Caught up in the excitement of Argentina‘s rally from a two-goal deficit against Egypt nine days ago, Fox broadcasters Derek Rae and Rob Green made a bold claim.
They described it as the game of the tournament after Lionel Messi rescued the reigning world champions from the brink of elimination.
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In reality, this summer’s World Cup has produced so many brilliant performances and so much compelling late-match drama that choosing a game of the tournament is harder than ever. Here’s an attempt to rank the 10 best matches ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated World Cup final between Spain and Argentina:
10. Paraguay 1, Germany 1 (4-3 on penalties) | Round of 32, June 29
Resolute defending and relentless focus helped Paraguay pull off one of the tournament’s most stunning upsets. The South American underdogs played faster, more talented Germany to a 1-1 draw after extra time before showing more nerve in the penalty shootout.
For Paraguay, the key to the upset was defending in a compact low block and only attempting to counter attack when a clear chance presented itself. As a result, Germany dominated possession but Paraguay was able to absorb pressure.
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Germany thought Jonathan Tah might have won it in extra time, but his go-ahead goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul in the buildup. The game instead went to penalties, where Paraguay won 4-3 after goalkeeper Orlando Gill saved attempts from Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade.
9. Morocco 1, Netherlands 1 (3-2 on penalties) | Round of 32, June 29
What a tough break for Morocco and the Netherlands to draw each other so early in knockout play. What a treat for the rest of us to get the chance to to enjoy a quarterfinal-level match in the Round of 32.
Cody Gakpo netted the match’s opening goal in the 72nd minute, the Dutch star sinking to his knees and starting to cry afterward before climbing to his feet and pointing to the sky. Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, are mourning the tragic loss of their son during pregnancy.
With the Netherlands closing in on victory, Morocco produced a dramatic equalizer on an Issa Diop glancing header in the first minute of stoppage time. Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a remarkable reflex save in extra time to keep his team alive, but Morocco survived a chaotic penalty shootout with five missed kicks but only one save.
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8. Spain 2, France 0 | Semifinals, July 14
So much for the idea that France was inevitable, that Didier Deschamps’ side would flatten any opponent in its path with its attacking firepower, athleticism and pace. Spain proved yet again that it’s the superior side, slowing the tempo with its possession-heavy style and quickly winning the ball back whenever it was lost with its devastating counter press.
To say that Spain nullified the quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola is a massive understatement. France didn’t even register a shot on goal until the 82nd minute when substitute Desire Doue tried to lob the ball over Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon from 30-plus yards out. By that time, Mbappe was already displaying the expression of a man who knew it wasn’t France’s day.
Two years ago, Spain beat France in the semifinals of the European Championships. Last summer, Spain ousted France in the Nations League last four. This semifinal victory, on the biggest stage of all, in a match billed as the final before the final, will be the most difficult for France to stomach.
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7. Cape Verde 0, Spain 0 | Group play, June 15
In its World Cup debut, Cape Verde produced one of the most stunning results in the long history of the competition. The tiny island nation with a population similar to Fresno or Tucson played European Champion and pre-World Cup favorite Spain to a scoreless draw in the Group H opener for both teams.
Spain piled up 27 shots but none of the seven they managed on target made it past an inspired Vozinha. The 40-year-old delivered a flurry of brilliant saves late in the first half to deny Mikel Oyarzabal, Aymeric Laporte and Ferran Torres, his first step toward becoming one of the World Cup’s unlikely breakout social media stars.
By the 70th minute, Spain was so desperate for a goal that Luis de la Fuente broke glass in case of emergency and brought on Lamine Yamal while he was still working his way back from injury. It didn’t matter. Spain could not find a goal and Cape Verde earned a point in what was then easily the greatest moment in its nation’s sporting history.
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6. Belgium 3, Senegal 2 | Round of 32, July 1
Belgium pulled off one of the most improbable World Cup comebacks of all time, rallying from a two-goal deficit late in regulation to advance to the Round of 16. Romelu Lukaku, brought on to provide scoring punch off the bench, pulled one goal back in the 86th minute. Youri Tielemans equalized with a header just three minutes later.
The match seemed destined for penalties until a lengthy VAR check late in extra time resulted in a spot kick for Tielemans. The Belgian captain held his nerve, slotting his penalty into the top-right corner in the 125th minute to cap a frantic comeback.
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Senegal’s inability to hold a late lead mirrored the issues that other African sides experienced during this World Cup. Eight of the nine African sides that reached knockout play failed to advance beyond the Round of 16. Egypt, DR Congo and Ivory Coast all surrendered late leads just as Senegal did.
