There's an aged saying that apt goes: "What the World Cup giveth, it tin taketh." And that's however fans mightiness consciousness aft seeing the USA's singular tally successful Qatar extremity successful heartbreaking manner acknowledgment to the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Argentina withstood a precocious surge by Australia to publication a day with the Dutch successful the quarterfinals.
Be definite to cheque successful with ESPN passim the tourney arsenic we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here's what you mightiness person missed from Saturday's World Cup happenings, and a look up to Sunday for what's next.
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USA suffer to the Netherlands: Is it 2026 yet?
Not the champion mode to commencement a Saturday morning, considering the United States' coagulated signifier during the radical signifier and the anticipation of seeing this radical of young players astatine slightest scope the quarterfinals.
- World Cup bracket: Netherlands, Argentina acceptable up QF match
But the Netherlands showed the spread successful prime that inactive exists betwixt the USA and the sides they privation to comparison themselves with. Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal's tactical crippled program successful the Oranje's 3-1 triumph was ruthlessly effective, and it forced the US into mistakes (leaving players unmarked successful each 3 Dutch goals) and to bash things it wasn't bully astatine (breaking down an organized defense).
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Gregg Berhalter talks to Sam Borden aft the USMNT's World Cup exit astatine the hands of the Netherlands.
Often stoic and astatine times combative, Van Gaal was successful a playful temper aft Saturday's win, astatine 1 constituent leaning to his broadside to works a buss connected the feature of man-of-the-match Denzel Dumfries (one goal, 2 assists) during the postmatch quality conference. Van Gaal's strategy mightiness not beryllium the astir attractive, but it worked truthful good against the US that 2 goals progressive 1 wing-back assisting the different -- archetypal Dumfries for Daley Blind and past Blind for Dumfries.
Still, determination volition beryllium a consciousness of what could person been for the USA. Christian Pulisic muffed an aboriginal chance, and the USA's lone extremity from Haji Wright looked much accidental than acrobatic. And of course, arsenic it has been for immoderate time, there's inactive a request for an effectual starting striker to emerge. As US manager Gregg Berhalter said afterward, "We don't person a Memphis Depay close now."
Did the US merit to bushed a humanities powerhouse similar the Dutch, to past look Lionel Messi and Argentina successful what would person been a made-for-TV David vs. Goliath quarterfinal matchup? At least, these players accomplished plenty. But successful 4 games, they besides did conscionable capable to permission everyone believing determination should person been more.
But let's determination forward. Whether Berhalter continues arsenic coach, the USA's aboriginal is agleam and the buzz is real. Lessons volition beryllium learned, acquisition volition beryllium gained and determination volition beryllium plentifulness to physique upon. We already counting down to the 2026 World Cup.
Messi, Argentina debar woe arsenic Australia proved mettle
Deep down, Australia knew they had precise small accidental successful Saturday's circular of 16 gathering against Argentina. And aft Lionel Messi's extremity successful the archetypal fractional and a goalkeeper gaffe gave Argentina a 2nd with astir a fractional hr to spare, it seemed the Socceroos' tally successful Qatar was done.
But that's erstwhile the existent amusive began. Australia pinned 1 backmost aft Enzo Fernandez scored an ain extremity and each of the abrupt it seemed arsenic though Messi's quest for that elusive World Cup rubric could beryllium connected the ropes. Australia's Aziz Behich did his champion content of Messi with a memorizing tally that was desperately deflected by defender Lisandro Martinez.
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The National Curriculum's Joshua Parish thinks the Socceroos volition animate a caller procreation of Australian shot fans contempt World Cup exit.
And past conscionable seconds left, keeper Emiliano Martinez made the prevention of the nighttime connected Socceroos teenage prima Garang Kuol's last-gasp effort to guarantee that Argentina wouldn't travel chap accepted powerhouse Germany done the aboriginal exit doorway astatine this tournament.
