2022 FIFA World Cup knockout stage

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. Played from 3 to 18 December, the knockout stage ended with the final, held at Lusail Stadium in Lusail.[1] The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination tournament. There were 16 matches in the knockout stage, including a third place play-off played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.[2]

Format

The knockout stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was contested between 16 teams that qualified from the group stage. Matches in the knockout stage were played to a finish. If the score of a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of playing time, extra time was played. If, after two periods of 15 minutes, the scores were still tied, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out.[2] All times listed are local in Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3).[1]

Qualified teams

The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.[2]

Group Winners Runners-up
A  Netherlands  Senegal
B  England  United States
C  Argentina  Poland
D  France  Australia
E  Japan  Spain
F  Morocco  Croatia
G  Brazil  Switzerland
H  Portugal  South Korea

Bracket

The tournament bracket is shown below, with bold denoting the winners of each match.[3]

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
3 December – Al Rayyan (KIS)
 
 
 Netherlands3
 
9 December – Lusail
 
 United States1
 
 Netherlands2 (3)
 
3 December – Al Rayyan (ABAS)
 
 Argentina (p)2 (4)
 
 Argentina2
 
13 December – Lusail
 
 Australia1
 
 Argentina3
 
5 December – Al Wakrah
 
 Croatia0
 
 Japan1 (1)
 
9 December – Al Rayyan (ECS)
 
 Croatia (p)1 (3)
 
 Croatia (p)1 (4)
 
5 December – Doha (S974)
 
 Brazil1 (2)
 
 Brazil4
 
18 December – Lusail
 
 South Korea1
 
 Argentina (p)3 (4)
 
4 December – Al Khor
 
 France3 (2)
 
 England3
 
10 December – Al Khor
 
 Senegal0
 
 England1
 
4 December – Doha (ATS)
 
 France2
 
 France3
 
14 December – Al Khor
 
 Poland1
 
 France2
 
6 December – Al Rayyan (ECS)
 
 Morocco0 Third place play-off
 
 Morocco (p)0 (3)
 
10 December – Doha (ATS)17 December – Al Rayyan (KIS)
 
 Spain0 (0)
 
 Morocco1 Croatia2
 
6 December – Lusail
 
 Portugal0  Morocco1
 
 Portugal6
 
 
 Switzerland1
 

Round of 16

Netherlands vs United States

The teams had previously met five times, with the Netherlands winning the first four encounters. They most recently met in a June 2015 friendly, with the United States winning 4–3.[4]

Early on in the contest, Christian Pulisic was sent through on goal for the United States but saw his shot saved by the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Andries Noppert. The Netherlands then went in front in the 10th minute, when Memphis Depay received a ball from the right from Denzel Dumfries and finished into the left corner of the net after a sequence of passes.[5] In added time in the first half, Daley Blind made it 2–0 for the Dutch with another low finish, receiving the ball on the right from Dumfries for his second assist of the game. In the 76th minute, the United States pulled a goal back when Haji Wright finished with a deflection from Christian Pulisic's looped cross at the far post. Dumfries sealed the win with a third goal for the Netherlands five minutes later, adding to his two assists with a side-footed finish at the far post from Blind's cross.[6]

Netherlands 3–1 United States
Report
Netherlands
United States
GK 23 Andries Noppert
CB 2 Jurriën Timber
CB 4 Virgil van Dijk (c)
CB 5 Nathan Aké downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
RM 22 Denzel Dumfries
CM 15 Marten de Roon downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 21 Frenkie de Jong Yellow card 87'
LM 17 Daley Blind
AM 14 Davy Klaassen downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 8 Cody Gakpo downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
CF 10 Memphis Depay downward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutions:
MF 20 Teun Koopmeiners Yellow card 60' upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 7 Steven Bergwijn upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 25 Xavi Simons upward-facing green arrow 83'
DF 3 Matthijs de Ligt upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
FW 19 Wout Weghorst upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal
GK 1 Matt Turner
RB 2 Sergiño Dest downward-facing red arrow 75'
CB 3 Walker Zimmerman
CB 13 Tim Ream
LB 5 Antonee Robinson downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
DM 4 Tyler Adams (c)
CM 6 Yunus Musah
CM 8 Weston McKennie downward-facing red arrow 67'
RF 21 Timothy Weah downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 9 Jesús Ferreira downward-facing red arrow 46'
LF 10 Christian Pulisic
Substitutions:
FW 7 Giovanni Reyna upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 11 Brenden Aaronson upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 19 Haji Wright upward-facing green arrow 67'
DF 22 DeAndre Yedlin upward-facing green arrow 75'
FW 16 Jordan Morris upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
Manager:
Gregg Berhalter

Man of the Match:
Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands)[7]

Assistant referees:
Bruno Boschilia (Brazil)
Bruno Pires (Brazil)
Fourth official:
Andrés Matonte (Uruguay)
Reserve assistant referee:
Nicolás Taran (Uruguay)
Video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Juan Soto (Venezuela)
Ashley Beecham (Australia)
Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)
Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:
Jerson dos Santos (Angola)

Argentina vs Australia

The teams had previously met seven times, with Argentina winning five, drawing one, and losing one of these encounters. The sides notably met in the 1994 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-off, which Argentina won 2–1 on aggregate. They also faced off in Argentina's 4–2 win at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Their most recent meeting was in a September 2007 friendly, with Argentina winning 1–0.[8]

On his 1,000th career appearance, Lionel Messi scored his 789th career goal and first in a World Cup knockout stage, giving Argentina the lead in the 35th minute with a low left-footed finish into the left corner. Julián Álvarez made it 2–0 in the 57th minute when he pounced on an error by Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to finish low to the net past the stranded goalkeeper.[9] Australia pulled a goal back in the 77th minute when Craig Goodwin's strike took a huge deflection off Enzo Fernández and ended up in the right corner of the net.[10] Australia had chances to level the match, first when Aziz Behich dribbled past four players before his shot was blocked by Lisandro Martínez, then in added time when Garang Kuol had a shot saved at close range by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. Argentina also spurned several opportunities to add to their advantage, with substitute Lautaro Martínez guilty of squandering multiple chances.[11]

Argentina 2–1 Australia
Report
Argentina
Australia
GK 23 Emiliano Martínez
RB 26 Nahuel Molina downward-facing red arrow 80'
CB 13
Cristian Romero
CB 19 Nicolás Otamendi
LB 8 Marcos Acuña downward-facing red arrow 71'
DM 24 Enzo Fernández
CM 7 Rodrigo De Paul
CM 20 Alexis Mac Allister downward-facing red arrow 80'
RF 9 Julián Álvarez downward-facing red arrow 71'
CF 10 Lionel Messi (c)
LF 17 Papu Gómez downward-facing red arrow 50'
Substitutions:
DF 25 Lisandro Martínez upward-facing green arrow 50'
FW 22 Lautaro Martínez upward-facing green arrow 71'
DF 3 Nicolás Tagliafico upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 14 Exequiel Palacios upward-facing green arrow 80'
DF 4 Gonzalo Montiel upward-facing green arrow 80'
Manager:
Lionel Scaloni
GK 1 Mathew Ryan (c)
RB 2 Miloš Degenek Yellow card 38' downward-facing red arrow 71'
CB 19 Harry Souttar
CB 4 Kye Rowles
LB 16 Aziz Behich
RM 7 Mathew Leckie downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 26 Keanu Baccus downward-facing red arrow 58'
CM 13 Aaron Mooy
LM 14 Riley McGree downward-facing red arrow 58'
CF 15 Mitchell Duke downward-facing red arrow 71'
CF 22 Jackson Irvine Yellow card 15'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Ajdin Hrustic upward-facing green arrow 58'
FW 23 Craig Goodwin upward-facing green arrow 58'
FW 21 Garang Kuol upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 9 Jamie Maclaren upward-facing green arrow 71'
DF 5 Fran Karačić upward-facing green arrow 71'
Manager:
Graham Arnold

