Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it was “madness” for his team to play their World Cup last 16 game against Australia with just two rest days after their last group match.

Spain staggered through to the World Cup last 16 on Thursday despite a 2-1 defeat by Japan, who remarkably won Group E on a rollercoaster night which saw four-time champions Germany eliminated.

Morocco powered into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 36 years on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over eliminated Canada.

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said his team would leave the World Cup with their “heads held high” despite being dumped out in the group stage after a goalless draw with Croatia on Thursday.

Clenched teeth, head lowered. That is how Lionel Messi returned to the dressing room after his first-half penalty was saved by Wojciech Szczesny. If that is how things had ended, it could have been Messi’s last World Cup game. But his team had other ideas.

Uruguay’s Luis Suarez refused to apologise to Ghanaians on Thursday for his role 12 years ago in their biggest World Cup setback, arguing it wasn’t his handball that denied Ghana a quarter-final winner but their missed penalty that followed.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 has reached its peak with the showpiece event heading towards the business end -- the knockouts.

Croatia reached the last 16 of the World Cup after a tension-filled 0-0 draw with Belgium on Thursday that ensured the last hurrah of the Belgian 'golden generation' ended in a dismal group-stage exit.

Two first-half goals set Morocco on their way to top place in World Cup Group F but they had to hold on for a 2-1 win over Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium on Thursday after conceding an own goal that kept them nervous through the second half.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said that Cristiano Ronaldo's availability is still in question for their closing Group H match against South Korea on Friday.

No wins in their opening two matches, including a 2-1 shock against Japan, have left Germany reeling at bottom of Group E, meaning they must win against Costa Rica and then rely on 2010 champions Spain to beat Japan in order to remain in contention for qualification.

You might be a great fan of football. A lot of people are; it’s the most popular sport on the planet for a reason, but players are even more ardent fans of the game and it’s no shocker. For us it’s a game, a thing to love. For them, it’s so much more. For the players, it’s a lifestyle. So, it’s no wonder that players love to celebrate their victories. Here are a few ways that players celebrate their victories and achievements.

Wounded Germany will have their backs to the wall when they take on Costa Rica in their final World Cup Group E match on Thursday and know they must bag their first win of the tournament, preferably by a large margin, to have any chances of advancing.

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Stephanie Frappart of France is set to become the first female referee to officiate a men’s FIFA world cup match, taking charge of the Germany vs. Costa Rica match. The 38-year-old will lead an all-female refereeing team for the Group E match of the World Cup, including Brazil’s Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz Medina. This is also the very first time all the officials in a World Cup match will be officiated by an all-female team, making her a part of a historic achievement of women’s inclusion in the sport.

Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match after FIFA announced on Tuesday that she will take charge of Thursday's Group E match between Germany and Costa Rica. 

Morocco will play to win against eliminated Canada in their final World Cup Group F match on Thursday to fly the African flag high even though a draw would be enough to send them through, coach Walid Regragui said on Wednesday.

Germany veteran Thomas Mueller said his side would “stay humble” with their World Cup group stage exit in 2018 fresh in their minds ahead of Thursday’s must-win clash with Costa Rica.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says that European football is the global gold standard but he has urged his players to believe in themselves and suggested a score needs to be settled when they take on Spain in their final Group E match at the World Cup.

Rumours of Belgium’s demise are greatly exaggerated, Croatia’s head coach Zlatko Dalic said as he prepares his side for Thursday’s decisive Group F showdown.