The FIFA World Cup Round of 16 continued with two exciting matchups.
New York/New Jersey Stadium was set to host the World Cup Final on July 19. On this Sunday, it featured Vinicius Jr and Brazil taking on Erling Haaland and Norway, a battle between two soccer superstars.
Then, at the high-altitude Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Julian Quiñones and Mexico looked to continue their World Cup run against Harry Kane and England.
Let’s dive into the day’s exciting action.
Brazil vs Norway: Haaland Can’t Be Stopped
It looked like Norway took the lead three minutes in. Alexander Sorloth led the fast Norwegian counterattack, and Patrick Berg buried the ball past Allison. But it turns out Sorloth was clearly offside.
That woke Brazil up. They began moving the ball quickly and making runs into the box.
Matheus Cunha of Manchester United was taken down in the box by Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer. The referee initially waved it off, but he was called to the VAR, and then he gave the penalty to Brazil. It was clearly a penalty. Incidents like this are why VAR is needed.
Bruno Guimarães was tasked with taking the spot kick. The Newcastle United midfielder did the stutter step and was stopped by Ørjan Nyland. You knew he wouldn’t score when he did the stutter step. All you’ve got to do is simply blast the ball into the net.
Also, why didn’t Vinicius Jr take it?
Nyland’s penalty save seemed to have fired up Norway as they started to dominate possession. But it was nearly a disaster for them as Antonio Nusa lost the ball to Vinicius Jr, and he sent Cunha to the races. Cunha tried to go for the goal himself but was stifled by the Norwegian left-back David Moller-Wolfe.
Nusa and Martin Odegaard were dictating the Norwegian attack. It was clear they were trying to get Haaland involved. But the Brazilian backline was making it tough for Norway to find their superstar striker. Haaland did have one chance, but it was very easy for Allison.
This was a battle as both teams were forcing turnovers. Brazil created chances of their own. Nyland had to come up big by denying Vinicius Jr.
Haaland was waiting for his chance. Late in the half, he couldn’t beat Brazil defender Gabriel, but Odegaard picked up the loose ball. Allison was there to save the day for Brazil.
It was a goalkeeper duel, and the first half was exciting despite no goals.
Norway manager Stale Solbakken wanted to try something in the second half. At halftime, he subbed out Sorloth and Nusa for Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup. Perhaps he wanted his team to have a different dynamic with their attack. Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil were looking to win the ball back from Norway and get on the front foot.
Norway were playing a mature and calm game. They were making sure to hold onto the ball as much as they could after halftime. They were patient, almost too patient.
A turnover by Odegaard to Casemiro nearly brought disaster for Norway. Casemiro found substitute Endrick with a beautiful pass, but the young Brazilian forward’s shot couldn’t test Nyland.
Nyland was still standing strong. He robbed Guimarães with this save.
Brazilian fans gave huge cheers when Neymar Jr came on. They hoped their legend would deliver.
But it was the legend on the pitch who delivered, and he is still in his prime. In the 79th minute, Haaland showed once again that he was inevitable. He had a quiet game, but all he needed was one touch.
Schjelderup cut inside and crossed the ball, and it found the head of Haaland. The Manchester City striker did what he did best: Score. He jumped over Gabriel to do so.
Brazil were desperate. Casemiro tried to give Neymar his moment, but his cross was way too hard.
But Brazil weren’t desperate enough because Haaland struck again. This was a pure striker’s finish. From his left foot, Haaland delivered a blast past Allison. Again, he doesn’t need to do a whole lot, but Haaland just needs a few touches to make teams pay. The Norwegian beast tied Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe for the World Cup Golden Boot lead with seven goals.
Deep into stoppage time, Brazil got a penalty kick after substitute Leo Ostigard got his elbows up. Neymar rolled the penalty in, but it was nothing butconsolation. For whatever reason, Neymar decided to trash talk Nyland…despite his team being on the verge of being knocked out.
Haaland got the goals, but Nyland, Odegaard, Berg and many others on the Norwegian team deserved plaudits for their performances. Norway and their fans were rowing into the quarterfinals.
Brazil were knocked out in the Round of 16 for the first time since 1990. Ancelotti likely doesn’t survive this.
Mexico vs England: A World Cup Classic
The game at the Azteca was supposed to start at 5:00 pm Pacific. However, due to thunder, lightning and heavy rain, the game between Mexico and England started at 6:00 pm, Pacific.
The stories in the English media were about how England was going to handle the altitude of Mexico City. They also needed to figure out how to score, especially since El Tri has not conceded a goal in the World Cup up to this point.