Man of the Match:
Lionel Messi (Argentina)[12]

Assistant referees:
Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)
Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)
Fourth official:
Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
Reserve assistant referee:
Karen Díaz Medina (Mexico)
Video assistant referee:
Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Marco Fritz (Germany)
Alessandro Giallatini (Italy)
Benoît Millot (France)
Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:
Ciro Carbone (Italy)

France vs Poland

The teams had met sixteen times prior to this match, with France winning eight and Poland winning three of these encounters, along with five draws. Poland's three victories included the 1982 World Cup third-place play-off, which they won 3–2. The sides most recently met in a friendly in June 2011, won by France 1–0.[13]

After Olivier Giroud missed a chance for France in front of goal off a cross from Ousmane Dembélé, Poland nearly opened the scoring later in the first half when Piotr Zieliński saw two close-range shots blocked in quick succession. In the 44th minute, Giroud received a pass from Kylian Mbappé before firing low to the right corner of the net to put France into the lead, in the process also breaking the all-time French scoring record with his 52nd goal for the nation. Mbappé made it 2–0 in the 74th minute, when he received the ball on the left just inside the penalty area before firing powerfully into the top left corner of the net. Mbappé got his second of the game in the first minute of added time with a right-footed curling finish past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. In the final minute of the match, Robert Lewandowski pulled a goal back for Poland to make it 3–1 with a penalty low to the left corner, awarded after a handball by Dayot Upamecano; goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved Lewandowski's initial attempt, but it was retaken after Lloris was deemed to have left his goal line too early.[14]

France 3–1 Poland
Report
Attendance: 40,989
France
Poland
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)
RB 5 Jules Koundé downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
CB 4 Raphaël Varane
CB 18 Dayot Upamecano
LB 22 Théo Hernandez
CM 8 Aurélien Tchouaméni Yellow card 32' downward-facing red arrow 66'
CM 14 Adrien Rabiot
RW 11 Ousmane Dembélé downward-facing red arrow 76'
AM 7 Antoine Griezmann
LW 10 Kylian Mbappé
CF 9 Olivier Giroud downward-facing red arrow 76'
Substitutions:
MF 13
Youssouf Fofana
upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW 20 Kingsley Coman upward-facing green arrow 76'
FW 26 Marcus Thuram upward-facing green arrow 76'
DF 3 Axel Disasi upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
Manager:
Didier Deschamps
GK 1 Wojciech Szczęsny
RB 2 Matty Cash Yellow card 88'
CB 15 Kamil Glik
CB 14 Jakub Kiwior downward-facing red arrow 87'
LB 18 Bartosz Bereszyński Yellow card 47'
DM 10 Grzegorz Krychowiak downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 20 Piotr Zieliński
CM 19 Sebastian Szymański downward-facing red arrow 64'
RW 13 Jakub Kamiński downward-facing red arrow 71'
LW 24 Przemysław Frankowski downward-facing red arrow 87'
CF 9 Robert Lewandowski (c)
Substitutions:
FW 7 Arkadiusz Milik upward-facing green arrow 64'
MF 21 Nicola Zalewski upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 6 Krystian Bielik upward-facing green arrow 71'
DF 5 Jan Bednarek upward-facing green arrow 87'
MF 11 Kamil Grosicki upward-facing green arrow 87'
Manager:
Czesław Michniewicz

Man of the Match:
Kylian Mbappé (France)[15]

Assistant referees:
Jorge Urrego (Venezuela)
Tulio Moreno (Venezuela)
Fourth official:
Kevin Ortega (Peru)
Reserve assistant referee:
Michael Orué (Peru)
Video assistant referee:
Juan Soto (Venezuela)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)
Neuza Back (Brazil)
Julio Bascuñán (Chile)
Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:
Martín Soppi (Uruguay)

England vs Senegal

This was the first ever meeting between the sides.[16] It was also the first time England faced an African opposition in the World Cup knockout stage since a 1990 quarter-final win over Cameroon.

After a tight opening period where Senegal's Boulaye Dia saw his strike saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, England went in front in the 38th minute, when Jordan Henderson scored low into the net from twelve yards off of a pass from Jude Bellingham on the left. In added time in the first half, reigning World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane made it 2–0 with his first goal of the tournament, firing into the net from the right after a pass from Phil Foden. In the 57th minute, Foden crossed from the left for Bukayo Saka to make it 3–0 with a clipped left-footed finish over Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.[17]

England 3–0 Senegal
Report
Attendance: 65,985
England
Senegal
GK 1 Jordan Pickford
RB 2 Kyle Walker
CB 5 John Stones downward-facing red arrow 76'
CB 6 Harry Maguire
LB 3 Luke Shaw
DM 4 Declan Rice
CM 8 Jordan Henderson downward-facing red arrow 82'
CM 22 Jude Bellingham downward-facing red arrow 76'
RF 17 Bukayo Saka downward-facing red arrow 65'
CF 9 Harry Kane (c)
LF 20 Phil Foden downward-facing red arrow 65'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Marcus Rashford upward-facing green arrow 65'
FW 7 Jack Grealish upward-facing green arrow 65'
MF 19 Mason Mount upward-facing green arrow 76'
DF 15 Eric Dier upward-facing green arrow 76'
MF 14 Kalvin Phillips upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Gareth Southgate
GK 16 Édouard Mendy
RB 21 Youssouf Sabaly
CB 3 Kalidou Koulibaly (c) Yellow card 76'
CB 22 Abdou Diallo
LB 14 Ismail Jakobs downward-facing red arrow 84'
CM 11 Pathé Ciss downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 6 Nampalys Mendy
RW 15 Krépin Diatta downward-facing red arrow 46'
AM 13 Iliman Ndiaye downward-facing red arrow 46'
LW 18 Ismaïla Sarr
CF 9 Boulaye Dia downward-facing red arrow 72'
Substitutions:
MF 17 Pape Matar Sarr upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 20 Bamba Dieng upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 26 Pape Gueye upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 19 Famara Diédhiou upward-facing green arrow 72'
DF 12 Fodé Ballo-Touré upward-facing green arrow 84'
Manager:
Aliou Cissé

Man of the Match:
Harry Kane (England)[18]

Assistant referees:
David Morán (El Salvador)
Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
Fourth official:
Saíd Martínez (Honduras)
Reserve assistant referee:
Helpys Raymundo Feliz (Dominican Republic)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Armando Villarreal (United States)
Corey Parker (United States)
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)
Stand-by assistant video assistant referee:
Kyle Atkins (United States)

Japan vs Croatia

The teams had previously met three times, with a draw and a win for each side. Two of these encounters were in World Cup group stages: Croatia won 1–0 in 1998, and the teams drew 0–0 in 2006. The latter draw was the most recent encounter between the two.[19]

