Matchday Recap — July 7

Match synthesis:

For long stretches, this had all the makings of a shock. Egypt came out swinging and stunned the Albiceleste, racing into a 2–0 lead that had the neutrals dreaming of an upset for the ages. Argentina looked rattled, their attack blunted, their famous swagger nowhere to be found. But favourites don't stay down for long. Little by little, the wall cracked — Argentina clawed one back, then leveled, the crowd noise flipping from stunned silence to a roar. And when the winner finally arrived, it landed like a gut-punch to the underdog dream: Argentina 3–2 Egypt, a comeback built on nerve as much as class, closing the book on Egypt's brave, brief flirtation with history.

Predictions:

69 of 71 poolsters called the Argentina win. Nobody nailed the exact score.

Match synthesis:

Switzerland and Colombia went the full ninety and then some without a single goal to show for it — a stalemate as tight as the group tables themselves. Neither side blinked in open play, so it came down to the lottery everyone's been talking about all tournament. And what a lottery it's been: this World Cup's spot-kicks have been shakier than ever, shootout conversion rates dipping well below the regulation-time norm as nerves shred technique under the lights. True to form, the drama went the distance before Switzerland edged it 4–3 on penalties, surviving the chaos to book their quarter-final date with Argentina.

Predictions:

12 of 64 poolsters called the draw, and 1 had the score exactly right.

Kudos to: Mehdi L