We have reached the knockout stages of the Fairer World Cup – the tournament where players represented the weakest national teams they are eligible for.
Now that the Group Stage has concluded, several world-class superstars – like Paulo Dybala, N’Golo Kanté, Virgil van Dijk and Ben Brereton Díaz – have already left the tournament and returned to their clubs. Of course, others like Kylian Mbappé never even made it to North America, so they’ll at least be grateful that they got the chance.
So now we’re down to the last 32. No more worrying about 3rd-place permutations or using quantum computers to figure out who your next opponent will be. The path to the Final has now been clearly mapped out – and from hereon in, if you lose just one match, you must turn around and go home. (Then again, your opponents might be disqualified, and you might be given another chance to go all the way, like Luton Town in the EFL Trophy.)
The first knockout round – Round 2 – will be split across two separate posts. In this chapter, the three co-hosts all resume their World Cup campaigns, along with Brazil, Jamaica and the Republic of Ireland.
ROUND 2 DRAW
We’ve got some real humdingers to kick off the knockout phase. Italy’s reward for topping Group J – the so-called ‘Group of Death’ – is to play their old tournament rivals Germany. Brazil vs the Netherlands also looks like a blockbuster, even if the Dutch team isn’t quite as stellar as it used to be.
The three co-hosts have all been given tricky but winnable ties – the United States take on Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Canada face off with Paraguay, and Mexico do battle with the Republic of Ireland. Incidentally, because of some good old impeccable FM logic, none of the hosts are actually playing in their home nations.
There are two all-African ties, as Nigeria’s dream team take on DR Congo’s attacking powerhouses, while Angola’s comeback kings are up against Algeria’s great entertainers. Holders Argentina continue their defence against Senegal, and another top team will fall when Uruguay and Spain cross swords.
Costa Rica vs England is a repeat of a 2014 World Cup group game that was once infamously described as “a match that happened”. And after their fairytale finale to the Group Stage, Thailand face the unenviable task of trying to stop the Jamaica juggernaut.
So… who will make it through to the sweet sixteen, and who will be sent packing (hopefully without ICE getting on their backs)? It’s time to find out…
TÜRKIYE vs CROATIA
(25 June – Houston)
The knockout rounds began with a rematch of a crazy Euro 2008 Quarter Final. 18 years later, Luka Modrić was STILL in the Croatia squad – still helping his team create plenty of attacking opportunities. Perhaps the best of them fell to Domagoj Bukvić, who was thwarted by Türkiye keeper Uğurcan Çakır just before half-time.
Though there were no goals in the first half, there was a sense that this would be a slow-burning battle. Türkiye steadily turned up the heat, with substitute midfielder Orkun Kökçü smashing the post before his 61st-minute through-ball set up the breakthrough goal for Deniz Gül.
Croatia were now battling for their lives, with a brilliant long-range effort from right-back Josip Juranović almost – but not quite – beating Çakır late on. Unfortunately, the Vatreni could not break down a stubborn Turkish backline, and so Modrić’s stellar career ended in heartbreak. Türkiye took a 1-0 win, and the first ticket to the Last 16!
IVORY COAST vs AUSTRIA
(25 June – Atlanta)
Austria were delighted to welcome back their attacking midfield talisman Christoph Baumgartner, even if he wasn’t quite fully fit after injury. Die Burschen certainly showed greater endeavour than their opponents in the first half, but Nicolas Seiwald had a couple of close-range chances saved by Guillaume Restes. Centre-back Ousmane Diomande also defended well for the Ivory Coast to keep the deadlock intact.
The momentum shifted towards the Ivory Coast in the second half Simon Adingra and Moise Kean each had shots saved by Austrian goalie Alexander Schlager. Baumgartner even had to go back and block a shot before he got a much-needed rest.
Eventually, after 76 minutes, Serge Gnabry’s corner helped Les Éléphants to take control of the game. Schlager could only tip Diomande’s header on to midfielder Manu Koné, who toe-poked in the follow-up. Though Austria pushed hard for a leveller, the Ivory Coast shut them down superbly and advanced as 1-0 winners.
