Is your sleep schedule destroyed right in time for the start of school? Are you getting Instagram ads for eye masks? Do your friends think you’ve recently been bitten by a vampire because you’re only awake in the incredibly early morning?
Congrats, you’re doing the World Cup right! It’s down to the final eight teams and, in honor of being #teamnosleep, let’s recap the first knockout round with the coffee order of all round of 16 teams.
ADVANCING
Spain: Shot (or five) of espresso
Spain bounced back against Switzerland, scoring all six goals (though they’ll want to forget about the disastrous own goal). In particular, Aitana Bonmatí had herself a game, bagging a brace. The midfielder also elevated the mentality, refusing to allow Spain to step off the gas or revert to bad habits. Determined to erase the shutout in their previous game, Spain found the net early and often, driving wide before lofting crosses into the box and capitalizing on second balls and chaos. Clearly, the loss to Japan was a wake-up call that prompted Spain to take an espresso, regain their concentration, and go back to steamrolling opponents.
Japan: honey lavender latte (kind of milk varies by game)
Although Norway finally broke Japan’s clean sheet streak, the elegance and tactical ability of Japan proved victorious. Japan’s strength is its organization and ability to shift the game plan to surgically target its opponents’ weaknesses. Finally tested, Japan didn’t crumble under pressure or immediately try to shift their game plan, staying committed and eventually running away with the game. Even while trying to put the puzzle pieces of Norway together, Japan’s midfield appeared confident and in control, trusting the defense in key moments, while being able to control the tempo. The elegant design on top of the latte is Hinata Miyazawa who leads the golden boot race and is a cheat code up top that no defense has truly been able to solve.
The Netherlands: Macchiato
The Netherlands didn’t have a perfect game but did capitalize on their breakthrough in the last group stage game to find their finishing confidence in an end-to-end match against South Africa. It was an early goal that ultimately proved the game-winner, with the Dutch adding to their tally in the second off of a goalkeeping error. Tactically, the Dutch managed to survive an attack on their back three and still find a way to advance down the field. Danielle van de Donk will miss the next game on yellow card accruement. Advancing through to the quarterfinals, the Dutch didn’t necessarily make any new fans by knocking out South Africa, hence the choice of Macchiato: the bitterness of the expresso isn’t quite drowned out by the steamed milk.
Sweden: Americano
Goalkeeper Zećira Mušović had the US’s number throughout the game, making 11 saves total and taking the game to penalty kicks that Sweden ultimately won. Lacking possession and managing to only create one shot on their own, the Swedes’ defense did enough to prevent the Americans from having easy chances on goal—aided by the US’s inability to finish. Sweden has quality, proven in the moments where they could manage to string passes together down the field and find the wide outlet, but more than that they had the grit to go 120 minutes in stay alive mode and come out victorious. Sweden played the US at their own game and won, proving that statistical advantages don’t win games.
England: Drip coffee
Drip coffee gets the job done, and England advanced to the quarterfinals on penalties despite a Lauren James red card in the 87th minute. A tactical switch to a three-back in the group stage has revitalized England, although they couldn’t find the net in open play this game. Keira Walsh returned from injury to help direct the midfield, which looked good in front of a defense that at times was saved by the crossbar. Throughout the tournament England has been hot and cold, squeaking through games or scoring boatloads. With the red card suspension to James, England will have to adjust again, looking for a new point of attack. England has looked beatable all tournament but finds the grit to win games late, a mentality that will continue to serve them well.
Australia: Affogato
Watching Australia play is a treat. The entire team has bought into the counterattacking plan and is absolutely lethal from whichever wing they attack from. Entirely comfortable with ceding possession, Australia’s defense has put on an enjoyable clinic of survival defense, switching dangerous balls into chances for the team to move forward. Oftentimes growing into games, opponents will need to strike first and early to upset the rhythm Australia has found themselves in. Already dangerous with talents like Hayley Raso and Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr finally saw minutes, greeted by a huge roar from the home crowd. Australia is changing hearts and minds with each of their games, performs better under pressure, and is perhaps the most cohesive team at the World Cup right now.
Colombia: Flat White
Colombia has a defensive clinic going on and a forward line that broke Jamaica’s three-clean-sheet streak. Having proven able to limit powerhouses like Germany’s ability to score, Colombia has proven deft at finding ways through opposition defenses with or without the aid of set pieces. Linda Caicedo is just one highlight on a team that can blow past opponents with their passing, an individual on the dribble, or a long ball over the top. No matter the opponent, Colombia takes the game to them, instead of waiting and letting the opposition determine the pace of the game. With perhaps the best mentality in the tournament, Colombia leans into a never say die, I’m in control style of soccer that targets exactly what the opposition thinks is their strength.
France: Frappuccino
France seems reenergized under Hervé Renard, playing cohesive team soccer that routinely finds ways to dismantle opponents using several different playmakers. With roster rotation throughout the group stage, France has options and fresh legs, making it harder to predict where the weak link on the field is. Clinical, France prefers to strike early and often in order to get the forward and midfield rolling. With a variety of attacking threats, once France gets one the blood is already in the water and chances are good they’ll quickly add more, scoring in bunches. It’s smooth soccer that looks effortless even when passes or game plans aren’t working on the first try.
