Shannon Wasson '23
As the World Cup entered its closing week, there was a lot of talk about shocking performances and unexpected underdogs. Lionel Messi and Argentina’s long-awaited triumph ended the tournament, but many other aspects of the World Cup kept viewers entertained.
The competition amassed a total of 64 games, five of which went to penalty shootouts. Dramatic knockout rounds led the way for new faces and history cemented within the 2022 edition of the World Cup.
Poorly thought-of teams found themselves in new territory, as countries like Morroco, Poland, Australia, and Japan toppled several juggernauts in both group and knockout stages. Players from these countries furthermore saw their price-tags rise, as with their great performances came even greater public attention.
The knockout rounds produced some of the more shocking exits from competition favorites, such as Belgium, England, and most prominently, Spain. Specifically, Luis Enrique’s Spanish squad, who started out strongly, beating Costa Rica 7-0 in their first game, was seen the door after failing to beat Morocco in the Round of 16.
Consequently, seven first-team managers left their squads after being defeated in the tournament and many’s futures seem unknown. With a large amount leaving their roles, this has created a new record in world football for the number of managers leaving their teams in such a close time frame.
Additionally, as for our home team, the US Men’s National Team came farther in the competition than most expected. Led by Captain Tyler Adams, a New York native, the boys made many Americans proud and attracted the public eye to their beloved sport. However, an exit in the Round of 16, a tie against England, and a dramatic win over Iran stole the hearts of many and in turn made soccer something of interest within the country.
Over the course of four weeks, this World Cup has cemented itself as one of the most memorable for many. The dramatic ending of the final game, in which France came from three goals behind and almost won back-to-back cups, left many claiming it as the best final of all time.
The excitement from fans all over the world truly made the competition so enjoyable for many. Likewise, many football fans felt at peace when the 18-karat gold trophy finally reached the palms of Lionel Messi.
As Argentina is crowned champions, the world must wait to see who next can claim the most prized possession in world football. See you in four years!
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