Just got into the World Cup? No worries I got You: World Cup Knockout Guide

     The group stage for the 2018 men's FIFA World Cup has finally come to its conclusion. With plenty of upsets and surprises the final games of the group stage provided plenty of intense drama for fans all over the world. Germany was the biggest upset, to most fans, to not make it out of the group stage. The group stage is over and the knockout stage has begun. So enough talking about the past. Of the 32 teams that started only 16 remain. If your a new fan do not fret, I have quick guide to catch you up with what's going on. From now on any team that loses is eliminated.

     France and Argentina will be the first match of the knockout stage Saturday morning-(Pacific Standard Time). France is a team full of young talented players such as Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe. Yet, the french national team hasn't played to their best capabilities or maybe due to the names on the team one assumes they can play better. Argentina is a complete mess. There is no visible strategy and after the Croatia lost there where rumors that the head coach would be fired before the third world cup game. Argentina beat Nigeria to advance in dramatic fashion. It is chaos. France on the other hand is the opposite of Argentina. The french have a team structure and a plan or an idea of what they want to do. France should be the team to win, but I worry that Argentina's chaos might work as an advantage due to the french will have no idea what they will be facing. Having a team on their toes while having a player like Lionel Messi on your side can be a winning formula in the knockout stages of this tournament. 

     Later in the day Portugal will face Uruguay. Portugal had to rely heavily on their superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the group stage when the faced Spain and Morocco. The Portuguese team as a whole doesn't give me the confidence they will reach the final this tournament. Uruguay is a team that is built to win this tournament. By that I mean that I don't think they will, but the team structure, the defensive and rough philosophy accompanied by the Edson Cavani and Luis Suarez pairing up front give Uruguay the best chance in any match to win against any opponent. I don't see Uruguay winning this tournament, but I can see them beating Portugal. The winner of this match will go on to play the winner of the France vs Argentina match where there is a possibility of a Ronaldo vs Messi Quarterfinal. 

     On July 1 Spain will play the host in the round of 16. Russia may have the home field advantage, but that's the only positive I can see from this Russian side who played a weak Saudi Arabian team and an Egyptian team in political turmoil. Spain have not played well at all in this tournament which might boost as a morale for the Russian side, but I don't see Spain giving up any ground to the host. As long as Spain doesn't overlook their opponent they should set up a date with the winner between the Croatia vs Denmark match. 

     The next match for that day will be Croatia vs Denmark. Of the two, Croatia is by far the better team this tournament with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic controlling and creating from the midfield. Denmark were a bit fortunate to get 3 points against a Peruvian team that played better. I really don't see Denmark advancing past Croatia who to me have been one of the top two teams of this tournament so far based on performances. 

     July 2 will be a very emotional day for me. Brazil and Mexico will battle it out for a spot in the quarterfinals. The best teams from North and South America will go at it in a knockout match. Brazil started off a bit slow with that draw against Switzerland, but have been flying high and all over the pitch since then. Phillipe Coutinho has been the best player for me this far, but Neymar is a talented and dangerous player who has been performing well. Mexico started off well by defeating Germany in their opening match and South Korea after, only to need the Koreans' help after Mexico lost to Sweden by a score of 3-0. For this match my brain says Brazil, but my heart and soul say Mexico. 

     Belgium vs Japan will be the second match of the day. On paper Belgium are the better team, but Japan showed that they aren't a team to be overlooked and will take advantage of an opportunity that becomes available. Belgium should beat Japan, but they will face the winner of the Mexico-Brazil match. That may linger in their minds a bit more than it should due to multiple sports journalist labeling their side of the bracket as the "stronger" side. Which Belgium are aware because in their last group game against England they used plenty of their bench players. Maybe Belgium just wanted to rest their starters and we the fans are over thinking and assuming too much, but it does seem probable. Belgium will go through, but if this team is going to go far they will have to play very strong opponents the whole way. 

     Sweden and Switzerland will battle it out for an opportunity to play Colombia or England in the quarterfinals. Sweden was a surprise to most that didn't keep a close eye and overlooked them due to the name and that frankly their style of play isn't necessarily attractive to watch. Sweden is a team that can defend with all 11 players and composed enough to seek the one goal that will further benefit their style of play. Switzerland will have a tough time breaking through the Swedish team. I can see this match going to extra time and eventually a penalty shootout. 