BRAZIL vs NETHERLANDS
(25 June – Inglewood)
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman made a huge gamble before kick-off by dropping his regular goalkeeper – Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen – and giving a chance to the less experienced Kjell Scherpen (who, incidentally, was also on Brighton’s books). Scherpen held his nerve to stop a couple of dangerous efforts from Richarlison and Danilo, but Brazil’s attacks generally left plenty to be desired.
The Dutch weren’t too hot on the attacking front either – their first five shots all failing to hit the target. Jason van Duiven did technically find the net late in the first half, but the striker was offside from Frenkie de Jong’s through-ball, so the deadlock remained intact at half-time.
A careless pass from Oranje defender Matthijs de Ligt gave Brazil a great chance on 58 minutes. Neymar cut it out and played in André, whose fierce drive was heroically pushed behind by Scherpen. The Brazilians survived a major scare of their own later on when Joel Veltman’s deflected shot hit their post. With the match still goalless after 90 minutes, extra-time loomed.
As Brazil tired and faded in extra-time, the Netherlands grew stronger, and midfielder Joey Veerman eventually found a way past Alisson in the 100th minute (it was his first goal in 24 caps, naturally). Two minutes later, though, Scherpen made a howler that gave Douglas Luiz the perfect opportunity to immediately draw the Seleção level…
Deary me. Alisha Lehmann would not be impressed.
Joelinton followed that up with an equally terrible miss, and Vitor Roque had a potential equaliser disallowed by VAR, as Brazil’s dreams of a sixth World Cup turned to dust. The Netherlands scraped through, 1-0.
PARAGUAY vs CANADA
(25 June – Dallas)
“Hey, Christopher! Show me a highlight that sums up the FM24 match engine!” Sure, reader.
Paraguay defenders Julio César Soler and Omar Alderete were lucky that their collective head farts had not given Marcelo Flores an early goal for Canada. However, the Canucks did not get away with some poor defending of their own in the 25th minute, allowing Albirroja striker (and part-time Viking) Isidro Pitta to hammer in the opener.
Three minutes into the second half, Bryan came to Canada’s rescue. No, not Adams. Cristante drove in this absolute beauty to delight a raucous Canadian home crowd in… ahem, Texas.
The former Italian stallion almost blasted in another similar goal a few minutes later, but a tense and tight match would finish 1-1 after 90 minutes. Extra-time would also fail to produce a decisive moment, though Paraguay went close a few times. The Fairer World Cup now faced its first penalty shoot-out.
After four perfect kicks each, it all came down to sudden death. Adam Bareiro confidently scored La Albirroja’s fifth penalty, Ferdi Kadıoğlu stepped forward to try and save the co-hosts…
…but he fired straight at Carlos Coronel. Paraguay won 5-4 on penalties, and Canada were kicked out of their own party. At least they’ll always have the Olympic ice hocke… er…
EGYPT vs UNITED STATES
(26 June – Monterrey)
South of the border, the United States dominated the first half against Egypt, but their forwards couldn’t turn that dominance into a lead. Josh Sargent twisted his ankle in the opening stages, shortly before Esequiel Barco put a couple of half-chances wide.
As the USA’s struggles continued in the second half, an impatient Gregg Berhalter eventually morphed into Mike Bassett and switched to a 4-4-2. With Egypt packing the middle, that only served to hand the momentum to the Pharaohs. They got a firm warning in the 78th minute, when Zizo’s rebound volley from a blocked free-kick needed a brilliant reflex save from American keeper Maarten Paes.
It was a warning the USA did not heed. In the 92nd minute, with extra-time looming, Egypt wing-back Ahmed Aboul Fotouh broke into the penalty area and slid the ball across to Ibrahim Adel, who outmuscled Cameron Carter-Vickers to stroke in a devastating blow. The North Africans had stolen a 1-0 win, and the President… well, you can probably imagine how he reacted.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs MEXICO
(26 June – Philadelphia)
That left Mexico as the last co-hosts standing, but they would face a hostile reception from Philly’s large Irish-American community. Nonetheless, they gave Caoimhin Kelleher and Ireland’s defence a few scares in the first half, with their creative left-wing number 6 César Huerta particularly unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.
