But if you close your eyesDoes it almost feel like nothing changed at all?And if you close your eyesDoes it almost feel like you’ve been here before?How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
–“Pompeii” by Bastille
The 2022 World Cup produced a record six teams outside Europe and South America in the Round of 16. When the quarterfinals start on Friday, just one of them remain in Morocco who downed Spain on penalty kicks. The usual suspects re-established themselves as the knockout stage begins and while on one hand, it produces some mouthwatering matchups, those hoping for a different flavor in the last eight will be somewhat disappointed there were not more upsets.
The USA, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Morocco, and Senegal all had uphill battles in the Round of 16 after doing well to reach it. In the end, though, just Morocco managed to scale the summit and become just the tenth team outside Europe and South America to reach the quarterfinals and fourth African team overall. The remaining teams all have something to build on as they prepare for their Continental titles and the 2026 World Cup in the hopes of going from sweet to elite.
From Sweet (16) to Elite (8), six of the eight teams have been to a World Cup final, four have won a World Cup. There are still plenty of story lines for the eight teams remaining. The Dutch are trying to win one for their coach Louis Van Gaal. Argentina are trying to win it for Lionel Messi. Brazil wants to win one for Pele who is recuperating from a respiratory infection. Croatia are trying to win one for Eastern Europe. England are trying to bring it home, while France are trying to keep it home. Morocco is trying to win it for the Middle East and North African region. Portugal is trying to join the elite themselves regardless of how much of a role Cristiano Ronaldo eventually plays going forward.
We get a couple days of respite before the quarterfinals, but it’s now less sweet and more elite starting on Friday.
