World Cup 2022 and the Battle between Confederations

I just add: For me teams like Australia, Poland, South Korea were just happy to make it out of the group phase. If the had decent opponents they would have wanted more, but I doubt they really believed they could win. The other matchups are different because the team believes they have what it takes.

 

Actually felt for 45 minutes Poland today tried to play football, but as soon France scored and with more space to run for Mbappe it was goodbye.

 

Australia also tried and were actually closest so far to an upset!

Poland and Senegal both gave up today after going 2:0 down. Senegal mentally never recovered from the end of first half. Especially second Senegal goal was easily preventable.

 

FIFA Points Ranking after 52 games.
If 2 points per win and 1 point per draw were given.

CONMEBOL: 16/4 = 4.00
UEFA: 47/13 = 3.62
CAF: 17/5 = 3.40
AFC: 15/6 = 2.50
CONCACAF: 9/4 = 2.25

 

CONMEBOL 2/2 to quarters

 

To be fair CONMEBOL got 2 of the 3 weakest teams to make it out of the group.

 

Let's face it even the FIFA rankings who sometimes don't tell the whole truth matchup with Brazil or Argentina on the last 8. It's not a big deal.

 

FIFA Points Ranking after 54 games.
If 2 points per win and 1 point per draw were given.

CONMEBOL: 18/4 = 4.50
UEFA: 48/13 = 3.69
CAF: 17/5 = 3.40
AFC: 16/6 = 2.67
CONCACAF: 9/4 = 2.25

 

Yet CONMEBOL's decline has become pretty much evident.

 

Argentina and Brazil are always expected to make at least the final 8. Any less would be a failure by their books.

 

But how could they be expected to make it this time around? They weren’t “tested” in the qualifiers…

 

Theoretically, 4 teams of the same confederation can be eliminated in group phase with 6 points each, thus achieving a 6.00 ranking.

How does UEFA earn full average points when 50% of QFs are between UEFA teams?

 

The same qualifiers that both ARG and BRA refused to play so each could artificially extend their undefeated runs?

That worked like a charm for ARG by the way.

 

Where are those who said the quarter finals will be all UEFA and Conmebol ?

I called this one too.

 

I hoped for Senegal, but they were too battered heading into it, but this is the match up I felt would go for CAF.

 

Many landmarks past for Africa.

1.First African team to win group with 7 points. (Most points ever)
2. First time 2 2nd rounds along with a quarter final appearance.
3. First time all African teams won a game
4. Brazil, France, (former champs) beaten by African team,
5. First time Africa beat a big team in the knockout rounds (joining only S. Korea among ROW teams)
6. First time nobody has scored on African team (First round and 2nd round)

 

is not that easy to get to quarters, even when you are favourite. This was proven today.

 

Sure, but everyone expects them to a) win their group, b) get a relatively easy opponent in the 1/8 final. They did both, albeit Argentina struggled more.

 

Could've really been 2 non-Euro/South American teams if not for a coin toss skills competition. I'm glad one of the coin tosses went against Europe vs ROW for once...

Morocco gonna need every bit of their impressive defensive acumen against this Portuguese side. Hope they can stifle them on Saturday...

 

To be honest though neither penalties in the 1/8 final were a coin toss. One side was head and shoulders over the other in the shoot out.

9 times out of 10 Morocco and Croatia win those shootouts.

 

Penalties virtually only way this particular Morocco team beats Spain.

 

Group phase, 2022 WC: CAN 1 - MAR 2

Congrats to Morocco. It was about time that a CAF team progressed in knockout rounds.

Imagine if 2030 WC were hosted in Africa, with this level of competitive CAF teams.

 

Given all the support they received, Qatar is probably a better venue for Morocco and other North African teams than a sub-Saharan location would be. It's really too bad for Algeria they fell short at the very last qualifying moment.

 

Nobody scored on them. That was an own goal.