2022 World Cup Diary – Part Eleven – the Round of 16
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Friday 9th December 2022
So, back in chilly England. No air conditioning required to avoid the danger of uncomfortably high temperatures here. And on that note, I learned when I was back that the 974 stadium (the one the Qataris admit will be dismantled) was the only one not to have air conditioning. The fact I didn’t even notice this when I attended the Brazil v Switzerland match there says it all. It wasn’t required for the evening games. During the finals, a total of 15 games kicked off in daylight. Out of 64. When, possibly, air conditioning might have made life more comfortable, if you couldn’t take temperatures in the high 20s for two hours. If they’d known that the tournament was going to take place in the winter when they started building the stadiums, they could have made do with just four of the stadiums being fitted with the a/c – but hey, so much money has been spent on this extended advert for Qatar, what’s a few hundred million here and there? I might have stated $300billion as the cost of the tournament, but it seems that was on the high side, as $220billion is the figure that is widely quoted. The previous record was around $10billion. So it goes, have oil, have money to burn. If you go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you will be familiar with the opulence of the buildings, the quality of the infrastructure. Good use of money? No. But this is a worldwide problem. We spend plenty in this country that we don’t need to that could be used to level up things both here and all over the world, it’s a matter of degrees. And we are all guilty on that level. Is my Arsenal season ticket a necessity? No. Could that money feed people who are struggling to eat? Yes. We do give to charity, and the Qataris have their own charity. But these stadiums, fantastic as they are, will not have a long-term legacy. It’s just the reality.
Still, there are games to be played in them, and each of the eight hosted a round of 16 game, so back to the football, which will dominate the remaining four entries of this World Cup diary. So…
Netherlands 3 USA 1 – Khalifa Stadium
Watched this one on the plane wifi traveling from Doha to Heathrow. The game concluded approx. 30 minutes before we disembarked, which was handy. The Dutch soaked up American possession and territory and hit them lethally on the break, with Dumfries the star man. If they defend as well as this and the quality of their finishing remains they could go a lot further. The USA goal was a bit fluky to say the least, but ultimately, the better team won. On that level, there was a clear favourite in every one of the round of 16 matches, with only one of them being won by the underdog – and that on penalties. So less surprises than we saw in the group stage. It’s difficult for me not to call Netherlands Holland, through force of habit although that’s been dropped even by the press now. So the Netherlands play with a more pragmatic approach than days of old, although you’d have to say they do have the players for a more expressive game – look at the number who were playing for that great Ajax team that got to the 2019 Champions League semi-final.
However, survival football is Louis van Gaal’s dictate in 2022, which meant the USA had far more possession and attempts on goal. The Dutch reached the final in 2010 and the last four in 2014, although this is a different generation of players. They certainly can’t be underestimated. A sidenote. This was a World Cup knockout game. After 16 minutes the crowd were sufficiently bored enough to start a Mexican wave – Holland were one up by this time. That gives you some indication of the type of people attending these matches. In short, there aren’t as many actual football fans as normal. This was the final match to be played at the Khalifa Stadium for this tournament. It’s the one with the athletics track and – after the top tier is removed – will remain in use. It’s the one stadium that pre-dated the tournament, built almost 50 years ago, although upgraded for the finals.
Argentina 2 Australia 1 – Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
I did a bit of a ‘Likely Lads’ (for those old enough to recall the episode in which the hapless duo attempted to avoid seeing an England score so they could watch the highlights not knowing the score) and was able to get home from the airport about 15 minutes before the game concluded, and watched it from the start on BBC iPlayer. Phone was not looked at, and I was able to watch the game not knowing what was going to happen. Australia were predictably defensive, playing very tight to their opponents with their pressing game. It felt a little reminiscent of Greece in 2004 – who showed that trophies can be won this way. The Aussies were physical and certainly not afraid of taking a yellow card for the cause. It struck me that in the team formations, they always put Lionel Messi in the forward line, and yet he generally plays so much deeper for much of the game, to influence things more. Playing his 1000th competitive game, he scored a typical Messi goal low into the corner, and after that a football game broke out with space to play, even if the Aussies were unable to fashion a decent chance before the interval.
It struck me during this match how key the (nominal) left back Acuna is to Argentina’s game, so heavily involved is he as an outlet on the left side of their attack. In honestly, Argentina don’t have the feel of World Cup winners so far. Yes, they have Messi, but before this match they had beaten Mexico and Poland –neither of whom are great teams. Beating Australia is hardly a statement win. Before the hour, former Arsenal reserve keeper Mat Ryan tried to play more football than the situation allowed and was robbed off the ball, Alvarez putting it into the net. Ah, the consequences of the keeper trying to be a footballer – hoofing seems is no longer an option and sometimes this has dire consequences.
