Journey to the Quarter-Finals

A routine 3–0 win over Sweden was the easy part. A single Mbappé penalty was enough to get past the team that had just eliminated Germany — and Didier Deschamps knows it won't get any easier against Morocco.

Achraf Hakimi missed the biggest penalty of his career against the Netherlands — then watched his teammates win it anyway. A week later, Morocco look like the form team left in the tournament.

The neutral's dream tie of the Round of 16 lived up to its billing — and it took a 90th-minute Mikel Merino strike to separate two of the tournament's best sides. Spain are through, but for the first time this summer, they had to fight for it.

Down 2–0 to Senegal with the tournament on the brink of ending, Belgium found their heart in extra time — then obliterated the USA to prove it wasn't a one-off. Spain awaits, and Domenico Tedesco's side have never looked more dangerous or more fragile at once.

Nothing happened for 78 minutes. Then Erling Haaland happened twice in three, and Brazil's tournament was over. Norway are into the Quarter-Finals on the back of the most ruthless finishing spell of the knockout rounds — and a looming reminder of how much this team still depends on one man.

The altitude at Estadio Azteca was supposed to be England's downfall. Instead, Jude Bellingham's early brace and two penalties either side of half-time got the Three Lions through a 3–2 thriller — but the same defensive cracks keep showing up, and Erling Haaland is waiting in the Quarter-Finals.

A stoppage-time own goal saved them against Cape Verde. A stunning 11-minute salvo saved them against Egypt after going 2–0 down. Argentina are through to the Quarter-Finals — but the defending champions have never looked more mortal getting there.

A clinical win over Algeria was the calm before the storm. A wild 4–3 win over Colombia showed Switzerland can score with anyone left in the tournament — and concede just as easily. Now Messi's Argentina stand between them and a first-ever World Cup semi-final.