Without the German national soccer team, the soccer World Cup in Qatar starts this Saturday in the knockout round. The Netherlands will start in a duel with the young Americans (4 p.m., in the live ticker on ntv.de). Big dramas are inevitable, as well as the end of outstanding careers on the biggest stage in the world. We reveal what you need to watch out for in the round of 16.
Netherlands – USA, Saturday, 4 p.m.: Louis van Gaal’s official football doesn’t win everyone’s approval. But if there’s one thing the coaching legend doesn’t care about, recognition is on the way to a goal. For the first time, Elftal wants to bring the title to neighboring Germany. And that doesn’t necessarily require big stars, not necessarily spectacular games, just results. Among other things, Cody Gakpo drives in. The PSV Eindhoven player’s star is rising over the emirate and should make him one of the most sought-after players in Europe this winter. Fighting an influenza epidemic could be problematic for Elftal. “If it spreads, it could become a problem,” admitted van Gaal the day before the game. “We’re not talking about 15 players here, and basically anyone can play.” That’s why van Gaal cancels the final training session and hopes for a quick recovery.
“It’s called soccer,” shout the surprisingly visible fans of the United States in Doha at every suitable and inappropriate occasion. The co-host of the 2026 World Cup is doing well in the preliminary round. An unfortunate 1-1 draw with Wales, a strong 0-0 draw with England, in a game that left the spectators dozing off. It is the shortest game of the World Cup to date, with a total playing time of just 95 minutes and 58 seconds, 22 minutes and 22 seconds shorter than the game between England and Iran. The United States game against Iran also lasts forever, almost 108 minutes. In the end it was 1-0 thanks to the goal of ex-Dortmunder Christian Pulisic. Above all, the minimalists from overseas can rely on their wonderful midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah. The ex-Leipziger Adams, the captain, turns out to be the star of the team. Gio Reyna from BVB has hardly had any playing time so far.
Argentina – Australia, Saturday, 8 p.m.: Lionel Messi’s dream of crowning his career is alive. He’s alive, despite a 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia. He’s alive, despite his missed penalty against Poland. He lives because Messi puts his Argentinians out of trouble with a typical Messi in the game against Mexico. His goal to make it 1-0 in the second group game opened the door for the South Americans. They are still one of the big favorites for the world title and will not let Australia stop them. They already showed themselves to be too strong and sovereign against Poland (2:0). Argentina is slowly getting rolling after narrowly escaping Germany’s fate of being knocked out in the preliminary round. The second goal against Poland also shows that they are more than just Messi. Julian Alvarez is at the end of a combination of 37 passes. They patiently play the ball until a gap opens up. Enzo Fernandez pushes in and prepares.
The Socceroos have reached the knockout stages of a World Cup for only the second time since 2006. At that time they were eliminated in Kaiserslautern more than unhappily against eventual world champions Italy. The new generation around St. Pauli rebel Jackson Irvine already enjoys legend status in Australia. Before the tournament, after the most laborious qualification, they arrive almost to the point of insults from the local press. They stop short of “worst Australia ever” and now have to put different headlines on their newspapers. They do it with joy and hope for the biggest game in their history. The underdog of the round of 16 can no longer lose.
France – Poland, Sunday, 4 p.m.: The 2018 world champion has no problems at all in his preliminary group and can even afford a break in the last game against Tunisia. The game is lost 0:1, a speedster demands the liberation of Palestine and the French protest against the rating because a late goal by Antoine Griezmann does not count after a long video study. Which doesn’t matter at all and at least distracts a little from the question of whether the dazzling star Kylian Mbappé will ever talk. In the home of his French club Paris St.-Germain, in Qatar, he has not yet done so. Because all questions would inevitably revolve around his future. For now, he’s letting goals do the talking and is well on his way to becoming the star of this tournament.
Reaching the round of 16 in a dramatic way is already a huge success for Poland. In addition, the Bia?o-Czerwoni, the White-Reds, had a few good minutes against Saudi Arabia. Already hopelessly inferior to Argentina, Poland’s only hope is a proper farewell from Qatar. The team is more than just dependent on their star Robert Lewandowski. The Bundesliga legend now has a goal, but was otherwise relatively invisible. Unlike keeper Wojciech Szcz?sny, who is responsible for progressing with a spectacular performance against Argentina and is allowed to take goal-kicks more times than any other keeper at the tournament. There will certainly be many more to join the 37.
England – Senegal, Sunday, 8 p.m.: And again in England they only talk about penalties. It is and remains the eternal groundhog moment in the history of this glorious association, but which is so tragically linked to the failure of the point. World Cup 1990, European Championship 1996, World Cup 1998, European Championship 2004, World Cup 2006, European Championship 2012, European Championship 2021: The list of tournaments in which the “Three Lions” had to say goodbye to all their big dreams in a nerve-racking duel is incredibly long. They would happily skip the next chapter and clear things up after 90 (or 100) minutes. A goal from captain and star striker Harry Kane would help. His lost marksmanship is the second major issue on the island – despite three assists that at times fell into the magical category. You can cope with it so far because the young people have taken over. Marcus Rashford scores, Jude Bellingham leads – and England dreams, once again.