I learned that there were 36,000 Argentinians in Qatar for the tournament and admittedly, along with Mexicans and Brazilians, they seemed to make up a significant proportion of the residents of the Clusters while I was over there. The Australians were far less numerous, although they had reason to cheer when a heavily deflected goal for their side made the end of the game more interesting. They certainly had chances to equalize, as did Argentina to kill the game off completely – the concluding minutes were highly entertaining, but the south Americans held on to progress to a quarter final against the Netherlands. No shortage of history in that fixture. Messi is very much in the role of Maradona in 1986 – if they are to go all the way, it will be because he carries an unexceptional team to victory with his individual brilliance. However, Maradona was 25 in 1986. Messi is ten years older. It’s asking a lot. Last game this tournament at the Ahmed Bin Ali stadium. One other thing I noted – before every group match, we had a giant blow up World Cup trophy in the middle of the pitch when the teams came out and their giant flags unfurled at either end. There was a fireworks display around the trophy jus before the teams came out. The trophy seems to have disappeared in the round of 16. I was aware that when it was dragged off, it left a trail behind it on the pitch, so maybe the teams objected? Who knows? Strange though.
A slight diversion here just to mention that there is no tournament programme for sale at Qatar 2022. There is a free ‘fan guide’ booklet that was given out at the airport on arrival if you went to the area where they were giving out information for the tournament. It is also available from ‘information points’ at various places at the stadiums, but I never spotted one of these myself. For those interested though, it can be downloaded here
France 3 Poland 1 – Al Thumama Stadium
You did feel this one was a case of how long Poland could hold out, and so it proved. Kylian Mbappe is a force of nature, whilst Olivier Giroud is enjoying a golden sunset to his career since leaving Arsenal in January 2018 – almost five years on. Since departing Arsenal, where he won three FA Cups, he’s won the Champions League, the Europa League, another FA Cup, the Serie A title and for France, a World Cup. I suspect he probably doesn’t regret moving halfway through Arsene’s final season to make way for Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Poland’s goal was a second half injury time re-taken penalty after Hugo Lloris had come off his line before the ball was struck. Giroud opened the scoring before the interval, but in fairness to the Poles, they had the best chance before that, seeing the ball cleared off the line by a defender after two previous shots in the attack had been blocked or saved. France made the game safe in the last 20 minutes when Mbappe came good and does what he does best with a couple of lethal finishes. Credit to Szchesny for keeping France at bay for much of the game – he’s had a far better tournament than Brazil 2014 when he was sent off early in their opening game. All the same, even if it took a long time for France to go two up, you never felt that Poland would overcome them – they were lucky to get through instead of Mexico after all. And so it proved. This stadium will see one further match – the quarter final between Spain and Morocco.
England 3 Senegal 0 – Al Bayt Stadium
If England somehow progress to the final, they will play all their knockout matches beforehand at this stadium. Given Senegal (who finished second in their group that included hosts Qatar) were the opposition here, a bit of me can’t help but think there may have been an optimistic thought that Qatar might follow this route, given this is the second largest round. Having said that, how much genuine interest is there in Qatar to watch the national team, given they packed the cheap seats behind the goal for their opening game with Lebanese ‘fans’ wearing identical t-shirts? Who knows? What can be confirmed is that this stadium is a pain to get to and especially from and is unpopular with the England fans out there who saw the team play the USA here. Once you actually get to the ground, it’s a wonderful place – no debate about that. Difficult to see it being used after the tournament, but hey, I was glad to have experienced a game here – and it’s where the opening ceremony and match were held. As for the game, a case of Senegal snuffling out England’s play it out from the back tactics, England changing their approach after a dodgy half hour or so and after that, it became a much easier game. Sometimes, playing it long – if you do it well – pays dividends. Credit to Harry Kane for his link up play – he seems to have become a far more intelligent football player since the last World Cup in Russia, although Jude Bellingham was the star man in this game, and is having an excellent tournament. Alan Ball was 20 years old in 1966. The widely derided decision to pick Henderson proved a good one. There is a Gareth Southgate is still improving as an international coach, and we can say more about this after the quarter final against France. If England can somehow manage to progress from that, then their confidence will be justifiably high. I recall reading an article that stated England had never beaten a major nation in a big tournament (World Cup or Euros) knockout game outside of England. Since 1966, off the top of my head, this would be Germany (3 times), Argentina (2), Brazil, Portugal (2) and Italy (2). It struck me that six of these 10 ties were decided by penalty shoot-outs. So there is some hope of beating France, even if it takes spot kicks. If I were a betting man, my money would be on the holders, but hey, we’ve seen enough surprises in these finals to take nothing for granted. So let’s just see. France’s pre-tournament injury list does not seem to have weakened them significantly.
