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Ghana Reaches Round of 32 After 2-1 Loss to Croatia as Expanded World Cup Sends 32 Teams to Knockouts
Carlos Queiroz said the larger field risks turning the tournament ordinary after Ghana lost 2-1 to Croatia yet advanced to the round of 32. Ghana will play Colombia on July 4.
Jun 28, 10:04 AM·1m read1 source
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Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz criticized the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams after his side lost 2-1 to Croatia on Saturday. The result still sent Ghana into the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams under the new format. Queiroz said the increase in qualifiers reduces the competition's value.
"I do believe that what really has huge value, huge and significant value, is [that which] is rare," he said at a news conference. " He added that financial considerations now shape decisions. "This is called not football but moneyball," Queiroz said.
He also raised concerns about extra games affecting player welfare and noted that World Cup qualifiers have lost significance because most teams now advance. Ghana will face Colombia in the round of 32 on July 4. The team could meet Switzerland or Algeria in the round of 16 if it advances.
ESPN reported that 32 teams now reach the knockout stage instead of the previous 16. Seven countries reached the knockout stage for the first time under the expanded format: South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Congo DR and Canada. Cape Verde finished second in its group ahead of Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
