The Greatest Round of 16 Moments at the World Cup
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The round of 16 is upon us at the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup where despite plenty of upsets in the group stages, most teams have comfortably made it through who were expected too.
Here, we take a look at the greatest round of 16 moments in World Cup history.
Michael Owen’s Solo Stunner (France 1998)
Michael Owen, a Ballon d'Or winner just a few years after bursting onto the scene with England and Liverpool, scored one of England's greatest-ever goals at a World Cup back in 1998. England were playing rivals Argentina, and after a goal each from the penalty spot, the game was locked at 1-1.
Owen, just 18 at the time, picked the ball up at the halfway line and stormed his way through half of the Argentine team and made it 2-1. It was one of the best goals in World Cup history, and arguably England’s finest.
Goal-Line Technology’s Last Straw (South Africa 2010)
Technology and football have been mixing with one another for over a decade now and much of the reason for the input of goal-line technology in the game is because of the match between England and Germany at South Africa 2010.
The two arch-rivals were meeting in the round of 16 where England 2-1 after Matthew Upson brought one back. However, it was Frank Lampard’s effort from range that stole the show in this round of games.
The Englishman rifled in a shot from distance that clearly went over the line, as shown by the cameras. Goal-line technology was not in play, and therefore, not awarded. It was brought in four years later, however.
TIm Howard’s Record-Breaking Night (Brazil 2014)
In 2014, the USA were asked a lot when they were coming up against the ‘golden generation’ of Belgian football in the round of 16, and the Yanks were barely given a chance.
Belgium did advance through, but all attention that day turned to 35-year-old Tim Howard to stop the likes of Romelu Lukaku from having a field day.
In total, the American shot-stopper saved a record-breaking 12 efforts and this remains the most saves in the history of a World Cup knockout game.
Four Minutes of Madness from Kylian Mbappe (Russia 2018)
A World Cup winner at 18, Kylian Mbappe put himself in the same bracket of players like Pele in doing so. However, it was the round of 16 at Russia 2018 where the 18-year-old put his name on the world map.
The Frenchman scored twice inside four minutes during the second half with the game level at 2-2 between France and Argentina. Mbappe's first goal was a beautiful solo effort with one touch taking the ball past the Argentine defence, before a second in typical Mbappe style.
He became the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup game since Pele in 1958.
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