In the 43rd minute, Daizen Maeda scored the opener for Japan with a low finish in the penalty area, after the ball was knocked back to him from the left. Ten minutes into the second half, Ivan Perišić equalised when he headed powerfully to the right corner of the net after a cross from Dejan Lovren on the right. The match saw no further goals scored either in the ninety minutes or during extra time and thus went to a penalty shoot-out. Japan missed three of their four penalties, with all three saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. After Marko Livaja's effort struck the post, Mario Pašalić scored the winning spot kick with a low shot to the left, as Croatia won the shoot-out 3–1.[20] Livaković became the third goalkeeper to make three saves in a World Cup shoot-out, after Ricardo for Portugal in 2006 and his fellow countryman Danijel Subašić in 2018.[21]

Japan 1–1 (a.e.t.) Croatia
Report
Penalties
1–3
Japan
Croatia
GK 12 Shūichi Gonda
CB 16 Takehiro Tomiyasu
CB 22 Maya Yoshida (c)
CB 3 Shogo Taniguchi
RM 14
Junya Itō
CM 6
Wataru Endo
CM 13 Hidemasa Morita downward-facing red arrow 106'
LM 5 Yuto Nagatomo downward-facing red arrow 64'
RF 8 Ritsu Dōan downward-facing red arrow 87'
CF 25 Daizen Maeda downward-facing red arrow 64'
LF 15 Daichi Kamada downward-facing red arrow 75'
Substitutions:
MF 9 Kaoru Mitoma upward-facing green arrow 64'
FW 18 Takuma Asano upward-facing green arrow 64'
DF 19 Hiroki Sakai upward-facing green arrow 75'
MF 10 Takumi Minamino upward-facing green arrow 87'
MF 17 Ao Tanaka upward-facing green arrow 106'
Manager:
Hajime Moriyasu
GK 1 Dominik Livaković
RB 22 Josip Juranović
CB 6 Dejan Lovren
CB 20 Joško Gvardiol
LB 3 Borna Barišić Yellow card 116'
DM 11 Marcelo Brozović
CM 10 Luka Modrić (c) downward-facing red arrow 99'
CM 8 Mateo Kovačić Yellow card 90' downward-facing red arrow 99'
RF 9 Andrej Kramarić downward-facing red arrow 68'
CF 16 Bruno Petković downward-facing red arrow 62'
LF 4 Ivan Perišić downward-facing red arrow 106'
Substitutions:
FW 17 Ante Budimir upward-facing green arrow 62' downward-facing red arrow 106'
MF 15 Mario Pašalić upward-facing green arrow 68'
MF 13 Nikola Vlašić upward-facing green arrow 99'
MF 7 Lovro Majer upward-facing green arrow 99'
FW 14 Marko Livaja upward-facing green arrow 106'
FW 18 Mislav Oršić upward-facing green arrow 106'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić

Man of the Match:
Dominik Livaković (Croatia)[22]

Assistant referees:
Corey Parker (United States)
Kyle Atkins (United States)
Fourth official:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mokrane Gourari (Algeria)
Video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)

Brazil vs South Korea

The teams had previously met seven times, with Brazil winning six and South Korea winning one of these encounters. The most recent meeting was in June 2022, a 5–1 friendly win for Brazil.[23]

Vinícius Júnior opened the scoring for Brazil in the 7th minute, when he converted a side-footed shot to the right of the net past three Korean defenders on the line. Brazil were awarded a penalty six minutes later when Richarlison was fouled just inside the penalty area, which the returning Neymar scored with a low shot to the right corner of the goalkeeper, who didn't move. Richarlison made it 3–0 in the 29th minute when he controlled the ball with his head before receiving the ball back from Thiago Silva and passing into the left corner of the net. Lucas Paquetá got Brazil's fourth goal before half-time in the 36th minute, volleying low into the left corner of the net with his right foot after a cross from Vinícius Júnior on the left. In the second half, South Korea pulled a goal back when Paik Seung-ho finished into the right of the net from thirty yards out. With ten minutes left and leading by three goals, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson was substituted for third-choice keeper Weverton, making Brazil the first team to ever use 26 different players in one World Cup and giving all 26 players play time in the tournament.[24][25]

The match was the last held at the Stadium 974 before its demolition.[26]

Brazil 4–1 South Korea
Report
Attendance: 43,847
Brazil
South Korea
GK 1 Alisson downward-facing red arrow 80'
RB 14 Éder Militão downward-facing red arrow 63'
CB 4 Marquinhos
CB 3 Thiago Silva (c)
LB 2 Danilo downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 5 Casemiro
CM 7 Lucas Paquetá
RW 11 Raphinha
AM 10 Neymar downward-facing red arrow 80'
LW 20 Vinícius Júnior downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 9 Richarlison
Substitutions:
DF 13 Dani Alves upward-facing green arrow 63'
FW 26 Gabriel Martinelli upward-facing green arrow 72'
DF 24 Bremer upward-facing green arrow 72'
GK 12 Weverton upward-facing green arrow 80'
FW 21 Rodrygo upward-facing green arrow 80'
Manager:
Tite
GK 1 Kim Seung-gyu
RB 15 Kim Moon-hwan
CB 4 Kim Min-jae
CB 19 Kim Young-gwon
LB 3 Kim Jin-su downward-facing red arrow 46'
RM 10 Lee Jae-sung downward-facing red arrow 74'
CM 5 Jung Woo-young Yellow card 44' downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 6 Hwang In-beom downward-facing red arrow 65'
LM 11 Hwang Hee-chan
CF 9 Cho Gue-sung downward-facing red arrow 80'
CF 7 Son Heung-min (c)
Substitutions:
DF 14 Hong Chul upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 13 Son Jun-ho upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 8 Paik Seung-ho upward-facing green arrow 65'
MF 18 Lee Kang-in upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 16 Hwang Ui-jo upward-facing green arrow 80'
Manager:
Portugal Paulo Bento

Man of the Match:
Neymar (Brazil)[27]

Assistant referees:
Nicolas Danos (France)
Cyril Gringore (France)
Fourth official:
Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Tomaž Klančnik (Slovenia)
Video assistant referee:
Jérôme Brisard (France)

Morocco vs Spain

The teams had met in three previous international matches, with two wins for Spain and one draw. Spain won both legs of the 1962 World Cup inter-continental play-off, while the sides' most recent meeting was a 2–2 draw in the 2018 World Cup group stage.[28]

After a goalless 120 minutes that were dominated in possession by Spain but saw few chances created, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Spain failed to convert any of their three attempts, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saving two of them from Sergio Busquets and Carlos Soler, and Pablo Sarabia hitting the post, whilst Morocco scored three out of four, including the winning penalty from Achraf Hakimi via a panenka kick in the middle of the goal, seeing Morocco progress to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in history.[29]

Morocco also became the first Arab country to reach the quarter-finals, and just the fourth African nation – after Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010 – to qualify for the last eight.[30] Additionally, Morocco manager Walid Regragui became the first African and first Arab head coach to progress this far at a World Cup.[31][32] Spain became just the second team to fail to convert a single attempt in a World Cup penalty shoot-out, following Switzerland against Ukraine in 2006.

