Game Recaps

Messi celebró su partido 1.000 con un gol, un par de récords y un boleto a los cuartos de final

Lionel Messi desbloqueó un nuevo obstáculo en su sueño de ganar la Copa del Mundo con Argentina. Pese a complicarse más de la cuenta, La Albiceleste se las arregló para vencer a Australia por 2-1 y avanzó a los cuartos de final del Mundial de Catar 2022 con el 10 como figura angular. 

Gol de Messi vs Australia

Uno de los goles del triunfo lo anotó precisamente Messi y en honor a las circunstancias no fue cualquier gol.

Messi surpasses Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo with goal in knockout round

Lionel Messi moved above compatriot Diego Maradona on all-time World Cup goals for Argentina with his ninth on Saturday during a Round of 16 clash against Australia, and he accomplished what Cristiano Ronaldo has not in five different World Cups — Messi scored in the knockout rounds.

Australia was a massive underdog heading into this one, but the Socceroos' defensive approach had largely nullified Argentina for half an hour.

The United States has been eliminated from the World Cup — What happens now?

And just like that, it's over. The United States is sent packing after a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in the first game of the knockout stage. The first World Cup since 2014 for the Americans gave fans much reason for hope, but it exposed the team's weaknesses as well. 

Missed chances and missed marks — 3 Takeaways from USA defeat to Netherlands

The USA’s 2022 World Cup run ended in the Round of 16 on Saturday with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands. It’s a game that could have ended differently for the Stars and Stripes who simply weren’t at their best.

This youthful American team will be disappointed in the loss but should be proud of their performances in the tournament. This team went undefeated in the group stage, outplayed mighty England and was the only Concacaf team to advance to the Round of 16.

For one last time let’s look at the three takeaways from the USA’s final game.

Netherlands turn every USA strength into weakness during Round of 16 humbling

For those who count Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer among their favorite books, the 2010 duo of Wesley Sneijder-Mark van Bommel among their favorite midfield pairings and videos of of Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens among their most visited on YouTube, watching the United States take nearly 65 percent possession off the Netherlands while completing almost twice as many passes in the first-half of a World Cup knockout match was a dream state.

Estados Unidos cae ante Países Bajos y la Concacaf se despide de Catar

El sueño mundialista de Estados Unidos se terminó este sábado luego de caer por 3-1 ante Países Bajos, en los octavos de final del Mundial de Catar.

La derrota del USMNT también significó el adiós definitivo de la Concacaf del torneo.

La confederación había perdido a México, Canadá y Costa Rica en la fase de grupos y tenía la esperanza de ver a Estados Unidos quizás dando una sorpresa ante los neerlandeses. Sin embargo, Países Bajos dio poco espacio para la ilusión.

Saucy Swiss assist vs. Serbia seals spot in Round of 16 for Switzerland

Switzerland defeated Serbia 3-2 on Friday in an incredibly feisty affair that had fights and one incredibly saucy goal. Switzerland realistically only needed a draw to join Brazil and advance out of Group G.

The first half saw four goals (two from each team) in a wildly competitive affair. Switzerland’s game-winning goal was scored in the 48th minute by Remo Freuler, but it was all about the backheel assist from Ruben Vargas.

This goal won’t win the best in the tournament, but it’s definitely a top 10 contender.

Son gets his World Cup moment and helps send South Korea to Round of 16 with 91st minute assist

South Korea secured a spot in the Round of 16 of the World Cup on Friday with an incredible last-minute goal against Portugal to win 2-1. The South Korean victory paired with Uruguay defeating Ghana 2-0 meant that the Asian underdogs advanced due to the tiebreaker of having more goals scored than Uruguay.

Group E chaos is exactly why we love soccer

Unpredictability is inherent in soccer, and major international tournaments seem to always throw up a heaping of craziness. The gulf between reality and previous perceptions reminds anyone who claims to know soccer that they don’t, and if we were truly as smart as we claim to be, we’d stop trying to predict results. Just embrace the unpredictability and the chaos and enjoy these moments. 

Milan Borjan howler perfectly sums up Canada's nightmare World Cup campaign

Oh no, Canada.

Just as it was in 1986, so too will it finish in 2022. In just the fourth minute of Canada's third and final match of this year’s World Cup, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech was gifted a goal after a horrible mistake from goalkeeper Milan Borjan. His misplaced pass took any remaining wind out of his side’s sails, condemning them to the same fate as their predecessors from 36 years ago (three matches, three defeats). 

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