We’re now at the business end of the Fairer World Cup, with just eight teams remaining in the hunt to lift the trophy in Atlanta on 19 July.
Last time out, it was the Last 16. We said a fond farewell to plucky underdogs Thailand… and a rather less fonder farewell to England, who were never any better than mediocre at this tournament. At least some things never change.
But what about the eight teams who have survived? In today’s chapter, we will whittle them down to just two, with the Quarter Finals to be followed immediately by the Semi Finals. Can Argentina move a step closer towards retaining their title, or will a new champion be crowned?
QUARTER FINALS
40 teams have departed from this World Cup, and now we’re down to an elite eight. The Quarter Final draw has thrown together a couple of titanic clashes, an intriguing battle of the dark horses… and one tie that NOBODY could have seen coming.
So let’s start with that one. Egypt wiped out Colombia to prolong their best ever World Cup campaign, and the Pharaohs must now face another CONMEBOL team. Paraguay really have lucked out at this tournament – sneaking through 3rd in their group, then beating Canada on penalties, before taking advantage of a Dutch capitulation. La Albirroja can’t possibly keep this going… can they?
If they can, a monumental challenge awaits in the Semi Finals. Argentina and Spain were always destined to meet each other, and now the free-scoring holders – headed by the brilliant Julián Álvarez – will put their crown on the line against the bookies’ favourites. Maybe the Spaniards will finally bring a 39-year-old Lionel Messi off the bench to make an emotional farewell against his homeland?
In the top half, another mouth-watering tie sees a resurgent Germany take on a Nigeria side featuring the likes of Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi. The Super Eagles won the World Cup in both of my test simulations… but having survived two gruelling knockout ties already, do they have enough energy left to outsmart an experienced German team?
Lastly, a great opportunity knocks for either Türkiye or the Republic of Ireland. Joachim Löw’s Turks showed incredible resilience to recover from 2-0 behind against the Ivory Coast in the last 16, while their opponents have steadily improved with each passing game. Harry Kane and his compatriots have already outlasted England, but will Irish eyes still be smiling after this match?
PARAGUAY vs EGYPT
(7 July – Dallas)
A golden ticket to the World Cup Semi Finals awaited one of these unfancied nations. Egypt looked more comfortable on the ball and fashioned some early scoring chances. The best of them perhaps came from the impressive Ibrahim Adel in the 12th minute. Adel’s piledriver was tipped behind by Juan Espínola, who had ousted the shaky Carlos Coronel in Paraguay’s goal.
Mind you, Paraguay hadn’t made it to the Quarters solely by luck. They were also a great counter-attacking team, as they showed six minutes later. Argentine-born midfield playmaker Franco Cristaldo played an impeccable through-ball to Brentford forward Antonio Sanabria, who raced away and fired in the opening goal!
Egypt pushed hard for an equaliser later in the first half, but they struggled to get part the central defensive rock that was Gustavo Gómez. The Pharaohs eventually had to move their attacks out wide, with left wing-back Ahmed Aboul Fotouh forcing Espínola into a fingertip save in the 37th minute. Despite their best efforts, though, they still trailed Paraguay 1-0 at the break.
Whatever Ricardo La Volpe said to his Egyptian players during the interval, it must have inspired them. A strong start to the second period resulted in them drawing level on 60 minutes. Right wing-back Baher Elmohamady smartly played through the Paraguayan defence to find a certain Mohamed Salah, who brilliantly cut inside before driving a left-footer past Espínola! Salah’s sixth goal of the FWC made it 1-all!
Paraguay came close to restoring their lead almost immediately. Another of their Argentine stars – winger Alejandro Romero Gamarra – swung in a promising cross that Luis Amarilla headed just off target. There would be no repeat of Amarilla’s hat-trick in the last 16.
Romero Gamarra is nicknamed ‘Kaku’, presumably because he was a big fan of Bolton legend Blessing Kaku when he was growing up. He certainly blessed Sanabria with an even better left-wing delivery in the 65th minute. Sanabria broke free of his marker Mohamed Abdelmonem, and when keeper Mahmoud Gad fell over, he was left with a simple finish from a tight angle. Paraguay were leading again!
Egypt came from 2-1 behind against South American opposition in their last match, so this situation held no fears. However, their attackers were frequently outwitted by smart Paraguayan defenders catching them offside. Even veteran forward Trezeguet couldn’t make a difference off the bench, and when Espínola easily caught one last corner delivery from Salah, Egyptian dreams turned into sand.
