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RESPECT THE UNDERDOG!

Messi knew all along…

“We saw what Cape Verde did vs Spain and Uruguay. We knew it was going to be difficult. Nobody is easy in the knockouts. Sometimes people underrate other countries, but we were sure it was going to be tough.”

That’s the beauty of the World Cup.

Every four years, fans look at the badge on the shirt and assume the result is already written.

Then a so-called “small nation” reminds everyone that talent, belief, and organization can close any gap.

Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way and earned Messi’s respect.

Maybe the biggest lesson from this tournament is simple:

There are no easy games anymore.

Is there even such a thing as an “easy” opponent in international football anymore?

Who’s the most dangerous “underdog” still left in this World Cup?

COLOMBIA ARE THROUGH TO THE LAST 16!

One goal. One moment. That’s all it took.

Jhon Arias struck in the 14th minute and that was it. Colombia defended that lead like their lives depended on it.

Ghana pushed, battled, and searched for an equalizer, but Colombia’s defense held firm when it mattered most.

Ghana had their moments. Yirenkyi and Nuamah gave it everything under Queiroz but one defensive lapse was all it cost them. Tournament football is ruthless like that.

Question for fans:

Was Colombia’s defense the difference today, or did Ghana miss their chance to change the game?

How far can Colombia go?

And was this the most tense 1-0 you’ve watched this tournament?

CAPE VERDE NEARLY DID IT…

They almost broke the internet tonight.

Cape Verde pushed them all the way, but Argentina found a way.

Argentina were supposed to stroll through this. That did NOT happen.

Cape Verde proved they belong on the biggest stage, while Argentina’s winning machine keeps rolling into the next round.

Cape Verde will go down as World Cup legends. They gave Argentina the scare of a lifetime.

Messi now has 6 World Cup goals this tournament but this wasn’t an easy night for the Albiceleste.

Was this Argentina’s toughest test so far?

Can anyone stop Messi and Argentina from lifting the trophy?

And how impressed were you by Cape Verde’s World Cup run?

Be honest -did you think Cape Verde were about to pull off the greatest upset in World Cup history?

EGYPT BREAK AUSTRALIAN HEARTS ON PENALTIES

The Socceroos came SO close. But close doesn’t go through.

Australia and Egypt played out a tense 1-1 draw, then Egypt kept their nerves in the shootout scoring 4 from the spot to Australia’s 2.

How it went down:

Emam Ashour struck early in the 13th minute to put Egypt ahead. Australia fought back through Mohamed Hany’s own goal to level it at 1-1. Neither side could find a winner. Penalties decided everything.

And when it mattered most? Egypt held their nerve. Australia didn’t.

Mohamed Salah continues to lead from the front, but it was a true team effort as Egypt kept their World Cup dream alive. The King delivers again.

For Australia, Irankunda gave everything. Popovic’s side showed heart throughout this World Cup…but the journey ends here.

Do you think Egypt can go all the way?

19 GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN 4 GAMES.

Mbappé. Dembélé. Olise.

France didn’t bring a team to this World Cup.

They brought a problem.

Three forwards. Four matches. Nineteen combined goal contributions. That’s not football -that’s bullying.

Mbappé doing Mbappé things. Dembélé fresh off a Champions League winners medal and still can’t stop scoring. And Olise? The quiet assassin nobody wants to talk about until it’s too late.

Every defence that’s faced them has left the pitch looking broken.

Every time one gets the ball, something happens.
Every time defenses adjust, another one punishes them.

The scary part? They look like they’re just getting started.

Where does this trio rank among the greatest World Cup attacks you’ve ever seen?

Who was the best World Cup attacking trio you’ve ever watched?

Has any World Cup trio in history been more dangerous than this right now?

Brazil’s Ronaldo/Rivaldo/Ronaldinho? Argentina 2022? Germany 2014?

Let’s debate..

SWITZERLAND ARE THROUGH AND THEY MADE IT LOOK EASY

Algeria came into this World Cup Last 16 tie unbeaten. They left with nothing.

Embolo set the tone in just the 10th minute early, clinical, ruthless. Then Ndoye put the game to bed and Switzerland never looked back. 2–0. Clean sheet. Job done.

And the craziest part? Switzerland have now gone six matches unbeaten-after beating Canada and Bosnia to get here. Yakin’s side are quietly becoming one of the most dangerous teams left in this tournament.

The only warning sign? They’ve conceded in six consecutive home matches. If a bigger side finds a way through that backline…

For Algeria -Mahrez, Aouar, Gouiri the firepower was there on paper. But paper doesn’t win World Cup knockouts. They never got going and Petkovic’s side are on the plane home.

Can Switzerland make a deep World Cup run?

What went wrong for Algeria today?

PORTUGAL ARE THROUGH!

Croatia thought they had it. Perišić’s 53rd-minute strike put the Vatreni ahead and you could feel the upset brewing.

Then Ronaldo happened.

CR7 pulled Portugal level, Gonçalo Ramos finished the job, and just like that-Croatia are going home. 2–1. Portugal through.

The man is at a WORLD CUP at this stage of his career, still delivering in knockout football. Say what you want. You can’t write him off.

Was this Ronaldo’s most important goal of the tournament so far?

Is this Ronaldo’s last World Cup? And does Portugal go all the way?

SPAIN ARE NOT PLAYING AROUND

A clinical performance from Spain as they defeat Austria 3-0 to book their place in the World Cup Round of 16.

Mikel Oyarzabal stole the show with a brace.
Pedro Porro got on the scoresheet.

Spain now have 3 straight clean sheets and are unbeaten in 13 matches.

Austria never really got going. Arnautovic was quiet. Alaba couldn’t drag them into it. After failing to keep a clean sheet in three straight games coming in, Rangnick’s side simply had no answer for Spain.

The Euros champions are hunting a World Cup now. And right now? Nobody looks capable of stopping them.

Can ANYONE stop Spain this World Cup?

THIERRY HENRY JUST SAID WHAT WE WERE ALL THINKING

“The MVP will always be Mbappé. But the most important player is Michael Olise.”

Henry didn’t whisper it. He said it loud.

And honestly? He’s not wrong.

While the world watches Mbappé for goals, Olise is quietly doing EVERYTHING else -seeing passes nobody else sees, pressing when he doesn’t have to, creating chaos in ways that don’t always show up in the stats.

Henry said he’s on another planet…From a man who played alongside Zidane, Vieira and Ronaldinho -that’s not a compliment. That’s a coronation.

So do you agree with Henry?

Is Olise France’s most important player at the World Cup?

USA are through! And into the last 16..

Balogun opened the scoring just before halftime. Tillman sealed it. Job done.

USA needed a response after that Turkey defeat and they delivered it exactly when it mattered.

USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mauricio Pochettino’s side keeps its World Cup dream alive, while Bosnia’s defensive struggles away from home continue.

This USMNT attack is no longer a question mark-it’s a statement.

Was this USA’s most convincing performance of the tournament so far, or do they still need to improve to challenge the favorites?

Be honest-how far can this USA side go?

Man of the Match: Folarin Balogun?