BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Germany will seek to continue their impressive FIFA World Cup knockout-stage record when they face Paraguay in a Round of 32 encounter on Monday, with history strongly favouring the four-time world champions.

The Germans have won eight of their last nine World Cup knockout matches, underlining their reputation as one of football’s most formidable tournament teams. Having navigated the group stage successfully, they now turn their attention to a Paraguay side eager to upset the odds.

Paraguay, however, face an ominous challenge. The South Americans have lost all four of their previous World Cup knockout ties against European opposition, including three successive 1-0 defeats that ended promising tournament campaigns.

While Germany arrive as favourites, Paraguay have already demonstrated resilience during the competition and will hope their disciplined defensive structure can frustrate the Europeans.

For Germany, progression to the Round of 16 is the minimum expectation as they continue their pursuit of a fifth World Cup crown. Paraguay, meanwhile, see the match as an opportunity to rewrite a troublesome chapter in their World Cup history and register a landmark victory over European opposition.

With a place in the last 16 at stake, Germany’s pedigree will be tested by a Paraguay side determined to prove that history counts for little once the knockout rounds begin.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch wasted little time turning his attention to the next challenge after his side secured a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a dramatic 1-0 victory over South Africa.

Moments after Stephen Eustaquio’s stoppage-time goal sent the co-hosts through on Saturday, Marsch revealed in a television interview with TSN that he would immediately travel to Monterrey, Mexico, to watch the Round of 32 clash between Morocco and the Netherlands.

The winner of Monday’s encounter will face Canada in the Round of 16, making the match a crucial scouting assignment for the Canadian coach and his staff.

Canada became the first team to book a place in the last 16 after edging South Africa in a tense contest decided by Eustaquio’s 92nd-minute strike.

With barely time to celebrate, Marsch switched focus to preparations for the knockout phase, indicating he would cross the U.S.-Mexico border to observe two of the tournament’s most impressive teams at close quarters.

Morocco have emerged as one of Africa’s leading contenders after another strong World Cup campaign, while the Netherlands arrive with one of the tournament’s most potent attacks, having scored two or more goals in eight of their last nine World Cup matches.

The scouting trip underlines the short turnaround facing teams in the knockout stages, where every detail could prove decisive.

Canada’s reward for defeating South Africa is a high-profile Round of 16 showdown against either the Atlas Lions or the Dutch, with Marsch keen to gain first-hand insight into the strengths and weaknesses of his side’s next opponents.

For now, however, the Canadian coach’s immediate destination is Monterrey, where he will watch closely as Morocco and the Netherlands battle for the right to face his history-making team.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Co-hosts Canada became the first team to book a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after Stephen Eustaquio’s dramatic stoppage-time strike secured a 1-0 victory over South Africa in their Round of 32 clash on Sunday.

Just when the contest appeared destined for extra time, Eustaquio unleashed a powerful effort from outside the penalty area in the 92nd minute to send the home crowd into celebration and end South Africa’s historic World Cup run.

The victory marked Canada’s first-ever win in a World Cup knockout match and ensured the North Americans would become the first nation to advance to the last 16 of the expanded 48-team tournament.

South Africa, playing in their maiden World Cup knockout fixture, produced a determined display and looked set to force an additional 30 minutes before Eustaquio’s late intervention shattered their hopes.

The Canadians had come close to breaking the deadlock before halftime when defender Moise Bombito saw his effort dramatically cleared off the line.

Despite enjoying periods of pressure, Canada struggled to find a way past a resilient South African side that defended stoutly and threatened to frustrate the co-hosts.

However, with penalties looming, Eustaquio delivered the decisive moment, firing home from distance to spark wild celebrations among the Canadian supporters.

The result ends South Africa’s most successful World Cup campaign, while Canada continue their historic journey in the tournament.

Canada will now face the winner of Monday’s Round of 32 encounter between Morocco and the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

For South Africa, the defeat signals the end of a memorable campaign, but their progress to the knockout stage represents a significant achievement and another positive chapter in African football’s strongest collective World Cup performance.

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