Incredibly, the 7th-best team in the CONMEBOL qualifiers had made it to the final four of the World Cup! Paraguay had reached the Semi Finals for the first time, by 2 goals to 1!
TÜRKIYE vs REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
(7 July – Atlanta)
Having ruthlessly crushed Thailand in the last 16, the Republic of Ireland knew that this match would be a step up in difficulty. Ever-present goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was kept occupied by catching a couple of Turkish shots inside the first quarter-hour, even if none of them were particularly tricky.
At the other end, Jack Grealish and James Maddison missed Ireland’s first two shots at goal. After 19 minutes, it was third time lucky. Jobe Bellingham – starting with his elder brother Jude for the first time at this World Cup – played the deftest of headers to centre-half Andrew Omobamidele, whose half-volley beat Uğurcan Çakır to break the deadlock!
Seven minutes later, the other Bellingham got an assist of his own. Jude played in Maddison near the corner of Türkiye’s penalty area, and the Tottenham Hotspur winger rolled past the opposing left-back Rıdvan Yılmaz before smashing in a stunner. The Crescent-Stars would now need to pull out another comeback from two goals behind.
On paper, Türkiye’s midfield three of Emre Can, İlkay Gündoğan and Can Bozdogan should have been capable of overwhelming Ireland’s 4-2-4. Despite that, they were struggling to get much service to their wide attackers…
…until the 60th minute, when Can lifted a long ball over the Irish defence for Cengiz Ünder to volley in this spectacular goal! Türkiye were now only 2-1 down and right back in the game!
By this point, Ireland’s manager Lucien Favre had already substituted Jude Bellingham – presumably to rest him ahead of a Semi Final. That gamble looked like being a premature one as Türkiye grew more confident midway through the second half. Ünder almost drew them level with a 71st-minute free-kick that needed strong hands from Kelleher.
Türkiye continued to fight against the Boys in Green, even after their centre-back Çağlar Söyüncü picked up a knock. Their next big opportunity to level was in the 85th minute. Ünder was involved yet again, but his cross was met by a poor finish from Zeki Amdouni, who gave Kelleher a simple catch. Ünder’s frustrations were compounded when he also needed injury treatment just moments later.
With that wasted chance, the turkeys were doomed to a roasting, and Jogi Löw’s sweaty shirts were consigned to the laundry basket. The Republic of Ireland were into the Semis with a 2-1 win!
NIGERIA vs GERMANY
(8 July – Vancouver)
Nigeria were perhaps the pre-match favourites, not least because Germany had to do some pretty heavy squad rotation after a tiring Last 16 match with Norway. This included giving an international debut – in a World Cup Quarter Final! – to Freiburg’s 31-year-old stalwart forward Lucas Höler.
Another unheralded attacker given the chance to shine was Jonathan Burkardt, who set up a goalscoring chance for midfielder Angelo Stiller in the 10th minute. Nigeria’s German-born keeper Noah Atubolu managed to push that behind.
Seven minutes later, the Super Eagles started to pressure Germany and created their first meaningful attack. A volleyed cross from left-back Destiny Udogie found the head of Joshua Zirkzee, who got above makeshift centre-half to notch his first goal since the Group Stage!
Nigeria’s destiny was now in their hands, though Udogie was soon nursing a bruised ankle following a clash with Burkardt. By the 32nd minute, Burkardt himself was needing treatment for a bruised ego. Zirkzee beat him to a clearance from Goretzka before assisting Jamal Musiala – another of the German Nigerians – to double the Africans’ lead!
Despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, Thomas Tuchel felt little need to throw on more established German attackers just yet. Even after Bukayo Saka nearly made it 3-0 Nigeria in the 55th minute – denied only by Marc-André ter Stegen’s fingertips – the Mannschaft remained surprisingly calm. Five minutes later, however, he was anything but.
Four days after a poor header from Joshua Kimmich forced Germany to play extra-time against Norway, the captain made an even bigger mistake. Kimmich’s weak clearance allowed Alex Iwobi to take the ball and cross it low into the German box. The defenders couldn’t clear it and were soon hoisted by another of their own petards – Bavarian midfield magician Karim Adeyemi. Tuchel was now having a real Tommy Tantrum.
While Nigeria had undoubtedly benefitted from enjoying two days’ extra rest compared to Germany, they were also playing their best football of this World Cup. When German left-back Elias Baum failed to intercept a cross from Adeyemi in the 67th minute, Bukayo Saka punished him with an absolute bomb of a shot from a tight angle – quashing any last doubts over the outcome of this match.
