The group stage of the World Cup ended on Friday evening.
What already learn a number of lessons before, as all footballers on this planet like to say, a new competition begins with the round of 16.
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The exciting surprise: Japan
Although Australia could also have claimed the accolade, the Socceroos finished 'only' second in a disappointing group.
While the Japanese, they snatched the first place of a group counting Spain and Germany.
Two heavyweights, or supposed to be, that the Blue Samurai have knocked down almost the same way each time.
Namely a complicated first period, finished on a delay of one goal, before a second act carried out with a soul of "
rônins
to equalize, take the advantage and hold on until the end.
Or two victories on this score of 2-1, interspersed with a defeat, ultimately also surprising, against Costa Rica (0-1).
Somehow, Doan et al never get the expected result.
It remains to be seen what this will do against Croatia in the round of 16, a stage of the competition that the Japanese have never exceeded in the World Cup.
Read alsoWorld Cup: Japan's new feat at the expense of a qualified Spain on the wire
Read alsoGermany-Japan: Japanese winning coaching, the fall of Neuer
The resounding flop: Belgium
From a final third place in 2018 to absolute nothing in 2022. Such will have been the progression of the Red Devils in four years.
All but a surprise for an aging selection, like its central axis Vertonghen-Alderweireld which looked good before, but no longer today.
Not to mention the decline, confirmed in selection as well as in club, of Eden Hazard.
In Qatar, Belgium presented a very sad face, with only one goal scored and a very limited offensive game, even if their match against Croatia, which ended in a 0-0, was the most successful.
But spoiled by the lack of realism of Romelu Lukaku.
To be eliminated with the best goalkeeper in the world - Thibaut Courtois - and the third of the last Ballon d'Or - Kevin De Bruyne -, the (counter-)performance is more than notable.
The favorite at the rendezvous: Brazil
However, having not inherited a group as simple as that, Brazil wasted no time in validating their ticket for the round of 16.
A first convincing success against Serbia (2-0), a second a little less successful in the game but very solid against Switzerland (1-0) and the Auriverde avoided any unpleasant surprises.
Offering themselves, like the Blues, a last match for butter against Cameroon, which inflicted their first goal at the same time as a defeat (0-1).
The only bad surprise is losing Neymar to injury in the first match, but the Paris SG striker should be back for the round of 16 against South Korea.
The star player: Kylian Mbappé
At the rate it is going, Kylian Mbappé will soon be the last survivor of the Top 10 in the ranking of the last Ballon d'Or.
Between the withdrawals of some (Karim Benzema, Sadio Mané), the non-qualifications of others (Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland), and now the eliminations of the Belgians Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, the French striker is more and more figure number 1 star of the competition alongside Lionel Messi.
With three goals already to his name – one against Australia and two against Denmark – the PSG player is in the top scorer car in the competition.
More importantly, each of his accelerations creates danger in the opposing ranks and he seems to be in top form to approach the knockout matches.
Poland has been warned.
The unfortunate double: Germany
Jamal Musiala will have tried everything during this 1st round, but nothing will have helped.
For the second time in a row, Germany is eliminated from the group stage of a World Cup, four years after the resounding failure of the Russian campaign.
Unlike Belgium, however, the Mannschaft leave Qatar with four points and an interesting youth, symbolized by Musiala's 19 springs.
Offensively, the Germans will even have shown great things.
Except that without a real scorer to complete beautiful movements, no salvation.
Neither qualifications.
And defensively, Hansi Flick's team sometimes swayed a little too much, perhaps due to a lack of balance.
But with Musiala, Serge Gnabry and other talents to refine like Youssoufa Moukoko (18), the
The Missing Host: Qatar
Never has a host country of a World Cup finished with three defeats in three matches.
A "
feat
" achieved by Qatar, probably the weakest team in the competition.
In turn Ecuador (2-0), Senegal (3-1) and the Netherlands (2-0) defeated them, for a total of seven goals conceded, again a record for a host country .
Qatari football will therefore not achieve the same type of feat as handball in 2015, when the local team, formed it is true with great blows of express naturalizations, had reached the final of the World Championship disputed in Doha.
Then beaten by France.
The refreshing madness: Morocco
36 long years that Moroccans have been waiting for this!
To finally see their team qualify for the round of 16 of a World Cup.
Hence an extraordinary popular jubilation in the country, but also in the stands of the stadiums in Qatar where the supporters of the Atlas Lions set the mood.
Beyond this legitimate happiness, the Morocco of Walid Regragui also, and above all, the merit of having qualified with style, finishing at the top of a strong Group F.
After their initial draw against Croatia (0-0), Hakim Ziyech, revived, and his partners dominated Belgium (2-0) and Canada (2-1) logically.
Hence a crazy ambition that is beginning to take hold of the Moroccan ranks, summed up by the side Noussair Mazraoui: "
Now everything is possible.
You know, I said before the competition that we could be world champions.
I still think so.
Beware, however, of Spain in the round of 16, a very serious rival next Tuesday (4:00 p.m.).
The Masked Outsider: England
Due to their lackluster draw against the United States (0-0) on the second day, the English did not fully convince in the first round.
Which is perhaps not so bad for them.
However, their thunderous debut against Iran (6-2) and their easy success over Wales (3-0) should be of a nature to worry some.
With a silent Harry Kane in front of goal but the best decisive passer in the competition, with a found Marcus Rashford and a very compact midfielder, like Declan Rice, the Three Lions are not lacking in assets.
There remains their defense, always perfectible, and the goalkeeper position, where Jordan Pickford remains capable of the best, but also of the worst.
But watch out for the Blues who could cross their path in the quarter-finals,
Lightning without a future: Saudi Arabia
If this World Cup had started on the second day with an improbable thunderclap with the defeat of Argentina against Saudi Arabia (2-1), the selection of Hervé Renard was ultimately only a flash in the pan.
What to rage without doubt for the French because clearly, in this Group C, the Saudis had done the hardest by taking the best of Lionel Messi and others.
But behind, they suffered the realism of Robert Lewandowski and Poland (0-2) during a meeting that they did not necessarily deserve to lose.
And against Mexico (1-2), they showed an insufficient level of play to consider continuing their adventure in 8th.
Finally, the "
hype
" Renard will quickly come down...
The Unintentionally Funny Statement: Gianni Infantino
“
Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel migrant worker .
Difficult to do more demagogic, and moved, than Gianni Infantino, president of Fifa, during the press conference on the eve of the opening of the World Cup on November 19.