World Cup Daily: Brazil, Portugal secure their spots in knockout round

After each matchday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events and look ahead to the next day’s slate of games.          

Here’s what happened on Monday in Qatar, in case you missed it…

THE RESULTS

Cameroon 3, Serbia 3 in Al Wakrah: Match Report || Match stats
South Korea 2, Ghana 3 in Al Rayyan: Match Report || Match stats
Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 in Doha: Match Report || Match stats
Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 in Lusail: Match Report || Match stats

World Cup isn’t just about the top-tier nations 

Most of the hype ahead of Monday’s slate of games centred on Brazil and Uruguay, but it was the other two matches that had everybody talking at the end of the day.  Cameroon and Serbia didn’t do their hopes of advancing to the knockout round much good as they played to a 3-3 draw that leaves them tied for last place in Group G with a single point. But the two nations combined to put on a show that fans won’t soon forget.  

In what has been the most entertaining match at the World Cup thus far, substitute Vincent Aboubakar scored one goal and created another as Cameroon came from 3-1 down to earn a draw with Serbia. In the 64th minute, Aboubakar brilliantly timed his run to perfection, beating the offside trap and latching onto a pass before breaking in on goal and chipping goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Two minutes later, Aboubakar turned playmaker when he set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s equalizing goal for the African side. It was the first time in Qatar that both teams in a game coughed up their lead.  

The other early game of the day saw South Korea erase a two-goal deficit in its Group H contest against Ghana, only to come up short 3-2. The Koreans carried most of the play in the opening 45 minutes but trailed 2-0 going into the halftime break. The game suddenly turned when Cho Geu-sung scored two goals roughly three minutes apart early in the second half to draw level.  

South Korea had the momentum, but the match turned again when Mohammed Kudus scored his second of the match in the 68th minute. South Korea furiously pressed for an equalizer during the last 20 minutes as it pinned the Black Stars deep inside their half of the field. No more goals were forthcoming, though, and Ghana held on for the win to avoid being eliminated. 

Both matches were breathless affairs full of drama. All four nations might not qualify for the knockout stage, but their performances on Monday served as a reminder that the World Cup isn’t just about the marquee teams. It’s also about nations such as Serbia, Cameroon, Ghana and South Korea, nations which can play some scintillating soccer and provide memorable moments. 

Brazil, Portugal off to the round of 16 

It should come as little surprise that both Brazil and Portugal are through to the knockout stage in Qatar, joining reigning World Cup champions France as the only teams in the 32-nation field to have punched their ticket so far. Brazil, after all, is a five-time winner of this competition and was widely regarded as the pre-tournament favourite. Portugal hasn’t won soccer’s biggest prize, but it’s not exactly a slouch in the international game, having claimed the European Championship in 2016 – to say nothing of the fact it boasts Cristiano Ronaldo. 

But both Brazil and Portugal were made to work for it on Monday, and only managed to pull out victories after labouring for quite some time. Neither nation secured their spots in a walkover; instead, they had to earn it against resolute teams that pushed them to the very end of their respective contests. 

In Brazil’s case, it took the South Americans 83 minutes to breach a staunch Swiss resistance in their Group G contest. While the Swiss didn’t register a single shot on target, they defended brilliantly and frustrated their South American foes for long stretches. Finally, defensive midfielder Casemiro displayed a genuine goal-scorer’s touch with his peach of a strike being the difference for Brazil, who struggled to break down Switzerland in the absence of Neymar (ruled out due to an ankle injury). 

As for Portugal, it found the going equally tough against Uruguay, before pulling out a 2-0 win in Group H, a score line that rather flattered Ronaldo and his cohorts. Bruno Fernandes did his candidacy for the Golden Ball (award to the tournament MVP) no harm with another masterful display in leading his country to victory. But there was a touch of good fortune with his opening goal, while his second came from a contentious penalty in second-half injury time. 

These two matches served as a staunch reminder that there are no free lunches at the World Cup and that even the mightiest of nations have to earn what they get. Results must be earned through hard work and graft, no matter who you are and if your reputation precedes you.  

GOAL OF THE DAY          

You’ll find few better examples of a ‘tic-tac-toe’ goal than Casemiro’s winner for Brazil in the 83rd minute vs Switzerland. Vinicius Junior peeled off the left wing with the ball glued to his feet before feeding a pass to the top of the box to Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo. Rather than controlling the ball, Rodrygo played a beautiful one-touch pass into the box for Casemiro, who hit a curling first-time shot with the outside of his foot, nestled into the far corner of the net.  

MOMENT OF THE DAY          

In the 32nd minute, Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur went on a probing run from inside his half down the middle of the park, ghosting past several Portuguese players. By the time he was in the penalty area, he looked certain to score. Still, goalkeeper Diogo Costa came out and made himself big to make a great save, denying Bentancur what would have been a memorable goal after a sensational solo effort. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY          

“In a squad, you need to see discipline. If you can’t fit in with that discipline, with what’s required to be part of a squad, then I do think that you need to accept responsibility because the squad is more important than the interests of any individual. For the time being, we have to deal with the players who do want to be part of the squad and are proud to pull on the shirt. I am like a father to these boys, and I am responsible.” – Cameroon coach Rigobert Song on why he dropped goalkeeper Andre Onana and started backup Devis Epassy.  

SIX PACK OF STATS          

• Serbia is the first team to score twice in first-half stoppage time at the World Cup since 1966.       

• Mohammed Kudus (22 years and 118 days) is the second youngest African player to score two goals in a World Cup match, after Ahmed Musa (21 years, 254 days) for Nigeria against Argentina in 2014.    

• The Brazilian men’s team is now unbeaten in its last 17 group-stage games at the World Cup, setting a new record.    

• Casemiro's goal in the 83rd minute is the second-latest opener scored by Brazil in a World Cup match, behind only Coutinho against Costa Rica in 2018 (90th minute).  

• Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a yellow card after 5:43 vs. Portugal, the earliest caution of this World Cup. 

• Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in eight goals in his last five appearances for Portugal, scoring five and assisting three.  

Stats courtesy of Opta          

SPORTSNET IN QATAR   

Sportsnet.ca contributor Peter Galindo is in Qatar covering the World Cup.  He was at today’s Portugal-Uruguay match: 

THREE STARS OF THE DAY          

1) Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) and Cho Gue-sung (South Korea): Both players bagged fantastic braces for their teams in Ghana’s thrilling win over South Korea.  

2) Bruno Fernandes (Portugal): He scored the opener and then drew the handball foul that led to an injury-time penalty, which he duly converted to seal the win. 

3) Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon): The veteran striker came off the bench in the 55th minute and made history by becoming the first substitute to both score and assist in a World Cup game for an African team. 

LOOKING AHEAD TO TUESDAY          

There are four games on tap tomorrow with Wales vs. England (2:00 p.m.) being the pick of the bunch. England tops Group B with four points, while Wales (one point) sits in last place. The Welsh need to win, hope Iran and the U.S. (2:00 p.m. ET) play to a draw and overturn a minus-2 goal difference in order to have a shot at advancing out of the group. The English, on the other hand, only need a draw to clinch a berth in the round of 16. In Group A, the Netherlands takes on Qatar and Ecuador clashes with Senegal (both at 10:00 a.m. ET). The Dutch and South Americans are tied for first place with four points and can both move on to the knockout round with draws in their respective matches.