Ranking the 16 eliminated teams by how much we'll miss them
With the World Cup field whittled down by half, we rank the 16 teams sent packing, based on how much we're going to miss them.
16. Saudi Arabia
After getting hammered by Russia in the tournament opener, Saudi Arabia grew into the competition, pushing Uruguay hard en route to a slim 1-0 loss before claiming the nation's first victory since 1994 with a last-second winner against Egypt. The Saudis were never going to make a deep World Cup run, but the team gave its supporters reason to hold their heads high.
15. Costa Rica
There was no replicating the unlikely quarter-final run of four years ago for Costa Rica, as Los Ticos mustered just a pair of goals en route to finishing bottom of Group E. Disappointing as that is, Keylor Navas and Co. can take plenty of pride in the way they performed against Brazil, defending resolutely for 90 minutes before being sunk by a pair of stoppage-time goals. Fans were treated to a pair of goals in the team's final match, ensuring that every side at the competition found the back of the net at least once.
14. Poland
A perennial dark horse in recent tournaments, it looks like time has run out for this contingent of Polish players to make their mark on the world stage. The Poles were bounced from the tournament after a pair of awful displays against Senegal and Colombia, leading their captain and star, Robert Lewandowski, to publicly call out his teammates, saying there wasn't enough quality in the side to compete at this World Cup. Yikes.
13. Tunisia
The Eagles of Carthage were always going to be in tough against Belgium and England in Group G, but they can leave Russia with pride after battling the Three Lions down to the wire, then creating their share of chances - and even bagging a couple goals - in a wide-open, back-and-forth affair against the Red Devils that was one of the tournament's most watchable games so far.
12. Panama
Felipe Baloy's goal made it all worthwhile. Panama, in its first-ever World Cup appearance, was hammered in its first two matches against powerhouses Belgium and England, but getting a tally from the 37-year-old defender, even though it was a consolation goal in a 6-1 drubbing, was celebrated wildly by Los Canaleros' supporters. In a tournament that's produced so many incredible moments, that was easily among the very best, showing just how magical this quadrennial competition can be.
11. Australia
The Socceroos arrived in Russia with few expectations, but captain Mile Jedinak and his men won supporters with their dogged defending - especially in the opener against a high-powered France side - and the odd flash of attacking intent from Tom Rogic. Seeing Australia head home also means we have to soldier on without getting to witness Jedinak's glorious beard in action for the rest of the tournament.
10. Egypt
The Pharaohs' World Cup feels like it ended before it really began. Mohamed Salah's shoulder injury in the Champions League final hung over the team from the second the Liverpool star got put into an armbar by Sergio Ramos, and Hector Cuper's side never recovered from Jose Gimenez's late header in their opening match of the tournament. It would have been nice to see the lovable Salah get the opportunity to showcase his talents while at full fitness.
9. Serbia
Things were supposed to be different for Serbia at this tournament. After group stage exits in the team's last two World Cup appearances (the 2006 side competed under the banner of Serbia and Montenegro), a talented squad boasting the likes of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Dusan Tadic, and Nemanja Matic was expected by many to follow Brazil out of Group E and into the knockout stages. Instead, a crippling late defeat to Switzerland seemed to swing the tide, and after looking so good early, Serbia couldn't recover. One of the popular dark horse picks coming into Russia, a group stage exit will be viewed as a big disappointment.
8. South Korea
Heung-Min Son came into the tournament knowing that he would have to put the team on his back if there was any chance of escaping a very difficult group. While South Korea ultimately didn't advance, the lovable Tottenham forward did his part, notching a pair of goals, including one into an empty net against Germany that will go down as one of the defining images of the competition.
7. Iceland
The magic of Euro 2016 wore off for the tiny Nordic nation, which made history simply by qualifying for the competition. We still love the Viking Clap, Gylfi Sigurdsson's set pieces - well, except for that terrible penalty against Nigeria - and the fervent supporters, but the mystique that was so prevalent two years ago just wasn't there this time around. It will be tough to lose Instagram sensation Rurik Gislason, though, and that has to count for something.
6. Iran
Unbridled commitment to winning every tackle, along with defensive organization, were the calling cards of Carlos Queiroz's side, and while little was expected from an attacking perspective, Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh were lively throughout. Taking on heavyweights Spain and Portugal in Group B, Iran came within inches, literally, of getting results against both; a tight offside call wiped out an equaliser against La Roja, while a late chance into the side netting against the Selecao would have seen Queiroz's men, incredibly, win the group had it found the right side of the post.
5. Morocco
Morocco may go down as one of the best teams in World Cup history to be eliminated in the group stage without a victory. A cruel 95th-minute own goal saw the Atlas Lions fall to a devastating loss in their opener; a dominant second-half performance against Portugal yielded no points; a wildly entertaining 2-2 draw against Spain showcased how dangerous Herve Renard's side was. In almost any other group, Morocco would have been a good bet to advance.
4. Germany
Oh boy. The reigning World Cup champion wasn't supposed to be on this list - after tempting fate and escaping elimination courtesy of Toni Kroos' last-second stunner against Sweden, just about every person on earth figured Germany would get its act together and revert back to being the real Germany we all expected to see coming into the tournament. Yeah, nope. Rotten shooting luck played a role, sure, but on the whole, the Germans were simply not good enough in Russia - especially in central midfield - and were punished for it in the losses to both Mexico and South Korea. Any squad so rich with talent will be missed, but Die Mannschaft can't have any real complaints.
3. Peru
Some outstanding football in the opening match against Denmark went unrewarded, and from that point on, it was always going to be a struggle for the underdog Peruvians to advance out of the group stage. The outstanding fans who travelled from South America to Russia deserved to derive some joy from this tournament, though, and they were rewarded for their boisterous support with a pair of goals that were 36 years in the making for La Blanquirroja. Paolo Guerrero getting one, at 34 years old, was also a lovely moment for a team that left a mark on the World Cup despite an early exit.
2. Nigeria
Those kits. Oh, those sweet, glorious kits. Nigeria entered the tournament as (easily) the most stylish side, and the Super Eagles backed that up with some scintillating football - Ahmed Musa, in particular, was a menace, single-handedly sinking Iceland in his team's best match of the competition. Were it not for the most unlikely of World Cup moments - a perfect right-footed volley from Marcos Rojo - Nigeria would have been in the knockout stages.
1. Senegal
This sport, and this tournament, can be so damn cruel. Senegal captured the hearts of neutral supporters everywhere with a combination of exciting attacking play; cohesive, confident defending; an outgoing manager; and some of the best fans in world football. The Lions of Teranga were sent packing courtesy of the fair play tiebreaker, losing out on second place in Group H after picking up two more yellow cards than Japan. It's the first time in World Cup history that particular tiebreaker has been decisive, and for Aliou Cisse - and for us - it will take a lot of time to get over.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)