Nigeria 4, Germany 0! Having stormed into the Semi Finals, the Super Eagles had proven that those two pre-tournament simulations were no flukes; they were truly the real deal!
ARGENTINA vs SPAIN
(8 July – Monterrey)
Spain’s head coach Imanol Alguacil disappointed fans and journos everywhere by naming Lionel Messi on the bench once again when they faced his beloved Argentina. Even with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo being rested, Alguacil still preferred to start Marco Asensio and Yeremy Pino in attack over Messi, who hadn’t seen a single minute’s play at this World Cup!
La Furia Roja got off to the worst possible start after seven minutes, when they were fooled by a crafty Albiceleste free-kick. The move ended with Argentina midfielder Exequiel Palacios stroking Lautaro Martínez’s deft first-time into the net, all while the Spanish keeper Unai Simón was left flat on his backside!
Simón at least kept himself upright to save further shots from Nahuel Molina and from Lautaro in the opening stages. However, his outfield team-mates could not stop Argentina effortlessly stroking the ball around them like… well, Spain in the 2010s. When Dylan Aquino was felled by a Spursy challenge from Pedro Porro in the 42nd minute, Alexis Mac Allister smashed the penalty into Simón’s top-left corner for 2-0.
Indeed, the champions even had enough time to get a third goal before the break. Aquino was involved once again – cutting the ball across for Matías Zaracho to hammer another nail into the Spanish coffin.
Mind you, Spain were much better in the 45 second after the interval than they were in the 45 minutes prior. When Pino drove in a brilliant long free-kick from left-back Miguel Gutiérrez to pull it back to 3-1, Argentina realised that they perhaps weren’t safe just yet.
This Spanish inquisition continued with striker Ferran Torres going close to making it 3-2, before Asensio’s 61st-minute free-kick forced Emiliano Martínez into his first save in the Argentina goal. Emi’s safe hands also got hold of a powerful header from centre-half Pau Torres six minutes later.
As Spanish hopes slowly dimmed, Alguacil sent for reinforcements – none of whom were named Leo. When he brought on Pedri as his final substitute, it became clear that Messi wouldn’t see any action at this tournament. So much for making him the face of the Fairer World Cup, eh?
After surviving one last burst of red fury from Mikel Oyarzábal, Argentina shut up shop and settled for a 3-1 win. Lionel Scaloni’s masterplan had seen off the pre-tournament favourites, and La Albiceleste were now two more wins away from retaining their crown!
SEMI FINALS
That leaves us with a final four – all of whom would now have serious designs on bringing the World Cup trophy home in their hand luggage.
Yes, even Paraguay could now dream of the ultimate prize. Their perseverance and smart counter-attacking plays had already taken them this far, and Julio Enciso’s return from suspension would give them a full complement of players for Sunday’s Semi Final. Standing between them and the Final would be their big neighbours.
Who needs Messi anyway? Argentina certainly didn’t, having won five straight matches and conceded only one goal since their early wobbles against Ukraine. Midfield enforcer Alan Varela would miss the Semi through suspension, but star striker Julián Álvarez was fully rested and raring to go again.
Saturday’s first Semi Final would involve the two nations who had arguably gained the most from this Fairer World Cup. The Republic of Ireland’s incredible team spirit had brought them from the brink of an early exit, but losing Declan Rice to suspension was a major blow ahead of their toughest examination yet.
Nigeria had taken the tournament by storm with 20 goals from six games, and they were now odds-on to be the first African nation to reach a World Cup Final. Mind you, the knockout rounds had taken a lot out of the Super Eagles, and even though Udogie had quickly recovered from his ankle injury, their defence still looked a little suspect.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs NIGERIA
(11 July – Monterrey)
Nigeria went into the first Semi Final as narrow favourites, and they made a pretty positive start. A 2nd-minute free-kick from Crystal Palace midfielder Ebere Eze gave Kelleher an early test, which the Ireland keeper did well to pass.
The first Irish attack, after nine minutes, was more clinical. Harry Kane played a clever one-two with strike partner Evan Ferguson and then side-stepped Michael Kayode before drilling in a cool finish. It was just like he was playing in his back garden – or the Bundesliga.
By the 18th minute, it was 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland. Kane turned provider this time, as Jack Grealish brushed past a withering Kayode and then thundered home! Was Nigeria’s exhausting run to the Semis finally coming back to bite them?
