The World Cup is never boring.

The 2026 World Cup has entered the knockout stage, but it would be remiss not to recount the interesting stories of the group stage.

Pain and happiness

It's impossible not to recall the sublime performance of the boys from the island nation in the heart of the Atlantic, Cabo Verde. 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and his teammates wrote a beautiful fairytale thanks to their fierce fighting spirit, courageous playing style, and scientific, tight defensive play. Undefeated after 3 matches, this 2026 World Cup newcomer confidently advanced to the next round as runner-up in Group H, forcing big names like Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to go home early. That's why the World Cup is so amazing.

Let's keep believing that Cristiano Ronaldo (center) still has the energy to explode.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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Germany vs Paraguay 0-0 (Half-time): Paraguay's defense is very difficult to break.TPO - The ball was often cleared quickly from the German players' feet. Players like Sane and Wirtz had very little space to maneuver.

The reason Neymar didn't play in the match against Japan.Coach Carlo Ancelotti explained his decision not to bring Neymar on in Brazil's 2-1 victory over Japan in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup on the morning of June 30th.

Like Cabo Verde, Iran fought hard and earned 3 points, but were tragically eliminated due to losing to the third-placed teams on goal difference. We witnessed a very brave and resilient Iran, overcoming countless adversities to play truly admirable football. They relentlessly chased the score against New Zealand, brilliantly held Belgium – a top European team – to a draw, but were incredibly unlucky in the decisive match against Egypt. If Taremi had successfully converted the penalty in the 11th minute, if Khalilzadeh had stepped back a little during the injury-time goal, things would have been different. Coach Amir Ghalenoei and his team bid farewell to the World Cup in tears, mixed with painful pride.

Messi and his dazzling aura.

With a dazzling performance, scoring 6 goals in 3 group stage matches, Lionel Messi once again earned endless praise from the world. Countless flattering words, admiration, respect, and awe have been bestowed upon the 39-year-old veteran by fans, Argentinian supporters, football legends of many generations, and even the sincere acknowledgment of his opponents. After overcoming the immense pressure of the 2022 World Cup, M10 and his teammates are now delivering a style of football that is both scientific and technical, maintaining discipline and a burning desire to win, while still retaining the mindset and character of a champion. Messi himself remains in excellent physical condition and in a relaxed state of mind, enjoying the game. And from this, world records continue to be set: most goals scored (19); record for scoring in 7 consecutive World Cup matches; number of goals from direct free kicks (2); The number of goals scored from outside the penalty area (6 goals). Having only played just over 20 minutes in the win against Jordan but still managing to score a spectacular goal, it seems the genius Messi is still in a state of readiness to conquer even more records.

But there's something interesting about this year's World Cup: it's not just Messi who's outstanding, but also a galaxy of stars shining in their own way. We're witnessing Mbappe's efforts to catch up (4 goals, 2 assists). And let's not forget, the French star has scored 16 goals in his third World Cup at the age of 27. Haaland is playing very well, scoring quite regularly for Norway (4 goals so far). Brazil's striking duo of Vinicius and Matheus Cunha are also shining brightly with 7 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo is facing criticism, but scoring in 6 World Cups is no ordinary feat. And Portugal still made it to the knockout round, so why not have faith that CR7 still has the energy to explode?

Shaping new tactical trends

With 72 group stage matches and 215 goals (an average of 2.99 goals per game), the trend of attacking football is a prominent feature in the playing style of teams at the 2026 World Cup. Major rivals like Germany, France, and the Netherlands lead with 10 goals in 3 matches. Following closely behind are Argentina, Norway, and the host nation, the USA, each with 8 goals. The advantage lies with teams that can control the ball well and organize attacks effectively, or those possessing top-class goal-scoring stars. Teams with a more balanced playing style include Spain with 7 points and a goal difference of 5/1, Mexico with 9 points and a goal difference of 6/0, and Portugal with 5 points and a goal difference of 6/1.

United States - Vietnam: Don't miss

Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries.

Encourage U.S. businesses to expand investment in high-tech sectors.Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said that Vietnam welcomes US businesses to continue expanding their operations in Vietnam, especially in high-tech industries and sectors with high added value.

Vietnam and the United States strengthen cooperation in addressing the consequences of war.VTV.vn - On June 22, General Secretary and President To Lam received Acting Secretary of the US Navy Hung Cao.

The pragmatic, counter-attacking style of play, creating a solid game plan, is exemplified by Cabo Verde with their impressive three draws. Colombia was also very effective, securing first place in Group K with four goals scored but only one conceded; and Australia's surprising achievement of reaching the round of 32 with a rather modest goal difference of 2/2.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/world-cup-chang-bao-gio-chan-185260629201527291.htm