After nearly two wild weeks at the World Cup, we have reached the win-or-go-home portion of the tourney. Here’s the latest from Qatar.
After nearly two wild and dramatic weeks at the World Cup, we have the reached the win-or-go-home portion of the tourney. Sixteen teams remain, 16 others have been eliminated and the fun continues Saturday.
Be sure to check in with ESPN throughout the tournament as we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here’s what you might have missed from Friday’s World Cup happenings, and a look ahead to what’s next Saturday.
– World Cup news, features, previews and more
– Stream FC Daily and Futbol Americas on ESPN+
Here we go! The bracket for the knockout stages of the World Cup is set. Two daily games over the next four days, with the winners then setting up the quarterfinal matches. Here’s what we have:
Saturday, Dec. 3 (winners play each other in quarterfinal)
Netherlands vs. United States
Argentina vs. Australia
Sunday, Dec. 4 (winners play each other in quarterfinal)
France vs. Poland
England vs. Senegal
Monday, Dec. 5 (winners play each other in quarterfinal)
Japan vs. Croatia
Brazil vs. South Korea
Tuesday, Dec. 6 (winners play each other in quarterfinal)
Morocco vs. Spain
Portugal vs. Switzerland
Luis Miguel Echegaray reacts to Uruguay’s heartbreaking exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In keeping with the drama we’ve seen the last couple of days, Friday’s slate brought plenty of big moments as well.
Just as it looked as if Uruguay would advance by beating Ghana, a last-gasp goal by South Korea against Portugal gave them a 2-1 win in the other Group H game — and more importantly, a spot in the knockouts.
Twelve years after Uruguay eliminated Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarterfinals thanks largely to Luis Suarez’s famous handball, Friday’s game was billed as a grudge match for the Black Stars. Up by two goals Friday, Uruguay looked poised to ruin Ghana’s party once more. But when the monitors flashed the scoreline of the South Korea-Portugal game, cameras quickly cut to Suarez sitting on the bench, looking shell-shocked.
Uruguay needed another goal to flip the tiebreaker in their favor, but it never came. So Ghana’s schadenfreude will come from lasting images of crying Suarez burying his head in his jersey, likely the last time the 35-year-old wears it at a World Cup.
And while Uruguayan fans were in the midst of misery, it was the complete opposite for South Korean supporters across town. With the game against group winners Portugal level 1-1 as it approached injury time, Hwang Hee-chan’s goal in the 91st minute ensured South Korea would finish ahead of Uruguay in the standings.
It was an especially poignant moment for captain Son Heung-min, who has sometimes been accused of trying to do too much himself when he plays for the national team. But Son’s clever play set up Hwang’s winner, and he delivered when his teammates needed him the most.
Julien Laurens recaps South Korea’s dramatic 2-1 win over Portugal that sends Son Heung-min’s team into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
Over at Group G, Brazil had already clinched a spot in the round of 16 but were aiming to finish the only team in the entire tournament to win all three group stage games. Still playing without injured Neymar, the Brazilians couldn’t muster much against a Cameroon side looking to keep their hopes alive.