Nigeria’s frustrations grew midway through the first half. Ireland centre-half Ethan Ampadu was defending brilliantly – first knocking a Kayode cross away from Balogun, and then intercepting an equally threatening delivery from Musiala about a minute later. Nonetheless, Musiala came back in the 29th minute with a beautiful delivery to midfielder Felix Nmecha, whose header put the Super Eagles back in the game!
Ampadu made several more fantastic interceptions to keep Ireland’s 2-1 lead intact at the break, but he was understandably knackered and could not return for the second half. With their nemesis gone, Nigeria renewed their attacks with more confidence, and a fierce strike by midfield man Simon Sohm needed another fine stop from Kelleher.
But in the 58th minute, the Irish got a second wind – and a third goal. When half-time sub Anthony Gordon laid the ball off for Conor Gallagher to blast into Atobolu’s top-left corner, the Celts found themselves 3-1 up – and tantalisingly close to the World Cup Final.
Gallagher had been on a booking since the 16th minute, so Favre wisely substituted the Internazionale midfielder before he could pick up another that would see him miss the Final (and turn him into a blubbering wreck like Paul Gascoigne). But unless Nigeria could come up with two more goals in the final half-hour, the only tears in Anglo-Irish eyes at full-time would be happy ones.
Alas, the Super Eagles’ wings had been clipped, and they had no more energy left to give. The Republic of Ireland had been 10 minutes away from crashing out of the Fairer World Cup at the Group Stage… and now they were 90 minutes away from winning the whole thing!
PARAGUAY vs ARGENTINA
(12 July – Atlanta)
Awaiting Ireland in the Final would be the winners of this South American derby. Paraguay’s underdogs quickly found themselves on the defensive against a more talented Argentina frontline, but centre-half Jorge Morel and keeper Carlos Coronel helped weather the early storms.
La Albiceleste were fielding a mix of youth and experience in attack, with striker Lautaro Martínez flanked on either wing by wonderkids Claudio Echeverri and Franco Mastantuono. It was the latter who supplied Lautaro with the ammunition for the eventual breakthrough goal in the 25th minute – a brilliant drilled cross that gave the 28-year-old his fifth goal of the World Cup.
Mastantuono continued to pressurise the Paraguayan defence as Argentina went hunting for further goals. Eventually, the second goal came in the penultimate minute of the first half… but not from whom you’d expect.
Argentina’s watertight defence had not so much allowed Paraguay a single shot at goal… until Cristian Romero realised that he still played for Tottenham. Instead of getting himself sent off like he usually does, Romero simply played the ball straight to the feet of Albirroja striker Sebastián Ferreira, who smashed in a Paraguay equaliser against the run of play!
For all La Albiceleste’s first-half dominance, Scaloni could not believe that that the score was 1-1 at half-time. Were Argentina about to be FMed?
By the 49th minute, it was certainly looking that way. When Romero’s equally bumbly centre-back partner Matías Moreno tripped Luis Amarilla in the box, Paraguay were on the brink of taking a completely unexpected lead! Amarilla brushed himself down and showed his countrymen the way to the World Cup Final with a clinical penalty! Two shots, two goals for Paraguay!
Argentina now trailed for the first time since their opening group game against Ukraine, and their fans anxiously awaited a response. It came after 66 minutes through Mastantuono, whose first-time strike from Leandro Paredes’ cross rocketed past Coronel.
Now it was 2-2, and the momentum was back with the Argentines. Then, in the 81st minute, Moreno was at the centre of another penalty call… in Paraguay’s box, where Salcedo had sent him crashing to the turf! Penalty to Argentina, and Lautaro now had the chance to finally send his team through to the Final!
But no! A fantastic save from Coronel kept Paraguay level! He then produced another to thwart Paredes in the 87th minute to ensure that this Semi Final would run into overtime!
Many people thought that La Albirroja would surely crumble in extra-time. They took just 53 seconds to dismiss those thoughts, when Pepe’s deep cross found substitute striker Adam Bareiro, whose header put Paraguay in the lead – AGAIN!
Argentina were at panic stations again. Álvarez got the call to come off the bench, and he almost immediately set up an equaliser for Lautaro… which was just as quickly disallowed for offside. Once the flag went up, their hearts sank, and Paraguay knew that they were on the cusp of something truly special.
Coronel was superb in goal. Head coach Daniel Garnero’s tactics were immaculate. And Paraguay had dethroned the defending champions 3-2 to somehow reach the World Cup Final! Unbelievable!
So now it’s all set – the Republic of Ireland will face Paraguay in the Fairer World Cup Final.
Who will come out on top? We’ll find out on Friday, as this epic FM24 series finally reaches its conclusion!
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