And then there were 32
Jon Arnold👋 When Lionel Messi scores for the seventh consecutive World Cup match, becoming the first player to do so, and it's not the most exciting thing that happened in the late games of the World Cup? Well, you know it was a wild night.
The round of 32 is set, and after a bonkers finish in Kansas City, it will include Algeria and Austria - who tied in spite of themselves to send both teams through and send bubble team Iran crashing out of the tournament after three draws.
I'm Jon Arnold, this is “Extra Time," and I can't believe the knockout stage is already here. I still haven't processed the group stage!
What happened yesterday:
- Croatia 2-1 Ghana
- Panama 0-2 England
- Colombia 0-0 Portugal
- DR Congo 3-1 Uzbekistan
- Argentina 3-1 Jordan
- Algeria 3-3 Austria
Did you catch these stories from the last day of World Cup group play?
- Algeria and Austria said in the lead-up to their group match that they wouldn't repeat a 'Disgrace of Gijon' situation, a moment in the 1982 World Cup that saw Austria and West Germany settle for a mutually beneficial result and dumped out Algeria. They weren't kidding, playing out a madcap game that ended in an insane way, but it still was a draw that put both teams through. Even Algeria hero Riyad Mahrez said "It was a bit awkward."
- Yes, Lionel Messi scored - which was exciting for fans in Arlington - but the Argentina star of the day was Giovani Lo Celso, who became emotional as he described finally debuting in the World Cup after traveling to but not paying in 2018 and missing 2022 because of injuries.
- Harry Kane got back to his scoring ways, pushing England past Panama and perhaps cementing his status as best England player ever.
- DR Congo had a nervous day in Atlanta, but it ended with a real World Cup party as Les Leopards secured a spot in the round of 32.
- Colombia thought it had seen off Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, but its goal was ruled offside 'by a toenail', forcing the South Americans to settle for a draw.
Iran heads home after off-field events shifted World Cup focus
Iran was eliminated on the field because of its inability to score, but it faced obstacles few World Cup teams ever have faced before, traveling to a country its own country was at war with for much of the tournament.
The United States government's strict regulations on what the Iran team could and couldn't do - and FIFA allowing it - may set a precedent for international sport going forward. It's not a good one.
As Nancy Armour writes:
"By placating the U.S. government’s petulance toward Iran, which forced Team Melli to move their training camp at the eleventh hour and put curfew-like conditions on their first two games in the United States, FIFA opened a Pandora’s box. Every future host, of FIFA tournaments at every level, is now free to do the same to countries they don’t like.
The United States included.
Did you see this at the World Cup?
- I once again have attempted to rank every team from 1 to 48 in this tournament.
- Wait, who did they just show on the big screen? The celebs are out at World Cup matches this weekend.
- Yes, one of the biggest American exports after this World Cup will apparently be ranch dressing.
Today's World Cup schedule
It's just the one game today as Canada meets South Africa for the right to move into the round of 16. The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET/noon local at SoFi Stadium in Southern California.
Alex is back on Monday!
-Jon