World Cup 2022: Group Stage Matchday Three Roundup

The 2022 World Cup group stage is probably one of the most unpredictable since the competition was expanded to 32 teams in 1998.

Doha has truly become a city of football in this final round, as fans in the ground grew extensively, and each day the city felt increasingly packed and busy.

The final round produced great moments and games, and brought new experiences and mathematical analysis to what we thought we knew about the final day of the group stage.

💔⚽️ pic.twitter.com/eVS9GIkLT4
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) December 2, 2022

Money-time on steroids

There were so many crucial games in the third round, maybe more than the average brain and heart can hold for one tournament.

Many teams arrived with everything to play for on the final day, while needing interesting combinations of things in the concurrent games.

It created a real buzz around the tournament in Qatar.

There were games where, despite one team winning - like Mexico v Saudi Arabia - both sets of fans left the stadium in tears.

And there were many good games.

Iran against the USA attracted the most eyes from across the world. Japan v Spain, Germany v Costa Rica, and Portugal v South Korea all produced goals, drama, and atmosphere, and sent everyone running to online math classes while the game was still going.

Even Tunisia v France was as intense and exciting as it gets but, above all, Serbia v Switzerland was the game of this group stage.

The game that was held at 974 (Ras Abu Aboud), a compact box of passion and atmosphere, coupled with such a historic rivalry between the teams, a pile of emotions and a lot of trash-talking - we had a show on our hands.

Goals, comebacks, aggressive defences, fast passes, cult moments, and great Serbian fans. This game was the best in the group stage.

#AUS #DEN #TUN #FRA pic.twitter.com/xtBcqcRMbK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 30, 2022

Hakim Ziyech - the player

There are plenty to choose from. I saw so many players that enlightened my thoughts and imagination in the past two weeks, but I picked Hakim Ziyech of Morocco.

Why? Because he is living up to challenges and obstacles, and you can see it in how he plays.

After he failed in the Dutch youth national teams, he similarly struggled to have a real impact on the Atlas Lions under Herve Renard and Vahid Halilodzic.

In this tournament, he is a different Ziyech. More responsible, more of a leader, and a better team player.

He’s been a joy to watch, especially in the game against Canada, with how he simply dictates the play right from the start.

Ziyech is now the star of the only Arab team left in the first World Cup in the Arab world.

Morocco fans are in love with him again, and finally, this wizard is shining on the international football stage as he should.

The opportunity was a gift but Ziyech still had to hold his nerve 🇲🇦🧊 pic.twitter.com/5Uy368st8W
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022

The trends

This World Cup is testing our minds right from the beginning - and that’s not just on the football pitch.

We talked about Arab and Middle Eastern unity among the Arab crowds, but from criticism to mild acceptance, this edition created a different atmosphere from any World Cup. Football-wise as well.

First it was Saudi Arabia who brought ‘the Arab football message’ to the front line, but then it slowly, and quite unpredictably, became the best World Cup for Asian sides.

There are more AFC teams than CONMEBOL ones in the knockouts for the first time ever.

Australia shocked the world with a victory against Denmark, Japan outclassed Spain and Germany, and South Korea managed to become the first ever to be ranked fourth in their group before the last matchday and qualify for the knockouts after 90 minutes.

With two African teams, three from the AFC, two South American, and one North American in the knockouts, this World Cup is as diverse as it gets.

Here in Doha, the world is meeting with football fans that usually are not viewed as equal or even discussed - football fans from south Asia, the biggest population in Qatar.

Indian and Bangladeshi fans of Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and even England, are giving this tournament south Asian vibes - much more than the typical European crowd arriving in.

The group stage of this World Cup was unpredictable, thrilling, and different from any group stage in past World Cups.

It brought with it unique cultural encounters that fell into a complex story about nationalism, politics, and identity through football.

From the pitch to the stands, to the alleys of Souq Waqif, I can’t wait to see what the knockouts bring along.