by sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Xiao Shiyao
NEW YORK, July 4 (Xinhua) -- One knockout round was enough to remind everyone why the World Cup remains football's most exhilarating and unforgiving competition.
The expanded 48-team format was expected by some to dilute the drama. Instead, the round of 32 delivered thrilling finishes, individual brilliance, unlikely winners and unlucky losers.
Among the favorites, Spain looked the most convincing. Luis de la Fuente's side brushed aside Austria 3-0 to extend its perfect defensive record, and goalkeeper Unai Simon set a World Cup record of 519 consecutive shutout minutes.
France also strengthened its credentials with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sweden as Kylian Mbappe took his tournament goal tally to six, while Belgium showed title-winning resilience by recovering from 2-0 down in the last five minutes to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time.
Morocco continued its impressive form by eliminating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout, while Paraguay produced the biggest upset of the round by knocking out four-time champion Germany.
Several matches captured everything knockout football can produce. Belgium's victory over Senegal appeared impossible with five minutes of regulation time remaining. Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra time before Tielemans converted a 125th-minute penalty, the latest goal in World Cup history.
Argentina also survived only after being pushed to its limits by Cabo Verde. Lionel Messi opened the scoring before the tournament debutant twice fought back, only for Diney Borges' own goal in extra time to end one of the competition's most memorable underdog stories.
Germany's exit carried its own significance. Paraguay prevailed 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Jose Canale converting the decisive spot kick as Germany lost a World Cup shootout for the first time.
Several of football's biggest names also left their mark. Messi's strike against Cabo Verde was his 20th World Cup goal, while Harry Kane scored twice in England's comeback victory over DR Congo to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer.
Mbappe and Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal each netted twice, Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first World Cup knockout-stage goal in Portugal's dramatic victory over Croatia and Erling Haaland's late winner sent Norway past Cote d'Ivoire.
Some teams departed with their reputations enhanced. Cabo Verde exceeded expectations on its World Cup debut, becoming the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stage. With a little more luck, it might have sent the reigning champion home.
Senegal came within minutes of a famous victory while Australia pushed Egypt all the way to penalties before bowing out.
The reward for the survivors is a round of 16 that promises some tantalizing contests.
Spain will meet Portugal, Argentina faces Egypt, Brazil takes on Norway, and co-host Mexico meets England in some of the standout ties. If the round of 32 established anything, it is that reputations alone will guarantee nothing from here. ■
