Qatar 2022 : No Respecter Of Status

Tears of joy for South Korea’s Heung Min Son, tears of desolation for Uruguay’s Luis Suarez. Two scenarios that sum up the 2022 FIFA World Cup so far. With their backs to the wall, the South Koreans rose from their ruins to stun Portugal by two goals to one last Friday at the Education City St, 2-1 and progress to the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This, at the expense of Uruguay whose two nil victory against Ghana at the Al Janoub Stadium was not enough to see them through.  Uruguay, another so-called big team left the competition through the back door as Germany and Belgium had done so just days before them.
If Germany and Belgium are not in the knockout stages of the tournament, it is thanks to “minnows” Japan and Morocco. Japan who face Croatia later today in the round of 16 have had a tournament to remember, coming from behind to stun Germany 2-1 on match day 1 and reproducing the same story against Spain to progress as Group E winners. This will give them full confidence going into this evening’s game against 2018 finalists Croatia.
Another giant-killer, Morocco will feel they have all their cards to play when they face Spain tomorrow for a place into the quarter finals. The Atlas Lions topped a group comprised of pre-tournament favourites Croatia and Belgium and even got the Red Devils well beaten, setting the tone for their group stage exit. 
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has produced some of the biggest shocks and for South Korea, it will be a question of trying to punch a height higher when they face Brazil later tonight in the round of 16 after their exploits in the group stages.
Such dramatic scenes observed during the group stages of the tournament are yet to be observed since the start of the round of 16 last Saturday with the Netherlands easily dispatching the USA 3-1 to set up a quarter final clash against Argentina who had to hold their nerve to grind out a 2-1 victory over Australia. Fans are also eagerly anticipating the blockbuster quarterfinal fixture between England and France. The Three Lions easily dispatched the Teranga Lions of Senegal three nil last night at the Al Bayt Stadium while defending champions France saw off Poland with a 3-1 victory.
Whatever happens going forward, the tournament has already produced some of the shocking and craziest moments with big guns silenced and minnows rising to the occasion....