Qatar 2022 So Far: The Group Stage Review

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup started with a backlog of controversies. Less than a week into the tournament Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president when Qatar was awarded the hosting right in 2010, clearly announced that they made a mistake in choosing the gulf state. In the same week Gianni Infantino, current FIFA president, had to pen an emotional letter to participants to focus on football as human rights issues threatened to derail the tournament. The ban on alcohol around stadium premises just a day before the tournament sparked further outrage. What else can I say? The tournament looked prepped to be a massive disaster.

Two weeks into the tournament and we're already singing a new song. The earlier protests have given way for awesome cheers. Needless to say, the tournament has delivered massive entertainment. From ridiculous sound bites to teams swapping position on the log on the final match day of group stages, this has been an edge of the seat stuff all the way. Hazard mocked the Germans for covering their mouths in protest before their defeat to Japan. Well, the Germans failed at the first hurdle; likewise, Hazard should've landed in Belgium by now with a truckload of explanations to give as to what happened to Belgium at the World Cup.

In Group A, Netherlands and Senegal made it to the Round of 16. England and USA qualified from Group B. It was actually silly of anyone to expect Wales to beat England and probably qualify from that group. Argentina put their shock defeat against Saudi Arabia behind them to qualify alongside Poland in Group C. Australia stunned tournament dark horse Denmark to qualify in Group D; France topped that group despite losing to Tunisia.

Group E produced an unbelievable amount of drama for one night; at some point, Spain and Germany were both heading home. The fact that Japan topped a group that has two of the last three winners of the World Cup in it is enough to tell how crazy this tournament has been. It's even crazier when you realise Japan defeated both of them despite having less than 35% possession in each of the games. Germany were eliminated in the group stages for the second consecutive World Cup tournament, Spain got a massive reality check. Morocco stunned everyone to top Group F that has last edition's finalist and third placed teams. Belgium were eliminated in brutal fashion as chances went begging in their quest for a solitary goal that will help them to the next round at the expense of Croatia.

Brazil topped Group G but couldn't record a perfect record as they succumbed to a late goal from Cameroon. Switzerland swatted a talented Serbia team aside to make it to the next round. The build up to the final matches in Group H was all about emotions and vengeance. While a lot of people salivated at the idea of Ghana knocking out Uruguay as a form of poetic justice, everyone forgot about South Korea. In the end, the Ghanaians were well beaten by Uruguay once again. However, South Korea stunned Portugal to snatch the second spot from Uruguay. I guess the painful tears Luis Suarez shed when he realized they didn't scale through is enough consolation for those desperate for revenge.

Finally, this tournament has been thoroughly entertaining. The unbelievable results witnessed in the group stages has blown it wide open. Simply put, each of the participating teams can win this one. My warmest regards to the punters who have lost some real money due to the unpredictable nature of this tournament. By the way, I've lost some too. 😎

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