Morocco 0–0 (a.e.t.) Spain
Report
Penalties
3–0
Morocco
Spain
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 5 Nayef Aguerd downward-facing red arrow 84'
CB 6 Romain Saïss (c) Yellow card 90'
LB 3 Noussair Mazraoui downward-facing red arrow 82'
DM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi downward-facing red arrow 120'
CM 15 Selim Amallah downward-facing red arrow 82'
RF 7 Hakim Ziyech
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri downward-facing red arrow 82'
LF 17 Sofiane Boufal downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
FW 16 Abde Ezzalzouli upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW 11 Abdelhamid Sabiri upward-facing green arrow 82'
FW 21 Walid Cheddira upward-facing green arrow 82'
DF 25 Yahia Attiyat Allah upward-facing green arrow 82'
DF 18 Jawad El Yamiq upward-facing green arrow 84'
DF 24 Badr Benoun upward-facing green arrow 120'
Manager:
Walid Regragui
GK 23 Unai Simón
RB 6 Marcos Llorente
CB 16 Rodri
CB 24 Aymeric Laporte Yellow card 77'
LB 18 Jordi Alba downward-facing red arrow 98'
DM 5 Sergio Busquets (c)
CM 9 Gavi downward-facing red arrow 63'
CM 26 Pedri
RF 11 Ferran Torres downward-facing red arrow 75'
CF 10 Marco Asensio downward-facing red arrow 63'
LF 21 Dani Olmo downward-facing red arrow 98'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Álvaro Morata upward-facing green arrow 63'
MF 19 Carlos Soler upward-facing green arrow 63'
FW 12 Nico Williams upward-facing green arrow 75' downward-facing red arrow 118'
DF 14 Alejandro Balde upward-facing green arrow 98'
FW 25 Ansu Fati upward-facing green arrow 98'
FW 22 Pablo Sarabia upward-facing green arrow 118'
Manager:
Luis Enrique

Man of the Match:
Yassine Bounou (Morocco)[33]

Assistant referees:
Juan Pablo Belatti (Argentina)
Diego Bonfá (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Reserve assistant referee:
Bruno Pires (Brazil)
Video assistant referee:
Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)

Portugal vs Switzerland

The teams had met 25 times, with nine wins for Portugal, eleven wins for Switzerland, and five draws. The sides faced off in several editions of World Cup qualification, including 1938, 1970, 1990, 1994, and 2018. Their most recent meeting was in June 2022, with Switzerland winning 1–0 in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A.[34]

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the starting line-up for Portugal – a first in major tournaments since their UEFA Euro 2008 group stage defeat, also against Switzerland – with Gonçalo Ramos named instead to make his first start.[35]

After Portugal took a 2–0 first-half lead via goals from Ramos and Pepe, Ramos would score a further two efforts – either side of goals by Raphaël Guerreiro (assisted by Ramos) and Swiss defender Manuel Akanji – in the second half to become the first hat-trick scorer of the 2022 World Cup, the first player to score a hat-trick on their debut World Cup start since Miroslav Klose in 2002, and the youngest World Cup hat-trick scorer since Flórián Albert in 1962. A late long-range strike from substitute Rafael Leão concluded a 6–1 Portuguese victory as they reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.

The result equalled Switzerland's 5–0 defeat to West Germany in 1966 as their biggest ever World Cup loss. In getting Portugal's second goal, Pepe became the oldest player to ever score in the World Cup knockout stage,[36] and the second-oldest to have scored at any stage of the World Cup, behind only Roger Milla, who scored the consolation goal in Cameroon's thumping by the opposite scoreline in the 1994 group stage against Russia.[37]

Portugal 6–1 Switzerland
Report
Attendance: 83,720
Portugal
Switzerland
GK 22 Diogo Costa
RB 2 Diogo Dalot
CB 3 Pepe (c)
CB 4 Rúben Dias
LB 5 Raphaël Guerreiro
DM 14 William Carvalho
CM 25 Otávio downward-facing red arrow 74'
CM 10 Bernardo Silva downward-facing red arrow 81'
RF 8 Bruno Fernandes downward-facing red arrow 87'
CF 26 Gonçalo Ramos downward-facing red arrow 74'
LF 11 João Félix downward-facing red arrow 74'
Substitutions:
FW 21 Ricardo Horta upward-facing green arrow 74'
MF 16 Vitinha upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 7 Cristiano Ronaldo upward-facing green arrow 74'
MF 18 Rúben Neves upward-facing green arrow 81'
FW 15 Rafael Leão upward-facing green arrow 87'
Manager:
Fernando Santos
GK 1 Yann Sommer
CB 5 Manuel Akanji
CB 22 Fabian Schär Yellow card 43' downward-facing red arrow 46'
CB 13 Ricardo Rodriguez
DM 10 Granit Xhaka (c)
RM 2 Edimilson Fernandes
CM 15 Djibril Sow downward-facing red arrow 54'
CM 8 Remo Freuler downward-facing red arrow 54'
LM 17 Ruben Vargas downward-facing red arrow 66'
CF 7 Breel Embolo downward-facing red arrow 89'
CF 23 Xherdan Shaqiri
Substitutions:
DF 18 Eray Cömert Yellow card 59' upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 6 Denis Zakaria upward-facing green arrow 54'
FW 9 Haris Seferovic upward-facing green arrow 54'
FW 19 Noah Okafor upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 26 Ardon Jashari upward-facing green arrow 89'
Manager:
Murat Yakin

Man of the Match:
Gonçalo Ramos (Portugal)[38]

Assistant referees:
Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Miguel Hernández (Mexico)
Fourth official:
István Kovács (Romania)
Reserve assistant referee:
Ovidiu Artene (Romania)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)

Quarter-finals

Croatia vs Brazil

The teams had met on four previous occasions, with three wins for Brazil and one draw. Two of these encounters took place in the World Cup group stage, with Brazil winning both matches: 1–0 in 2006 and 3–1 in 2014 (Brazil was hosting the World Cup at the time, with the victory being the opening match of that tournament).[39]

Brazil created the majority of the game's chances, forcing Croatian keeper

Péle as the nation's all-time top scorer; after receiving the ball back from Lucas Paquetá, Neymar rounded Livaković and shot high into the net from the right side of the penalty area. A defensive lapse then cost Brazil their lead, as Bruno Petković equalised for Croatia three minutes from the end; after picking out Mislav Oršić's cross on the left flank, he fired a shot into the corner of the net that took a deflection off the leg of Brazilian defender Marquinhos. This would be Croatia's only shot on target of the game. In the subsequent penalty shoot-out, Croatia scored all four of their attempts, while Brazil's first kicker Rodrygo had his shot saved by Livaković diving to his left, before Marquinhos hit his penalty low against the left post to confirm Brazil's elimination.[40]

Croatia qualified for their second successive World Cup semi-finals and their third ever, while Brazil exited the tournament at the hands of a European team for the fifth consecutive edition; their 2002 World Cup final triumph against Germany remained their last knockout stage win against European opposition. In the same period, Brazil was eliminated at the quarter-final stage in all four out of five tournaments they played away from home, in addition to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 tournament which they hosted.

