England defeated African opposition in the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time since 1990, meanwhile France overcome Poland to set up the first ever anglo-franco knockout stage game in a major international tournament.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The knockout stages began with a banger of a match between the studious Louis van Gaal and his Netherlands side against the brashness of youth that was the United States. The evening fixture saw Lionel Messi celebrate his 1,000th professional senior appearance in style, dragging Argentina to a quarter final showdown with the Dutch in a win over Australia.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It wasn’t quite the revenge they had hoped to exact over Luis Suarez and Uruguay, but Ghana can be pleased in the knowledge that they will be sharing the stage of elimination as the South Americans. Meanwhile, South Korea stunned Portugal and Cameroon did the same to Brazil as the shocks of the 2022 FIFA World Cup just kept on coming and no group stage team gained 9 points!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there had been shocks sprinkled in and amongst the 2022 FIFA World Cup, then certainly Day 12 provided the killer blows with not only Belgium’s Golden Generation falling at the first hurdle but Germany bouncing out at the first round again, whilst Spain could count themselves lucky they didn’t go either! All that and more on a historic night of World Cup football.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life isn’t fair in the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Tunisia and Mexico recorded great victories but found themselves ending their World Cup journey whilst Poland just about clawed their way into the last 16. Meanwhile, Denmark underwhelmed, Argentina were back to their best and France’s reserves stumbled. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England demolished Wales, and their hopes of qualifying for the knockouts, with the United States swooping in to take the glory with victory over Iran. Meanwhile in Group A, Netherlands qualified with a lethargic win over Qatar and Senegal pipped Ecuador to the last 16.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brazil and Portugal became the second and third teams to book their place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout phases with victories over Switzerland and Uruguay respectively. Meanwhile, we were treated to a couple of high stakes pieces of drama for the first games, where Cameroon and Serbia shared six goals and Ghana snuck a 3-2 victory past an unfortunate South Korea team.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 8 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup saw the elimination of our second team whilst nobody was able to join France in the last 16. Japan toiled to defeat at the hands of Costa Rica, moving from shock to shock, Canada were hit for four by Croatia in a comeback defeat whilst Belgium were stunned yet again by Morocco. Before finally, the showdown of the groups as Spain and Germany went nose to nose and drew 1-1.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a shock elimination on the horizon for Argentina who else but Lionel Messi to provide a piece of magic to help them through a tough Mexico fixture. Elsewhere in Group C, Poland defeated Saudi Arabia to take top spot whilst France confirmed their spot in the last 16 with a win over Denmark and Australia earned their first World Cup triumph in 12 years. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

England met the United States in the biggest clash between the two nations since 1776 or 1812 or perhaps 1950 or 2010 in FIFA World Cup circles. Elsewhere, we were treated to a Group A showdown between two potential qualifiers in Netherlands and Ecuador, Qatar being the first nation eliminated at the hands of Senegal and a poor Welsh showing against Iran.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices