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Another day of World Cup action is in the books, with two more knockout stage matchups decided. We take a look at the lessons learned from Wednesday’s four games.
1. Messi’s support staff still hasn’t stepped up
The 27-year-old scored two more goals in the 3-2 win over Nigeria, giving him four already in the tournament. That’s great and all, but Argentina’s only non-Messi, non-own goal in the group stage came from defender Marcos Rojo on a corner kick. World-class forwards Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain were ineffective in the first three matches, which is particularly worrisome considering how inferior Argentina’s opponents were. Messi can’t do it all by himself in the knockout stage.
2. France genuinely struggled against 10 men
After two dominant performances, France was held to a scoreless draw against an Ecuador team playing down a man for 40 minutes. With first place in the group almost assured, Didier Deschamps sat some of his regulars, but the French didn’t play the kind of creative, freeflowing game they did against Honduras and Switzerland. Maybe the team was content playing for a draw to lock up first place, but the lack of a killer instinct raises some questions.
3. Switzerland is into the knockout stage!
The seeded team in Group E, Switzerland needed to better Ecuador’s result on the last day to advance. Xherdan Shaqiri had a hat trick in the 3-0 win over Honduras and the much-maligned Swiss are in the knockout stage for the second time in the last three World Cups. Switzerland has to face Argentina in the round of 16, so the joy won’t last long.
4. Ecuador’s inspirational run comes to an end
After the tragic death of striker Christian Benitez in July 2013, the team fought through to qualify for the World Cup. Unfortunately, Ecuador just didn’t enough have juice in Brazil. After giving up a late winner against Switzerland in the opener, Ecuador bounced back to beat Honduras before being held by France in the finale. Four points wasn’t enough to advance, and the team will need to regroup for next year’s Copa America in Chile.
5. Nigeria is through … somehow
The Super Eagles are into the knockout stage for the first time since 1998, finishing the group stage with a 1-1-1 record and a zero goal difference. Nigeria gave Argentina a tough time in the finale, but never looked particularly sharp in group play, beginning with the dull 0-0 draw against Iran. The team lucked into one of the weakest World Cup groups in recent memory, and will likely get shredded by France in the round of 16.