Although none of the four matches on matchday eight confirmed a last 16 participant, Canada went out of the competition after hosts Qatar. The remaining seven teams from Group E and F are all in with a chance of making the knockout stages following yet another thrilling day of action. Here are the talking points from the two groups after the second round of matches:
All square in “Barca-Bayern” clash, Japan denied as Costa Rica steal victory
With round two almost drawing to a conclusion, the 2022 World Cup probably saw one of the best matches as Germany held Spain in an end-to-end clash. The encounter was billed as a battle between Barcelona and Bayern Munich players as Luis Enrique had six members from the Spanish giants, and Hansi Flick seven from the German champions. With the exception of Eric Garcia, all of them were involved in the game.
Despite chances at both ends, the two teams went into the interval goalless; the 15th time the score was locked at 0-0 heading into half-time in 28 group-stage matches. Given the entertaining nature of the game, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon and his German counterpart Manuel Neuer did well not to be breached before the first half whistle, although the latter was lucky after clumsily parrying away Dani Olmo's bullet shot onto the bar. The sweeper keeper made history before the match as he was set for his 18th World Cup appearance, a joint record for a goalie alongside his compatriot Sepp Maier and Brazil's Claudio Taffarel.
For all the talk of a Barca v Bayern clash however, the goals came from different sources as Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata put La Roja ahead with a nice finish, before Werder Bremen's Niclas Fullkrug brought parity with a fine strike of his own. And so, the Germans failed to win any of their first two group games for the first time in history, although they can still advance to the last 16 if they beat Costa Rica, and Spain beat Japan. The Germans can also go through if they win handsomely against the Ticos, and Japan draw their match.
Costa Rica-Japan was pretty much a smash-and-grab affair as the latter dominated the game with 58-42 possession, and had also fashioned the better chances, only to be denied cruelly by the former who scored with their first and only shot on target. Like the Germans, it is also a must-win game for the Central Americans, owing to their goal difference (-6), which took a battering at the hands of the rampaging Spaniards. Similarly, Enrique's disciples are well placed to progress thanks to their handy GD of 7.
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Mesmerizing Morocco, broken Belgium as Croatia beat Canada in grudge match
The Belgians have made the quarter-finals of the last four major tournaments, and entered the competition as the world's second-best team. Although they began the World Cup with a narrow win against Canada, their deficiencies were exposed badly, namely the ageing backline, comprising stalwarts Jan Vertonghen (35 years old) and Toby Alderweireld (33). Based on the evidence of their limp display, veterans Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne played down expectations in the Belgian camp, noting that the so-called “golden generation” are well past their best, and that the age factor is weighing heavily on the Red Devils.
Then came the loss to Morocco, which took Roberto Martinez's men third, and facing possible elimination from the group stage after being touted to at least finish as group champions. Following the defeat, Vertonghen took a dig at the forward line, saying, “I guess we attack badly because we're also too old up front."
Morocco, in contrast, picked up their first win at the World Cup in 24 years, and their third overall – all against European teams in Portugal (1986), Scotland (1998) and Belgium (2022). Things are looking bright for the compact North Africans, who are yet to concede under coach Walid Regragui in 540 minutes, including clean sheets against Liberia (2-0), Chile (2-0), Paraguay (0-0), Georgia (3-0), Croatia (0-0) and Belgium (2-0). The Moroccans are on the verge of a last 16 berth – best ever display in 1986 – as they face already eliminated Canada, while Croatia take on Belgium.
For the Canadians, who will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside the USA and Mexico, the World Cup was a bitter learning experience. John Herdman's team could've taken the lead in their opener against Belgium but Bayern star Alphonso Davies missed from the penalty spot, and Michy Batshuayi later sealed an undeserved victory. Against the Croats, the Canadians broke the deadlock after just 67 seconds through the lightening quick Davies, who not only scored his country's first ever World Cup goal but this tournament's fastest. This was the 50th goal of the 2022 edition.
Zlatko Dalic's charges, seething after Herdman's “Efff Croatia” comment following their loss against Belgium, scored two before the first half and two more after resumption to have the last laugh. Responding to the Canadian head coach's jibe, Dalic felt the Russia World Cup's losing finalists deserved more respect. After being lambasted by the Croatian media, Herdman was not available for the post-match handshake between the two tacticians, which Dalic later pointed out.
Former Leicester City forward Andrej Kramaric starred in the victory, and he later stated that Herdman's barb served to motivate him a great deal as he became the second Croatian to score twice in a World Cup match after Mario Mandzukic. This is the second consecutive World Cup he has scored in, following in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Ivan Perisic and Mandzukic. All told, not a good last few days for English coach Herdman.
