The United States Survive a Handicap Match against Bosnia and Herzegovina

41/52nds of the World Cup

 

 

The United States have won 2 matches at a World Cup on 2 separate occasions. They have never won 3 matches in a single tournament. Their Round of 32 match-up against the combined forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina was just their latest attempt to achieve the trifecta of victories. To do so, they would need to win in 90 minutes. While Bosnia and Herzegovina would have their chances, it was the United States that would find goal first through Folarin Balogun's goal in the 45th minute. They would carry that lead into the 2nd half where the tide became shaky. In the 64th minute, the hero of the match thus far would step onto Tarik Muharemovic's leg and slide down to step on his ankle in what looked like a horrific injury. VAR would intervene to confirm that Folarin Balogun would receive a red card. One nation less by name, and 1 man down by sending off, left the US's 1 goal lead in a precarious position. That is until Malik Tillman would step up and hit a wonderful free kick that beat goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj for a 2nd US goal. Even with 10 minutes of stoppage time, the co-hosts would hold on to face Belgium in the Round of 16. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has been a wild journey. It took a penalty kick shootout to qualify at the expense of Italy. To have made it out of the group and given the US a challenging match will have to be their consolation.

 

 

We witnessed our 5th lead change of the tournament as a previous number 1 has reclaimed the top spot. She picked England, Belgium, and the United State to advance to the Round of 16, and was the only player to predict the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet in the Round of 32. With 107 points on the day, all hail Praeceptor.

 

Spain and Austria, Portugal and Croatia, Switzerland and Algeria are the 3 matches for tomorrow's Round of 32. The points are coming hot and heavy as players are jostling for the top spot. What chaos will tomorrow's tournament produce?

 

  

 

Youri the Tielemans if you Push Belgium Past Senegal

81/104ths of the World Cup

 

 

Belgium's golden generation never achieved the success many predicted for them. Older, wiser, and hungry to win some gold they entered the pitch against Senegal hoping to prove their doubters wrong. Seeing England fall behind DR Congo and come back to win, Belgium figured to try and one-up them. For Senegal, it's been a wild time. They were stripped of their CAF African Cup of Nations Championship, failed to upset France as the team in 2002 did, and found themselves the masters of their own fate. Habib Diarra would give them a 1-0 lead when he would score in the 24th minute. Ismaila Sarr would double the lead in the 51st minute. Senegal looked to be in cruise control, and maintained their lead for the next 35 minutes. Enter Romelu Lukaku. One of the stars of Belgium's golden generation, Lukaku has been coming off the bench at the World Cup. His 86th minute strike would give Belgium life as they trailed 1-2. Youri Tielemans would strike just 3 minutes later to tie the match at 2 goals each. Belgium had found their groove and took the match to extra time. Both teams would struggle to find a goal from the run of play, but Belgium seemed to be sniffing a 3rd goal. They would earn their opportunity in the 2nd half of extra time. As the match was looking to go to penalty kicks, Lamine Camara would slide in the box and catch Youri Tielemans's ankle drawing a penalty for Belgium. Tielemans would fire a lob into the upper right corner of the left as Senegalese goalkeeper Mory Diaw would dive in the opposite direction. Game, set, and match as Belgium qualify for the Round of 16 where they await the winner of the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For Senegal, they can hold their heads high, but will always be haunted by what could have been.

 

 

England use their Kane to Beat Back DR Congo

10/13ths of the World Cup

  

 

Since England won the World Cup in 1966, their best finish has been 4th place in 1990 and 2018. They have a disappointing history of losing elimination matches in extra time and penalty kicks. Teams such as their opponents DR Congo are not supposed to be of trouble. The Africans should have been brushed aside easily. The Leopards were not about to play coy. Brian Cipenga would start the party scoring in the 7th minute for DR Congo. From this point on, they would lock into their signature defensive presence and hold England scoreless for 68 minutes. Big players step up in big moments. Enter Harry Kane who had been frustrated in all his goal attempts thus far. the 75th minute saw Harry draw the match at 1 goal apiece. Momentum shifted as DR Congo were cautious in going forward to score a game winner. England would make them pay when Harry Kane would score his second goal in the 86th minute. England would not turn back, but would hold the lead and advance to the Round of 16 where they will face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City. DR Congo can go home with their heads held high, having inspired a nation and attracted a new generation of future players to dream of achieving the national team's 2026 World Cup, and eventually surpassing it.

 

 

 

Mexi-going to the Round of 16

79/104ths of the World Cup

 

 

Mexico entered the Round of 32 looking to be the 9th hosting nation to make it to the FIFA World Cup Championship match, and the first since France in 1998. The last four hosting nations to make it to the Championship match walked away the victors. Interestingly, if Mexico does reach the Championship Match, they will be the first hosting nation to do so outside of its own borders in the Garden State of New Jersey. Julian Quinones would light the match that brought the Estadio Azteca to explosion by scoring Mexico's first goal in the 22nd minute. Just 9 minutes later Raul Jimenez would double the lead for El Tri. Try as they might, but Ecuador barely looked a threat to Mexico's goal. This was not the performance expected from the 2nd Place finishers of CONMEBOL qualifying, only finishing behind Argentina. They gave up only 5 goals in 18 matches. They had not given up 2 goals in the same match throughout qualifying and their first 3 matches of World Cup 2026. La Tri's situation would only get worse when in the 5th minute of second half stoppage time Piero Hincapie would earn a red card for covering his mouth and saying something most likely inappropriate to Santiago Gimenez. Ecuador disappointingly head for home, while Mexico await the winner of England and DR Congo.

