The good, the bad and the ugly: FIFA World Cup round of 16 roundup

With the round of 16 fixtures over, here’s a roundup of all the action from the past few days.

The Good:

Canada 0-3 Morocco

Despite Jesse Marsch’s comments that Canada were the ‘better team’, Morocco will be delighted with a performance that saw them become the first African team to reach back to back World Cup Quarter Finals. Weathering an early storm in the first half, Morocco ran riot in the second half with Ounahi scoring a brace and a late Rahimi goal ending the host nation’s hope of a fairy tale World Cup run.

Norway 2-1 Brazil

Haaland’s two goals late on against Brazil saw Norway shock Brazil and extend his absurd scoring run this World Cup. In a game, which was pretty even, Bruno Guimaraes missed a spot kick in the first half, it was always going to a star player to make the difference. Football purists saw the headlines when Carlo Ancelotti turned to Neymar at 0-0 to unlock Norway’s defence but it was to be mr inevitable. All throughout the game Haaland and Gabriel had been locked in battle, familiar foes from their time in the Premier League, and in the 79th minute the City man broke free from Gabriel’s grasp to head home. Haaland added a second with a cool finish from the edge of the box before Neymar ended the game and his international career with a consolation penalty at the death.

England 3-2 Mexico:

England vs Mexico. A game that had everything. The pre game build up focused on altitude, the need for England to have a fast start. Whilst it may not have been the fastest of starts, Pickford saving smartly from a Jimenez header early on, it was a drastic improvement from their poor first half against Congo in the previous round. A Saka cross found an unmarked Bellingham at the back post to make it 1-0 and just sixty seconds later Bellingham dispossessed a lackadaisical Mexican midfield before threading through Kane and receiving the pass back for another tap in.

Quinones pulled one back with a smart volley after an England clearance from a corner failed to make it past the penalty spot.

A resolute and much improved performance saw England progress to the quarter finals

Despite the goal, England were still in the ascendancy and began to dominate the proceedings in the second half. That was until a high challenge by Quansah saw England down to ten men. England responded well with a lively Gordon drawing a penalty which Kane converted. Kane turned from hero to zero however as it was his turn to concede a penalty which Jimenez coolly slotted home. Cue nine men behind the ball and 30 minutes of stout defending. A resolute and much improved performance saw England progress to the quarter finals.

Argentina 3-2 Egypt

Egypt were so close to one of the great World Cup shocks. It was a perfect start for the African side as Ibrahim drifted free of Lisandro Martinez to head home past Emiliano Martinez and Messi saw a weak spot kick saved by Shobeir. Shobeir would provide more moments of magic, keeping out both Macalister and Alvarez from close range later on in the first half.

The talk at half time was of an inevitable Argentinian comeback, a bit of Messi magic to unlock the Egyptian defence. The magic came however from the unlikely source of Haissem Hassan, the winger starting his first game for Egypt this tournament. It was his mazy run that set up Egypt’s disallowed goal and he got the assist for Ziko’s finish just minutes later.

With ten minutes to go it looked like Argentina and Messi were going home. Cue the Messi magic. It was Messi’s pinpoint cross that found Romero’s head to pull one back for the South Americans. Just four minutes later, he volleyed home an equaliser. As the clock ticked over into the 90, Egypt flooded men forward in the hopes of finding a winner in normal time. It was perhaps a naive move with Argentina expertly exploiting gaps on the transition and Fernandez headed home to win the game.

The Bad:

USA 1-4 Belgium

[Donald Trump’s call to Infantino] reminds us of the increasingly blurred lines between FIFA and political figures

Donald Trump yet again managed to unwantedly worm his way into the World Cup as he became the centre of the Balogun red card controversy. Whether his call to Infantino had any influence on the unheard of decision to suspend the red card will never be known but it reminds us of the increasingly blurred lines between FIFA and political figures. It was to be no matter though as Belgium dominated proceedings from start to finish. A deflected Tillman free kick in between a de Ketelaere brace gave the US some hope of an unlikely victory but in the end a much improved Belgium showed their class in a 4-1 victory.

Spain 1-0 Portugal

The end of the road for Cristiano Ronaldo. Mikel Merino’s late strike saw Spain progress at the expense of Portugal’s golden generation. Questions will inevitably be asked of Roberto Martinez and his continued insistence on giving an ageing Ronaldo 90 minutes especially with the quality of Gonzalo Ramos on the bench.

Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Switzerland win 4-3 on pens)

Probably the least eventful round of 16 tie as both sides struggled to find their shooting boots. Switzerland suffered pressure late on and were perhaps fortunate as Campaz spurred a golden opportunity late on in extra time. Colombia were to be the first team to miss in the spot kicks, with ex Spurs defender Davison Sanchez hitting the underside of the crossbar. Akanji stepped up to give advantage to Switzerland but woefully blazed his effort over the bar. Kobel turned hero saving Hernandez’s low driven penalty and Vargas converted to win the game for Switzerland.

The Ugly:

France 1-0 Paraguay:

Any attempts at individual brilliance [by the French] were swiftly hacked down by a Paraguay side more intent on injuring French players than playing football

France’s victory against Paraguay is one marred in ugly scenes. It was not a game in which the free flowing football of France’s stellar front line was at display, mainly because any attempts at individual brilliance were swiftly hacked down by a Paraguay side more intent on injuring French players than playing football. The referee will face the brunt of the criticism however, failing to award a single yellow card to a Paraguayan player and essentially allowing the game to fall into a scrappy mess.

The reaction after game by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla in which she subjected Kylian Mbappe to horrific racial abuse further marred a World Cup already in controversy for racial politics.