World Cup Round of 32 Games

[antohan]

Haven't seen much of Colombia due to the kick off times but they're a defensively solid side with genuine WC in Diaz in final third and hardworking midfield so it's a solid mix.

Their results over last few years have been good, Argentina only beat them narrowly in 2024 Copa America final so I don't think that would be potential easy QF match up at all.

Of course they lack a good CF like so many other nations outside of the elite contenders. Just shows what an idiot Jhon Duran has been in last 18 months. Thrown away a massive opportunity with his attitude at club level.

I'm pretty sure he was already out of the Colombian setup while at Villa. He was definitely on his way out after the last Copa América.

Good riddance, you'd happily give up his potential goal contribution to preserve the attitude in this Colombia side. They know each other well and play for each other.

 

[Sylar]

Cape Verde just single handedly justified the expansion of the tournament

Wouldn't they have been in the same situation without the expansion? Or was there a point before (qualifying) that helped them?

 

[FootballHQ]

I'm pretty sure he was already out of the Colombian setup while at Villa. He was definitely on his way out after the last Copa América.

Good riddance, you'd happily give up his potential goal contribution to preserve the attitude in this Colombia side. They know each other well and play for each other.

The rumours were he had a dressing room bust up with Nestor Lorenzo at half time in a game and barely used since. A nightmare to manager but as he showed in his purple patch with us can score goals out of relatively little.

Colombia would have serious shot of reaching final in these conditions with that type of CF or prime Falcao from a decade or so ago.

 

[FootballHQ]

Wouldn't they have been in the same situation without the expansion? Or was there a point before (qualifying) that helped them?

They finished 2nd so would've got through regardless if it was 32 teams still.

Nations that benefited from expansion...Haiti, Curacao, Sweden, D.R Congo, Qatar etc.

 

[WayneKing]

Canada hit that wall of a superior team. But Canada already won its wc campaign by getting this far.

I really wish/hope the US hits that wall when they play Belgium. But Belgium has to match the US's yahoo energy

 

[steve zizou]

Wouldn't they have been in the same situation without the expansion? Or was there a point before (qualifying) that helped them?

They would have had to play a playoff on the continent to qualify. African qualifying for the 32-team tournament was as tough as they come.
Imagine the 10 teams which qualified this time, add Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali. Now pick just 5 from the lot.

 

[Sylar]

They would have had to play a playoff on the continent to qualify. African qualifying for the 32-team tournament was as tough as they come.
Imagine the 10 teams which qualified this time, add Nigeria, Cameroon and Mali. Now pick just 5 from the lot.

I see
Well I like the expansion, just wasn't sure if CV were beneficiaries of it or not.

 

[Rajiztar]

Going in to 1/16:

South America: 4/6 left (67 %)
North America: 3/6 left (50 %)
Europe: 7/16 left (44 % left)
Africa: 2/10 left (20 %)
Asia: 0/9 left (0 %)
Oceania: 0/1 left (0 %)

My prediction for next round:

South America: 3/6 left (50 %) Paraguay out
North America: 2/6 left (33 %) Canada out
Europe: 2/16 left (12.5 % left) Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Switzerland out
Africa: 1/10 left (10 %) Egypt out
Asia: 0/9 left (0 %)
Oceania: 0/1 left (0 %)

Feels harsh especially towards England but Mexico edges it due to home advantage. Many of these ties are very even, expect penalties in at least two of the ties.

You really think Spain will go out. I don't think so. They are the ones who can control the game and have the tools to really challenge france. The way Portugal struggled against Columbia and Croatia I don't think they will challenge Spain.

 

[Nole]

This 2026 France squad has vibes of Germany 2014 and their predecessor 2018 team that won the World Cup, they seem to be on a mission to avenge their last World Cup loss. I think they will get over the line, they seem unbeatable. Would be an insane overachievement, most countries take years and years just to reach a World Cup final, never mind win and they would be winning 2 World Cups and made it to one final in the past 8 years.

 

[That_Bloke]

Wouldn't they have been in the same situation without the expansion? Or was there a point before (qualifying) that helped them?

The old WC qualification format for AFCON teams was hell on earth, and by far the most difficult and the most unfair out of all confederations.

That's not even considering the good old times were only 2 African nations were allowed to participate (note: this was the case until 1994).

Chances are that they wouldn't have even qualified for the WC.

 

[Red Pumpkin]

You really think Spain will go out. I don't think so. They are the ones who can control the game and have the tools to really challenge france. The way Portugal struggled against Columbia and Croatia I don't think they will challenge Spain.

I think it is a toss up. History shows Spain 3 — Portugal 2 — Draws 7 record since year 2000 between them. I don't see any difference in quality between them really. Spain might have performed a little better thus far but that doesn't matter in a derby like this.

My predictions were actually
Very likely
Morocco > Canada
France > Paraguay
USA > Belgium
Argentina > Egypt
Colombia > Switzerland

Likely
Brazil > Norway (maybe after extra time, could spring an upset but Brazil is favourite)

Toss up
Mexico = England (Mexico on penalties, i.e. very tight)
Portugal = Spain (Portugal on penalties, i.e. very tight)

5 stone wall to go through, 3 games where I can see either go through. 2 games played, 2 correctly predicted thus far.

 

[Rajiztar]

I think it is a toss up. History shows Spain 3 — Portugal 2 — Draws 7 record since year 2000 between them. I don't see any difference in quality between them really. Spain might have performed a little better thus far but that doesn't matter in a derby like this.

In those time period spain won four international tournaments.
Spain got the habit of winning multiple tourneys on the trot once they started and midfield started to function. Euro 2024 the cycle just started in my opinion. They added urgency in their game.Will be surprised if Portugal even challenge them.

Any way football is just old funny game. On their day anyone can beat anyone. Will see.

 

[Red Pumpkin]

In those time period spain won four international tournaments.
Spain got the habit of winning multiple tourneys on the trot once they started and midfield started to function. Euro 2024 the cycle just started in my opinion. They added urgency in their game.Will be surprised if Portugal even challenge them.

Any way football is just old funny game. On their day anyone can beat anyone. Will see.

It is not about who won the most. Not about who is most consistent. It is about how two teams match up. For example: Barcelona is much more successful than Atletico Madrid. If you look at their H2H in the league Barcelona blows Atletico out of the water.

La Liga under Simeone: Atlético 3–7–19, goals 24–48

But you just know as soon as it is 1-2 games in a cup-format Atleti give Barcelona hell.

Cup competitions under Simeone: Atlético 5–4–6, goals 21–17

That is how I view Portugal vs Spain. Over time Spain dominate but in a straight H2H its very, very even. And the statistics are there for everyone to read.