Another Mexican attacking midfielder had better luck 10 minutes into the second half. Luka Romero broke away from the Irish backline and coolly finish Luis Chávez’s free-kick. El Tri were ahead… for exactly 58 seconds, until Evan Ferguson instantly drew the Republic of Ireland level!
The fighting Irish had shown plenty of tenacity of late, and their brilliant comeback was completed by Jude… no, wait, Jobe Bellingham in the 74th minute. However, they almost handed Mexico an instant equaliser of their own when defender Nathan Collins cheaply gave the ball away to Alexis Vega. Luckily, the Mexican striker was taken by surprise and could only fire wide.
Vega finally struck gold early in stoppage time, stabbing in a square pass from strike partner José Juan Macías. Ireland called for offside, just as they did when an earlier strike from Luis Romo was disallowed… but this time, VAR ruled in Mexico’s favour. The co-hosts had taken the game to extra-time, but they would have to play the next 30 minutes a player light after left-back Alonso Aceves sprained his ankle.
Ireland couldn’t take advantage in extra-time, so the scoreline remained 2-2, and penalties beckoned. A high-quality shoot-out went to sudden death, where Festy Ebosele finally sent the Irish through 8-7 after Kelleher saved Julián Araujo’s spot-kick. Just hours after the USA had been eliminated on Mexican soil, the Mexicans had also fallen in American territory!
THAILAND vs JAMAICA
(26 June – Mexico City)
Jamaica almost took the lead inside the first 10 minutes, when Cameron Archer’s header bounced off the underside of the bar and somehow stayed out. Just four minutes later, though, Thailand threatened to cause another upset when Ekanit Panya stroked a cool finish past a stunned Jeadine White in the Reggae Boyz’s goal!
Incredibly, Chanathip Songkrasin almost made it 2-0 Thailand midway through the first half, but Jamaica left-back Tyrick Mitchell blocked his shot off the line. That would be a turning point, as Ruell Walters headed Kalvin Phillips’ corner into the net to level the scores before half-time.
Despite losing their lead, Thailand remained resilient after the break. After the War Elephants survived an offside goal from Archer, Sivakorn Tiatrakul – a 31-year-old winger who’d never played outside his homeland – gave Thailand a 2-1 lead with just eight minutes remaining!
BUT WAIT! In the very last second of the very last minute of stoppage time, Jamaica’s big centre-half Damion Lowe leapt up to break Thai hearts and take the game to extra-time!
Thailand had nothing more to give. Once left-back Kevin Deeromram came off injured, it was only a matter of when Jamaica went 3-2 up. That moment came in the 107th minute, when Demarai Gray’s shot deflected in off Jakkapong Chawna – the talented 18-year-old newgen centre-back who was about to sign for Manchester United. That was surely the end of the Thai fairytale…
…until Weerathep Pomphan did this four minutes from time, making it 3-3 and taking the match to spot-kicks! As if that wasn’t incredible enough, Chawna went from zero to hero in sudden death – scoring his penalty after Joel Latibeaudiere had missed his! Jamaica were OUT, and Thailand were through another round!
MOROCCO vs COLOMBIA
(26 June – East Rutherford)
Things weren’t quite so hectic in New Jersey, but there was plenty of goalmouth action at both ends. After Colombia keeper Kevin Mier withstood a couple of early Moroccan efforts, Luis Díaz won a penalty at the other end when he was pushed by Noussair Mazraoui. Mateus Uribe placed it firmly into the top corner, and Los Cafeteros led 1-0 three minutes before half-time.
Morocco had to do plenty of work after the break to prevent Colombia going further ahead. Luis Suárez almost did that after a clever one-two with winger Diego Valoyes, but the Feyenoord striker’s shot was caught by Reda Tagnaouti.
It didn’t matter in the end. Morocco strung together some good counter-attacks, but none of them could find a way past Mier, and so it finished 1-0 Colombia. Their second consecutive win over North African opposition had been far less stressful than their first.
Can you believe it? Brazil and the three co-hosts have all been knocked out, and yet Thailand are still going strong!
This series resumes on Wednesday with the eight remaining matches in Round 2, including Italy vs Germany. Until then, let’s have a quick browse around social media…
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