The Round of 32 of the World Cup concludes this Friday with three matches: Australia vs. Egypt at 8:00 PM (M6, beIN Sports), Argentina vs. Cape Verde at midnight (beIN Sports), and Colombia vs. Ghana at 3:30 AM (beIN Sports). The three winners will complete the bracket for the Round of 16.
Australia-Egypt: a ticket to Atlanta
Australia finished second in Group D with 4 points. Their group stage record: a win against Turkey, a loss against the United States, and a draw against Paraguay. They scored 2 goals and conceded 2. Egypt finished second in Group G with 5 points, behind Belgium. They remained undefeated in the group stage: a draw against Belgium, a win against New Zealand, and a draw against Iran. They scored 5 goals and conceded 3.
The match pits two teams against each other, both seeking their first victory in a World Cup knockout tie. For Egypt, Mohamed Salah remains a key player: he scored a goal and provided two assists in the group stage, but his fitness is a concern after a muscle strain. Australia, on the other hand, arrives with a more defensive profile: two clean sheets in three matches, few goals, and qualification secured on goal difference ahead of Paraguay.
The winner will face the winner of Argentina-Cape Verde on Tuesday, July 7 at 18:00 PM in Atlanta.
Argentina vs. Cape Verde: Group J winner against Group H undefeated team
Argentina finished first in Group J with 9 points. Three matches, three wins: against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Record: 8 goals scored, 1 conceded. Cape Verde finished second in Group H with 3 points. Their qualification was achieved without a win but also without a loss: draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Record: 2 goals scored, 2 conceded.
Lionel Messi He is Argentina's top scorer: 6 goals in 3 matches, tied with Kylian Mbappé at the top of the World Cup scoring charts before this match. He is ahead of Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, both with 5 goals.
The balance of power seems skewed: Argentina has won all three of its matches and boasts the tournament's top scorer, while Cape Verde qualified thanks to its solidity and ability to withstand three more established opponents, including Spain and Uruguay. Goalkeeper Vozinha was one of the faces of Cape Verde's qualification, particularly after the draw against Spain.
The winner will face the winner of Australia-Egypt on Tuesday, July 7 at 18:00 PM in Atlanta.
Colombia-Ghana: Colombia's first-place finisher faces the third-place qualifier
Colombia finished first in Group K with 7 points. Their record: a win against Uzbekistan, a win against DR Congo, and a draw against Portugal. They scored 4 goals and conceded 1. Ghana finished third in Group L with 4 points. The Black Stars beat Panama, drew with England, and lost to Croatia. They scored 2 goals and conceded 2.
Colombia arrives with a solid defensive foundation and first place in a group that included Portugal. Luis Diaz is one of their key attacking assets. Ghana, on the other hand, qualified with a minimal but effective output: two goals scored, a draw against England, and an organization capable of slowing down the pace of the game. Antoine Semenyo is one of Ghana's key players.
The winner will face Switzerland on Tuesday, July 7 at 22:00 PM in Vancouver.
