2022 FIFA World Cup Round Of 16 Early Losers
The tournament favorites ramped up the intensity and delivered no less than three goals in the first two days of knockouts. All three winners scored three goals and cemented their position in the quarter-finals, while Argentina kept its World Cup hopes alive after a 2-1 scare against Australia. While the South American squad alongside three other European teams punched their ticket to the next stage, we take a look at the losers of the Round of 16.
The first four teams knocked out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Round of 16
The vibes were immaculate and the football was sensational @FootballSenegal ????????❤️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/trbSxznfwH
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 4, 2022
READ MORE: Two 2022 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final Matchups Now on Standby
USA
The United States men’s national team lost 3-1 to the Netherlands on the first day of the Round of 16. Despite having more shots (17), and eight on target with the better half of possession than the Dutch players, the team is officially eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Nevertheless, these numbers tell us positive signs for the team moving forward. Haji Wright’s goal in the 76th minute was the only goal for the Westerners. This gave the side hope after the Netherlands led the first half by two goals.
The Yanks’ four-game run in this competition shows us they are capable of producing striking runs in major tournaments. With a young core squad and a newfound leader in Christian Pulisic, there’s plenty of promise that comes with this team.
Australia
The lone team hailing from the Oceanic continent had very few expectations coming into the tournament. They qualified with a playoff win over Peru and joined Group D with defending champions France, Tunisia, and Denmark. Australia opened their campaign with a matchup against +379 tournament winners France, scoring the first goal but eventually losing 4-1 at the final whistle. It was a lopsided match on paper. The Aussies then bounced back with back-to-back victories over Tunisia and Denmark to break through in the group as runners-up.
However, beating Argentina was always going to be a tough task for the side. The Socceroos came close to tying the game in the end but their lone goal only came off a deflected own goal by Enzo Fernandez in the 77th minute. Head coach Graham Arnold’s men failed to produce any significant threat to Emiliano Martinez on goal and his defenders.
Poland
The game at Al Thumama Stadium looked tight when the Polish side came close to drawing first blood. Their efforts were denied by veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and his defenders. Giroud then opened the scoring with his 52nd goal for his country followed by a pair of goals courtesy of Kylian Mbappe. The Poles’ first half exhibited grit and aggressiveness. However, that was as good as it would get for them as Les Bleus took control in the second half.
Robert Lewandowski ensured that the French failed to get their clean sheet in Qatar with a late penalty at the second attempt. However, it was not enough to narrow down the three-goal lead established by the Frenchmen. France marches on to the quarter-finals while Poland bows out after finishing runners-up in Group C and a hard-fought knockout game.
Senegal
It’s the end of the line for one of the two African teams left in the competition. England is through to the quarter-finals after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Senegal. The side had several chances in the first half and kept the Englishmen at bay before Henderson snapped the tie in the 38th minute. However, it was over before the African side settled down. +4,000 top goalscorer Harry Kane scored his first goal of the tournament before the first half concluded and Bukayo Saka sealed the deal with a third English goal in the second half.
Senegal finished as Group A’s runners-up, beating Ecuador and hosts nation Qatar in the process. It was a superb show of skill from the European nation but heartbreak for the Lions of Teranga, who gave it their all despite not having their star player Sadio Mane in Qatar.
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