Australia has made its beingness known astatine this World Cup, arsenic person their fans backmost location who've stayed up each nighttime to cheer them on. There's nary shame successful Saturday's decision to a subordinate connected a ngo similar Messi. Just a radical of players that gave it their everything and fell conscionable short.
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Sebastian Salazar reacts to an underwhelming Argentina triumph vs. Australia successful the circular of 16.
England, France connected alert against worthy opponents
Sunday brings 2 circular of 16 games that are massively compelling for wildly antithetic reasons. Four teams, and lone 2 tin publication a summons to the quarterfinals. So however bash they look?
The earlier crippled sees the defending World Cup champions, France, taking connected Robert Lewandowski and Poland. On paper, it mightiness look similar an casual triumph for Didier Deschamps' all-star squad that is inactive 1 of the bookies' favorites to triumph it each contempt losing Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante to wounded anterior to the tournament. The likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are holding things down successful midfield, and the trio of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are getting it done astatine the attacking end.
While they did conflict against Tunisia successful their 3rd radical signifier game, yet losing 1-0, that was much down to Deschamps' dense rotation of players with qualification already unafraid than a motion of immoderate important weakness.
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Julien Laurens doesn't clasp backmost arsenic helium rips into Didier Deschamps and the French players aft their 1-0 nonaccomplishment to Tunisia successful Qatar.
Poland volition request to thin connected their stars if they're to ruffle French feathers. Lewandowski indispensable get work successful the container truthful helium tin unit errors oregon enactment the shot connected target, and determination are respective players susceptible of picking retired the Barcelona prima adjacent goal: Piotr Zielinski and Arkadiusz Milik are the main men successful that regard. If France negociate to breach their defense, Wojciech Szczesny is successful extremity and seems, based connected immoderate of his highlight-reel saves, to beryllium successful highest form. We inactive deliberation France advance, but successful a tourney of large shocks, anything's possible.
As for England, they'll beryllium looking to enactment connected people for a archetypal large planetary trophy since 1966 though winning Group B hasn't fixed them the vantage successful presumption of opponent.
Senegal haven't missed a bushed contempt the devastating wounded to talisman Sadio Mane earlier the commencement of the tournament. Tidy wins against Qatar and Ecuador were capable to flooded a nonaccomplishment to the Dutch successful their opening game, and they've been capable to find goals adjacent aft losing Mane: Their 5 goals successful Group A were each scored by antithetic players, with cardinal defender Kalidou Koulibaly popping up with the decisive decorativeness to guarantee their spot successful the circular of 16. Many of their stars -- including winger Ismaila Sarr -- person Premier League acquisition and won't fearfulness their much fancied opponents 1 bit.
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Tom Hamilton praises the show of Phil Foden against Wales, saying he's fixed England manager Gareth Southgate a "good headache" for their adjacent game.
England, meanwhile, request to proceed mounting the gait successful games alternatively than taking a dilatory and dependable attack arsenic they did successful peculiar against the US successful the radical stage. When they were passive and invited pressure, they were fortunate not to concede, portion their much affirmative attack against Iran and Wales resulted successful 9 goals scored and conscionable 2 conceded. With zero borderline of mistake from here, manager Gareth Southgate indispensable amusement a spot much daring successful his tactics and squad selections if they're to proceed successful this competition.
Harry Kane has been subdued, but Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford person provided capable energy to powerfulness a tiny city. The England mentation of Harry Maguire has held up successful defence -- it's bully the Manchester United mentation didn't question to Doha -- but they volition inactive request to amusement immoderate gusto and unrecorded up to the attacking endowment successful the squad.
Again, we'd expect them to succeed, but conscionable arsenic apt is simply a 2-2 crippled decided 5-4 connected penalties. We're not going to accidental who the victor is.
Today's apical reads
Playing astatine a World Cup without a club? Cristiano Ronaldo and lone fewer others know
It's a uncommon group: World Cup players without a nine to telephone home. For immoderate it's a distraction; for others, it's motivation.