     Colombia vs England! England got their wish (I assume) on being seeded on the "weaker" side of the bracket. However, England will be tested right away against a Colombian side that has been on of my favorites to watch. Not to stereotype, but Colombia play with a South American flair that is fun to watch and the players have excellent technique that when the Colombians move the ball around the field it truly resembles the joyous dance they perform after they score. I like England, most that know me understand that I don't normally rate the English as being above average in the international footballing world. England beat a weak Tunisian side and a first timer in Panama only to lose to Belgium's B team. In England's defense they also used plenty of their bench players to start their last match against Belgium. I am torn between these two, but I will lean towards Colombia. The winner of these two on paper will have a really good chance on reaching the semifinals.  

            

We Know it was Just A GAME

   
      On the 17th of June 2018 it was father's day. Sunday was special for a variety of reasons, one big reason was that it falls under the world cup calendar. It was extra special for Mexican dads that follow and cherish the Mexican national team, El Tri. The defending world cup champions, Germany, were defeated by a 1-0 scoreline by the Mexican national team. It was a group match which means that a win, loss, or draw wouldn't necessarily mean the end for either team. Each team is guaranteed to play 3 matches to determine if they reach the knockout phase of the tournament.

     The celebration was wild! Irving "Chucky" (pronounced CHOOKY) Lozano scored the winning goal for Mexico in the 35th minute. Once the final whistle blew emotions filled the stands, the players, and those fans all over the world who bleed red, white, and green watched from. My Twitter feed blew up with memes and Gifs of joy and support of the Mexican victory. I loved it.

     I will take this moment to thank the Mexican national team for giving my dad one of the best gifts he probably has and will ever receive on father's day. Hearing him shout "Chooky is number 1!" filled me with even more emotion than I already was after the match concluded.

     WE KNOW IT WAS JUST A  GAME. We get it. Myself, along with the rest of the mexican and non-mexicans who support the national team. But, what many (mostly stateside) fail to understand that soccer is an amplifier of emotions. Sports tend to do that at a pretty intense level, but the world cup puts it beyond reach of anything on this planet. To reiterate, what I say often with confidence, sports are political. They are also a glimpse of hope, a window to show others, the world, who one is and the Mexican national team, as many other national teams are as well, are exactly that too many people.

      Mexico is geographically located in North America, yet their soccer resonates closer to South America. The language, the flair, the passion has always been similar to those nations south of Mexico. However, due to their geographical location, the Mexican national team is part of the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) federation under FIFA (Federation International of Football Associations). Historically, the world cup has been dominated by European and South American national teams. Mexico has been that one team that is talented, but never really at the standard of the very best.

     For those who question the passion of the Mexican people for their national soccer team baffles me. I question whether they are sports fan themselves which then is even more baffling, but the common person who sees the neanderthal in sports fandom as mob mentality, I can understand that. To address both, the Mexican national team is sacred to most Mexicans for a variety of reasons. Stepping into the social and political realm again for those not familiar, Mexicans know what is going on in their country. They are aware of the government corruption, the scandals, the drug trafficking and issues that surround the country. They live there guys. If your motive is to hate on the Mexican national team due to confusing it with the Mexican government or that being poor due to that same government cheating its own people some how makes them less aware or lazy and dumb I loudly will like to tell you to "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE."

    The Mexican national team is the small window that allows Mexicans to express and demonstrate themselves as a collective to the world view without much bias and outside interference. The Mexican federation isn't innocent themselves, but the players play the game that brings so much joy to the people that most still support their players knowing the shadow that lurks.

     I am not attempting to start a fandom war or state that Mexican fans are better than others. From videos from social media one can see that Mexican fans do enjoy themselves and are inviting for others to join in with their celebratory lifestyle.

     Soccer means so much to Mexicans because it is an outlet, a beacon of national pride, a commutative collective that most Mexican don't find at the government level or much acceptance from their northern neighbor. I study sports and still don't completely understand why my parents' and my national team makes my heart rate increase and fill my head and soul with such passion when Mexico plays. I understand, it isn't the most logically sound thing in life, but I don't care. I love this sport. And Mexicans love their national team. And beating Germany in the world cup was one of the greatest moments in sports that I can proudly say I witnessed. And I wasn't alone.