Belgium, the world's second-ranked team, needed a win over Croatia on Thursday to avoid elimination and reach the World Cup round of 16. The Belgium players had promised unity and urgency in the face of rumors alleging total chaos in the squad, but the Red Devils again came out flat with Leandro Trossard and Dries Mertens leading the attack.
Antes del Mundial, la opinión generalizada en la afición era que México se devolvería a casa sin poder pasar la fase de grupos. Y si bien la realidad cumplió con ese pesimismo, esto no evitó que la gente se sintiera con el corazón roto una vez sellada la eliminación.
Sobre todo por la forma con la que el equipo se despidió, jugando su mejor partido y peleando hasta el pitazo final.
AL RAYYAN, Qatar - Uruguay's Luis Suárez refused to apologize to Ghanaians on Thursday for his role 12 years ago in their biggest World Cup setback, arguing it wasn't his handball that denied Ghana a quarterfinal winner but their missed penalty that followed.
A win for Ghana against Uruguay in Friday's final Group H match could avenge their acrimonious defeat by the South Americans in 2010, when Suárez used his hand to block an extra-time winner for Ghana, who missed the resulting spot-kick and lost the penalty shootout that followed.
DOHA - After much posturing, the Netherlands now need to deliver if they are to fulfill their own prophecy at the World Cup, starting with the opening clash of the knockout stage against the United States on Saturday.
There has been much talk — all from the Dutch camp — of the team's potential to go all the way in the tournament in Qatar, principally from veteran coach Louis van Gaal, who enjoys a little mental coaxing and sparring.
We've been plugged into the World Cup for well over a week now with the knockout rounds in sight. The tournament's group stage was at its busiest with four games a day, beginning at 5 a.m. ET and commencing with the 2 p.m. match — through it all, The18 stayed glued to their televisions and became close as kin with the FOX World Cup commentary teams.
Having spent all those hours listening to the broadcasters wax lyrical about semi-automated offside technology and air-conditioned stadiums, we're ready to provide a definitive ranking of the commentary teams.
El México que queríamos ver en el Mundial apareció ante Arabia Saudita. Rápido, vertical y capaz de hacer goles. Lo malo de esta historia es que ese Tri llegó tarde a Catar y no pudo evitar ser eliminado en la fase de grupos.
Ojalá lo hubiéramos visto ante Argentina y sobre todo en el debut ante Polonia.
Pero bueno, así es la vida y así fue la performance de un México que en su último partido en el Grupo C hizo soñar a su afición, pero que hoy hace las maletas de regreso a casa.
After advancing from the group stage in seven-straight World Cups, Mexico crashed out of Group C on Wednesday. El Tri defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1, tied Poland on points but fell one short on goal difference in heartbreaking fashion.
Mexico beat Saudi Arabia but the third goal wouldn't come. Argentina beat Poland but the third goal, which would've gotten it done for El Tri, wouldn't come. When the final whistle sounded at Lusail Stadium, bringing the insanity of World Cup Group C to a close, it confirmed Argentina as winners and Poland as runners-up on goal difference (Poland's zero vs. Mexico's negative one).
It had been even closer than that.
México corrió, México hizo goles, México ganó y México soñó. Sin embargo, al final del día, a México le faltó el centavo para el peso y se despidió del Mundial de Catar 2022.
Pese a vencer a Arabia Saudita por 2-1, la diferencia de goles del Tri no fue suficiente para superar a una Polonia que perdió 2-0 ante Argentina, en el otro partido del Grupo C.
La tabla final quedó así:
Sí, la diferencia fue de apenas un gol.
Los festejos de gol en vano son una incómoda realidad en el fútbol desde la introducción del VAR. Lo vemos cada fin de semana en la cara frustrada de jugadores y aficionados que quedan exigiendo una explicación cuando la tecnología interviene y apaga sus sueños y alegrías.
Pasa en ligas locales, torneos internacionales y hoy le tocó a Antoine Griezmann en la Copa del Mundo, en la derrota 1-0 de Francia ante Túnez.