Croatia 1–1 (a.e.t.) Brazil
Report
Penalties
4–2
Croatia
Brazil
GK 1 Dominik Livaković
RB 22 Josip Juranović
CB 6 Dejan Lovren
CB 20 Joško Gvardiol
LB 19 Borna Sosa downward-facing red arrow 110'
DM 11 Marcelo Brozović Yellow card 31' downward-facing red arrow 114'
CM 10 Luka Modrić (c)
CM 8 Mateo Kovačić downward-facing red arrow 106'
RF 15 Mario Pašalić downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 9 Andrej Kramarić downward-facing red arrow 72'
LF 4 Ivan Perišić
Substitutions:
FW 16 Bruno Petković Yellow card 117' upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 13 Nikola Vlašić upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 7 Lovro Majer upward-facing green arrow 106'
FW 17 Ante Budimir upward-facing green arrow 110'
FW 18 Mislav Oršić upward-facing green arrow 114'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić
GK 1
Alisson
RB 14 Éder Militão downward-facing red arrow 106'
CB 4 Marquinhos Yellow card 77'
CB 3 Thiago Silva (c)
LB 2 Danilo Yellow card 25'
CM 7 Lucas Paquetá downward-facing red arrow 106'
CM 5 Casemiro Yellow card 68'
RW 11 Raphinha downward-facing red arrow 56'
AM 10 Neymar
LW 20 Vinícius Júnior downward-facing red arrow 64'
CF 9 Richarlison downward-facing red arrow 84'
Substitutions:
FW 19 Antony upward-facing green arrow 56'
FW 21 Rodrygo upward-facing green arrow 64'
FW 25 Pedro upward-facing green arrow 84'
DF 6 Alex Sandro upward-facing green arrow 106'
MF 8 Fred upward-facing green arrow 106'
Manager:
Tite

Man of the Match:
Dominik Livaković (Croatia)[41]

Assistant referees:
Stuart Burt (England)
Gary Beswick (England)
Fourth official:
Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
Reserve assistant referee:
Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
Video assistant referee:
Pol van Boekel (Netherlands)

Netherlands vs Argentina

This was the tenth meeting between the teams, continuing a historic rivalry among the two nations. The Netherlands had won four of the previous nine encounters, Argentina had won one, and the remaining four matches were draws. The sides had faced off five previous times in World Cup matches; a 4–0 win for the Dutch in the second group stage in 1974 was replied to with a 3–1 Argentine victory in the 1978 final. The Netherlands then won 2–1 in the 1998 quarter-finals, prior to goalless draws in the 2006 group stage and the 2014 semi-finals, with the Argentines winning the latter tie 4–2 on penalties.[42]

Nahuel Molina opened the score for Argentina after 35 minutes, when he received a through ball in traffic from Lionel Messi and flicked it low past advancing goalkeeper Andries Noppert. In the 73rd minute, after Marcos Acuña had been fouled in the penalty area by Denzel Dumfries, Messi scored the resulting penalty to the right of the net to double Argentina's advantage. After being subbed on by the Netherlands in the 78th minute, Wout Weghorst pulled a goal back just five minutes later, converting a downward header via a cross on the right from Steven Berghuis.[43] He then scored an equaliser in the eleventh minute of added time, when a late Dutch free kick on the edge of Argentina's penalty area was played by Teun Koopmeiners directly to Weghorst as he stood in a decoy wall, sending the match to extra time. Argentina controlled the majority of the thirty-minute period, which saw Enzo Fernández strike the post in its dying moments, but the sides could ultimately not be separated and thus entered a penalty shoot-out, just as they had in 2014.[44]

In the shoot-out, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez saved both of the Netherlands' first two attempts from Virgil van Dijk and Berghuis, as Argentina scored twice to earn a 2–0 advantage. After Fernández missed the chance to send his side through with their fourth penalty, Lautaro Martínez scored Argentina's subsequent spot kick to end the shoot-out 4–3 in their favour and progress to the semi-finals.

There were a number of contested incidents between the sides both during and after the match that garnered much discussion. Players clashed on multiple occasions across the contest, during both regulation and the subsequent shoot-out.[45][46] Messi was also involved in confrontations with Dutch manager Louis van Gaal and an unwanted encounter with Weghorst during his post-match interview.[47]

In total, the match saw a total of eighteen yellow cards brandished, breaking the World Cup record of sixteen that was set in another Dutch knockout defeat, their infamous round of 16 game against Portugal in 2006 (in addition to the seventeen yellow cards shown in the player lineups below, Walter Samuel of Argentina's coaching staff was shown a yellow card in the 31st minute).[48] Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz received criticism for his failure to control the match, with many fans and media outlets considering his yellow cards to be too lenient for some instances that could have seen players sent off, while other incidents were ignored altogether.[49] The amount of yellows issued by Mateu Lahoz was also criticised.[50]

Because of these events, the match has been referred to as the Battle of Lusail, in reference to the aforementioned 2006 contest between Portugal and the Netherlands that had been dubbed "The Battle of Nuremberg".[51][48]

The match was also marred by the controversial death of American sportswriter Grant Wahl after he collapsed near the end of the match while watching in the press box.[52][53]

Netherlands
Argentina
GK 23 Andries Noppert
CB 2 Jurriën Timber Yellow card 43'
CB 4 Virgil van Dijk (c)
CB 5 Nathan Aké
RM 22 Denzel Dumfries Yellow card 128' Yellow-red card 129'
CM 15 Marten de Roon downward-facing red arrow 46'
CM 21 Frenkie de Jong
LM 17 Daley Blind downward-facing red arrow 64'
AM 8 Cody Gakpo downward-facing red arrow 113'
CF 10 Memphis Depay Yellow card 76' downward-facing red arrow 78'
CF 7 Steven Bergwijn Yellow card 91' downward-facing red arrow 46'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Steven Berghuis Yellow card 88' upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 20 Teun Koopmeiners upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 9 Luuk de Jong upward-facing green arrow 64'
FW 19 Wout Weghorst Yellow card 45+2' upward-facing green arrow 78'
FW 12 Noa Lang Yellow card 129' upward-facing green arrow 113'
Manager:
Louis van Gaal
GK 23 Emiliano Martínez
CB 13
Cristian Romero
Yellow card 45' downward-facing red arrow 78'
CB 19 Nicolás Otamendi Yellow card 90+12'
CB 25 Lisandro Martínez Yellow card 76' downward-facing red arrow 112'
RWB 26 Nahuel Molina downward-facing red arrow 106'
LWB 8 Marcos Acuña Yellow card 43' downward-facing red arrow 78'
CM 7 Rodrigo De Paul downward-facing red arrow 67'
CM 24 Enzo Fernández
CM 20 Alexis Mac Allister
CF 9 Julián Álvarez downward-facing red arrow 82'
CF 10 Lionel Messi (c) Yellow card 90+10'
Substitutions:
MF 5 Leandro Paredes Yellow card 89' upward-facing green arrow 67'
DF 3 Nicolás Tagliafico upward-facing green arrow 78'
DF 6 Germán Pezzella Yellow card 112' upward-facing green arrow 78'
FW 22 Lautaro Martínez upward-facing green arrow 82'
DF 4 Gonzalo Montiel Yellow card 109' upward-facing green arrow 106'
FW 11 Ángel Di María upward-facing green arrow 112'
Manager:[note 1]
Lionel Scaloni Yellow card 90'

Man of the Match:
Lionel Messi (Argentina)[54]

Assistant referees:
Pau Cebrián Devís (Spain)
Roberto Díaz Pérez del Palomar (Spain)
Fourth official:
Victor Gomes (South Africa)
Reserve assistant referee:
Kyle Atkins (United States)
Video assistant referee:
Alejandro Hernández Hernández (Spain)

Morocco vs Portugal

The teams had met twice before, both during the World Cup group stage, with both sides winning one match: Morocco won 3–1 in 1986, while Portugal prevailed 1–0 in 2018.[55]

In the first half, Youssef En-Nesyri would put Morocco in front after 42 minutes when he jumped highest from a Yahia Attiyat Allah cross to head past advancing goalkeeper Diogo Costa and into the empty net, followed by Bruno Fernandes' attempted equaliser just before half-time striking the bar from long range. Portugal subbed on Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half, which saw him equal the record of 196 international caps set by Bader Al-Mutawa.[56][57] Despite late Portuguese chances from João Félix, Ronaldo and Pepe, and the dismissal of Moroccan defender Walid Cheddira following two yellow cards in quick succession, Morocco would hold on to win 1–0.