GOING HOME
Switzerland: herbal tea (non-caffeinated)
No one told Switzerland that in order to advance, you have to actually score goals—a lot of them. After quietly topping group A with two draws and a win, Switzerland seemed confused at the pace, clinical finishing, and pressing of Spain, unable to hold onto the ball in transition and seemingly without a plan for how to advance up the field. Despite being gifted an own goal to tie the game early, Switzerland struggled to control their defensive third, allowing Spain to repeatedly regain possession just outside the box and wreak havoc on the wings. There were no offensive tactical adjustments in the second half as Switzerland struggled to wake up and gain a sense of urgency. The team needed caffeine, but stuck to decaffeinated herbal tea, preventing them from making an impression in the knockout round.
Norway: Dunkin’ Mango Pineapple Green Tea Refresher
Norway seemed to have figured out both their chemistry and their finishing in the last game of the group stage, cruising to a victory. MINUTES after Japan scored an opening goal, Norway answered, seemingly putting to bed questions of mentality and ability to compete. In the end, though, there were too many question marks around the field to allow Norway to defeat a tactically superior and cohesive Japan. Ada Hegerberg, injured in the group stage, didn’t start and couldn’t find a game-tying goal late in the second. Norway showed fight and did their best with playing positions that didn’t always match the personnel, but in the end, they showed up hoping their refresh would work while Japan was already percolating.
South Africa: A chai tea latte
Watching South Africa play was the exact same as experiencing the Christmas in a cup of a chai tea latte. With precision passing and perfect positioning, South Africa managed to exploit the Dutch backline by utilizing through balls and Thembi Kgatlana’s absolute determination to wreak havoc. The defense, minus a goalkeeping error that led to the second goal, bent but never really broke, allowing South Africa to stay in the game until the final moments. The joy present in South Africa’s refusal to acknowledge the Netherlands as an established soccer power made their soccer refreshing. A perfect blend of passion, surgical targeting of a weak backline, and a pure will to win, South Africa’s soccer felt like Christmas morning and they will be sorely missed for the rest of the tournament.
The United States: Regular Iced Coffee
Yes, the US has crashed out in the first knockout round on penalties to Sweden—despite a tactical adjustment that saw the US playing their best soccer of the tournament. It’s not that the US is bad, or that there’s no talent in the pipeline. It’s that the head coach relied extensively on his starters and didn’t trust that talent in the pipeline to appear in big moments. There was no special flavoring this World Cup, no extra sauce, nothing that set the US apart from other teams—which is why they’re going home. The backline only conceded two goals in four games, but the US also only scored 4 goals in four games and missed three game-winning penalties. Alyssa Naeher and Naomi Girma in particular were strengths of a tournament that proved the US needs to change something up and pick a new flavor.
Nigeria: Butter Pecan Iced Latte
Nigeria shut down England’s entire forward line, aggravated Lauren James to the point that she committed a red card infraction, and was denied the opportunity to advance in PKs after not being able to score in 120 minutes (they did have a shot off the crossbar). Tactically brilliant, Nigeria committed resources to defend while still springing their wingbacks on the counter, pressuring England, and refusing to make the game comfortable. 22-year-old goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie had a break-out tournament, allowing Nigeria to feel comfortable pressing forward and cleaning up any defensive mistakes. Coming into the tournament fighting their federation, there was a tendency to overlook Nigeria, but like the butter pecan flavoring, the team found a way to challenge every team they faced.
Denmark: Frozen Strawberry Acai Lemonade Refresher
Denmark often starts games on the front foot before losing steam halfway through and melting a bit. They made it out of the group stage with a tight win over China and a two-goal win over Haiti. Opening against Australia, Denmark was once again on the front foot, playing balls in between the midfield and defensive lines and serving their star Pernille Harder. Tactically, Denmark had a plan and took the game to Australia…they just couldn’t sustain the pressure and shut down the counter-attack at the same time. Melting in the middle of the match, Denmark couldn’t put away their chances, frustrated by the Australian defense. Unable to find the back of the net and also unable to keep Australia from scoring, Denmark was lost between two game plans, failing to successfully execute either one.
Jamaica: Tuxedo Mocha
Jamaica had the strongest defense in the tournament (shutting out France and Brazil) and also a goal-scoring legend in Khadija “Bunny” Shaw—a threat on both ends of the field. Fighting their federation, Jamaica still managed to be the last CONCACAF team in the tournament and kept an impressive three clean sheets in the group stage. In their knockout round match, Jamaica pressed early, searching for the opening goal while still committing resources to defense, though leaving more space than they previously had. The centerback pairing of the Swaby sisters locked down the final third and Allyson Swaby scored Jamaica’s first and only goal of the tournament off a set piece. Jamaica never once questioned its game plan and was tactically brilliant, all while remaining poised under immense pressure.
Morocco: Pumpkin Spice Latte
The only debutant to advance to the knockout rounds, Morocco made history in this tournament. Morocco turned a blow-out loss against Germany into wins over South Korea and Colombia, demonstrating their mentality and commitment to making waves at this tournament. Morocco made the most of their chances in the final third, though played soccer that was committed to defense, particularly in the midfield. Benefitting from massive investment by Morocco, the team demonstrated just how important that funding and backing can be to quickly improve a national federation. It’s not quite pumpkin spice season, so, this tournament wasn’t quite Morocco’s time, but they’ll easily be back and even more deadly in four years. An important note: Morocco played against France, which has banned players from wearing the hijab. Nouhaila Benzina is the first hijab-wearing player in the World Cup, making history and also playing against a team that, if she were French, she would not be allowed to play for.
Making mountains out of molehills and facts out of printers since the turn of the century
