Knockout Stage
In the knockout stage, the 16 teams that advanced through the group stage meet in each match to eliminate. The number of teams halves in each round, and the World Cup holder is decided after winning 4 games.
All 32 teams qualified for the World Cup 2022 finals (More details)
Table of contents
Round 16
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
3rd place play-off
Final
Author:
Round 16
The teams that made it to the round of 16 were spread across continents: 8 countries from Europe, 2 from South America, 3 from Asia, 2 from Africa, and 1 from North, Central American and Caribbean. Although it is conceivable that their capabilities are becoming closer, it can be said that the countries on the continent where the tournament was held were aroused. Hosts Qatar were eliminated, but the rest of the Asian nations put up good matches.
The matches were won in the 90 minutes by the Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, England, France and Portugal. On the other hand, 2 games (Japan 1-1 Croatia, Morocco 0-0 Spain) saw no goals in extra time and were decided in penalty shoot-outs. Morocco made it to the last 8 for the first time in their history, but Japan did not advance to their first-ever quarterfinals.
Morocco, undefeated from the African qualifiers, achieved a giant-killing against the powerhouse Spain. This match was arguably the biggest upset of the Round of 16.
03/12/2022.
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 44,846
Netherlands (Winners Group A) 3–1 USA (Runners-up Group B)
Goal:
10′ (Netherlands) Memphis Depay
45+1′ (Netherlands) Daley Blind
76′ (USA) Haji Wright
81′ (Netherlands) Denzel Dumfries
03/12/2022.
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Attendance: 45,032
Argentina (Winners Group C) 2–1 Australia (Runners-up Group D)
Goal:
35′ (Argentina) Lionel Messi
57′ (Argentina) Julián Álvarez
77′ (Argentina) Enzo Fernández (og)
05/12/2022.
Al Wakrah, Qatar
Al Janoub Stadium
Attendance: 42,523
Japan (Winners Group E) 1–1 Croatia (Runners-up Group F) (PK: Japan 1–3 Croatia)
Goal:
43′ (Japan) Daizen Maeda
55′ (Croatia) Ivan Perisic
05/12/2022.
Lusail, Qatar
Stadium 974, Doha
Attendance: 43,847
Brazil (Winners Group G) 4–0 South Korea (Runners-up Group H)
Goal:
7′ (Brazil) Vinícius Júnior
13′ (Brazil) Neymar (pk)
30′ (Brazil) Richarlison
36′ (Brazil) Lucas Paquetá
76′ (South Korea) Seung-ho Paik
04/12/2022.
Al Khor, Qatar
Al Bayt Stadium
Attendance: 65,985
England (Winners Group B) 3–0 Senegal (Runners-up Group A)
Goal:
39′ (England) Jordan Henderson
45+3′ (England) Harry Kane
57′ (England) Bukayo Saka
04/12/2022.
Doha, Qatar
Al Thumama Stadium
Attendance: 40,989
France (Winners Group D) 3–1 Poland (Runners-up Group C)
Goal:
44′ (France) Olivier Giroud
74′ (France) Kylian Mbappé
90+1′ (France) Kylian Mbappé
90+9′ (Poland) Robert Lewandowski
06/12/2022.
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Education City Stadium
Attendance: 44,667
Morocco (Winners Group F) 0–0 Spain (Runners-up Group E) (PK: Morocco 3–0 Spain)
Goal:
06/12/2022.
Lusail, Qatar
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Attendance: 83,720
Portugal (Winners Group H) 6–1 Switzerland (Runners-up Group G)
Goal:
17′ (Portugal) Gonçalo Ramos
33′ (Portugal) Pepe
51′ (Portugal) Gonçalo Ramos
54′ (Portugal) Raphaël Guerreiro
58′ (Switzerland) Manuel Akanji
67′ (Portugal) Gonçalo Ramos
90+2′ (Portugal) Rafael Leão
Quarter-finals
In the quarter-finals, 2 of the 4 matches ended in penalty shoot-outs after extra time. The remaining 2 games were decided by 1 goal difference. These results indicate that those were matches between teams with very close capacities.
Morocco became the first African team to reach the semi-finals. However, it is not a surprise, but a great triumph backed by abilities. Players with high physicality systematically formed a solid defence and made the powerhouses suffer.
