Tournament favorites can no longer withstand the defensive blockades of low-ranked qualifiers.
The competitive gap in global knockout tournaments has collapsed, exposing world powerhouses to historic defeats and narrow escapes against ultra-low-ranked defensive operations.
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An ultra-low-ranked defensive operation successfully choked off a powerhouse offense to force a narrow, extra-time escape.
Heavy favorite Germany fell victim to a historic upset in the expanded knockout stage after failing to pierce Paraguay's defensive blockade.
An unheralded underdog executed a absolute defensive blockade to frustrate a superior, attacking opponent.
The ultimate tournament favorites were held to a scoreless stalemate by a lowest-ranked nation deploying a disciplined, low-possession defensive blockade.