To be honest, the first two knockout matches didn’t completely blow me away. Solid action, but I’m ready for the big World Cup moments to start rolling in. And I’m pretty confident: From today on, it’s going to get much more spectacular. Brazil vs. Norway and Mexico vs. England – football heart, what more could you want?However, it’s all the more annoying that these two top matches are not being aired on free-to-air TV in Germany today. Those without MagentaTV will actually miss out on this World Cup evening. For the average football fan, that’s a bitter pill to swallow. Today, I have to give this a big thumbs down 👎
Potti’s Playoff Compass
The tournament tree is getting thinner by the day, and the first quarter-finalists are already set. Currently, only 14 of the original 48 teams are still competing for the World Cup trophy. Switzerland can sit back and relax as they won’t enter the tournament until Tuesday against Colombia – keeping the last hopes of the DACH project alive.P.S.: Our graphics department continues to enjoy sun, beach, and cocktails. The intern had to improvise and built his own tournament tree template. It looks a little different, but he swears on everything that the connecting lines at least fit this time.
“It wasn’t that easy,” he said, sounding surprisingly proud.
Yesterday’s MatchesKnockout Round: Canada vs. Morocco 0:3
If you just look at the score, you might think Morocco easily pushed Canada out of the stadium. However, the story was not that straightforward. The Canadians started boldly, creating plenty of pressure and putting the North Africans under significant stress during the first half. Morocco appeared surprisingly unsettled and had to replace their injured top scorer Ismael Saibari early on.After the break, Morocco remembered why many experts consider them one of the dark horses. Azzedine Ounahi unplugged Canada with two goals within a few minutes. As the hosts threw everything forward, Morocco coldly exploited the spaces available and made it 3-0 in stoppage time, sealing the deal.
My Conclusion: The score might be a goal too high in the end. Nonetheless, the win is deserved. Canada sold themselves dearly, whereas Morocco was simply more ruthless in front of goal. And that’s what you need if you want to go far in a World Cup. France should not take their quarter-final too lightly.
Knockout Round: Paraguay vs. France 0:1
Overall, I was right with my preview – to be honest, I expected France to handle this match more comfortably. Paraguay did exactly what they’ve been doing for days: closing down at the back, fighting until they drop, chiseling away at the nerves of their opponents, and turning football into a mix of chess and wrestling.The difference from Germany? The French didn’t let that rattle them. They remained patient, created chance after chance, and simply waited for the one decisive moment. That moment came after a foul on Désiré Doué. Kylian Mbappé grabbed the ball, converted the penalty ice cold – game over. That’s all the Bleus needed.
My Conclusion: France has shown how to crack Paraguay. No panic, no brute force, just patience and quality. The Paraguayan World Cup fairytale is now over. In the quarter-final, Morocco awaits – and I have a feeling that will be a much tougher nut to crack for France.
Sunday, July 5 – Today’s Matchups
Knockout Round: Brazil vs. Norway – 10 PM
Now it gets really exciting. On paper, Brazil is the favorite. The Seleção seems to be getting stronger with each game, Vinícius Júnior is dazzling, Neymar appears to be getting back into form just in time, and offensively, Brazil can dismantle any defense.However… Norway has a certain Erling Haaland. And this guy sometimes needs only one-and-a-half touches for two goals. The Scandinavians have thus far presented themselves as a difficult opponent, defending disciplined and waiting for the moments when Haaland can unleash his power.Now comes my confession: my pick today is not entirely free from sympathy. I’d be thrilled if Norway advanced. Would I put my own money on it, though? Probably not.My heart still says: Brazil attacks, Norway counters coldly – and causes the first surprise of this knockout round. 3:2 for Norway (and YES, he scores!).