The Netherlands, who allowed a 2-goal lead, caught up just before the end of the game, but Argentina was a notch above in game management.
Croatia vs Brazil is like a final match. Croatia went into extra time for the second straight game, but they showed incredible tenacity and won on a penalty shoot-out.
09/12/2022.
Lusail, Qatar
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Attendance: 88,235
Netherlands 2–2 Argentina (PK: Netherlands 3–4 Argentina)
Goal:
35′ (Argentina) Nahuel Molina
73′ (Argentina) Lionel Messi (pk)
83′ (Netherlands) Wout Weghorst
90+11′ (Netherlands) Wout Weghorst
09/12/2022.
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Education City Stadium
Attendance: 43,893
Croatia 1–1 Brazil (PK: Croatia 4–2 Brazil)
Goal:
105′ (Brazil) Neymar
117′ (Croatia) Bruno Petković
10/12/2022.
Al Khor, Qatar
Al Bayt Stadium
Attendance: 68,895
England 1–2 France
Goal:
42′ (Morocco) Youssef En-Nesyri
54′ (England) Harry Kane (pk)
78′ (France) Olivier Giroud
10/12/2022.
Doha, Qatar
Al Thumama Stadium
Attendance: 44,198
Morocco 1–0 Portugal
Goal:
TBC
Semi-finals
In contrast to the quarter-finals, the 2 semi-final matches saw some goal differences. Defeated Croatia and Morocco were unable to score goals. Argentina and France, 2 former World Cup winners, advanced to the final.
13/12/2022.
Lusail, Qatar
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Attendance: 88,966
Argentina 3–0 Croatia
Goal:
34′ (Argentina) Lionel Messi (pk)
39′ (Argentina) Julián Álvarez
69′ (Argentina) Julián Álvarez
14/12/2022.
Al Khor, Qatar
Al Bayt Stadium
Attendance: TBC
France 2–0 Morocco
Goal:
5′ (France) Theo Hernandez
79′ (France) Randal Kolo Muani
3rd place play-off
Both teams scored early, but Croatia, who played the game better, won in the end and finished 3rd. Morocco, who finished 4th, are the best-placed African team in World Cup history.
17/12/2022.
Al Rayyan, Qatar
Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 44,137
Croatia 2–1 Morocco
Goal:
7′ (Croatia) Joško Gvardiol
9′ (Morocco) Achraf Dari
42′ (Croatia) Mislav Oršić
Final
Argentina took the initiative from the start of the match and led by 2 goals. France had no shots in the first half and could not find their rhythm, but Kylian Mbappé scored consecutive goals in the 80th and 81st minutes and they started to grab the pace. In extra time, Argentina recovered their form and scored the 3rd goal, but France caught up with tenacity and the match was decided in a penalty shoot-out. As a result, Argentina became the champions and France became the runners-up. Kylian Mbappé had saved France again and again, scoring a hat-trick, but couldn’t to win the match.
18/12/2022.
Lusail, Qatar
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Attendance: 88,966
Argentina 3–3 France (PK: Argentina 4–2 France)
Goal:
23′ (Argentina) Lionel Messi (pk)
36′ (Argentina) Ángel Di María
80′ (France) Kylian Mbappé (pk)
81′ (France) Kylian Mbappé
108′ (Argentina) Lionel Messi
118′ (France) Kylian Mbappé (pk)
Player Of The Match: Lionel Messi
Author: Takuya Nagata. Amazon Profile
Follow @nagatackleNovel writer, Creator. Travelled to Brazil and trained football at CFZ do Rio (Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva) in Rio de Janeiro. Played soccer for the Urawa Reds (Urawa Red Diamonds), one of the biggest football clubs in Japan, and toured Europe. Retired at a young age and voyaged alone to England and graduated from UCA, the UK’s university. Established careers as a journalist, football coach, consultant, etc. across Europe such as Spain. Knowledgeable in creative and technology fields as well. Launched “MINIЯISM” (minirism), the art movement that contributes to the development of societies and the knowledge hub “The Minimalist.” The founder of “Propulsive Football” (PROBALL), the world’s first-ever competitive mixed football, facilitating diversity and spirit for equal participation in society. Also writing for “Football Game Sphere.”
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