Elimination round

 

After what surely must have been most of the games of the tournament, we have eliminated barely more than a quarter of the teams. But we knew that going in, and most of us are not disappointed. After all, it not only means that most of the teams any of us were cheering for across the world are still here, still with their shot, but also now we are well and truly settled in, easily and calmly adjusted to the turmoil and passions and disappointments of the tournament.

What tournament?

Oh, The World Cup. 

I guess I haven't mentioned it for a couple of days... and you... forgot.

Yes, it is still going on.

It is just a scant few weeks more.

Okay, we'll see you then, though at that point we may be talking about the Tour De France.

Ah, still with me, great. So here's what happened.

Turkiye and South Korea are out.

Yeah, that's about it. There were a couple of pleasant surprises about who made it through despite negative expectations, what with their gritty play, and defensive cohesiveness, but...

I've already almost forgotten their names.

Sorry, it was great while it lasted. And who knows, maybe DR Congo can pull off some sort of bizarre miracle against England, but I am afraid these little cinderella teams are already playing on borrowed time...

And, and! I have another advanced and controversial soccer proposition for you:

The glorified midfields mean nothing and the stars mean everything. 

This may seem obvious, as people tend to obsess about the skills of the stars in all sports. But there is a very strong contingent in soccer fandom and futbol analysis, that is inclined to elevate the strong team play and brilliant midfield control to the level of a deciding factor in games. And I am not saying they are wrong. Going forward, that may be exactly the case, but in the group play we have seen, the much vaunted midfields and team play of countries like Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands looked a little uncompelling through the qualifying period, whereas the star scorers; Messi, Dembele, Mpappe, Kane, Haaland, and Vinicius Jr. were everything that screamed the terror, inevitability, and capability these giant teams bring to the tournament going forward.

This is no prediction. It may all flip on its head going forward. Keep an eye on the early elimination round of 32 game between Japan and Brazil. If Japan can pull that one out it may mark the turning of the tide in this trend.

Or it may not.

But this is all just the cold analysis. Here comes the hard part:

I just didn't to feel too bad about the scant few teams going home after the group stage. I mean, they had their chance. But now we are on the immediate eliminations. One game and you lose forever. I think we might be at the phase of the tournament where I am the most sad for all the many many countries who will be falling like flies.

So far, for me this is based on but one single game of this new phase, but there it is: Goodbye, dear South Africa. 

Um.

You tried.