FOOTBALL – After 72 games were played to eliminate just 16 of the 48 teams at the largest-ever World Cup, the knockout phase is finally set to begin.
All of the pre-tournament favourites (France, Spain, England, Argentina) made it through, and a few surprise sides are through, too.
Cape Verde, in their first-ever World Cup appearance, drew all three of their group-stage matches to advance.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo got out of the group stage for the first time in their second World Cup.
The other time the Leopards were in the event, they were playing as Zaire in 1974.
Cape Verde’s reward is a round of 32 matchup with the defending champions, Argentina, on Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla. DR Congo will square off with England on Wednesday in Atlanta.
The strong showing by Cape Verde, the third-smallest country ever to compete at the World Cup, is part of a larger success story for African nations.
Nine of the continent’s 10 representatives advanced to the knockout stage.
The round of 32 will include 13 teams from Europe, five from South America and two from Asia.
The only three North American teams moving on are the co-hosts: Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The most notable team that failed to advance was Uruguay, who were No. 16 in the Fifa rankings entering the tournament.
No. 20 Iran drew all three of their group matches and were seconds away from qualifying for the round of 32 before Austria scored a last-minute equaliser against Algeria yesterday.
That tally dropped Algeria into the eighth and final qualifying third-place slot and eliminated Team Melli.
Only three sides won all three of their group-stage matches: Argentina, France and Mexico.
The most eye-catching round of 32 match might be the Netherlands vs. Morocco on Monday in Guadalupe, Mexico.
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