James Gheerbrant

Brazil 2 Japan 1: Carlo Ancelotti shows why Brazil pay him the big bucks by keeping faith with Casemiro as he inspires fightback sealed by Gabriel Martinelli’s 95th-minute winner

Norway 2 Ivory Coast 1: Substitute Amad Diallo cancels out Antonio Nusa’s opener before Manchester City striker sets up last-16 clash with Brazil

Australia 1 Egypt 1 (Egypt win 4-2 on pens): Salah converts cheeky Panenka in shoot-out after Socceroos sub keeper Mathew Ryan is beaten by all four Egyptian penalties

Lionel Mpasi, Vozinha and Eloy Room have been the cult stars of this World Cup, gaining in confidence and rising to the occasion as shots rained in on them

Portugal 0 Spain 1: Forward sucks the life out of his side’s attack as Spain become first side in World Cup history to keep six successive clean sheets

James Gheerbrant of The Times Dallas: For Spain, a 1-0 win in a densely absorbing World Cup knockout match is football heritage, and that

The 41-year-old’s negative impact on otherwise fine group of players was clear for all to see aside from the one man whose job it is to say enough is enough

Norway striker does not seem fussed by world’s idea of what he ought to be — he is happiest when leading his national team, but humble enough to just be one of the crew

France forward’s career hit lowest ebb in 2022 World Cup final when one newspaper even declined to mark him out of ten. Now he plays with freedom fortified by bond with team-mates

Transfer of Italy midfielder from Newcastle has wide range of possible outcomes but hope must be that De Zerbi and his £100million signing get best out of each other