last game, while the other tie pits highest scorer Enner Valencia's Ecuador against the African champions, with a draw enough to take the South Americans to the knockout stage, and also Senegal if the Netherlands lose heavily. With Cody Gakpo (two goals so far) firing and Louis van Gaal's team effective so far without being extravagant, that however, is unlikely.
Brazil can cope with Neymar absence
Brazil's strength in depth, especially its attacking riches, has been well documented so this is the perfect time for a non-starter to claim a stake for a regular place in the side in the absence of Neymar. The No 10 has been ruled out of their next match against Switzerland, and possibly the Cameroon clash too according to Brazil's Globo Esporte, with the Paris Saint Germain star hoping to recover in time for the last 16 if the Selecao advance. There is also the small matter of identifying the replacement of right-back Danilo, who faces the same predicament as Neymar, two short of Pele's Brazil goal-scoring record of 77 goals. Danilo surges forward at every opportunity so in essence Brazil are missing two bodies in midfield, which may see Tite shore up his side with the likes of Fred and/or Newcastle United's in-form Bruno Guimaraes. And if the tactician decides to go for an attacking approach, then Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and Real Madrid's Rodrygo Goes are viable options, ahead of Manchester United's Antony and Gabriel Martinelli. Were Tite to deploy Barcelona's Raphinha or Real's Vinicius Junior in the No 10 role, then Antony and Martinelli's chances to start on the wing against the Swiss will brighten significantly. Switzerland and Brazil won their opening matches against Cameroon and Serbia respectively; the former's Breel Embolo scoring the all-important goal against the country of his birth and the latter's Richarlison starring with a brace on his World Cup bow. Tottenham Hotspur's Richarlison, the first player from the football-mad country to score twice on World Cup debut since Neymar at home in 2014, put the shine on the victory with a scintillating bicycle kick, which he tried to perfect in training sessions. Although it is tough for anyone to fill up Brazil's Neymar-sized hole, Richarlison is more than capable to lead the line.
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Portugal win marked by more Ronaldo history
Different Portugal players briefed the media leading up to the World Cup, and one burning issue in the build-up was the situation facing Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year old left United by mutual consent after the fallout from his explosive interview to Piers Morgan, which culminated with the Glazers deciding to end their 17-year reign as owners. Hence, it was more relief than anything else when Fernando Santos' Portugal began their mission with an exciting 3-2 victory against Ghana, after the much anticipated faceoff between Son Heung-min's South Korea and dangerous Uruguay ended in a drab goalless draw. While both the Taeguk Warriors and La Celeste were content not to lose in a dull stalemate which briefly sprang to life in the end, the star-studded Portuguese and the Black Stars went at each other. After more than an hour, Ronaldo created history, becoming the first player to score in five World Cups, following 2018, 2014, 2010 and 2006. Remarkably, he has also netted in five consecutive European Championships from 2004-2020 (2021), making it 10 successive major international tournaments he has scored in. Attackers Joao Felix and Rafael Leao also found the back of the net, showing that Portugal were in fine hands with Qatar likely to be Ronaldo's last World Cup.