Day 2 of the Round of 32: Upsets, Heartbreak, and a Late Brazilian Miracle

Day 2 of the Round of 32 lived up to every bit of the hype. Three heavyweight nations faced genuine elimination — and not all of them survived.

Brazil Outlasts Japan

Brazil 2–1 Japan

My most anticipated matchup of the round. Brazil, the five-time champions, haven't won a World Cup since 2002 and the weight of that wait follows them everywhere. Japan, everyone's new darling — technical, disciplined, with a fanbase that travels in numbers and makes noise wherever they go.

The first half was a Japanese masterclass. Not many clear-cut chances either way, but Japan's midfield ran the game. In the 29th minute they took a deserved lead. Danilo gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, Kaishu Sano seized on it, surged forward and drove a low shot past Alisson from outside the box. Clinical.

Japan were comfortable for the rest of the half. Brazil came out a different side after the break, introducing Endrick and immediately pressing higher. In the 54th minute Casemiro powered home a header from a Gabriel Magalhães cross at the back post to level the scores. Brazil then smelled blood — Vinícius Jr was exceptional from that point, a constant threat every time he touched the ball, and Suzuki had to tip a Vini shot onto the post to keep it level.

With the game seemingly heading to extra time, Brazil struck in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Bruno Guimarães found Martinelli, who had come on as a substitute, and he curled a clinical finish into the far corner through a crowd of bodies. Heartbreak for Japan. A wake-up call for Brazil, who now face either Ivory Coast or Norway in the Round of 16.

Germany Disappoint Against Paraguay

Germany 1–1 Paraguay (Paraguay win 4–3 on penalties)

After Paraguay's heavy opening loss to the US, most had written them off entirely. From the outset the script was predictable — Germany would dominate the ball, Paraguay would sit deep and defend for their lives. And that's exactly what happened.

Germany had a staggering 79% possession in the first half but created very little of note. Deniz Undav started but was largely anonymous. Then in the 42nd minute Paraguay struck on the counter. A corner wasn't confidently dealt with, and on the second ball Julio Enciso — the man who caused the USA problems in the group stage — headed home unmarked at the six-yard box. Against the run of play, but fully deserved given how little Germany had threatened.

Germany equalized in the 52nd minute when Florian Wirtz delivered a cross that Kai Havertz flicked home — his third goal of the tournament. From there you expected Germany to kick on. They did not. Paraguay sat in a low 4-4-2 block and defended with real organization and heart.

The stalemate continued into extra time, where the controversy arrived. In the 102nd minute Jonathan Tah rose to head home a corner and Germany thought they had won it — the German fans inside Boston Stadium went ballistic. But the referee went to the VAR screen. Waldemar Anton was adjudged to have fouled Paraguay keeper Orlando Gill before the ball crossed the line, and the goal was ruled out. A hugely debated call — Gill went down very easily and most pundits felt the goal should have stood. If this was the Premier League it's given nine times out of ten.

On to penalties. Havertz stepped up first for Germany and it was poor — a comfortable height to the keeper's right, easily saved. Kicks were exchanged until Nick Woltemade missed to give Paraguay a 3–2 lead. Germany's Neuer then saved from Sanabria to keep them alive. But in sudden death Tah — the man whose disallowed goal had kept Germany in it — skied his attempt over the bar, and José Canale stepped up to send Paraguay through.

It was the first time in history Germany had lost a World Cup penalty shootout. A remarkable turnaround for Paraguay and a bitter, controversial exit for a German side who — it has to be said — would have been heavy underdogs against France in the next round anyway.

Morocco Defeats Netherlands

Morocco 1–1 Netherlands (Morocco win 3–2 on penalties)

Koeman raised eyebrows with his lineup, leaning into a five-back system that telegraphed real respect for the Moroccan attack. The first half was tight and cagey — just 0.27 xG for both teams combined. Morocco actually created the better first-half openings. In the 20th minute El Aynaoui met a Hakimi corner with a header that Verbruggen reacted well to keep out. The best chance came right before the break when Hakimi's teasing back-post cross just failed to find Saibari at the far post — an agonising near miss.

The second half opened up slightly. In the 52nd minute Hakimi found himself in behind at a tight angle and opted to shoot rather than square — the ball hit the crossbar. He probably should have laid it off, though he may have been marginally offside anyway.

Morocco were the team on the front foot as the half wore on, getting Hakimi more involved on the right wing. But it was the Dutch who scored. Weghorst flicked on a long ball to Summerville — who was Morocco's biggest problem all night — and he played it across for Gakpo to finish emphatically under the advancing Bounou. An incredibly emotional moment. Gakpo had been playing just two days after his partner announced the loss of their unborn son, and you could see exactly what that goal meant to him and every one of his teammates.

The Dutch looked set to escape with a 1–0 win, Morocco dominating the ball without creating a great deal. Then in the first minute of stoppage time an unlikely hero emerged. Substitute Chemsdine Talbi found space deep on the left and delivered a cross that Issa Diop — on his first international goal — met with a precise header to level. Remarkable.

Extra time was all Morocco. In the 96th minute some lovely interplay found Rahimi one-on-one with Verbruggen, who produced a jaw-dropping point-blank save to keep it level. The second period of extra time was quieter — both teams gassed and content to take their chances from the spot.

The penalty shootout was chaotic from the first kick. Morocco's El Aynaoui struck the crossbar to hand the Dutch the advantage. But the Netherlands couldn't capitalize — Kluivert hit the post, then Timber missed wide. Bounou was exceptional throughout, moving along his line just before each taker struck, clearly getting in their heads. His best moment came when Summerville stepped up — Bounou stayed on his feet, refused to dive, and batted it away with his left hand. Morocco's kicks were far from clean but they had just enough. Saibari buried the winner low and to the left as Verbruggen went the wrong way. Morocco through to face Canada in the Round of 16.

This tournament keeps giving. I was a bit worried the round of 32 might produce some dull, one-sided affairs. Instead we got heartbreak, controversy, and a Brazilian escape act in stoppage time. Three of the world's most historic footballing nations were pushed to the brink — two of them didn't make it back. The round of 16 can't come soon enough.