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As the Round of 16 got underway, the Netherlands dispatched the USA and Lionel Messi’s Argentina ended the Socceroos’ World Cup run.
Here’s all the latest behind-the-scenes news from Qatar.
Mat Ryan’s spat with his Copenhagen teammate Kamil Grabara has hit a new low with the Polish goalkeeper sledging the Australian after his moment of misfortune on Sunday.
Ryan was at fault for Argentina’s second goal in the 2-1 loss in Qatar as he dithered on the ball and was robbed by Julian Alvarez who rolled it into the net.
Ryan has responded after Grabara revelled in his teammate’s misfortune.
Grabara and Ryan have been embroiled in a bitter battle for the No.12 jersey at Copenagen and the Pole has been savage in his comments on the Australia captain.
He seemed to take a measure of glee in Ryan’s high profile blunder on Sunday, tweeting ‘must have been politics, for sure,’ in seeming reference to suggestions of why he won the club jersey back from Ryan. There have been reports that Copenhagen want to sell Grabara and are playing him ahead of Ryan to increase his transfer market value.
Ryan told reporters he wasn’t surprised by Grabara’s tweet.
“Not surprised, really. His opinion doesn’t really concern me.”
Ryan’s teammates gathered around their skipper afterwards/
“They were consoling me on the pitch, reminding me of what I’ve done through the campaign,” the Socceroos captain said. “[We have] got a support network in there, got each other’s backs.
“Anytime something like that happens it’s always about the response straight away.
“Arnie made that clear to me in my first ever game, it’s how you respond after that.”
“I won’t let it get the better of me or define me, and will come back stronger for it.”
Grabara, who spent five years on Liverpool’s books without making an English Premier League appearance, was Copenhagen’s No.1 last season as they won the Danish Superliga title. He blamed the club’s poor start to the season on Ryan.
“I don’t comment on my teammates’ performances – this applies especially when I haven’t been in the games,” Grabara told Danish outlet Tipsbladet.
“I can only repeat what I have already said – I just have to state that there is a reason why we are in ninth place in the Superliga and that the goals have poured in. It speaks for itself.
The Polish keeper’s Tweet drew a savage response from Austrlaian fans.
Lionel Messi’s bid to win a first World Cup at his last attempt remains on course and he was the clear standout as the South Americans edged a courageous Socceroos team in Qatar.
Messi, playing his 1000th career game, scored the opening goal in the first half, gliding into a dangerous area, killing a ball dead and shooting through the legs of Harry Souttar and into the corner of the net past Mat Ryan.
Aside from the goal he was supreme, drifting away from defenders and finding pockets of space all over the field.
It was a performance that had many observers in raptures.
“The way Messi works that space. The way he carries the ball when there is much going on around him,” purred former England striker Alan Shearer on the BBC.
“He’s got everything. Whenever he gets the ball the whole stadium gets on its feet. It doesn’t matter where he is on the pitch, the whole stadium rises.
“We’re so lucky to be in this stadium to watch him. What a performance from him, we’ve talked about his ability, the hunger and desire. The ability to run with the ball which attracts so many players and frees up his team-mates.”
Rio Ferdinand – the former England and Manchester United centreback – went further.
“How is he doing this? He is embarrassing players with his head up. He’s taking people on and is able to see the whole pitch, where people are,” Ferdinand said during the BBC commentary.
“The best individual performance from a player at this World Cup. It was almost God-like. I’ve not seen anything like this. He is phenomenal.”
Brazil – and football – legend Pele’s health has taken a turn for the worse, according to news coming out of his homeland.
Reports state the three-time World Cup winner, who is widely regarded as the greatest to ever play the beautiful game, is in palliative care receiving pain-relieving measures.
The former striker last year had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon, and had been in and out of hospital since then.
Pele was admitted to hospital earlier this week but said in an Instagram post that it was simply a “monthly visit”.
“Today we start writing a new story,” the 82-year-old shared to Instagram in support of the Brazilian squad searching for their first World Cup crown in 20 years.
“No matter the size and tradition of the opponents: we must respect and play each match with the focus of a final.
“I am sending all positive energies to you. I’m sure we’ll have a happy ending. God bless you. Bring this trophy home!”
Brazil star Neymar is yet to kick a ball in anger after going off injured during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Serbia.
Brazil coach Tite, in consultation with the squad’s medical staff, will make a call on the 30-year-old’s fitness in the hours leading up to kick-off on Monday (6am AEDT).
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
“Regarding Neymar and Alex Sandro, we think we have time on our hands and there is a possibility,” said team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.
“Let’s wait what their transition will be – they have still not started to practise with the ball and it’s something they will do tomorrow.
“It will be important to see how they respond to this new style, so depending on that, we will make a call.”
Tite has a few other headaches, with doubts over the condition of Alex Sandro and Danilo, while Alex Telles and Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus have both been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup.
It is expected Sandro and Danilo will return at some point should Brazil continue to advance through the tournament, but if Neymar isn’t passed fit it is a huge blow to their title hopes.
Granit Xhaka, who’s never far from the headlines whether he is representing his country or running around for Arsenal, is back in the news after donning a shirt emblazoned with ‘Jashari’ following his man-of-the-match showing in a 3-2 win that sent Serbia crashing out of the World Cup.
The Switzerland captain told reporters post-game that the shirt was for teammate Ardon Jashari.
“There’s no political background to it whatsoever,” Xhaka said.
“Ardon is part of our squad and we spend a lot of time together. I told him if we won I would wear his shirt.”
The problem with that explanation is Ardon Jashari is yet to play a minute in Qatar, and as strong as the bond between he and his captain may be, it’s unlikely Xhaka would’ve had the shirt pre-made to recognise his teammate.
Based on past behaviour, it seems Adem Jashari, a founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army, could have been the subject of the message instead.
Xhaka is of ethnic Albanian heritage linked to Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 but has not been recognised by Serbia.
When asked about the topic, Switzerland coach Murat Yakin claimed any link to Kosovan-Serbian relations was “just speculation”.
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