Playstation, rotating DJs and 'foot-golf': How France unbend astatine the World Cup
Les Bleus are aiming to beryllium repetition champions. But you wouldn't cognize from visiting their campy that they're feeling immoderate pressure.
Spain were fortunate aft Japan defeat, but tin they reset up of Morocco match?
Spain were fortunate to look from Group E fixed the mode Japan fought backmost to bushed them. So different teams cognize however to halt La Roja?
Your champion bets (odds via Caesars Sportsbook)
If you're looking to stake connected the World Cup, ESPN contributors Paul Carr, Dan Thomas and Dalen Cuff are present to springiness you cardinal tips on odds, options and futures. Here's what we person for Sunday's matches.
France (-390) vs. Poland (+1200), Draw (+430)
Carr: France's nonaccomplishment to Tunisia doesn't interest me, fixed the squad rotation and unfamiliarity. Poland was fortunate to suffer lone 2-0 to Argentina (3.7 xG connected 23 shots) and gave up a ton of bully chances to Saudi Arabia, excessively (1.7 xG connected 16 shots). I deliberation France cruises present with the archetypal squad back, and I'll laic the 1.5 goals astatine -115.
Cuff: Poland was arguably the astir unimpressive squad to beforehand to circular of 16. France's past nonaccomplishment was with a lineup of reserves. I deliberation they dominate. The play for maine is triumph to nil -116. I besides volition astir apt play Olivier Giroud to people anytime +120.
England (-195) vs. Senegal (+600), Draw (+290)
Carr: I stay unconvinced by England manager Gareth Southgate's willingness to spell for it successful the knockout stage. In 8 games implicit the erstwhile 2 tournaments, England enactment lone 2 distant earlier the 80th minute, including draws against opponents Colombia (2018 World Cup) and Denmark (Euro 2020). Senegal is missing Idrissa Gueye successful midfield, but I deliberation they person a decent changeable to bent with England astatine slightest done 90 minutes, truthful I'll play Senegal connected the treble accidental astatine +150. If you're feeling much daring, I don't caput playing them to beforehand astatine +360.
Cuff: I consciousness akin to Paul here, I played England to beryllium eliminated successful circular of 16. I conscionable don't judge successful this squad and however Southgate sets them up. However, I thought their hostile present would beryllium Ecuador, which provides a antithetic situation than Senegal. I deliberation I'm going to somewhat hedge present by not playing a side, but I deliberation we spot much goals than you'd expect. Over 2.5 +125.
News and notes
Brazil fable Pele is responding good to attraction for a respiratory infection, and his wellness information has not worsened implicit the past 24 hours, the Albert Einstein infirmary successful Sao Paulo said successful a connection Saturday. Pele, 82, has been astatine the infirmary since Tuesday. Get-well messages person poured successful from astir the satellite for the three-time World Cup winner, who is besides undergoing crab treatment.
Lionel Messi achieved each sorts of milestones successful Argentina's 2-1 triumph implicit Australia connected Saturday that booked the Albiceleste a quarterfinal day against the Netherlands. He reached 1,000 nonrecreational matches, and besides moved passed Diego Maradona's World Cup goals tally. With 8 goals crossed his 5 World Cups, Messi needs 1 much to necktie with Gabriel Batistuta for Argentina's all-time grounds astatine the tournament.
Brazil person suffered 2 much wounded setbacks up of the World Cup round-of-16 clash against South Korea with some striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Alex Telles ruled retired of the remainder of the tournament. Brazil person been deed by the wounded bug successful Qatar, with Neymar's presumption inactive uncertain due to the fact that of an ankle contented that made him miss 2 matches truthful far.
England skipper Harry Kane said helium is acceptable to highest successful the World Cup knockout stages aft tailoring his conditioning to scope optimum lucifer fitness. The 29-year-old has not scored yet successful the tournament but has 3 assists to his sanction truthful acold successful Qatar. Kane won the Golden Boot astatine the 2018 tournament, but 5 of his six goals came successful the radical signifier earlier England were beaten by Croatia successful the semifinals.
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