Europe, South America typically dominate World Cup’s knockout phase
MOSCOW — The thunder-clapping Icelanders have gone home, along with the Egyptians and Peruvians. Now comes the business end of the World Cup, a club dominated by European and South American teams that rejects most new applicants as unwanted hoi polloi.
The group stage is the crossroads of cultures, a mixture of multitudes filled with happiness and hope.
Then comes the knockout stage, where soccer’s powers pump their pecs and the blue bloods almost always prevail.
Ten European nations reached the round of 16, matching 1998 and 2006 for the most since 11 in 1990, the record since the current format began in ’86.
Four South American teams have advanced, plus Mexico and Japan. For the first time since ’82, no African team made it past the first round.
History is instructive: Europe earned 41 of 64 quarter-final berths and South America took 16 since ’86. Among the other regions, Africa and CONCACAF got three apiece and Asia one.
Winnowing to the inner sanctum becomes even more pronounced after that: Europe filled 23 of 32 semifinal spots and South America eight, with South Korea in 2002 at home becoming the only outsider to reach the final four.
Among 20 previous World Cups, Europe has lifted the trophy 11 times and South America nine.
Germany’s departure was the biggest group phase jolt. Projected by many as the first repeat winner since Brazil in 1958 and ’62, Die Mannschaft became the fourth champion in five tournaments to exit early.
FIFA has favoured the bottom of the bracket with far easier travel, with the Russia-Spain winner headed from
Moscow to a quarter-final in Sochi, then potentially a semifinal and the final in the capital.
The Colombia-England winner in Moscow goes to a quarter-final in Samara, then would be on track to finish at Moscow.
A look at the Round of 16: SATURDAY
France vs. Argentina
Lionel Messi & Co. were on the verge of elimination before Marco Rojos’s 86th-minute goal against Nigeria. With an average age of 26, France is among the youngest teams, led by dynamic 19-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe.
Uruguay vs. Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo, with four goals in the tournament, leads the European champions against a Uruguay team known foremost for the bite marks Luis Suarez left in Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini four years ago. SUNDAY
Spain vs. Russia
World Cup hosts outside the soccer powers usually perform better than expected. Russia should have huge support at Luzhniki Stadium, making it closer than the 10th vs. 70th matchup in the rankings.
Croatia vs. Denmark
Tottenham past vs. Spurs present, with Luka Modric leading Croatia and Christian Eriksen sparking Denmark. Croatia was among the most impressive groupstage teams, beating Nigeria, Argentina and Iceland by a combined 7-1. MONDAY
Brazil vs. Mexico
El Tri fans hope for the elusive “quinto partido” — to reach a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time since 1986, which was on home soil.
Belgium vs. Japan
Belgium was among three teams to go 3-0 in group play, joining Croatia and Uruguay, and No. 61 Japan will be a heavy underdog against the third-ranked Red Devils. TUESDAY
Colombia vs. England
Harry Kane, whose five goals lead the World Cup, heads a young England team that finished group play without a shutout for the first time. Los Cafeteros, led by James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, advanced over Senegal on a tiebreaker.