To think we drew 0-0 to Paraguay just 3 days ago is a great achievement considering they knocked out one of the tournament favourites in Boston today
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For the second time on Monday, a World Cup match went into penalty shootout, and it was another upset with Morocco beating Netherlands 3-2 in spot kicks, after scores were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation time and extra time. The Dutch team was minutes away from advancing to the round of 16 during normal time, before Issa Diop scored the equaliser in the 91st minute.
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Big upset with Netherlands eliminated. Many were predicting that they would win the World Cup.
Two big outs today before the round of 16, and in the case of Germany, against a third place team that wouldn’t have even made it out of the group stage in the old format.
Norway will face Brazil in the World Cup round of 16, after beating Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 in Dallas. Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute.
UPDATE
France easily accounted for Sweden 3-0 in New Jersey, with Mbappé scoring another double, and Bradley Barcola adding a goal in the 52nd minute. France coach Didier Deschamps returned to take charge following a trip back home to mourn the death of his mother.
UPDATE 2
Mexico progressed to the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Ecuador in Mexico City, with both goals scored within the first half hour of the match. The clash was delayed by one hour due to lightning and heavy rain.
After the match, Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece announced his resignation.
Harry Kane sails past 2 goals and England advances to the Round of 16 to face Mexico Monday (AEST time).
Congo surprised the Three Lions with an early goal in the 7th minute, but Kane struck back (75’, 86’) to get them past through the next stage.
England 2 - 1 Congo DR.
Once again, the English would like to remind people that football is supposedly coming home.
Belgium came from behind to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time in Seattle. Belgium were looking to an early exit when Senegal led 2-0 in the 51st minute, however goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans in the last five minutes of second half regulation time forced the match into extra time. Then in the 20th minute of extra time second half, Tielemans scored the penalty that broke the hearts of Senegalese fans.
In other news, Ronald Koeman resigned as Netherlands coach following his team’s shock loss to Morocco earlier this week.
Update
Team USA is through to the round of 16 after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Santa Clara. Folarin Balogun was both a hero and a villain with a goal just before half time, before he was sent off in the 64th minute for a challenge on Bosnian player Tarik Muharemovic.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored a double as Spain dominated over Austria 3-0 in Los Angeles.
Update
Portugal survived a huge scare and a controversial VAR decision to beat Croatia 2-1 in Toronto. Ivan Perisic opened the scoring for Croatia in the 53rd minute, before Portugal responded through Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty kick and Matias Ramos’ goal in 4th minute of second half stoppage time. Croatia substitute Josko Gvardiol thought he scored the goal in the 13th minute of stoppage time which would have sent the match into extra time, but the goal was disallowed as the VAR ruled that Croatia touched the ball as it went toward Mario Pasalic, who brought the ball down and pinged it to Gvardiol, who finished at close range.
Update 2
Switzerland are through the round of 16 after a deserving 2-0 victory over Algeria in Vancouver. Breel Embolo scored in the opening 10 minutes following a stunning run from Johan Manzambi. Dan Ndoye added the second goal within 60 seconds of the restart, after a defensive mix-up.
Bring on the Socceroos tomorrow.
‘Shouldn’t be happening’: Kerr lashes A-League issue
Matildas captain Sam Kerr has lashed the uncertainty facing Central Coast’s women’s team and a lack of investment in the A-League Women just three years after Australia hosted the Women’s World Cup.
“I’ve been reading this week about Central Coast Mariners and some of the stuff that’s happening in Australia at the moment and it’s quite disappointing to be honest,” Kerr said on Thursday, at her signing press conference with NWSL club Gotham FC.
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Thanks to the bad coaching of Popovic with the call on the penalty takers. Firstly changing goalkeepers, should have brought on a decent penalty taker instead. Then Soutar taking the first penalty, Harry has been magnificent for us but he uses his height to defend and from what I see uses his head more than his feet. Then the young guy Herrington missed his penalty. Surely there were better choices! Just all bad decisions and very disappointing to end in this way when we fought so hard. Not the players fault but Popovics!
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Yes, always hard to go out on penalties.
Socceroos get a pass mark from me for this WC for making the Round of 32. But then being ranked 27th in the world, to go out in the Group stage would have been a fail.
Responsibility is equal to players too not just the coach .
Anyone I never believed in Australia I knew they would screw up, my real team was better 
Aussie Aussie Aussie down down 
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There is a curse on the Socceroos in the knockouts since 2006 with that heartbreaking loss to Italy starting it
20 years later, the curse continues
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I guess being one of the lower ranked teams by the time the knock-outs come around, it was always going to be hard for them to win one.
This was their best chance, playing a team ranked only slightly higher but still couldn’t do it.
I see there’s been a lot of complaints online about Popovic’s odd choices for the penalty shootout. Pretty much universal condemnation.
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Arguably Cabo Verde’s best performance in their first World Cup appearance, scoring twice against the reigning champions.
The win though means Argentina will face Egypt in the round of 16, setting up a clash between two of football’s modern greats in Lionel Messi and Mo Salah.
Traitor. You’re such a fair-weather friend.
Yeah Egypt ain’t winning that one if they’re against Argentina. Not with Messi leading the latter.
I suspect no one will give another two hoots about the Socceroos again for another 4 years. Year after year they have their chance and they blow it. Either Popovic need to start using the upcoming top guns like Irankunda and Toure more effectively or give it to someone else.
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