Buoyed by the atmosphere, Mexico started the game very fast. They forced England to defend deep.
The Three Lions slowly started to grow into the game. Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson were dictating play. But England couldn’t get the ball to Kane. Mexico were very cautious defensively. Bellingham was in a tough battle with Mexico midfielder Erik Lira.
Raul Jimenez had England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s number. He has scored six goals against Pickford while playing for Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League. Jimenez nearly brought the Mexican fans to their feet as he managed to get in between Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa. Alvarado’s cross found Jimenez, but Pickford made a huge save.
From this point, Mexico had England under siege. Lira, Luis Romo and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora were orchestrating things from the midfield. The England backline was closing down the Mexican forwards.
But the English struck first. Bukayo Saka ran down the wing and wanted to find Kane with his cross. The cross went past Kane and found Bellingham, who scored a diving header. For the first time at this World Cup, Mexico conceded a goal. The English fans went crazy while the Mexican fans were stunned.
Just two minutes later, Bellingham did it again. He played a give-and-go with Kane, and the Real Madrid midfielder beat Raul Rangel. Hey Jude!
Mexico didn’t want to go down quietly. Once again, they started playing fast and pinned England in their own box. It also helped El Tri that England was giving the ball away cheaply.
From Alvarado’s free kick, England couldn’t clear. Quiñones was left unmarked, and he blasted the volley into the roof of the net. It was Quiñones’ fifth goal contribution in five World Cup games. We had a game.
Mexico continued to go all out and put England under siege. Jimenez had two glorious chances to tie the game before halftime. One shot went wide of the right post, and the other was denied by Pickford.
Mexican captain Cesar Montes nearly scored a tap-in from the corner kick, but Bellingham was there to make a massive block on the line. This game was living up to the hype.
The second half was even more bonkers.
Nico O’Reilly nearly scored a screamer to put England up by two. The right post had other ideas.
Soon after, England saw red. Jarrel Quansah got his studs up on one of the Mexican players. It wasn’t initially called a foul, but after a quick VAR check, the referee sent Quansah to the locker room. Mexico had a golden opportunity.
Instead of taking it, they made it harder. Rangal gave away a foolish penalty as he took down Anthony Gordon. Kane stepped up and made Rangal pay for his mistake. England were up by two despite being down to 10 men. Unreal.
Contrary to what the English commentator was saying at this time, England was not out of the woods yet. Mexico threw everything forward while England parked the bus.
Thomas Tuchel’s men clogged the box. At times, there were 10 men inside the box. Mexico were trying, and the Azteca crowd was urging them on. Quiñones, Jimenez, Alvarado, and substitutes Brian Gutierrez, Santiago Gimenez and Guillermo Martinez were trying to blast the ball past Pickford.
Mexico had a lifeline when Kane clipped a Mexican defender in the box. Jimenez then scored his seventh goal against Pickford.
At this point, England was parking the bus pro max. And they were doing a good job at it. Substitutes John Stones, Dan Burn and Djed Spence were immense with their blocks and tackles. Rice was also doing a great job holding the fort down.
It was interesting that Mexico were crossing the ball a lot against a team with a lot of height. They did have their chances, but they were either wide or Pickford rose to the challenge.
England bent, but they didn’t break. El Tri were out, and the Three Lions roared. It was a defensive masterclass by the English. Tuchel and each player deserve all the plaudits for winning like this in one of soccer’s most hostile environments.
England were through to the quarterfinals, and Wonderwall rang out.
Stat of the match
Heading into the game, many had England not winning against Mexico at the Azteca, but they proved their doubters wrong.
Masterclass of the day
Haaland. That’s all that needs to be said.
Disasterclass of the day
It looks like the football has left Casemiro. At least he’ll get to spend what is likely the rest of his career in MLS with Inter Miami.
Fan moment of the day
Now this was entertaining.
Meme of the day
Credit to Burn; his blocks were so crucial. If that is all the minutes he plays at the World Cup, it was a huge help for England.
WTF of the day
Something, something corruption.
Wrap-up
England and Norway will meet in the quarterfinals at Miami Stadium on Saturday, June 11.
The World Cup continues on Monday. It begins with an enticing matchup. Cristiano Ronaldo (who revealed this will be his last World Cup) and Portugal take on Lamine Yamal and Spain at Dallas Stadium. Kickoff is at 12:00 pm Pacific.
Then at 5:00 pm Pacific from Seattle Stadium, no longer suspended Folarin Balogun and the USA take on Romelu Lukaku and Belgium.
Could these games be classics? We shall see.
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