World Cup Round of 32 throws up early jeopardy
One is a tactical duel between two of the smartest teams on either side of the Mediterranean. The other is a meeting between Asia’s most sophisticated football project and the sport’s greatest superpower. And almost hidden behind those heavyweight ties is another intriguing subplot: co-hosts USA and Canada have landed precisely the draw they would have wished for. The World Cup has finally reached the point where every mistake will be terminal. After the group-stage, for some, the arithmetic is over. The safety nets have disappeared. Brazil and the Netherlands will feel the noose more. Brazil have exited early only in the inaugural 1930 edition and 1966, while the Netherlands haven’t missed Round of 16 ever. But for four teams in particular, the Round of 32 has delivered exactly the sort of story FIFA would have hoped for. Netherlands vs Morocco: Familiar strangers It is one of those fixtures that almost feels domestic. The Dutch know Morocco intimately. So do the Moroccans. Several Moroccan internationals grew up in the Netherlands, came through Dutch academies or …









