France: 4, Norway: 1
An interesting strategy was played by the Norwegians, resting their top players, already clinched a spot in the knockouts, not wanting to risk injury in a game they were going to have a tough time with. The path for first and second in Group I were similar in strength, playing either Brazil or Germany in the Round of 16.
Right winger Ousmane Dembele took advantage of the Norwegian backups right away, curing a ball in with his right foot. A few minutes later, he used his left foot for his second goal. Dembele is one of the few both footed players, and he grabbed a hat trick in the 32nd minute.
Central midfielder Thelo Aasgaard scored his first goal of the tournament to give Norway something to smile about. Left winger Desire Doue also grabbed a goal to give France their fourth.
Norway is prioritizing their future tournament chances with this result, and France had fun with it. The Norwegians will play Ivory Coast in the Round of 32, and the French are projected to play Sweden.
Player of the Match: Ousmane Dembele (PSG)
Senegal: 5, Iraq: 0
Senegal’s big game, getting their first point and win of the tournament, and qualifying for the knockouts as one of the third placed teams.
The rout started in the fourth minute, when central midfielder Habib Diarra scored. It wasn’t until the second half when the goals started flooding in, but striker Ismaila Sarr continued his great tournament with a goal in the 56th minute.
Substitute Pape Gueye was brought on after Sarr’s goal, and he scored in the 59th minute and the 71st minute. He also assisted substitute Iliman Ndiaye’s goal in the 82nd minute.
A result Senegal had to have, ensuring their spot in the knockouts. They are projected to play England, a game that they could match up well in. The win for the Senegalese also knocked Scotland out of the tournament.
Player of the Match: Pape Gueye (Pape Gueye)
Cape Verde: 0, Saudi Arabia: 0
Cape Verde’s Cinderella run will continue to the knockouts, becoming the second lowest FIFA ranked team to qualify for the knockout phase.
It’s their second goalless draw of the group stage, and they managed to draw every match they played. Goalkeeper Vozinha was key again in his meteoric rise to fame after his performance against Spain, making 3 important saves.
Not only did Cape Verde make the knockout round, but thanks to Uruguay’s disastrous tournament, they finished second in Group H. The run may end there, playing against Argentina in the Round of 32.
Player of the Match: Vozinha (Chaves)
Spain: 1, Uruguay: 0
Spain will move on after winning Group H, but the group stage collapse for Uruguay is the big story.
The only goal came in the 42nd minute, a good strike from left winger Alex Baena. There were only 2 shots on target combined from the two teams. Spain weren’t excellent, and they haven’t been excellent all tournament, but they did more than enough to continue their quest for a second World Cup.
Uruguay are the first former world champions to be knocked out of this World Cup, having a tiny island nation off the coast of Africa qualify in front of them. They only finished with 2 points, not enough to make it as one of the third placed nations.
Player of the Match: Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Egypt: 1, Iran: 1
Egypt scored right away in the fifth minute when defensive midfielder Mahmoud Saber slid in a ball that was originally punched away by the Iranian goalkeeper.
Iran didn’t wait long to tie it up, right back Ramin Rezaeian, who has been one of Iran’s most important players at both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, also scored on a rebound to even things at 1 goal a piece.
Iran couldn’t lose this game, and needed a goal to feel good about themselves. Egypt was likely already through regardless of this result, but were still in a position to win the group.
Fast forward to second half stoppage time, the final chances of the match. Iran found the winner, it was centre back Shoja Khalilzadeh who scored it, but after a long review, the goal was ruled out for offside, and the game ended in a draw.
Egypt are through to the knockouts, where their first game will be against Australia. Iran will have to wait for the final day of the group stage to see if they will make it.
Player of the Match: Ramin Rezaeian (Esteghlal)
Belgium: 5, New Zealand: 1
A much better result for Belgium, and after all their struggles in the previous matches, they won Group G.
Left winger Leandro Trossard scored the first 2 goals for the Red Devils in the 28th and 50th minutes, his first goals of the tournament. In the 66th minute, attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne made it 3-0.
New Zealand left winger Elijah Just scored his third of the World Cup to get one back, but that would be the end of the scoring for All Whites.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku subbed on in the 85th minute and scored in the 86th minute, and substitute Alexis Saelemaekers made it 5-1 late in second half stoppage time.
Belgium looked like the team that they were supposed to be against New Zealand. They are projected to play South Korea in the Round of 32, and it would set up a potentially Round of 16 game against the United States.
Player of the Match: Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)