Erling Haaland scored a late winner as Norway set up a last-16 showdown with Brazil at the World Cup after taming the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Texas yesterday.

No supercomputer can account for the emotion, pressure and sheer unpredictability that unfold once the stakes reach this level. Nobody knows what tomorrow's headline will be.

When the entire Brazil dugout erupted in celebration, one man barely flinched. As Gabriel Martinelli buried the winner in the final minute of stoppage time to seal Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan in the World Cup Round of 32 on Monday, Carlo Ancelotti remained almost expressionless, except for a familiar twitch of his eyebrows, as though the ending had been written long before the final whistle.

Yet another World Cup failure has Germany questioning its footballing identity, with some calling for radical changes at all levels in the football-mad nation.

Across the tournament, AFC teams managed just three victories in the group stage. Only Australia and Japan survived to see the knockout rounds. But any hopes of a deep run evaporated in the Round of 32 when Japan fell 2-1 to heavyweights Brazil, courtesy of a devastating 95th-minute winner by Gabriel Martinelli.

Mexico and Ecuador lock horns for a place in the last 16 in the Azteca Stadium, with the match kicking off on Tuesday at 7:00 am Bangladesh time.

Sweden have embraced their underdog status ahead of tonight's World Cup Round of 32 clash with France in New Jersey, insisting the pressure rests firmly on the 2018 champions.

Erling Haaland will be the centre of attention in Dallas tonight but the Ivory Coast will be hoping to highlight some attacking talent of their own when they take on Norway in their World Cup Round of 32 clash.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp launched a scathing attack on VAR after Germany's extra-time winner was ruled out in their dramatic World Cup Round of 32 defeat to Paraguay.

Bangladesh's extraordinary passion for football has earned another heartfelt acknowledgement from a global superstar, with Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker thanking the country's fans for their unwavering support during the FIFA World Cup.

Brazil forward Neymar could not resist poking fun at German economist and football forecaster Joachim Klement after the Selecao's 2-1 victory over Japan proved another of Klement's World Cup predictions wrong.

Getting a ticket for the 2026 World Cup was a challenge in itself. Of course, I wanted to watch a Brazil match, but ticket prices for Brazil or Argentina games required a very different kind of bank balance from mine. So I spent almost an entire day on FIFA's website and eventually managed to get a ticket for Spain versus Saudi Arabia in Atlanta - about an eight-hour drive from where I live - at a price that was at least manageable.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his side had earned respect after knocking the Netherlands out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout on Monday, adding that his players were fuelled by the desire to make the millions watching back home proud.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said they went with a more defensive approach against Morocco to give them a better chance of winning rather than out of any fear of their opponents, after his side were eliminated from the World Cup on Monday.

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted his side can no longer be considered among football's elite after their stunning Round of 32 exit to Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup on Monday after a thrilling battle in Monterrey finished 1-1 after extra-time.

"We never believe that we are beaten," Alfaro told reporters after the dramatic shootout. "Twenty-six warriors went out there and they came back as legends."

"I experienced it with great intensity, like everyone," said Alfaro.

Substitute Gabriel Martinelli pounced in the 95th minute in Houston for the five-time champions and sent dark horses Japan home.

Germany had never lost a penalty shoot-out at a World Cup on four previous occasions since the 1982 finals in Spain.