TOI appears again on the roller-coaster adventure alongside 62 suits…
MOROCCO’S MAGICAL JOURNEY: The Atlas Lions roared in a statement-making taste, turning into the primary Arab and African nation to succeed in the World Cup semifinals. Their adventure noticed them get the simpler of 3 European powerhouses (Belgium, Spain and Portugal) earlier than their 0-2 loss to France within the last-4 level. Their trainer Walid ‘Avocado Man’ Regragui become the primary Arab supervisor to steer a staff to the knockout rounds. Interestingly, Morocco didn’t concede a purpose to an opposition participant till their defeat within the semifinal.
CR7 LEAVES WITH A MIXED LEGACY: When Cristiano Ronaldo transformed a penalty in Portugal’s crew level conflict with Ghana, he become the primary guy to attain at 5 World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022). However, having began at the bench within the Round of 16 (vs Switzerland) and within the quarterfinal (vs Morocco), Ronaldo, the best-ever main scorer (118 objectives) in males’s global soccer, bowed out failing to attain in all 8 of his knockout level appearances on the World Cup (together with Portugal’s 3rd position play-off in 2006).
SPAIN’S PAIN: When it involves penalty shootouts, Spain have the worst listing in World Cup historical past. Out of the 5 such circumstances, they’ve misplaced 4 penalty shootouts, the primary country to take action. England and Italy have misplaced thrice. La Roja’s simplest win in a shootout got here towards the Republic of Ireland in 2002.
neymar equals pelle BUT BRAZIL’S WAIT CONTINUES: Neymar equaled Pele’s listing of 77 objectives for Brazil however his purpose towards Croatia was once no longer sufficient because the five-time champions crashed out within the quarterfinals following a penalty shootout heartbreak. Neymar did not have his likelihood at a shot within the shootout. Earlier, he become the 3rd Brazilian participant to attain in 3 other editions of the World Cup, along side Ronaldo and Pele. But, identical to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it might be the tip of an generation if Neymar makes a decision to not play for Brazil once more.
IT’S NOT COMING HOME: England completed as crew toppers for the primary time in a World Cup since 2006. Gareth Southgate’s aspect, then again, noticed their marketing campaign come to an finish with a 1–2 loss to France within the quarterfinals. England become the one staff to had been eradicated from the last-8 level seven occasions in World Cup historical past.
LEWA BREAKS DUCK: Robert Lewandowski was once in tears when he scored Poland’s 2d purpose within the 2–0 win over Saudi Arabia. This was once the 34-year-old Polish big name’s first purpose after going 5 World Cup video games with out scoring and lacking a penalty in his staff’s opening Group C recreation towards Mexico. He ended up netting house some other penalty within the Round of 16 however Poland misplaced 1–3 to France.
HAT-TRICK HERO: Portugal striker Goncalo Ramos scored the one hat-trick of the continuing Cup in Qatar thus far. The 21-year-old completed it when he scored 3 within the 6-1 win towards Switzerland in his first get started for the nationwide staff.
FAREWELL TO DUG-OUTS: With France and Argentina now left to battle for the name, the previous few days have noticed a number of coaches bid good-bye to the dug-out following the go out in their respective groups. The listing contains Tite (Brazil), Luis Enrique (Spain), Fernando Santos (Portugal), Louis van Gaal (Netherlands), R Martinez (Belgium), Tata Martino (Mexico), P Bento (South Korea) and Otto Addo (Ghana).
FRANCE BUCKS THE TREND: Didier Deschamps controlled France, the protecting champions, broke a contemporary jinx. In the previous 3 editions, the entire protecting champions crashed out within the crew level: Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018.
REFEREE FRAPPART BREAKS A GLASS CEILING: Stephanie Frappart become the primary girl to take price of a males’s World Cup fit when Germany confronted Costa Rica on December 1. The 38-year-old Frenchwoman was once the fourth reputable all through the sooner recreation between Mexico and Poland.
GERMANY’S WOES: Germany suffered a 2d successive World Cup humiliation after being eradicated on the crew level in Qatar, 4 years after assembly the similar destiny in Russia. They began with a 1-2 loss to Japan, controlled to carry Spain 1-1 and ultimately crashed out regardless of beating Costa Rica within the ultimate crew fit.