Day 11 of the World Cup provided a spectacle of goalkeeping skills and mishaps. Spain regained their form, Belgium’s struggles post-‘Golden Generation’ continued, and Alireza Beiranvand from Iran displayed remarkable goal-saving abilities. Cape Verde brought inspiration with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in Miami, while Mohamed Salah propelled Egypt into the knockout stage with a 3-1 victory over New Zealand, scoring thrice in just 24 minutes.

Lamine Yamal Joins the Celebration

Lamine Yamal finally made his debut at the World Cup and scored, adding his name to the list of goal-scoring superstars. At just 18, Yamal followed giants like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in scoring, joining Mohamed Salah’s performance in Egypt’s win over New Zealand. Amidst the big names, Cristiano Ronaldo remains an exception.
Yamal, only 16 years and 338 days old at Euro 2024, became the youngest player at a men’s European Championship. Since then, his progress marked him as Spain’s key player. Despite a surprise 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal displayed his prowess against Saudi Arabia immediately upon arrival. Facing three defenders, he skillfully maneuvered, demonstrating his growth since the Euros. Even after being substituted at halftime with Spain leading 3-0, he expressed his confidence with “I’m here” on Instagram. Yamal aims to leave a mark on this World Cup as past legends have.

Goalkeepers or Goal Surge?

Iran’s Beiranvand made a critical save against Belgium, blocking Maxim De Cuyper’s shot – a strong candidate for save of the tournament. Beiranvand’s World Cup history includes stopping Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty in 2018.
Beside Beiranvand, goalkeepers representing underdog nations have excelled. Vozinha from Cape Verde gained fame after resisting Spain’s onslaught, facing 23 shots. Curacao’s Eloy Room equaled the record of saves in 90 minutes against Ecuador. Both Beiranvand and Room demonstrated resilience against numerous shots, garnering high praise.
Despite stellar goalkeeper performances, the tournament witnessed a surge in goals. A mere 33 matches reached a crucial 100-goal milestone faster than any tournament in 68 years. The Adidas Trionda ball’s design allegedly contributed to spectacular goals.

Wide Open World Cup?

Cape Verde, against odds, held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw, illustrating the parity among various groups as they approach the final matches. Cape Verde’s chance to make history and qualify for the knockout stage hinges on their clash with Saudi Arabia. With Group H still in contention, the unpredictability extends beyond Cape Verde.
Presently, Haiti, Turkey, and Tunisia remain scoreless after two matches, while only the U.S., Mexico, and Germany secured knockout stage spots with maximum points. Recent surprises echo the unprecedented scenario four years ago, wherein no team in the 32-team format achieved nine points in the group stage.
Competitive global football parity reflects unexpected results. Draws constitute 32.5 percent of matches, exceeding the previous seven tournaments’ average of 25 percent. Teams sitting on one or two points have precariously positive positions, pending further results. The Athletic’s tracker offers insight into team progression.

Day 12 Highlights

Day 12 features prominent stars: Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland for Argentina, France, and Norway respectively.
Messi aims to cap his upcoming 39th birthday with a memorable performance against Austria in Dallas. Both teams tied at three points thus far. Another goal from Messi elevates him as the top scorer in World Cup finals history, aiming for 17 goals.
Day 12 Matches:

• Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 1pm ET (6pm BST)
• Group I: France vs Iraq, 5pm ET (10pm BST)
• Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 8pm ET (1am Tuesday BST)
• Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, 11pm ET (4am Tuesday BST)

Explore The Athletic’s interactive tracker tool to assess your team’s potential for progression.