With their victory, Morocco became both the first African and first Arab country to reach the World Cup semi-finals, as well as the second Muslim-majority country after Turkey in 2002 to qualify for the last four. This was also the first time a nation not in Europe or South America reached this stage since South Korea did so, also in 2002.[58]

Morocco 1–0 Portugal
Report
Attendance: 44,198
Morocco
Portugal
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 18 Jawad El Yamiq
CB 6 Romain Saïss (c) downward-facing red arrow 57'
LB 25 Yahia Attiyat Allah
DM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi
CM 15 Selim Amallah downward-facing red arrow 65'
RF 7 Hakim Ziyech downward-facing red arrow 82'
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri downward-facing red arrow 65'
LF 17 Sofiane Boufal downward-facing red arrow 82'
Substitutions:
DF 20 Achraf Dari Yellow card 70' upward-facing green arrow 57'
FW 21 Walid Cheddira Yellow card 90+1' Yellow-red card 90+3' upward-facing green arrow 65'
DF 24 Badr Benoun upward-facing green arrow 65'
MF 14 Zakaria Aboukhlal upward-facing green arrow 82'
MF 26 Yahya Jabrane upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Walid Regragui
GK 22 Diogo Costa
RB 2 Diogo Dalot downward-facing red arrow 79'
CB 3 Pepe (c)
CB 4 Rúben Dias
LB 5 Raphaël Guerreiro downward-facing red arrow 51'
DM 18 Rúben Neves downward-facing red arrow 51'
CM 10 Bernardo Silva
CM 25 Otávio downward-facing red arrow 69'
RF 8 Bruno Fernandes
CF 26 Gonçalo Ramos downward-facing red arrow 69'
LF 11 João Félix
Substitutions:
DF 20 João Cancelo upward-facing green arrow 51'
FW 7 Cristiano Ronaldo upward-facing green arrow 51'
FW 15 Rafael Leão upward-facing green arrow 69'
MF 16 Vitinha Yellow card 87' upward-facing green arrow 69'
FW 21 Ricardo Horta upward-facing green arrow 79'
Manager:
Fernando Santos

Man of the Match:
Yassine Bounou (Morocco)[59]

Assistant referees:
Ezequiel Brailovsky (Argentina)
Gabriel Chade (Argentina)
Fourth official:
Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Reserve assistant referee:
David Morán (El Salvador)
Video assistant referee:
Mauro Vigliano (Argentina)

England vs France

The teams had previously met 31 times, with 17 wins for England, nine wins for France and five draws. Two of these meetings took place during the World Cup, with England winning on both occasions: they defeated France 2–0 in the 1966 group stage and 3–1 in the 1982 first group stage. The sides most recently met in a friendly in June 2017, with France winning 3–2.[60]

Aurélien Tchouaméni opened the scoring for France in the 17th minute, with a shot from outside the penalty area to the left corner which beat England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford diving down to his right. Several pundits questioned the goal because England's Bukayo Saka had been brought to the ground, allowing France to win possession, in the build-up to the opener. Some claimed it was a clear foul, while others, including British journalists, thought the contact was not clear enough for the VAR to overturn the on-pitch decision.[61][62][63] Early in the second half, England were awarded a penalty after Tchouaméni fouled Saka inside the area. Harry Kane scored from the spot against his club teammate Hugo Lloris, shooting to the left, which put Kane level with Wayne Rooney as England's all-time top scorer at 53 goals. Just moments after seeing his volley saved by Pickford, Olivier Giroud, who himself entered the match as France's all-time top scorer, also scored his 53rd international goal twelve minutes from time, with a header to the left of the net after a cross from Antoine Griezmann. In the 84th minute, the VAR awarded England a second penalty after English substitute Mason Mount was seen being pushed over in the area by Théo Hernandez. Kane again took the spot kick but this time shot over the bar, as France held on to win 2–1 and progress to the last four, while England were eliminated in the World Cup quarter-finals for a record seventh time.[64]

France became the first reigning world champions to reach the World Cup semi-finals since Brazil in 1998, whom France would beat in that year's final.[65] France's passage to the semi-finals along with Croatia's, the side they defeated in the 2018 final, marked the first time that both teams from a World Cup final reached the last four of the subsequent tournament since Argentina and West Germany in 1990.[66]

England 1–2 France
Report
Attendance: 68,895
England
France
GK 1 Jordan Pickford
RB 2 Kyle Walker
CB 5 John Stones downward-facing red arrow 90+8'
CB 6 Harry Maguire Yellow card 90'
LB 3 Luke Shaw
DM 4 Declan Rice
CM 8 Jordan Henderson downward-facing red arrow 79'
CM 22 Jude Bellingham
RF 17 Bukayo Saka downward-facing red arrow 79'
CF 9 Harry Kane (c)
LF 20 Phil Foden downward-facing red arrow 85'
Substitutions:
MF 19 Mason Mount upward-facing green arrow 79'
FW 10 Raheem Sterling upward-facing green arrow 79'
FW 11 Marcus Rashford upward-facing green arrow 85'
FW 7 Jack Grealish upward-facing green arrow 90+8'
Manager:
Gareth Southgate
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)
RB 5 Jules Koundé
CB 4 Raphaël Varane
CB 18 Dayot Upamecano
LB 22 Théo Hernandez Yellow card 82'
CM 8 Aurélien Tchouaméni
CM 14 Adrien Rabiot
RW 11 Ousmane Dembélé Yellow card 46' downward-facing red arrow 79'
AM 7 Antoine Griezmann Yellow card 43'
LW 10 Kylian Mbappé
CF 9 Olivier Giroud
Substitutions:
FW 20 Kingsley Coman upward-facing green arrow 79'
Manager:
Didier Deschamps

Man of the Match:
Olivier Giroud (France)[67]

Assistant referees:
Bruno Boschilia (Brazil)
Bruno Pires (Brazil)
Fourth official:
Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Video assistant referee:
Nicolás Gallo (Colombia)

Semi-finals

Argentina vs Croatia

The teams had met five times before, each side winning twice and drawing once. Two of these matches took place in the World Cup group stage: a 1–0 win for Argentina in 1998 was followed by Croatia's 3–0 victory in 2018.[68]

