Goals galore, games and one-of-a-kind Messi – World Cup enters new phase

ACROSS 17 days of action in Canada, Mexico and the United States, 72 games were played in group stage, and 215 goals were scored.

The drama on the field remains unmatched, and the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 can already be considered a success. Right until the final group game, there was still plenty to play for.​

Commiserations to Iranian football – treated unfairly off the pitch, yet they left the tournament with their heads held high. The team remained undefeated but still could not qualify for the next round.

They will regret not getting a result against New Zealand, but you cannot blame them. They were only allowed to travel to the stadium on matchday itself.

It takes a toll on the body, putting them at a disadvantage. They will come back stronger.

Watch out for them at the next World Cup.​

Three teams recorded a perfect nine-point record: host nation Mexico, and the last two World Cup finalists, France and Argentina. Could both teams meet again in another final?

The probability is high; both are head and shoulders above the rest.​

The Cinderella story is still alive with Cape Verde, the tiny island nation that beat all odds to qualify for the last 32.

Cape Verde remained undefeated and qualified as runners-up in Group H. Can it continue in the next round, or will the clock finally strike midnight?

Football will change in the knockout rounds as the stakes rise. Teams will set up more defensively – going to a penalty shootout is a tactic in itself.

You will not see many teams going expansive after going one-nil up. Pace becomes a weapon, and the ability to hit on the counter-attack is a huge bonus.

Expect teams to practise their penalty-taking in training now.

The manager must also carefully decide the order of takers – missing the first kick could be a psychological blow to the remaining players.

Game-changers and the substitute bench are crucial in the knockout stage.

A record-breaking 37 goals were scored by substitutes in the group stage, expect that trend to continue.

The five substitutes allocated per team give teams flexibility in tweaking their tactics.

The composition of a squad is therefore crucial when finalising the final 26.

The manager is not only looking to navigate the tournament but also to find ways to win it.

Your first eleven is not enough – you need to be tactically flexible depending on the oppositions.​

As for the top scorers, the manager should support them because defences will pay them extra attention in the knockout stage.

Fortunately for France, opponents must worry about both Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe.

One goal separates them, and Dembele is on a high after scoring a hattrick. There are only two hattricks in this World Cup so far, and both came from teams who are favourites to reach the final.

This tournament has also highlighted the importance of a No. 9.

To thrive here, you need one. Both Canada and the US benefited from having a proper number nine to run the channels and create opportunities.

Look at Brazil – a team transformed after starting Matheus Cunha as a nine instead of the toiling Igor Thiago.

France have Mbappe, and Argentina have benefited from Lautaro Martinez alongside Lionel Messi.

Messi is now leading the scoring chart for this edition of the World Cup.

He is the first player ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, surpassing Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 19 goals.

One doubts this record will ever be beaten, but perhaps Mbappe could have a say before the tournament ends.

And maybe there is a 15-year-old waiting in the wings, ready to break it in the not-too-distant future.​

Whatever it is, the stakes are real, and there are five games remaining on the road to glory.

The eyes are on the prize, and distractions must be kept at bay if any of these teams want to lift the trophy by the middle of July.

Cut the noise — focus is everything.