As the knock-out phase of the tournament kicked it, we were left with 16 teams who came to the World Cup for serious business. The Round of 16 opened with a thrilling game in Kazan between Group C winners France and second place team in Group D Argentina. The Argentines scrapped through thanks to a dramatic late winner against Nigeria in their final group match but this Last 16 game turned out to be the last for Jorge Sampaoli’s team. The score line on the day would have suggested it was a close game but that’s far from it. Argentina labored throughout the game and were eventually put out of their misery. Kylian Mbappe was the star on the day as the French teenager scored twice and won a penalty for his team. Didier Deschamps could be disappointed with his team’s defensive display but overall, they did enough to book a place in the quarter finals.
The second game of the Round of 16 in Sochi was a much tighter affair between Group A winners Uruguay and the runner-up in Group B Portugal. The South American nation won all three games in the group stage without conceding a goal but were up against a goal scoring icon in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese talisman. Edinson Cavani scored both goals for Uruguay in this game but the opening goal showed was an epitome of the understandig between him and his strike partner Luis Suarez who provided the assist. Pepe levelled the scores for Portugal, the first goal Uruguay conceded at this tournament but the Portuguese defense marshall was culpable in gifting their opponent the opportunity to restore the lead. La Celeste defense led by Diego Godin ensure it was a quiet evening for Cristiano Ronaldo who bowed out of the competition on the same day as Lionel Messi.
Spain faced host Russia at the Luzhniki stadium in the third game of this round. This was supposed to be a routine win for the 2010 champions but as with several surprises witnessed at this special edition of the FIFA World Cup, the Russians dared and believed. Spain completed over 1000 passes in Moscow but did lacked the cutting edge required to put the game to bed. The game went into penalties, Russia Captain Igor Akinfeev became the hero with two spot kick saves. Against all odds, Russia edged Spain to book a place in the last eight of the FIFA World Cup.
There was more drama later in the fourth match of the Round of 16 between Croatia and Denmark. Both teams scored inside the first five minutes of the game and it became a humdinger affair. Neither sides took initiative as the game progressed. We saw another 120 minutes match in Nizhny Novogorod before the drama of the shoot-out. If Igor Akinfeev was the hero in Moscow, Danijel Subasic and Kasper Schmeichel shone even brighter in a poor penalty shoot-out affair. Both goalkeepers saved five spot kicks between them but it was Croatia who found a way through thanks to Ivan Rakitic’s final kick. The Croats dodged a bullet in Nizhny Novgorod.
Brazil dispatched Mexico with relative ease in a game which had many bookmakers looking for a likely upset considering El Tri performance against deposed World Champions Germany in their first game at of the tournament. The game in Samara wasn’t all one sided but the defensive solidity by Thiago Silva and Miranda provided a platform for Neymar and co upfront to break the Mexicans. Two second half goals from Neymar and Firmino was enough for the Samba boys to book their place in the last eight as they aim to conquer the world for the sixth time.
If Brazil’s passage to the quarter finals was smooth sailing, it wasn’t the same for their opponent in the last eight encounter. Belgium conceded two earlier second half goals to Japan in Rostov in a game that would have been the mother of all upsets at this finals if the Asians progressed. Belgium was rattled but they responded in fine style. Roberto Martinez team are known for his fine attacking buildup play but on this occasion, he switched things around. Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli played the super-sub roles to perfection as both players got on the scoresheet with the latter grabbing the all-important winner. Belgium dodged a bullet against a much disciplined Japanese side who just ran out of steam and physical strength to match their European rival. The Samurai Blue exited the tournament in the most painful manner but their display was one for the underdogs to appreciate.
The entertainment we got in Rostov-On-Don was a contrast to the cagey affair on display at Saint Petersburg in the game between Sweden and Switzerland. The Scandinavian nation finished as Group F winners but were seen as the weaker side against Group E runners-up Switzerland. Sweden haven’t played eye catching football in Russia but they have stuck to their strong work ethic and team unity which has brought them far. Emil Forsberg deflected shot was the difference between both sides in a game filled with several incidents including a red card. Sweden have shown strong defensive displays; performances that has seen Janne Andersson’d team kept three clean sheets in four games at this World Cup.
England managed to survive the penalty-shootout scare on Tuesday in their Round of 16 clash against Colombia. The Three Lions showed nerves of steel in the crucial part of the game to book a quarter final place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006. Harry Kane fired England into the lead from the penalty spot for his sixth goal of the tournament and just when the game was coming to end, Colombia kept knocking till Yerry Mina rose highest in the penalty area for a timely equalizer. It wasn’t a pretty game for referee Mark Geiger who struggled to control emotions on both sides.
The quarter finals begins tomorrow. Predict and win big by visiting Babaijebu.ng