In partnership with
CS is Free. It does help when subscribers Click on an Advertisement.
Please support CS by clicking on an Ad, no commitment or purchase necessary, takes a second.
THANKS!
Happy 4th Everyone - Thanks for Subscribing
Current Knock Out Matchups 🥊🥊
Round of 32 Summary 🤓
Storylines
The Blue Sharks
Cape Verde. Best match of the WC tournament.
World #1 v #67 - biggest gap in ranking in a knockout round ever.
A nation with 40+M people v one with 500k.
A nation 95% of us couldn’t have found on a map prior to this world cup.
95% of Miami Stadium in Argentina colors (and seems like 50% in a #10).
Messi, the 🐐, scores an unbelievably great goal, but for but not for him, just something we expect, 29’ and it seems Cape Verde will tip their cap and allow Argentina to move on. Watch Here.
But No - The Blue Sharks score early in the 2H and it was game on.
The game goes extra time - Argentina scores at 92’ - but then Cape Verde found another gear and Sidny Cabral scored the goal of the tournament, so far. Watch Here. AND - watch Sidny run up to the stands to find his girl.
Looked like this was heading to Penalty Kicks - but Argentina gets a goal from the great striker Own Goal, and the dream run ends.
Penalty Shootout Drama.
Germany can’t decide who wants to take a goal, Netherlands played scared and Australia swapped out goal keepers and let an 18 yo middle back take a pk. All three of those countries were knocked out on pens.
Paraguay (the team y’all thought was bad bc they lost to the USA 1-4), Morocco, and Egypt had the composure and cajónes to advance on pens.
This was the first time Germany has ever lost in PKs at the WC. Cost manager Julian Nagelsmann his job.
Africa. 9 of 10 African nations made the round of 32, just 2 remain (Morocco & Egypt).
Europe. 7 of the 16 teams remaining are from Europe.
South America. 4 teams remain, 3 have a legit shot at the title.
Belgium came back from 2 goals down at the 86’ mark, scoring 2 in regulation and then scoring a penalty at the end of the 30 minutes extra time. Senegal controlled play for 80 minutes.
Morocco beating Netherlands on Penalties was riveting, Netherlands played tentatively and it cost them, Morocco went for it and deserved it.
Japan taking the lead on Brazil but losing at 90+6’, bummer they are already out of the tournament.
Biggest disappoint - Germany, first even needing penalties, second not having the hutzpah to take them.
There they are - Spain. Lots of questions after their opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, those questions have been answered. No goals allowed yet.
Azteca - Mexico. Also, no goals allowed yet and an unbelievable atmosphere and home field environment at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Look out England.
Juggernaut - France. So many ways to play and score.
Nervy - England. Congo led much of the way, England with chance after chance and then Harry Kane just said I Got It.
Ball Technology. Croatia and their 40-year-old star Luca Modric get knocked out on an offside call made by the ball, ultimately VAR. Tough way to go out.
USA. USA. USA. Another solid performance that even a very bad call for red card on Flo Balogun can’t diminish.
Players
Stars continue to show out.
Haaland (Norway) gets the game winner against Ivory Coast.
Mbappe (France) with 2 more goals.
Kane (England) with 2 goals after 75’ to take the match over.
Balogun (USA) breaking out this tournament, will be in high demand for the upcoming season, hopefully he gets to play in the quarterfinals this tournament.
Ronaldo (Portugal) scores the match tying penalty, not to mention the fan following him everywhere.
Messi (Argentina) seems like he just keeps getting better, another goal, but he did run all 120 minutes against Cape Verde.
257 Goals have been scored so far this World Cup as of July 4th - on this 250th anniversary.
Goal Leaders
7 - Messi
6 - Mbappe
5 - Haaland, Kane
4 - Vini Jr, Dembele
Who’s In Who’s Out
Some GREAT Stories in this tournament, BUT the cream is rising to the top.
FIFA continually updates their official rankings - as of July 3 at 2pm cst - here are some interesting numbers.
25 Teams IN R32
and
Ranked IN top 32
1 France
2 Argentina
3 Spain
4 England
5 Brazil
6 Moracco
7 Portugal
8 Netherlands
9 Belgium
10 Mexico
11 Colombia
12 Germany
13 Croatia
15 Switzerland
16 USA
17 Japan
18 Senegal
21 Norway
23 Austria
24 Egypt
25 Ecuador
28 Australia
29 Algeria
30 Canada
31 Ivory Coast
7 Teams IN R32
but
Ranked OUT of top 32
34 Paraguay
37 Sweden
41 Congo DR
54 South Africa
61 Bosnia-Herzegovina
64 Cape Verde
65 Ghana
Teams Ranked IN FIFA Top 32
but
NOT in R32
14 Italy (Missed WC)
19 Uruguay
20 Denmark (Missed WC)
22 Iran
26 Nigeria
27 Turkey
32 South Korea
12 Teams IN R16
and
Ranked IN top 16
1 France
2 Argentina
3 Spain
4 England
5 Brazil
6 Moracco
7 Portugal
9 Belgium
10 Mexico
11 Colombia
15 Switzerland
16 USA
4 Teams IN R16
but
Ranked OUT of top 16
21 Norway
26 Egypt
30 Canada
34 Paraguay
Teams Ranked IN FIFA top 16
but
NOT in R16
8 Netherlands
12 Germany
13 Croatia
14 Italy (Missed WC)
Sweet Sixteen 🍰
Clean Sheet - Ranking the best matchups 8 to 1.
EST
8 Paraguay v France
Can Paraguay slow this one down and take to pens.
7 Canada v Morocco
Street fight. Expect Cards.
6 Argentina v Egypt
All about Messi and Argentina.
5 Switzerland v Colombia
High Flying.
4 Brazil v Norway
Who will finish.
3 Mexico v England
Biggest home pitch advantage, will it be enough in Azteca.
2 Spain v Portugal
Spain finding its footing, can Ronaldo lift his side over their neighbors.
1 USA v Belgium
Is there any question.
#30 Canada v #6 Morocco - Saturday, 12 cst - Houston
Will be a street fight, lots of cards, will be chippy. Will Alphonso Davies, Canada’s star, play? He’s been injured. Since Canada did not win their group they are playing outside Canada. Morocco finds ways to win. Expect this to be close but Morocco to pull away late.
Morocco to win in 90’ -127
Canada to win in 90’ +350
Draw in 90’ +223
#34 Paraguay v #1 France - Saturday, 4 cst - Philadelphia
The team the USA beat 4-1 not only made the round of 32 but shocked Germany and now get the current worlds number 1. Remember, Paraguay beat Brazil and Argentina in qualifying and can be very stingy on defense. They will need to build a big wall around their box and hope then can keep France to 1 goal or less, take this one to the final minutes. Expect France to be well prepared and find ways to break down the Paraguayan defense, get up early and extend a multi goal lead into the 2H.
Paraguay to win in 90’ +1563
France to win in 90’ -565
Draw in 90’ +563
Turn Predictions Into Profit—Get $10 Free
Watching sports just got a lot more interesting...
On Kalshi, you can take a position on real outcomes — who wins, season milestones, major matchups. If you know sports, you already have an edge.
Buy "Yes" or "No" shares on what you think will happen, and earn returns if you're right.
No house. No bookie. Just the market.
You're trading peer-to-peer against other users, with fully transparent pricing. Cash out anytime. You don't have to wait for the final whistle.
Trade responsibly.
