MACKEMS IN THE KNOCKOUTS

With the last round of group games already underway, which Sunderland players are already through to the round of 32 and who are going to have to turn up in these final games to keep their nations dreams alive?

THROUGH:

GRANIT XHAKA- SWITZERLAND

The skipper saw his nation beat Canada 2-1 on Wednesday which secured top of Group B and into the Round of 32. He scored a penalty in their second game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CHEMSDINE TALBI- MOROCCO

Talbi has not started any games yet and was an unused sub last night as Morocco beat Wilson Isidor’s Haiti. Our number seven will be hoping to make more of an impact in the knockouts.

BRIAN BROBBEY/ROBIN ROEFS/LUTSHAREL GEERTRUIDA- NETHERLANDS

After a fantastic brace in their hammering of Sweden, Brobbey has probably left the biggest mark by a Sunderland player in this World Cup, followed by Isidor’s worldie yesterday. His Dutch side are not officially through but with +4 goal difference on four points and bottom of the group Tunisia to play it would take something incredible for them not to do so. Sunderland teammates Roefs and Geertruida are still yet to play.

COULD QUALIFY:

OMAR ALDERETE- PARAGUAY

After an absolute disaster of a performance in the first game against the USA, Alderete came away with a clean sheet in the second game against Türkiye in a 1-0 victory for Paraguay. If they beat Australia, it would put them through to the knockouts with a draw probably also enough to go through as one of the better third place teams. A defeat will most likely end Omar’s World Cup.

SIMON ADINGRA- IVORY COAST

Ivory Coast sit in a comfortable position going into their last game sitting second with three points thanks to a 1-0 win against Nilson Angulo’s Ecuador. The goalscorer in that one was former Sunderland loanee Amad Diallo. They did lose to Germany in the last game but a draw against bottom of the group Curacao would most likely be enough to send them through whether that be in second or even third.

NILSON ANGULO- ECUADOR

In the other game in Group E, Angulo’s Ecuador need to do the unthinkable and beat Germany to stand any chance of progressing to the knockouts.

HABIB DIARRA- SENEGAL

Diarra is another that has not really left his mark on the tournament so far, being on the bench in both games. Senegal need to beat Iraq rather comfortably and just hope for the best regarding the other third place teams.

NOAH SADIKI/ARTHUR MASUAKU- DR CONGO

Sadiki has surprisingly been a bit part player for Congo while Arthur Masuaku got an assist in the opening game, with his cross headed home by Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa. That’s not the first time a Sunderland full back has put it on a plate for one of their strikers in recent times. A win against Uzbekistan would most likely send them through to the knockouts.