They have that in common with their closest opponent. Senegal had buried all hopes of a good tournament after the shock news of Sadio Mané’s absence was announced. But the “Lions of Teranga” have shaken themselves and are roaring impressively in Qatar. A remarkable achievement by coach Aliou Cissé, who, with his gray hooded sweater and baseball cap, is the most dazzling coach figure of the tournament.
Japan – Croatia, Monday, 4 p.m.: Japan, with all due respect, is perhaps the strangest team at this World Cup. Beaten Germany, defeated Spain – and lost to Costa Rica. As the first in the table, they are now going into the round of 16 and there, too, the passionate sons of Nippon will willingly give up the ball again in order to then counterattack like an attacker. Japan, care, had 17 percent (!) of ball possession against the Spaniards. Crazy that you can win a football game this way. Will the Croatians accept the Japanese offer and then also run into the open knife? You haven’t gotten that clever yet from the vice world champion from Russia at this tournament. The Croatians have scored four goals so far. All against Canada. The team caught a hit. Against Canada. A strange record. Defensively it looks stable, offensively expandable, in terms of speed, creativity and efficiency. The team is still very talented in many positions, but also getting older. And so the fate of football will be decided by the genius of Luka Modri?, who is now 37 years old.
South Korea – Brazil, Monday, 8 p.m.: A question that South Korea’s national coach Paulo Bento now has to deal with is: Which opponent do I actually prepare my footballers for? He knows it’s against Brazil, but that’s all he knows. He shares this lack of knowledge with his colleague Tite, who is tormented by absurd bad luck with injuries. Superstar Neymar, the nation’s ankle, is not getting fit, with five other players a question mark. Small spoiler: regardless of the absences, the Seleção will send a top team onto the pitch, Brazil should have the strongest squad at the World Cup. But it’s definitely exciting: the team slipped into a crazy goal drought without their superstar, despite prominent offensive forces like Richarlison, who scored perhaps the most beautiful goal of the tournament in the first game, or Champions League winner Vini Junior. Despite 54 shots, 16 of them on target, there were only three goals after the preliminary round – the worst result since the 1978 World Cup. Brazil have not scored in the first half for five World Cup games.
Here’s the thing about the South Koreans: there, all eyes are on the amazing resurrection of Masked Man. When Heung-Min Son was in the hospital with a quadruple fracture above his left eye at the beginning of November, the topic of the World Cup was actually over for South Korea’s superstar. But he didn’t want to bow to this fate. Mask on and out into the limelight. So far he hasn’t been beaming there – until his last-minute struggle in Qatar in the furious group final against Portugal did work out. He stormed all over the place with a wild solo and then set up excellently for Hee-Chan Hwang. “Now we have higher goals. We will do our best to achieve them. Nobody knows what can happen in football. We saw it with Japan, who also did something incredible,” said Son.
Morocco-Spain, Tuesday, 4pm: Morocco, top of group, prevailed against rusty Belgium and unpredictable Croatia (see above), that’s quite an amazing story. And she causes a wild frenzy in the country – and unfortunately also for riots. “We are very difficult to beat and why shouldn’t we dream that we are the team that lifts the trophy? We African teams have to have that belief, that goal,” said national team coach Walid Regragui after the group stage. For the first time in 36 years, the nation is back in the round of 16. With Spain, the task could hardly be more unpleasant, at least that’s what one thought after the Iberians’ first game. Luis Enrique’s team thundered over Costa Rica 7-0. Even the king raved. But then the passionate Germans, who are now back home, and the Japanese, who had drifted away, pulled back into the desert sands. And the team has something to do there, the defeat against Japan was not well received at home and in the world, wild conspiracy theories were rampant as to whether second place was better – with a view to the further course of the tournament. Spain must deliver. And so the question is: How will it be? Royally impressive or Germanly frustrating?
Switzerland – Portugal, Tuesday, 8 p.m.: The last round of 16 game. Again Cristiano Ronaldo and his crowds of fans are drawn to the Lusail. The final stadium could see the last World Cup game of his career on Tuesday. The Portuguese are not really strong in any of their games, which are actually always about CR7. He pulls food out of his pants at a press conference, lets experienced reporters faint in the mixed zone and is still chasing the Eusebio record. Another goal, his ninth at a World Cup, would draw him level with the Portugal legend. CR7 says he doesn’t care. What nobody believes in the vain rooster. His fans would love it anyway. They came in large numbers from all countries of the world. Sometimes a long time ago. The Portuguese without a club is the star of the tournament so far. Not because it’s that good, but because it’s just there. Then a “Siuuuuuuuuu”!
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be particularly interested in Switzerland. Once neutral, they are once again taking highly political stances against Serbia. Power cube Xherdan Shaqiri and captain Granit Xhaka took on an entire nation, throwing cups in the stadium in a decisive 3-2 win, leading to several pack formations and a little scandal afterwards. Even the stadium announcer feels compelled to comment on the situation. He asks for decency in the stands. It’s different on the pitch. The Bundesliga all-stars have been refreshing there so far, but sometimes neglect their defense. But who cares if Xhaka ends up taking Ronaldo out of the tournament just because he’s Xhaka. They may have come to Doha without fans, but they could still end up in the quarter-finals. Everything smells like a top surprise.