The mud has barely settled on an exhilarating finish to the group stage and the stress is already ramping up with the begin of the knockout part.
Holland and Argentina are the favourites in opposition to the United States and Australia respectively however in a match of shocks nothing may be dominated out.
In the closing round of group matches there was a missed penalty, an added-time aim, tears, revenge (of types) and a pink card for over-celebrating.
Uruguay, regardless of beating Ghana, went out on account of South Korea’s 91st-minute winner in opposition to Portugal.
Cameroon recorded a well-known victory over Brazil however nonetheless missed out on the final 16 as, for the first time in World Cup historical past, a nation from all six competing continents made it out of the group stage.
Here, the PA information company takes a glance at how Friday unfolded and what’s in retailer as the knockout stage begins.
Van Gaal not wanting for job alternatives
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has laughed off ideas he could be considering the Belgium job after Roberto Martinez’s resolution to step down,
The 71-year-old Dutchman, who has been closely criticised in the Dutch media for his workforce’s perceived boring model, is paying no consideration to hypothesis.
“We want to become world champions, so we’ve got another four matches ahead of us and then we’ll see if there are any offers on the table,” stated Van Gaal, whose facet face the United States in the first match of the final 16.
“If we become world champions, then, everybody is so opportunistic in this football world, there will be offers. I know that full well.
“But for the moment we are not world champions and if I was to believe the Dutch media, we never will be.”
Historic win not sufficient for Song
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song admits he leaves Qatar with a sense of remorse regardless of an historic 1-0 victory over Brazil.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored a memorable winner in added time – and was then despatched off after being proven a second yellow card for eradicating his shirt in celebration – as they grew to become the first African workforce to beat the South Americans at a World Cup.
But it was not sufficient to safe progress to the final 16 for the first time in 32 years on account of Switzerland’s win over Serbia.
“Today we did win the match but we are disappointed because we realise now we could have done better in this tournament,” stated Song.
“I think we do have a feeling of regret but you need to look on the positive side and I am satisfied with tonight’s performance.
“I realise this was an historic victory now we have beaten Brazil so my players should be congratulated.”
Sad Suarez
Luis Suarez’s World Cup – more likely to be his final – ended with the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker in tears on the bench as a 2-0 victory over Ghana was not sufficient for Uruguay to safe progress.
The veteran ahead, 36 in January, had a hand in each first-half targets for Giorgian de Arrascaeta after the African nation – 12 years on from Asamoah Gyan lacking a penalty which might have put them right into a semi-final following a Suarez handball – had seen Sergio Rochet save Andre Ayew’s spot-kick.
But Hwang Hee-chan’s late winner despatched South Korea via, with Uruguay and Ghana each left fruitlessly chasing the targets which might have turned issues round once more.
Boss Diego Alonso refused in charge his squad, saying: “I don’t have anything to say to my players because they broke their backs, they gave their best versions.
“I don’t want to use excuses but everyone can see what happened in the previous matches.
“I deeply regret we are out of the World Cup.”
For Ghana the satisfaction of denying their opponents the late aim which might have put them via – and so gaining a semblance of revenge for 2010 – was tempered by their very own failure to sneak into the final 16.
“Football is beautiful, sometimes it is ugly. It is ugly for us today, there is no human being in the world who hasn’t missed a penalty,” stated boss Otto Addo, the Borussia Dortmund expertise coach who’s now stepping down from his position with the nationwide workforce.
Swiss roll into the knockout stage
Switzerland booked their spot in the final 16 after edging a heated contest with Serbia 3-2 at Stadium 974.
Xherdan Shaqiri opened the scoring in a fiery end-to-end first half earlier than Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled six minutes later.
Dusan Vlahovic handed Serbia the lead after 35 minutes however noticed it cancelled out by Breel Embolo, who despatched the sides in degree at the break.
It took Remo Freuler simply three minutes after the restart to web the eventual winner and, regardless of probabilities for each side, guarantee Switzerland sealed second spot in Group G.
FIFA defend VAR line name
FIFA insists Japan’s second aim of their shock World Cup victory over Spain was authentic “on the evidence available”, and added a few of the pictures shared on-line have been “misleading”.
Ao Tanaka bundled residence from shut vary to present Japan a 2-1 lead, however the aim was solely given following a prolonged VAR overview after it appeared the ball had gone out of play earlier than Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma reduce it again from the byline.
The aim sparked big debate and on Friday the sport’s world governing physique revealed two posts on its official Twitter account by means of clarification.
“The video match officials used the goal line camera images to check if the ball was still partially on the line or not,” the first learn.
A second submit added: “Other cameras may offer misleading images but on the evidence available, the whole of the ball was not out of play.”
Aussies to take assault to Argentina
Australia coach Graham Arnold has vowed his facet will tackle Argentina with “all guns blazing” of their World Cup last-16 showdown.
The Socceroos have been shock qualifiers from Group D, not least after shedding their first match 4-1 in opposition to France.
“It’s a one-off game, anything could happen,” stated Arnold. “It’s 11 v 11, a battle, a war and we’ve got to fight that. We’ll give it everything, all guns blazing.
“We respect Argentina, for sure, but we can’t focus solely on them.”
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Last 16Netherlands v USA (3pm, BBC One)Argentina v Australia (7pm, BBC One)
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