FIFA World Cup 2022

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Socceroos defeated Denmark 1-0 to clinch a spot in the final 16, marking the first time that the men's team of Australia has made it to the knockout stage since 2006. Regarding the result as "magnificent win," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the celebrations with a tweet shortly afterward, reports Xinhua.

While the 2018 exit in Russia was seen as a coincidental accident, the devastating performance four years later in Qatar revealed profound omissions on several stages; not to speak of the early exit in the last 16-round at the Euro 2020. Fundamental changes seem inevitable and include talent education and the will to open up to modern football's requirements. Germany's reputation as a football nation suffered enormous damage, reports Xinhua.

"It may sound strange, but we played well in the first half, but they came out in the second. It is something we have to correct, but the main thing is that we have qualified," commented Luis Enrique. "It's obvious that we would have liked to qualify by winning this match, but we are in the last 16," he added.

The North Africans, who were backed by vociferous supporters, took an early lead to keep themselves on course for a place in the last 16 and join the other qualified team from Africa Senegal in the knockout phase of the tournament after emerging as winners in their group. For Morocco, this is only the second time they are making it to the knockout stage since 1986 in Mexico when they defeated Portugal 3-1.

When the kick off of the last and concluding match of the Group E, French referee Stephanie Frappart entered the record books as the first woman to take charge of a FIFA World Cup match. Her appointment was announced by the tournament organisers on Tuesday and means the 38-year-old match official will take her place in the history of the game.

At the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Croatia made it to the last 16 stage as group runners-up while the draw meant World No.2 side Belgium had to make an early exit from the football showpiece event. The disappointment of the tournament were Belgium which only had four points from three matches, winning one, losing one and drawing one and crashing out of the tournament.

In material of losing the last league match of the group Spain qualified along with Japan to the knockout stage of the tournament. In a night of chaotic pair of games, at the Khalifa International Stadium, Japan trailing by a 11th minute goal scored by Alvaro Morata to go into the half time break trailing 1-0. The Samurai Blue however stormed back with full gusto in the second half to score two goals within a span of three minutes.

Ronaldo has been Public Enemy No. 1 among South Korean football fans since sitting out an exhibition match for Juventus in Seoul before some 65,000 fans, reports Yonhap. Santos said any question about that incident should be directed at Ronaldo and Juventus, and added, "I think Ronaldo has great respect for South Korean people and players."

"The boys who have come in today have done well, but we always think about the team," said the coach. "We have 26 players who can play, we have had changes and injuries and it helps knowing that who comes into the side can help. We have alternatives and all of them offer something different. "We are satisfied with the game. It wasn't easy due to the context of facing a team that would qualify with a draw or a win.

France started the World Cup in fine fashion, picking up six points from their first two games and scoring six goals in the process but finished as group leaders ahead of Australia. France, who had already qualified for the knock-out stage with two wins, ended up top despite making nine changes and producing a poor performance.