Both sides kept a cautious approach in the match's opening half hour, until Croatian defenders Dejan Lovren and Joško Gvardiol mistakenly let Julián Álvarez pass through the defence in the 32nd minute, leading to goalkeeper Dominik Livaković colliding with Álvarez. Referee Daniele Orsato booked Livaković and awarded a penalty kick to Argentina, which Lionel Messi converted high into the top right corner of the goal. The collision also sparked a feud between Orsato and some Croatia players, causing Mateo Kovačić to be booked and the sending off of assistant coach Mario Mandžukić. In the 39th minute, Álvarez ran through several Croatian defenders and scored Argentina's second goal. In the second half of the match, Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić substituted off five players, including team captain Luka Modrić, in order to boost the attacking ability of the team, but this didn't stop Messi and Álvarez from providing another goal for the Argentinians; in the 69th minute, Messi twisted past Gvardiol on the byline before teeing the ball up to Álvarez in the center, enabling Álvarez to score his second goal. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for Argentina, a reversal of the scoreline from their 2018 encounter.[69]

Messi's goal from the penalty spot was his eleventh at a World Cup, taking him ahead of Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's most prolific goalscorer in the competition. Messi also drew level with former German midfielder Lothar Matthäus's record of 25 matches played in World Cup finals.[70]

Argentina 3–0 Croatia
Report
Attendance: 88,966
Argentina
Croatia
GK 23 Emiliano Martínez
RB 26 Nahuel Molina downward-facing red arrow 86'
CB 13
Cristian Romero
Yellow card 68'
CB 19 Nicolás Otamendi Yellow card 71'
LB 3 Nicolás Tagliafico
RM 7 Rodrigo De Paul downward-facing red arrow 74'
CM 5 Leandro Paredes downward-facing red arrow 62'
CM 24 Enzo Fernández
LM 20 Alexis Mac Allister downward-facing red arrow 86'
CF 10 Lionel Messi (c)
CF 9 Julián Álvarez downward-facing red arrow 74'
Substitutions:
DF 25 Lisandro Martínez upward-facing green arrow 62'
MF 14 Exequiel Palacios upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 21 Paulo Dybala upward-facing green arrow 74'
FW 15 Ángel Correa upward-facing green arrow 86'
DF 2 Juan Foyth upward-facing green arrow 86'
Manager:
Lionel Scaloni
GK 1 Dominik Livaković Yellow card 32'
RB 22 Josip Juranović
CB 6 Dejan Lovren
CB 20 Joško Gvardiol
LB 19 Borna Sosa downward-facing red arrow 46'
DM 11 Marcelo Brozović downward-facing red arrow 50'
CM 10 Luka Modrić (c) downward-facing red arrow 81'
CM 8 Mateo Kovačić Yellow card 32'
RF 15 Mario Pašalić downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 9 Andrej Kramarić downward-facing red arrow 72'
LF 4 Ivan Perišić
Substitutions:
FW 18 Mislav Oršić upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 13 Nikola Vlašić upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 16 Bruno Petković upward-facing green arrow 50'
FW 14 Marko Livaja upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 7 Lovro Majer upward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:[note 2]
Zlatko Dalić

Man of the Match:
Lionel Messi (Argentina)[71]

Assistant referees:
Ciro Carbone (Italy)
Alessandro Giallatini (Italy)
Fourth official:
Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)

France vs Morocco

The teams had previously met seven times, with France winning five matches and the other two being draws. Their most recent encounter was a friendly in 2007, ending in a 2–2 stalemate. This was the first World Cup meeting between the sides.[72] The match marked the first ever World Cup semi-final featuring either an African or Arab country, and just the third time that a team from a confederation outside Europe and South America played at this stage, after the United States in 1930 and South Korea in 2002.

Théo Hernandez would give France an early lead in the fifth minute, netting an acrobatic volley from a tight angle on the left after Kylian Mbappé's shot was diverted into his path. Hernandez's goal, timed at four minutes and 39 seconds, was the fastest in a World Cup semi-final since Vavá netted in the second minute of Brazil's 5–2 win against France in 1958. It was also just the second goal Morocco had conceded at the tournament and the first since the group stage.[73] Olivier Giroud would hit the post for France, before Moroccan captain Romain Saïss was forced to withdraw after 21 minutes, having been a doubt to start the match after going off injured in the quarter-finals. Morocco would then nearly equalise right before half-time, after Jawad El Yamiq saw his overhead kick strike the post and be cleared away. Despite being in possession of the ball for the majority of the contest, Morocco were not rewarded for this pressure, and after Mbappé dribbled into the penalty area in the 79th minute, his ball would find Randal Kolo Muani, who scored his first-ever goal for France with his first touch of the game to double their advantage, having come on as a substitute 44 seconds prior.[74]

France's 2–0 victory set up a final against Argentina, putting them one win away from becoming the first nation to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 editions.[75]

France 2–0 Morocco
Report
Attendance: 68,294
France
Morocco
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)
RB 5 Jules Koundé
CB 4 Raphaël Varane
CB 24 Ibrahima Konaté
LB 22 Théo Hernandez
CM 8 Aurélien Tchouaméni
CM 13
Youssouf Fofana
RW 11 Ousmane Dembélé downward-facing red arrow 78'
AM 7 Antoine Griezmann
LW 10 Kylian Mbappé
CF 9 Olivier Giroud downward-facing red arrow 65'
Substitutions:
FW 26 Marcus Thuram upward-facing green arrow 65'
FW 12 Randal Kolo Muani upward-facing green arrow 78'
Manager:
Didier Deschamps
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
CB 20 Achraf Dari
CB 6 Romain Saïss (c) downward-facing red arrow 21'
CB 18 Jawad El Yamiq
RWB 2 Achraf Hakimi
LWB 3 Noussair Mazraoui downward-facing red arrow 46'
RM 7 Hakim Ziyech
CM 8 Azzedine Ounahi
CM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
LM 17 Sofiane Boufal Yellow card 27' downward-facing red arrow 66'
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Selim Amallah upward-facing green arrow 21' downward-facing red arrow 78'
DF 25 Yahia Attiyat Allah upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 9 Abderrazak Hamdallah upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 14 Zakaria Aboukhlal upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW 16 Abde Ezzalzouli upward-facing green arrow 78'
Manager:
Walid Regragui

Man of the Match:
Antoine Griezmann (France)[76]

Assistant referees:
Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Miguel Hernández (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Jesús Valenzuela (Venezuela)
Reserve assistant referee:
Jorge Urrego (Venezuela)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)

Third place play-off

The teams had previously faced each other twice, including their opening game in Group F at this World Cup, which ended 0–0.[77] This marked the second consecutive World Cup where the teams playing in the third place match also played each other in the group stage, following Belgium vs England in 2018.

Croatia went in front with an early goal, after defender Joško Gvardiol diverted a diving header into the top left corner of the net in the seventh minute, assisted via a headed pass from Ivan Perišić. Croatia's lead would only last two minutes; Morocco's Achraf Dari received the ball after a Hakim Ziyech free kick struck the Croatian wall, and levelled the score in the ninth minute with a close-range header, having been left unmarked in front of the net.[78] However, the Vatreni managed to regain the lead shortly before half-time through Mislav Oršić, who shot a long-range bending strike from just inside the penalty area on the left, hitting the inside of the post before the ball nestled in the back of the net.[79] Although Croatian keeper Dominik Livaković was forced into a smothering save at close range to deny Morocco's Youssef En-Nesyri, the second half saw no further goals scored, handing Croatia a third-place finish at the World Cup for the second time, following the one achieved in 1998.

