The Round of 16 of the World Cup has concluded, leaving a trail of scandals, tears, and disappointments. Quarterfinal matches lie ahead, where fans will not see stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, but the main intrigue of the tournament has shifted from the pitch to the political arena.
Trump's interference and the Bologun scandal
The most emotion from the first two rounds of the knockout stage was sparked not by football, but by an incident involving Donald Trump. The former US president, who claimed deep knowledge of sports, called FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The result of this call was the cancellation of the suspension of US national team player Folarin Bologun for the match against Belgium.
This precedent caused shock: FIFA demonstratively ignored the fair claims of the Belgian Football Association, which were supported by European colleagues and even UEFA. Sporting principles and common sense were cast aside. Infantino attempted to justify himself by citing a decision by a special committee, however, such intervention has no precedent in history.
Experts fear that the attempt to cater to a major political figure could be a death sentence for the official. UEFA is already considering the possibility of nominating a new candidate for the FIFA presidential election next year. Meanwhile, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering did not help the US team defeat Belgium. On the contrary, the scandal only stimulated the Belgians, who crushed the tournament hosts with a score of 4:1.
Rough play and the hosts' exit
Aside from the USA, the co-hosts — the national teams of Canada and Mexico — also lost their chance at the home tournament. In the Round of 16 matches, Paraguay and Mexico attempted to counter the favorites — France and England — not with dedication, but with blatantly rough play and provocations. This was not a sporting contest, but an attempt to win by force. However, the class of the French and English proved superior, and they rightfully advanced to the next round.
The end of the Neymar and Ronaldo era
Brazil, considered by many to be a favorite, was eliminated by Norway. The defeat confirmed the thesis that in modern football, organization surpasses individuality. Carlo Ancelotti disappointed fans with his choice of lineup and tactical decisions, specifically by bringing on Neymar when the score was 0-0, when the team needed to defend.
The Norwegians not only spectacularly eliminated the Brazilians but also won the fans' favorite award. Their chant of "ro!" became recognizable even to those far removed from football.
Cristiano Ronaldo also said his final goodbye to the national team at the Round of 16 stage. The match between Portugal and Spain, which promised to be bright, turned out to be drawn-out and not very spectacular. Cristiano did not shine, and the Spaniards scored the decisive goal at the end of regular time. Ronaldo left the field with tears in his eyes, ending his journey at this World Cup.
