Qatar 2022 World Cup: all the crosses and when the round of 16 begins

The 2022 Qatar World Cup comes from surprise to surprise, and with just two matches left, the keys to the round of 16 are already starting to be defined.

This Friday the group stage ends. Six of the eight keys to the next phase have already been defined, and more than one can even speculate on the hypothetical rival in the quarter-finals. The truth is that the times and stadiums have already been set.

The first match to take into consideration is the one that will undoubtedly have a lot of weight in Argentina. This is the duel between the Netherlands and the United States, both belonging to the Argentine group, and possible rivals of the Albiceleste in a possible quarter-final.

The round of 16 will open on Saturday, starting at 12, from the Khalifa International Stadium with the refereeing of the Brazilian Wilton Sampaio. The match will be broadcast through public TV and TyC Sports signals.

The “oranges” reached the round of 16 with a strong pace – even if without too much lightness – after defeating Qatar and Senegal and handing out points against Ecuador, in a match in which they were clearly dominated.

The United States, on the other hand, had to suffer much more to earn its place. After drawing against Wales on their debut, the Americans shared points against England, and recently managed to seal their table by beating Iran by a minimum at the end of the group.

Argentina versus Australia

A few hours after the opening of the second round of the Netherlands and the United States, it will be the turn of the Argentine national team. The Albiceleste will face Australia this Saturday from 16:00, from the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium with the refereeing of the Polish Szymon Marciniak.

The bout will go through the signals of Public TV and TyC Sports. When it comes to background, it should be noted that Australia already know what it’s like to play in this stadium, having already played and won two repechages.

After a difficult opening against Saudi Arabia, Argentina moved from point to point, claiming top spot in the group after defeating Mexico and Poland with authority in their last two games. The ‘Socceroos’, on the other hand, delivered the coup de grace in a group in which France and Denmark presented themselves as candidates. The reigning world champions performed well but the Danes were not up to the task and Australia qualified after losing to France and defeating Tunisia and Denmark respectively.

France versus Poland

Already on Sunday, the other key of the round of 16 will begin, which will be accompanied by an attractive match between France and Poland. The ‘Blues’, who arrived in Qatar in cotton, had a good group stage, in which they beat Australia and forcefully defeated Denmark. Eventually, with a majority of the substitutes on the field, they lost to Tunisia, although this did not overshadow the campaign. Poland, on the other hand, barely managed to defeat Saudi Arabia, drawing against Mexico and losing to Argentina in their remaining games.

To inaugurate a new day of football, they will meet from 12, from Al Thumama Stadium and with a referee to be confirmed. The winner of this match will face the winner of the match between England and Senegal in the quarter-finals. In the ‘Old Continent’ he begins to beat France-England, but the Poles and Senegalese try to surprise. For now Lewandowski continues to look for the best version of him, while the figures of the ‘Bleus’ seem to be clearer than ever.

England versus Senegal

At approximately 4pm on Sunday, England and Senegal will meet at Al Bayt Stadium, with refereeing to be confirmed. Whoever manages to get through this round will compete against the winner of France-Poland which will be played hours before. With a more than complicated key, England will try to make history weigh, to tip the scales and thus leave the Africans on the street. Senegal, on the other hand, will be looking to match their best score in a World Cup.

The English entered this stage after defeating Wales and Iran to take first place in the group. Against the United States, England barely reached a draw, conceding just two goals and adding nine throughout the group stage. Senegal, on the other hand, got off to a bad start after losing to the Netherlands in their opening game. Then, they would defeat Qatar and Ecuador to straighten their course, thus earning a spot in the top 16.

Japan versus Croatia

Moving on to Monday, Japan and Croatia will open an afternoon of football, a duel that few expected to see in the round of 16. The Asian and European teams will face each other from 12, with refereeing to be confirmed, and from the Al Janoub Stadium. After signing their harrowing round of 16 qualification, both teams are waiting for Brazil, Switzerland, Portugal, Ghana, South Korea or Uruguay, their possible rivals for the quarter-finals.

Far from what was expected when it came to knowing the arrangement of the World Cup groups, Japan reached their ranking after defeating Germany and Spain and losing against Costa Rica, thus leaving “Los Teutones” by the wayside and qualifying as top group. Croatia, on the other hand, had to suffer more than necessary to get to this stage. The defending runners-up drew against Morocco and Belgium, and only managed the target for their massive win against Canada.

South Korea versus Brazil?

Monday’s main dish has even more doubts than certainties. And it is that, with Brazil as the main candidate to remain with first place in Group G -it would only guarantee it with a draw-, it almost has a position that will go against South Korea, an agonizing ranking with 2 -1 against Portugal. This match will be played from 4.00pm, from the 974 Stadium with refereeing to be confirmed.

Morocco versus Spain

On Tuesday, he will be in charge of announcing the last two qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Starting at 12, Spain and Morocco will clash at the Ciudad de la Educación stadium, with the referee and hypothetical rival in the quarterfinals to be confirmed. Spain, has signed its ranking among the suspects, due to the defeat against Japan. Morocco, on the other hand, gave the surprise in a more than complicated group.

And is that to enter the round of 16, the Moroccans had to defeat none other than Canada and Belgium in the group stage, securing first place thanks to a draw in the first match against Croatia. Spain, on the other hand, started at a brisk pace, beating Costa Rica 7-0 in their first game, although it was all top-down afterwards. In the second game they draw against Germany, and at the end of group E they lose against Japan, amidst suspicions for a result that offered them a path to the final that in theory would have been easier.

Portugal/Ghana vs. Brazil/Switzerland/Cameroon/Serbia, for the round of 16

If Monday afternoon’s match has already raised more than one unknown factor, the one that will be played this Tuesday from 4:00 pm is no less. Portugal await a rival, second place in Group G.

Mathematically it can still be occupied by Brazil, even if only after a football catastrophe of the ‘Canarinha’. Most likely, Portugal will face Switzerland or Serbia in the round of 16, as Cameroon will struggle against the Brazilians.