This was the eleventh consecutive World Cup in which a European team finished third, dating back to 1982. Despite defeat, the fourth-place finish still signified Morocco's (and also Africa's) best ever result at the tournament; they won more matches in the 2022 edition than in their first five World Cup appearances combined.[80]

Croatia 2–1 Morocco
Report
Croatia
Morocco
GK 1 Dominik Livaković
RB 2 Josip Stanišić
CB 24 Josip Šutalo
CB 20 Joško Gvardiol
LB 4 Ivan Perišić
CM 10 Luka Modrić (c)
CM 8 Mateo Kovačić
RW 7 Lovro Majer downward-facing red arrow 66'
AM 9 Andrej Kramarić downward-facing red arrow 61'
LW 18 Mislav Oršić downward-facing red arrow 90+5'
CF 14 Marko Livaja downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Nikola Vlašić upward-facing green arrow 61'
FW 16 Bruno Petković upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 15 Mario Pašalić upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 26 Kristijan Jakić upward-facing green arrow 90+5'
Manager:
Zlatko Dalić
GK 1 Yassine Bounou
RB 2 Achraf Hakimi
CB 18 Jawad El Yamiq downward-facing red arrow 66'
CB 20 Achraf Dari downward-facing red arrow 64'
LB 25 Yahia Attiyat Allah
DM 4 Sofyan Amrabat
CM 23 Bilal El Khannous downward-facing red arrow 56'
CM 11 Abdelhamid Sabiri downward-facing red arrow 46'
RF 7 Hakim Ziyech (c)
CF 19 Youssef En-Nesyri
LF 17 Sofiane Boufal downward-facing red arrow 64'
Substitutions:
MF 13 Ilias Chair upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 8 Azzedine Ounahi Yellow card 69' upward-facing green arrow 56'
MF 10 Anass Zaroury upward-facing green arrow 64'
DF 24 Badr Benoun upward-facing green arrow 64'
MF 15 Selim Amallah Yellow card 84' upward-facing green arrow 66'
Manager:
Walid Regragui

Man of the Match:
Joško Gvardiol (Croatia)[81]

Assistant referees:
Taleb Al-Marri (Qatar)
Saud Al-Maqaleh (Qatar)
Fourth official:
Raphael Claus (Brazil)
Reserve assistant referee:
Neuza Back (Brazil)
Video assistant referee:
Julio Bascuñán (Chile)

Final

The teams had met on twelve previous occasions, with Argentina winning six matches, France three, and the other three ending in draws. The sides had faced each other three times in the World Cup, with two of these encounters coming in the group stage: Argentina won 1–0 in 1930 (their World Cup debut) and 2–1 in 1978, while their most recent World Cup meeting was France's 4–3 victory in the 2018 round of 16, their first defeat of Argentina since 1986.[82]

Both teams were seeking to win a third World Cup title. France were the first title holders to play in the final since Brazil, whom France defeated as hosts in 1998, and were aiming to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil's victories in 1958 and 1962. French coach Didier Deschamps was attempting to become the second manager to win multiple World Cup titles, and the first since Vittorio Pozzo in 1934 and 1938 with Italy. Argentina, who had been defeated by Germany in both of their previous two trips to the final (in 1990 and 2014), were looking for a first world title in 36 years, having last won the competition in 1986.

Following a dominant first half that saw Argentina go up 2–0 thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty and a goal from Ángel Di María, they were suddenly caught out late into the second period with two goals in two minutes for France from Kylian Mbappé. After the match headed to extra time, Messi would score his second to regain Argentina's lead, only for Mbappé to again equalise two minutes from time via his second penalty, making him the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.[83] Adding on to the one he claimed in 2018, Mbappé also became the first player to score four World Cup final goals, as well as the first player to reach eight goals in a single World Cup since Ronaldo for winners Brazil in 2002. However, Mbappé failed to emulate Hurst's and Ronaldo's successes; despite him scoring the first attempt for France, they lost 4–2 in the penalty shoot-out after Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni failed to convert their efforts, with Gonzalo Montiel's spot kick sealing Argentina's victory.

Argentina achieved their third world title, surpassing France and Uruguay's totals. They also became the first non-European side to win the title since Brazil in 2002, the previous occasion that the World Cup was held in Asia. France's loss was their second in a World Cup final, having been defeated by Italy in 2006, a match which was also decided by penalties.[84] Many reporters, pundits and fans regarded the match as the greatest FIFA World Cup final of all time.[85][86][87]

Both the tournament and the final itself saw Messi break multiple World Cup records. The match, which was his 26th overall in World Cup finals, saw him surpass

Player of the Match, before being awarded the Golden Ball for best player of the tournament.[88] His five Player of the Match titles in 2022 were the most ever won at a single World Cup by a player since their introduction in 2002, and his Golden Ball award made him the first player to claim the accolade in multiple World Cups, having done so previously in 2014.[89]

Argentina
France
GK 23 Emiliano Martínez Yellow card 120+5' (pso)
RB 26 Nahuel Molina downward-facing red arrow 91'
CB 13
Cristian Romero
CB 19 Nicolás Otamendi
LB 3 Nicolás Tagliafico downward-facing red arrow 120+1'
CM 20 Alexis Mac Allister downward-facing red arrow 116'
DM 24 Enzo Fernández Yellow card 45+7'
CM 7 Rodrigo De Paul downward-facing red arrow 102'
RW 10 Lionel Messi (c)
ST 9 Julián Álvarez downward-facing red arrow 102'
LW 11 Ángel Di María downward-facing red arrow 64'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Marcos Acuña Yellow card 90+8' upward-facing green arrow 64'
DF 4 Gonzalo Montiel Yellow card 116' upward-facing green arrow 91'
MF 5 Leandro Paredes Yellow card 114' upward-facing green arrow 102'
FW 22 Lautaro Martínez upward-facing green arrow 102'
DF 6 Germán Pezzella upward-facing green arrow 116'
FW 21 Paulo Dybala upward-facing green arrow 120+1'
Manager:
Lionel Scaloni
GK 1 Hugo Lloris (c)
RB 5 Jules Koundé downward-facing red arrow 120+1'
CB 4 Raphaël Varane downward-facing red arrow 113'
CB 18 Dayot Upamecano
LB 22 Théo Hernandez downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 8 Aurélien Tchouaméni
CM 14 Adrien Rabiot Yellow card 55' downward-facing red arrow 96'
RW 11 Ousmane Dembélé downward-facing red arrow 41'
AM 7 Antoine Griezmann downward-facing red arrow 71'
LW 10 Kylian Mbappé
ST 9 Olivier Giroud Yellow card 90+5' downward-facing red arrow 41'
Substitutions:
FW 12 Randal Kolo Muani upward-facing green arrow 41'
FW 26 Marcus Thuram Yellow card 87' upward-facing green arrow 41'
FW 20 Kingsley Coman upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 25 Eduardo Camavinga upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 13
Youssouf Fofana
upward-facing green arrow 96'
DF 24 Ibrahima Konaté upward-facing green arrow 113'
DF 3 Axel Disasi upward-facing green arrow 120+1'
Manager:
Didier Deschamps

Man of the Match:
Lionel Messi (Argentina)[90]

Assistant referees:
Paweł Sokolnicki (Poland)
Tomasz Listkiewicz (Poland)
Fourth official:
Ismail Elfath (United States)
Reserve assistant referee:
Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
Video assistant referee:
Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland)

Notes

  1. ^ Argentina assistant manager Walter Samuel was also shown a yellow card (31').
  2. ^ Croatia assistant manager Mario Mandžukić was shown a red card (35').

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External links