Argentina’s Comeback and Switzerland’s Penalty Triumph
The last two round of 16 matches on Tuesday delivered drama. Argentina staged a comeback against Egypt in Atlanta, rallying from behind to win 3-2 after Yasser Ibrahim’s early header had stunned the defending champions. Lionel Messi scored his eighth goal of the tournament in the 83rd minute before Enzo Fernández headed a stoppage-time winner. In Vancouver, Switzerland eliminated Colombia on penalties to secure the final quarterfinal berth. nytimes.com aljazeera.com nbcnews.com fox5sandiego.com cbssports.com espn.com
Monday’s action saw Belgium dismantle the United States 4-1 in Seattle, ending the co-hosts’ tournament run, while Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in Dallas thanks to Mikel Merino’s 91st-minute strike — likely ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. nbcnews.com espn.com cnn.com
Quarterfinal Schedule
The full quarterfinal lineup features France vs. Morocco on Thursday, July 9; Belgium vs. Spain on Friday, July 10; Norway vs. England on Saturday, July 11; and Argentina vs. Switzerland on Sunday, July 12. All matches will air on Fox in the United States, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo. aljazeera.com nytimes.com
England advanced after defeating Mexico 3-2 over the weekend, while Norway eliminated Brazil and France dispatched Paraguay in earlier round of 16 matches. sports.yahoo.com en.wikipedia.org
France Leads Betting Favorites
France enters the quarterfinals as the clear tournament favorite, with odds at +175 on DraftKings and +180 on FanDuel, according to The Athletic. Argentina follows at +330 after its comeback, with Spain at +360 and England at +500. France has won all five of its matches so far, with Kylian Mbappé leading the charge. fifa.com nytimes.com foxsports.com
Despite the USMNT’s elimination, American audiences remain engaged with the tournament as it continues across venues in the United States and Canada through the July 19 final in Miami. roadtrips.com
