Day 13 of the 2022 World Cup was unlucky for some as the group stages came to an end.
There were 32 teams at the start of the tournament. Now, only 16 remain, as groups G and H were resolved on Friday.
And there was more drama as a late winner for South Korea in Group H saw Uruguay knocked out on goals scored, despite their victory over Ghana.
In Group G, a five-goal thriller saw Switzerland nab the second-place spot, despite Cameroon securing a dramatic victory over Brazil, who sported nine changes to their starting line-up from the previous game.
Here, a look at some of the biggest talking points from Qatar 2022 as the tournament heads into the knockout phase:
It's wide open: No team gets a perfect group stage finish
Brazil's defeat to Cameroon – in spectacular and likeable last-minute fashion – means that no country has got three wins from the group stage. This is the first time this has happened since 1994, back when there were just 24 teams in the tournament.
It's a sign that this is the most open World Cup we've had in years. Other favourites such as France, Spain and, most notably, Argentina, also showed their weaknesses in the group stage. In fact, the side with the best group stage result was... England.
Switzerland are perhaps what we expected of Denmark
Difficult to break down at the back, lacking a world-renowned striker but making do and with a militaristic midfield as the engine of the entire unit. Nope, not Denmark at Euro 2020 but Switzerland in Qatar.
We all expected much better of the Danes at the World Cup – but could the unfashionable European dark horses actually be… Switzerland? Once again against Serbia, they showed their big-game nous, ability to control an atmosphere and despite too many standout stars, managed to get exactly what they needed from the game without too much fuss. Breel Embolo's been solid, Granit Xhaka is continuing his club form and Manuel Akanji has been a rock in defence.
Portugal await in the next round – who haven't quite gelled as yet. After that, it's Spain, who the Swiss only lost to on penalties at the Euros. They look a totally different proposition now: they couldn't get to the final four… could they?
No revenge but Suarez story ends vs Ghana
Luis Suarez was a wanted man ahead of Friday's match against Ghana. The former Liverpool and Barcelona striker was dubbed 'the devil himself' by a journalist from Ghana following his controversial handball in the teams' 2010 World Cup quarter-final and the reporter said his people would delight in knocking him out of the tournament.
Ghana were unable to do that themselves as Andre Ayew saw a tame penalty saved by Sergio Rochet and Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice – once after a Suarez effort had been saved and the second following a pass from the striker – but South Korea did it for them with a late winner against Portugal.
Suarez watched on in tears from the bench and at 35 years old, he is extremely unlikely to play at a World Cup again. From his handball heroics in 2010, to his double against England and infamous bite in 2014, it has been eventful.
The captain did not score this time, but has seven World Cup goals to his name. It ultimately ended in tears, which is what Ghana will have wanted, but it was not them that inflicted the pain.
South Korea follow Japan into last 16
Having won their first two games of World Cup 2022, Portugal manager Fernando Santos made wholesale changes to his starting XI for the game against South Korea. This had huge consequences on the rest of the group.
South Korea, who needed to win to have any chance of progressing to the last 16 of the tournament, benefited greatly from this situation in the end. Unlucky to lose against Ghana on matchday two, South Korea’s never-say-die attitude ensured they beat Portugal in the final minutes of the group stage - sending Uruguay home on goals scored.
Indeed, with Uruguay only winning 2-0 against Ghana, and with 90 minutes played in their game against Portugal and the score 1-1, South Korea knew a goal would ensure they’d finish second in Group H. Hwang Hee-chan duly delivered, reversing the ball into the bottom corner after Son Heung-min had carried it towards the edge of Portugal’s box and played a brilliant eye-of-the-needle ball through Diogo Dalot’s legs.
The Asian nation follow Japan into the last 16 as the emerging nations continue to impress at this World Cup. And they will play Brazil next. That will be a hugely difficult test, but making it out of the group is already a success for South Korea and trumps their win over Germany at Russia 2018, which saw them finish above the defending champions but was not enough to get them to the last 16.
Don't change group-stage format, FIFA...
The final round of group games at this World Cup has delivered drama and excitement to match any previous tournament. Unfortunately, though, we may not see this again.
In Group C, it almost came down to yellow cards to decide whether Poland or Mexico would make it through to the last 16. In the end, pushing for the extra goal, El Tri conceded and missed out on goal difference. But it was thrilling.
With Japan beating Spain and Costa Rica ahead against Germany, the two European teams were heading out at one stage in Group E. Spain did not recover in their match, losing to a much-debated goal as just a tiny fraction of the ball remained in play. Germany did recover in theirs and won, but went out. Had that ball travelled a few more millimetres, the story would have been different. Incredible.
And in Group H on Friday, South Korea's late winner over Portugal saw them through at the expense of Uruguay on goals scored on another afternoon of high drama.
This is the last World Cup with 32 teams as 48 sides will take part in the 2026 edition, which could mean groups of three instead of four and an end to the type of scenes we have witnessed in this tournament. It would be a shame.
