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Six takeaways as World Cup quarterfinals begin
Six takeaways as World Cup quarterfinals begin
Ken Schreiber, Special to The Providence JournalWed, Jul 8, 2026·5 min readWith just eight teams remaining to determine the World Cup champion, let’s take this opportunity to make some observations on the past and the future.
France, Spain and the reigning champion, Argentina, are still the favorites to win the crown. Spain and France have elite talent and depth while Argentina has the GOAT, Lionel Messi. England is probably next in line, followed by the field of four long shots — Norway, Switzerland, Morocco and Belgium. Argentina has the best path by not facing Spain or France until a potential final. As the games have shown, however, anything can happen as the quarterfinal round opens on Thursday, July 9.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFinal eight teams deserve to be here
The Group Stage saw many upsets but there are reasons we are left with these talented final eight countries. First, remember how little time some players had to practice before the World Cup started. For some players who played in the Union of European Football Associations or EUFA, Champions League final, it was just weeks to prepare for the tournament. As they became more familiar with their teammates during the Group Stage, their team’s play improved and the elite teams began to emerge. Sure, Brazil and Germany, two countries with nine World Cup trophies combined, were upset early but neither played at an elite level during their time here and it was not a surprise to see them eliminated.
Home-field advantage was huge
If you didn’t catch it, the “fix” was in. How? Well, playing on your home turf is a huge advantage in soccer. For Canada and Mexico, as cohosts, the FIFA draw guaranteed each host country the home-field advantage in the first two knockout rounds if they won their group and their first knockout game. For Mexico, it worked out but Canada had to travel to the United States after finishing second. Of course, the U.S. was guaranteed a home game throughout just by being here.
Mexico should be proud of team, fans
Anyone who witnessed in person or on television the Mexico-England knockout game saw perhaps the most impressive atmosphere ever seen at any international event. I’m talking Olympics, NFL, EUFA champions league — any game. Played at the iconic Azteca Stadium before 87,000 in Mexico City, it was the loudest environment ever recorded. Mexico, playing at home at an altitude of higher than 7,000 feet and owning 70 wins and just two losses at this venue, was actually a slight underdog.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 3-2 England victory was a privilege to watch and elevated England to perhaps its greatest triumph since 1966. The crowd never stopped their high level of intense support, even when Mexico was down two goals twice. Mexican fans should be proud of their team but just as proud of their hometown “presentation” for the world to see. England became only the third team in four decades to win at that stadium and, while the result was impressive, the crowds‘ enthusiasm was bucket list material. Electric!
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
Fans arrive before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Darrian Traynor, Getty Images)See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
See the best moments from the Germany-Paraguay World Cup match
Have Americans lost interest?
USA lost to Belgium (4-1) because the Belgians played a more complete game. But two egregious mistakes contributed to USA's demise. It says here that the the Americans' exit in the Round of 16 is another in a long line of disappointments and that’s how the reaction has been here at home. It appears the United States, now having no skin in the game, has lost its passion for the World Cup overnight with the elimination. The remaining games will be exciting but America’s absence reduces interest not only here but throughout the world as the United States is the driving force behind any international event.
Mixed grades for Fox's in-studio teams
Speaking of television, how good was Fox’s studio team as Thierry Henry from France and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden, two former star strikers in Europe, played off each other. It wasn’t Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley on the NBA but it has been entertaining, especially Ibrahimovic, who was forthright and sarcastic at the same time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFormer American players Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan were excellent at stating the obvious but their name recognition was the reason they were there. Alexi Lalas? His fifth World Cup in the studio and his performance has been less than stellar, getting into arguments with Henry and Ibrahimovic and being loud and obnoxious. Kind of like your average know-it-all. He’s now 56 and still best remembered as that U.S. player in 1994 with curly red hair down to his neck when hair growth was not in vogue. Wouldn’t be surprised if Fox demoted him to field level. Either that or start wearing a wig to imitate his youth. That at least would be entertaining.
The one common theme to this World Cup so far is that it has delivered. The crowds, the visiting fans and the games have raised the popularity of soccer on the world stage. The only thing missing now is American participation. Messi appears to have become the “adopted son” to fill the void for all those disappointed Americans as he continues to perform for Argentina at a level not seen arguably by anyone at any time. Their victory over Egypt (3-2) quickly became the best game in the tournament with Argentina, down 2-0 with 12 minutes left, scoring three goals for the dramatic victory. Expect more “greatness” from Messi.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementContrast that with Portugal’s all-time scorer and perhaps the most recognized person on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored just one goal (on a penalty), looked disinterested and played like it. In his final World Cup, Ronaldo, at the age of 41, looked like he didn’t belong.
An incredible club career will forever be remembered in how it ended on the international stage. The lesson that most professional athletes ignore is don’t live in denial when your skills have deteriorated. It’s a lot better to go out on top than as someone who just hung around, but that’s a common denominator among our greatest sports heroes.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Six takeaways as World Cup quarterfinals begin
Story byThe Providence Journal