World Cup: Goals flowing as sides look to knockout rounds

The World Cup is now well into the final group games, as the sides dice for a position in the next round while simultaneously checking in on other group opponents to see what they need to do to achieve the most favourable opposition in the second round.

So far, the World Cup has risen above the background noise of petty politics and corruption to provide some entertaining games in wonderful stadiums, full the roofs with fans. And it’s the fans enjoying their North American experience who have been the real stand out performers so far, coming together from all over the planet in a genuine Corinthian spirt of camaraderie and celebration. Wooing American cities by their colour, fun, and ability to drink. Let’s hope it lasts long into July.

Few shocks

On the pitch, there have been a few surprises but no genuine shocks as of yet. The big boys in large have secured their spots in the Round of 32. France, Germany, Argentina, and Brazil have qualified, while Spain, Portugal, Netherlands and England are safe despite some hiccups.

The surprises have come from the great efforts of Cape Verde and Curacao, who have thrown any inferiority fears aside and gone all out to make the most of their World Cup experience. In Cape Verde’s case they are still in with a good shout of progressing and maybe should be there already but for not seeing off a lacklustre Uruguay side.

Another plus, has been the performances of the host nations with Mexico, the US, and Canada through, ensuring local interest in the tournament continues long into competition.

The disappointments so far are Belgium, which is hardly surprising, as they just can’t seem to get their obvious talent together in tournament competition. Saudi Arabia are also a let-down failing to build this time out on that exciting win over Argentina in the last World Cup. Most disappointing of all has probably been Türkiye, who uncharacteristically seemed to play without passion in their two defeats to Australia and Paraguay.

A new disgrace?

Sunday may well see the strange outcome whereby both Austria and Algeria might prefer to lose their final group game, as whoever finishes second will be drawn against Group H winners and tournament favourites Spain, while the third-place team may get a more favourable opponent. A situation that recalls the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’ when West Germany and Austria apparently agreed to draw to exclude Algeria back in 1982. This time Algeria might have the say in the qualification mix by not winning. This situation occurring, I dare say, will not happen as apart from the disgrace of throwing a game, the chance to play maybe the best team in the world is surely more attractive than advancing one more stage in the tournament.

Golden moments

Maybe the most exciting element of the tournament so far is the sheer number of goals and the subsequent excitement in the race for the Golden Boot.

It is probably not surprising in a tournament of 48 teams spread across a wide range of rankings that there would be a lot of goals but even so, that an individual has racked up so many strikes after just two games has been a delight. That the leading goalscorer, on five goals so far, would be the elder statesman and Goat candidate, Lionel Messi is even more surprising and pleasing. 

This is the first time since 1954, where three players have scored four or more times after just two matches.

Messi’s double against the Austrians, not only led him to the top of this summer’s World Cup top scorers, on five goals, it also saw him surpass Mirioslav Klose's overall total of 16 as the diminutive Argentinean legend pushed on to 18.

Not that the chasing group are too far behind. Kylian Mbappe own brace for France against Iraq sees him on four goals after two games, while his overall figure has moved to 16, equalling Klose’s old record total. Norway’s Erling Haaland also bagged two against Senegal to go to a four-goal total too, while Vinicius Junior has also bagged four for Brazil but that’s after three games.

With Germany’s Denis Undav, and Canada’s Jonathan David on three goals too after two, there is a genuine feeling that this tournament will be something special when it comes to falling records, as the extra game under the World Cup’s new format will allow the strikers close in on France's Just Fontaine's 1958 record of 13 goals scored in one tournament.

All very exciting, but maybe the real reason for the upbeat vibe on and off the field is that this is finally a proper summer World Cup, denied to us for eight years interrupted by the ridiculous winter World Cup of 2022 in Qatar. It just feels right to have our World Cup back with us during the summer.