5. Argentina 2, England 1 | Semifinals, July 15
With his team ahead by a goal and a berth in the World Cup final within reach, England coach Thomas Tuchel made a bewilderingly conservative decision. Instead of continuing to go toe-to-toe with Argentina, Tuchel opted to sacrifice England’s attacking threat order to reinforce his defense.
By the latter stages of the match, Tuchel had six defenders on the field and little to no pace available to produce a counterattack. His in-game management sapped England of its confidence and aggressiveness, invited wave after wave of Argentine pressure and helped cost the Three Lions a winnable match.
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Argentina had already hit the post twice and produced several other near misses when Enzo Fernandez equalized in the 85th minute on a long-range shot just out of Jordan Pickford‘s reach. Lautaro Martinez then netted the game-winning header two minutes into stoppage time. Lionel Messi assisted on both goals to ensure himself at least one more meaningful match at a World Cup.
For Argentina, it was another display of trademark poise and heart under pressure. For England, it was a wasted opportunity.
4. Portugal 2, Croatia 1 | Round of 32, July 2
The dominant storyline entering this high-profile knockout match was that either Luca Modric, 41, or Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, would likely be playing on the World Cup stage for the final time. By the match’s final whistle, the discussion focused on a second half for the ages and an ending that left Croatians in disbelief.
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Deep into stoppage time, with Portugal leading 2-1, Croatia defender Joško Gvardiol appeared to score a last-gasp equalizer to keep his side alive. Those celebrations proved short-lived, however, when a check of the sensors embedded inside the ball confirmed that Croatia striker Igor Matanović faintly grazed it with his head, an inadvertent flick that put teammate Mario Pašalić in offside position before he assisted on the goal.
By the letter of the law, this might have been the right call. The sensors surely didn’t lie. But this was also the sort of call that would never be made without modern replay technology. It was imperceptible to the naked eye and ruined an amazing moment.
3. Argentina 3, Egypt 2 | Round of 16, July 7
Of all the houdini-esque escapes that Argentina has pulled off on its path to Sunday’s World Cup final, this was the craziest.
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Egypt built a 2-0 lead and held it deep into the second half, putting the Pharaohs within reach of what would have been their first-ever World Cup quarterfinal appearance. Then Lionel Messi came to Argentina’s rescue, reviving hope with a pinpoint cross to set up Christian Romero in the 79th minute before leveling the score with a goal of his own four minutes later.
Enzo Fernandez’s stoppage-time header completed the comeback.
The way the game was refereed left Egypt feeling wronged. Egypt had a Mostafa Ziko goal disallowed when a VAR review ruled the Pharaohs committed a foul on the other side of the field to spark the coast-to-coast counterattack. Late in the match, Egypt also appealed for a penalty after a challenge inside the box, but the referee neither awarded one nor conducted an on-field review.
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“We have been cheated unfairly today,” Egypt coach Hossam Hassan told reporters after the match. “We have suffered injustice.”
Speaking later with beIN Sports, Hassan suggested that Argentina benefited from favoritism.
“Perhaps they wanted to keep the world champions in the competition,” Hassan said. “Perhaps they wanted Messi to stay in the running.”
2. England 3, Mexico 2 | Round of 16, July 5
To advance past the Round of 16, England didn’t just have to beat Mexico. The Three Lions had to do it at Estadio Azteca, Mexico’s hostile, high-elevation fortress, the place where El Tri had only ever lost twice in 89 matches.
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When the match finally kicked off after a severe weather delay, Mexico dominated much of the first half yet trailed on the scoreboard. Jude Bellingham struck twice in two minutes before Julian Quiñones answered with a half volley just before halftime.
Harry Kane scored a crucial goal from the penalty spot in the 60th minute just after England went down a man following a Jarell Quansah red card. England then defended resolutely and bravely under intense pressure the rest of the match, surrendering only a Raul Jimenez goal from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.
“Football’s coming home,” English fans sang inside the venerable Azteca.
Alas, they’ll have to wait at least four more years.
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1. Argentina 3, Cape Verde 2 | Round of 32, July 3
This was the World Cup equivalent of an NCAA tournament No. 16 seed trading haymakers with a heavyweight. Cape Verde, the World Cup debutante with fewer residents than Wyoming, entered as massive underdogs against reigning world champion Argentina but punched above its weight class.
Twice, Argentina took the lead. Twice, Cape Verde answered. The second equalizer was a goal of the tournament contender, a curling shot from Sidny Lopes Cabral that bent beyond Argentina goalie Emi Martínez and nestled inside the far post. The goal left Argentina fans stunned and briefly put Cape Verde on course to force a penalty shootout.
Though Argentina ultimately produced a game winner in the 111th minute, Cape Verde kept fighting and earned the world’s respect. Cape Verde faced three former World Cup champions — Spain, Uruguay and Argentina — and unfathomably played each of them to a stalemate after 90 minutes.