Croatia 1 Japan 1 – Al Janoub Stadium
This was a close game, with few signs that either side are going to go too much further in this competition, but it’s all about getting through and a 0-0 gives you a 50/50 chances. After each scoring, both had chances to win it before it went to a shoot-out, and on the day Croatia took the better penalties. One assumes Croatia will try to do a containing job in their quarter final against Brazil, because trying to beat them with expressive football is surely too risky a policy. Final match at the Al Janoub, which will lose its top tier but remain in use by the local football team.
Brazil 4 South Korea 1 – 974 Stadium
Brazil returned to the 974 were they had a fairly uneventful win against Switzerland in the group stage, for the final ever game that is to be played at the ‘container’ stadium. And Neymar was back to fitness to give it a memorable send off as the pre-tournament favourites did a demolition job on the unfortunate opposition in the opening 36 minutes. We had four goals (although I felt the penalty for the second was a little harsh) and some rehearsed dance routines. This felt like classic Brazil. In spite of the Koreans laudable progress out of a tight group, this felt like a mismatch. Their consolation goal was a cracker, but you nobody was surprised to see them eliminated by this team. Brazil did what they needed to and then saved their energy for their quarter final against Croatia. At this stage, I’d say they are more likely to make the final than the others in this half of the draw, and beat whoever they might face there. The games won’t be as one-sided as this, but the one thing you can see from this team is more goals.
Morocco 0 Spain 0 – Education City Stadium
This ground will see one more game – the quarter final between Brazil and Croatia, and we can only hope it’s a better game than this one. Neither side carved out any really excellent chances until Morocco in extra time, when they should have spared us another penalty shoot-out. Spain – looking distinctly odd in Manchester City style colours – were underwhelming, and it was a reminder that starting the tournament like a runaway train – as they did in hammering Costa Rica – means nothing. Against Japan in their final group game, there was a short spell when they were going out along with Germany. This was the only match of the eight in this round where the underdogs progressed – albeit far more vociferously supported in the stadium. And credit to Morocco for beating Spain, but as a football match, I think I’d prefer to see Portugal face Spain in the last eight.
Portugal 6 Switzerland 1 – Lusail Stadium
And so the final round of 16 match took place in the largest stadium, where Portugal had previously beaten Uruguay, and a stage Cristiano Ronaldo doubtless considered worthy of further exposure of his (waning) talents. Except his manager didn’t see it that way. In came a young striker – Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos - who had minimal international minutes under his belt, and delivered a hat-trick. Good for Portugal, bad for Ronaldo. But hey, if they go on to win the trophy, Cristiano will be the man that lifts it and of course, make it all about him. Of course, even when he doesn't start, and especially when he doesn't start, Ronaldo is the story. I wonder what he thought of the mass ranks of snappers waiting for him to take a seat on the bench. He probably loved being the centre of attention, in spite of the circumstances. The FIFA 2 minutes highlights package of this match even started with footage of CR7 taking his place on the bench. As it was, Portugal absolutely smashed Switzerland without him, and you really cannot see him getting back in the starting eleven after this game.
This was a procession akin to Brazil’s demolition of South Korea. The two first half goals forced Switzerland to come out and have a go after the interval, and they suffered as a consequence. Portugal’s finishing was utterly clinical. Strange to think that in some ways, they are a stronger team without their superstar, and sometimes, when a team goes on to win or supersede expectations in a tournament, there are changes to the team that no-one foresees. Compare the starting elevens in the first group match to eventual winners in past tournaments. Players come in and make a name of themselves by hitting a purple patch. For England fans, Geoff Hurst is an obvious example. Venue for the final, the Lusail now hosts Argentina versus the Netherlands in the last eight, and the semi-final in that half of the draw.
But that’s the round of 16 – posted just over an hour before the quarter finals start. My predictions are the same as the bookies – I think the favourites in each game will go through. So Brazil v Argentina and France v Portugal would be the semi-finals. Of course, I hope to be wrong and that England are in the mix, but in fairness, Gareth Southgate’s players have yet to be tested against top quality opposition. I guess you could say the same about France, but anyway, it’s certainly a match to savour. Another blog after the last four have been decided.
As for Qatar, I’ll hold fire now until my blog after the final, to give my conclusions on them as tournament hosts.
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