Knockout Round: Mexico vs. England – 2 AM
If I could choose one match of this World Cup to watch live in the stadium, it would be this one. Host Mexico in the legendary cauldron against England – you can’t get more atmosphere than this. The English players will not only face eleven Mexicans today but also against what feels like 80,000 fans who will be cheering the Mexicans for 90 minutes. That can unnerve even the most seasoned professionals.Football-wise, I see England slightly ahead. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham & Co. bring incredible quality and have left a very composed impression so far. But beware if Mexico takes an early lead. The stadium will turn into the soundscape of a starting jet – and suddenly, a favorite can quickly stumble.My heart would certainly like to see the hosts advance to the quarter-finals. However, my head says England will stay cool and won’t be rattled by the incessant Mexican cheering. My tip: England wins a thrilling match 3:2 after extra time.
Yesterday’s MatchesKnockout Round: Canada vs. Morocco 0:3
If you just look at the score, you might think Morocco easily pushed Canada out of the stadium. However, the story was not that straightforward. The Canadians started boldly, creating plenty of pressure and putting the North Africans under significant stress during the first half. Morocco appeared surprisingly unsettled and had to replace their injured top scorer Ismael Saibari early on.After the break, Morocco remembered why many experts consider them one of the dark horses. Azzedine Ounahi unplugged Canada with two goals within a few minutes. As the hosts threw everything forward, Morocco coldly exploited the spaces available and made it 3-0 in stoppage time, sealing the deal.My Conclusion: The score might be a goal too high in the end. Nonetheless, the win is deserved. Canada sold themselves dearly, whereas Morocco was simply more ruthless in front of goal. And that’s what you need if you want to go far in a World Cup. France should not take their quarter-final too lightly.
Knockout Round: Paraguay vs. France 0:1
Overall, I was right with my preview – to be honest, I expected France to handle this match more comfortably. Paraguay did exactly what they’ve been doing for days: closing down at the back, fighting until they drop, chiseling away at the nerves of their opponents, and turning football into a mix of chess and wrestling.The difference from Germany? The French didn’t let that rattle them. They remained patient, created chance after chance, and simply waited for the one decisive moment. That moment came after a foul on Désiré Doué. Kylian Mbappé grabbed the ball, converted the penalty ice cold – game over. That’s all the Bleus needed.My Conclusion: France has shown how to crack Paraguay. No panic, no brute force, just patience and quality. The Paraguayan World Cup fairytale is now over. In the quarter-final, Morocco awaits – and I have a feeling that will be a much tougher nut to crack for France.Sunday, July 5 – Today’s Matchups
Knockout Round: Brazil vs. Norway – 10 PM
Now it gets really exciting. On paper, Brazil is the favorite. The Seleção seems to be getting stronger with each game, Vinícius Júnior is dazzling, Neymar appears to be getting back into form just in time, and offensively, Brazil can dismantle any defense.However… Norway has a certain Erling Haaland. And this guy sometimes needs only one-and-a-half touches for two goals. The Scandinavians have thus far presented themselves as a difficult opponent, defending disciplined and waiting for the moments when Haaland can unleash his power.Now comes my confession: my pick today is not entirely free from sympathy. I’d be thrilled if Norway advanced. Would I put my own money on it, though? Probably not.My heart still says: Brazil attacks, Norway counters coldly – and causes the first surprise of this knockout round. 3:2 for Norway (and YES, he scores!).Knockout Round: Mexico vs. England – 2 AM
If I could choose one match of this World Cup to watch live in the stadium, it would be this one. Host Mexico in the legendary cauldron against England – you can’t get more atmosphere than this. The English players will not only face eleven Mexicans today but also against what feels like 80,000 fans who will be cheering the Mexicans for 90 minutes. That can unnerve even the most seasoned professionals.Football-wise, I see England slightly ahead. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham & Co. bring incredible quality and have left a very composed impression so far. But beware if Mexico takes an early lead. The stadium will turn into the soundscape of a starting jet – and suddenly, a favorite can quickly stumble.My heart would certainly like to see the hosts advance to the quarter-finals. However, my head says England will stay cool and won’t be rattled by the incessant Mexican cheering. My tip: England wins a thrilling match 3:2 after extra time.