 

 

Day 20 draws to a close with a 5th different competitor moving into first place. An improbably 109 points sees a move for the Player of the Day from 4th to 1st. Congratulations Scriptor!

 

Three more teams will move to the Round of 16 tomorrow, and three more teams will head home. England will battle DR Congo. Belgium will lock horns with Senegal. And the United States look to avoid being the first co-hosts of 2026 to be eliminated when they take on the tag team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Good Luck to All!

 

 

 

 

 

France Sweetened by Sweden's Goal

39/52nds of the World Cup

 

 

France have finished 1st and 2nd in consecutive World Cups. They are looking to be the 2nd team to ever make 3 straight World Cup Championship matches, the first since Germany from 1982 to 1990. Sweden are hoping to make it back to the Quarterfinals as they did in 2018 after missing out on the World Cup in 2022, even though they arguably should have missed out on this edition. France more than game to show that Sweden were out of their league on the day. Though Sweden stood toe to toe for 45 minutes, there was only going to be one winner after Kylian Mbapped scored to give France the lead before the half. After the break, Bradley Barcola would only need 8 minutes to double France's lead. Kylian Mbappe would put the match out of reach with his second goal in the 74th minute. Vive la France! They move on to face Paraguay in the Round of 16.

 

 

 

Norway's Haaland Goal Lands them in the Round of 16

 77/104ths of the World Cup

  

 

The 5th match of the Round of 32 saw two teams looking for new territory. Cote d'Ivoire have never been beyond the Group Stage of a World Cup. Norway have once reached the Round of 16, at a time where the playoffs began with 16 teams, not 32. Antonio Nusa would finally find a goal in the 39th minute to give Norway the 1-0 lead. In the second half, Cote d'Ivoire fought back to draw level through Amad Diallo. It seemed like the Ivorians might have a chance to force extra time, or even snag a winner in regulation. They would be beaten to the punch by Erling Haaland who scored the match winner in the 86th minute. Cote d'Ivoire go home with their heads held high. Norway move onto to the furthest point they've ever been in a World Cup tournament to face Brazil.

 

 

Morocco Issa Partying!

 19/26ths of the World Cup

 

 

 

The Netherlands seldom lose in the World Cup as matches that go into extra time or penalty shootouts count as draws in the record books. They have never won a World Cup, but have finished Runners-up 3 times, and were eliminated in the Quarterfinals in 2022. For Morocco, they hoped to repeat their run in World Cup 2022 where they ran out of steam to finish 4th. Enter the 4th match of the Round of 32 where Morocco would force the Netherlands to play a tight match only finding a 1-0 lead through Cody Gakpo's 72nd minute strike. Morocco would stress their way through the remainder of the match when Issa Diop would tie the game in the 1st minute of 2nd half stoppage time. The extra time periods would be nervy as Morocco looked to score a goal, and Netherlands seemed more inclined to go to penalty kicks. 

Teun Koopmeiners would take the first attempt for Netherlands shooting to the bottom right corner past Yassine Bounou's outstretched arms. Neil El Aynaoui would try to meet Teun's attempt for Morocco. His shot would carom off the bar. Netherlands leads 1-0.

 Justin Kleivert was up next for Netherlands. His shot would hit the left post and out. Soufiane Rahimi would try to level the period for Morocco. He fired to the lower left of the goal where Bart Verbruggen would dive, knock the ball out, and see it roll backwards off his foot and in. Shootout even at 1-1.

 Wout Weghorst would attempt to get Netherlands back on track. He would strike with power to the upper left of the goal. Chemsdine Talbi would go next for Morocco trying to keep pace with Netherlands. He would fire to Bart Verbruggen's right, where the ball would sail past his outstretched hands. 2-2.

Quinten Timber stepped forward looking to put Netherlands back on top. He would fire wide left not even hitting frame. Achraf Hakimi would try to give Morocco their first lead of the night. He would fire to left of goal and see the ball bounce of the post. 2-2.

Cyrsencio Summerville looked to convert his moment of glory. As he fired to the upper left of the goal, Yassine Bounou would stand up straight, step to his right, and swat the ball away from goal. That left Ismael Saibari with his attempt at glory. He aimed for the bottom left of the goal and beat Bart Verbruggen who dove the opposite direction. Morocco advance to face Canada in the Round of 16. Netherlands are going home once again, this time at the soonest point of a World Cup Tournament in their history.

 

 

There were no perfect picks on the day. One player was the sole contestant to pick Brazil, Paraguay, and Morocco to advance to the Round of 16. With 92 points, moving from 7th to 6th, for the second day in a row the top performer is Fortuious.

Three more teams advance tomorrow. Three more teams go home. Another 75 points from picking the right teams to move on available. Get some rest, and duct tape for your brackets.