Neymar returns, South Africa reaches playoffs: World Cup daily recap
Brazil advances comfortably, South Africa stuns, and Bosnia and Herzegovina makes history at the World Cup.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Rafael Rabello de Barros
The group stage of the World Cup is nearing its conclusion, bringing us the first set of playoff pairings and emotional farewells. The latest matchday proved historic for several national teams and legendary players.
Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to make history: a 3-1 victory over Qatar secured their spot in the playoffs. Edin Dzeko marked the occasion with a personal milestone, playing his 150th match for the national team.
Switzerland defeated Canada 2-1 to top their group. This result set up the tournament's first official playoff pairing: Canada will face South Africa. For the Canadians, finishing second means a logistical challenge—relocating from Vancouver to Inglewood, USA.
Morocco secured a hard-fought 4-2 win over Haiti. Soufiane Rahimi was the standout performer, contributing a goal and an assist. Ismael Saibari also scored, becoming the first African player to net a goal in all three group stage matches.
Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland, reaching the playoffs for the eleventh consecutive time. The main highlight was the return of Neymar, who became only the fourth Brazilian to play in four different World Cup tournaments. Vinicius Junior also shone, scoring a goal that Carlo Ancelotti previously doubted was possible.
South Africa surprised critics by finishing second in their group. Hugo Broos’ side showcased disciplined defense and clinical counter-attacks, becoming the seventh African team to reach the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Mexican fans bid farewell to veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who made a cameo appearance in the 3-0 win against the Czech Republic.
The tournament also nears a record for own goals, with 10 recorded so far, approaching the 2018 record of 12.