World Cup group stage summary: From Lionel Messi to Cape Verde, tournament has thrilled despite lack of jeopardy

The World Cup group stage has concluded after 72 games, 215 goals, and 32 teams still in contention, delivering an event described as both enjoyable and lacking the expected intensity. Although the group phase was viewed as low-risk, drama still appeared, highlighted by Sasa Kalajdzic’s 96th-minute equaliser for Austria against Algeria, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 3-3 draw and securing knockout qualification. The stage set a record with 215 goals, and the average of 2.99 per match is the highest since the 1950s. Newcomers generally did not “disgrace themselves,” with examples including Curaçao’s equaliser vs Germany, and Cape Verde remaining undefeated while advancing to face Lionel Messi and others in the last 32. Messi’s hat-trick vs Algeria fueled the Golden Boot race, alongside Vinícius Júnior, Mousa Dembélé, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé. The article also notes concerns about tournament format, citing comments from Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz about the broadening of qualification slots.