Day 21: Brazil survive, Paraguay shock Germany, Morocco take pens
Brazil became the second team into the Round of 16 with a 2-1 comeback against Japan: Kaishu Sano gave Japan the half-time lead, Casemiro levelled, and Gabriel Martinelli struck the 90+5 winner. 1
The bigger rupture came from the shootouts. Paraguay held Germany 1-1 and advanced 4-3 on penalties, with Orlando Gill making six saves in open play and stopping two German penalties; Fox also noted it was Germany's first World Cup shootout loss. 1 Morocco then beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, joining Canada, Brazil and Paraguay in the first four confirmed Round of 16 places. 23
Stars & stats
- Martinelli's 95:00 goal was the latest normal-time winner in a World Cup knockout match on record since 1966. 1
- OptaJoe logged Morocco's 70% possession against the Netherlands as the highest by an African team in a World Cup knockout match on record since 1966. 4
- OptaJoe also noted that only four of the 12 penalties taken against Yassine Bounou in Morocco's last three shootouts had been converted. 5
Verified X pulse
- @FIFAWorldCup posted the four locked-in Round of 16 flags: Canada, Brazil, Paraguay and Morocco. The post had 12.4K likes and 2.0K reposts when collected. 3
- @ESPNFC reported that Paraguay's president declared a national holiday after the Germany win. The post had 22.8K likes and 1.7K reposts when collected. 6
- @ESPNFC's highest-engagement emotional post in the set showed Cody Gakpo staying on the field after the Netherlands' elimination, at 55.9K likes and 3.1K reposts when collected. 7
Next up on the bracket: Côte d'Ivoire vs Norway, France vs Sweden and Mexico vs Ecuador. 8
References
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