European teams swept through the World Cup round of 16, leaving Argentina and Morocco as the only non-UEFA countries standing in the tournament.

Morocco did not need Ismael Saibari against Canada, but the Atlas Lions will miss him if they hope to match their 2022 achievement of reaching the semifinal. They absorbed Canada's high press and found openings in a 3-0 victory.

Egypt, Africa's other round of 16 representative, had Argentina on the ropes but fell victim to questionable officiating. Coach Hossam Hassan accused officials of favoring Argentina, a recurring theme in the tournament.

The USA and President Donald Trump took their case to FIFA and got a Folarin Balogun red card overturned, but then suffered a 4-1 loss to Belgium, exposing their tactical limitations against superior opposition.

Lionel Messi kept Argentinian and South American hopes alive with an 83rd-minute equalizer after a saved penalty, while five-time champion Brazil fell to Norway, Colombia struggled for goals, and Paraguay couldn't break down France despite aggressive tactics.

The only UEFA team eliminated in the round was Portugal, losing 1-0 to Spain in Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance.

Messi's goal was his 8th of the tournament and record 21st in World Cup history. Kylian Mbappe scored his 7th from a penalty, while Erling Haaland also reached 7 goals with two assists from Andreas Schjelderup.

The USA's elimination by Belgium in Seattle ended a hopeful run that attracted record television audiences but exposed the team's inability to adapt when their high-press strategy failed.

Canada, coached by former USA midfielder Jesse Marsch, similarly relied on all-out pressing but were outclassed by Morocco, highlighting the need for alternative tactics against elite teams.

Argentina's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again in a 3-2 win over Egypt, though their resourcefulness and Messi's brilliance kept them alive. Leandro Paredes emerged as a key figure in midfield.

Source: www.aljazeera.com