The second highlight is the disappointment from the big players of European football, especially Germany and the Netherlands. The fact that both had to stop after the penalty shootout clearly reflects the problems in their playing style. Germany no longer possesses a generation of world-class stars as before. The Netherlands also left many disappointments. The attack depends too much on Cody Gakpo, and the midfield lacks a creative midfielder to connect the play.
The third highlight comes from Japan. Despite the defeat to Brazil, I think this is still a proud match for the Asian representative. Japan made Brazil go through 90 difficult minutes. After the match, coach Carlo Ancelotti did not celebrate too much but actively shook hands with the opponent to show respect. That detail shows that Japan has significantly narrowed the gap with the world's top teams.
Another highlight is the very high form of the French team. The blue shirt team is showing the image of a bright candidate for the championship. A uniform squad in all three lines, good depth of force and especially Kylian Mbappe's excellent form help France become a very formidable team. In my opinion, if they continue to maintain their current performance, France can completely go very deep in this year's tournament.
However, the falls of Germany and the Netherlands are also a warning for the remaining big teams. Spain and Portugal are both rated higher than their opponents in the round of 32, but that does not mean they can be subjective.
Portugal will face Croatia - a team that has always maintained stability in many major tournaments recently. With an experienced squad and well-organized playing style, Croatia will certainly cause many difficulties. If Portugal does not overcome this challenge, the dream of witnessing Cristiano Ronaldo go deep at the World Cup may soon close.
Spain also does not have much absolute advantage over Austria. In my opinion, their left wing is declining in strength as Nico Williams has not reached his best condition, and Lamine Yamal has not regained his high form. Replacement options have not brought peace of mind. Against an Austrian team playing disciplined and organizing a very tight defense, Spain can completely face many difficulties. I even think the possibility that the match has to enter extra time is entirely possible. If Spain wins, it will likely only be a win with a minimum difference.
