It’s funny/tragic just how much the manner of elimination affects the perception of it. When Ukraine were eliminated, players were on their knees in agony and despair. Valerii Luchevych cut a lone figure of misery in the penalty box, sunken to the ground with his shirt over his head to hide his tears, inconsolable after missing the final penalty of the shootout.

Meanwhile the Argentinians, who arrived with much grander expectations yet left a full stage earlier, didn’t show nearly as much emotion after they were booted out in the groups. In fact, their coach had a bit of a moan at how they didn’t deserve to be out based on how they played. They were just unlucky, he implied indignantly.

Penalty shootouts are the ultimate test of nerve and basic skill. It couldn’t be simpler, just attacker vs keeper, one kick to beat him. The entire game boiled down into a snapshot, the perfect tie-breaker. The only problem is that nerve and basic skills tend not to win games over 90 minutes. It’s often moments of brilliance or opposition mistakes that decide a regular game, and to go out on penalties is as cruel as it gets. The lifetime of second guessing afterwards, should I have gone left? Did I hesitate and show my hand? Why didn’t I hit it harder or softer or straight down the middle?

The important thing to remember is that losing means more than winning. The devastation of losing like that… it lasts longer than the joy of victory. It lingers and burns. At least 95% of football is losing, only one team can win this competition. People think they play for glory but they don’t: they play for tragedy. Imagine how boring it would be to never lose. Losing is the lifeblood of the sport, it’s the thing that makes the brief moments of happiness all that much more ecstatic. If that sounds maudlin it isn’t meant to. Embrace the heartbreak.

Ghana 0-3 Mali

It’s not quite a Fiji-Beating-Honduras level of upset here, but Ghana were certainly favoured to take home the bacon against continental rivals Mali. Especially after Mali barely squeezed through to this round while Ghana got there in style, sending Argentina home. However Mali came roaring out of the blocks and threatened nice and early. When they went ahead after 20 minutes, it was through a fine goal from Diadie Samassekou, linking beautifully with Adama Traore before slamming the ball into the back of the net. And Mali stayed on the attack. They were unfortunate not to double that lead a couple times before finally making one count in the most emphatic fashion. Diedonne Gbakle curling his driven shot in off the underside of the crossbar. Ghana had their chances too, but seemed to have a real line on kicking the ball straight at the Mali keeper, and Aboubabacar Doumbia scored the third brilliant goal of the game to send the 2009 champs tumbling out and put his Mali side through commandingly.  

Serbia 2-1 Hungary (AET)

So much drama. All after a game that at first offered pretty much nothing to the neutral as two well organised teams settled for being well organised. Serbia were the more likely team to score but Gyorgy Szekely made some fine saves in the Hungarian goal, and then it was his side that finally did bury one. Zsolt Kalmar did some lovely stuff in beating his man, then cutting the ball back to Bence Mervo for the goal. And it was almost a decisive one… almost. Hungary fell into the trap of sitting back and holding on while Serbia pressed hard for a desperate equaliser that seemed like it might never arrive until it finally did – in injury time via a Ivan Saponjic header from a corner. Serbia had a man sent off in extra time, but Hungary still didn’t seem to be able to force the issue after their late disappointment and that led to more late disappointment as Attila Talaber freakishly turned the ball into his own net in the 118th minute of the game. Tragic for that lad and for Hungary, Serbia advance to face America in the quarters…  

USA 1-0 Colombia

… On account of the Yanks holding on for this victory against Colombia. The first half was marred by a scary injury to Bradford Jamieson, who fell awkwardly and was carefully stretchered off, making for seven minutes of injury time. It sounds like he’s okay, though, probably a concussion and a sore neck. He’s out of hospital and tweeting again now, so that’s never a bad sign.

It was an exciting game once the teams settled back into it, and ultimately it was decided by two major moments in the second half. The first was Rubio Rubin burying a half-chance that fell to him in the box after Paul Arriola’s shot was blocked. The second was a penalty ten minutes from the final whistle, a foul by Kellyn Acosta earning him a second yellow and potentially letting Colombia back into the game. But Jarlan Barrera never looked confident as he stepped up to take the spot kick and Zack Steffen made a nice save diving low to his right. America still had to hold on for a bit after that but they managed it. Colombia had 24 shots, though only 3 were on target as the US did a fine job at dealing with the likes of Jhao Rodriguez.  

Ukraine 1-1 Senegal* (PENS)

And then, late on a Wednesday night – it was around 10pm local time by the conclusion – we had our first penalty shootout of the tournament. Yep, it was a goodie. Ukraine hadn’t conceded a goal in any of their three group matches, the only team left with a perfect defensive record, and when Artem Biesiedin put them ahead after 68 minutes that seemed like it might be enough. But in truth Senegal had threatened all game and deserved their late equaliser (via Sidy Sarr’s powerful left boot). Both teams had their share of missed chances and both keepers were on form. Senegal seemed to have figured out a way around the dominant Ukrainian defence by the end of it but they ran out of time and after 120 minutes, to penalties it went. Fifteen minutes and three Ibrahima Sy saves later, Senegal were off to the quarter finals, taking the shootout 3-1.

The Main Men

Diadie Samassekou (Mali) – Up against maybe the most impressive attacking group so far in the Ghanaians, it was Mali’s front lads that won this game for them, and Samassekou was one of a number of guys that could have been arbitrarily singled out. Adama Traore was great too, as was Aboubabacar Doumbia.

Gyorgy Szekely (Hungary) – His team lost in the end, but thanks to the fantastic efforts of their keeper, they nearly got there. He made a number of great saves, looking unbeatable at times. It was a great day for goalies, Zack Steffen of the USA deserves a mention too. But they weren’t even the best keepers on the day. Nope, there was one other bloke…

Ibrahima Sy (Senegal) – 120 minutes of wonderful goalkeeping followed by some brilliant crowd sparking and three shootout saves. As good of a performance by any player all tournament. Seriously, he dived the right way for all four penalties he faced, when do you ever see that!?

GOOOOOOOOALS!