OPINION: As we enter the Football World Cup playoffs, we must acknowledge those who have surpassed everyone's expectations to reach the next phase - and those who will depart with reputations in tatters.
This tournament has made sports betting truly a fools errand, where results have not always gone on form or reputation, and have possibly (probably) been manipulated, with knockout crossovers in mind.
But first, a tribute to going out in style...
Winners
Vincent Aboubakar
Not even a win over one of the tournament favourites was going to save Cameroon from an early trip home, so why not celebrate a rare moment of triumph in the appropriate manner.
Aboubakar's added-time goal put the Africans past five-time champions Brazil for a famous victory and with only a few moments left before elimination, the striker chose to spend them with his shirt off... on the sideline.
His exuberant striptease drew a yellow card - and then a reluctant red - from referee Ismail Elfath, who also seemed to enjoy the occasion for what it was worth.
Australasia
OK, so New Zealand failed to qualify (and duly avoided the bloodbath that eventuated in Group E).
Now that Costa Rica has been eliminated, surely we can all now jump on the Socceroos bandwagon, as they venture into the playoffs - the lowest ranked (38th) of the final 16 teams.
After all, we did help them tune up for this tournament with a two-match series in September, so we have contributed to their success in some small way.
Next up, they face twice-champions Argentina, so they need all the help they can get.
C'mon Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... nah, that just doesn't feel right.
Poland, Japan, Morocco & South Korea
Like the Aussies, none of these teams were seeded to get out of group play, but Japan and Morocco somehow defied their rankings to top their groups.
The Japanese managed to topple football superpowers Germany and Spain in that Group E debacle, but somehow conspired to drop a match against unfancied Costa Rica.
Poland only avoided a rare fairplay countback - which they would have won anyway - when Saudi Arabia scored an extra-time goal against Mexico.
Morocco emerged as one of only three unbeaten teams through the early stages.
With Australia joining this quartet, maybe Asia has emerged as the second-most powerful confederation in world football (behind Europe and ahead of South America), with three teams in the last 16.
Argentina
After seeing their 36-game unbeaten streak snapped by world No.51 Saudi Arabia in the biggest World Cup upset since the last biggest upset, the South Americans somehow managed to still top their group with wins over Mexico and Poland.
And despite a missed penalty miss by wannabe GOAT Lionel Messi against the Poles.
Next up, they face lowest-ranked qualifiers Australia - the easiest path into the quarter-finals.
C'mon Aussie?
Netherlands, England & Morocco
While no team survived totally unscathed from their pool, the Dutch, English and North Africans were the only ones not to lose.
They're the 2010 Undefeated All Whites of this tournament!
Losers
Luis Suarez
In stark contrast to old mate Aboubakar, whose team were not expected to advance through their pool, Suarez and Uruguay were among the biggest losers of the tournament, ranked 14th and expected to feature down the stretch.
Billed as one of the game's greatest scorers, 'El Pistolero' failed to find the net in Qatar and left his team's win over Ghana in tears, knowing a late goal from Korea had finally ended the quest for glory.
It's impossible to feel sorry for one of football's most infamous figures, whose blatant handball cheated the Ghanaians victory at South Africa 2010 and whose chomp on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini four years later saw him banned for four months.
His racist taunts and questionable snacking habits outside the World Cup have sealed his reputation, and if this is his last appearance at this level, it's good riddance.
Belgium, Denmark, Mexico, Germany & Uruguay
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction... these are the teams seeded to make the playoffs, but failing to do so.
Belgium and Germany were probably among the favourites to reach the final, with Denmark sentimental favourites, after their 2020 Euro campaign was derailed, when captain Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch against Finland.
Five(ish)-time champions Germany could not escape their fate, after falling to Japan in their opening match, while Belgium arrived in Qatar ranked second in the world, but once again fell short at a major tournament.
France, Brazil, Portugal & Spain
Clinching their passage into the final 16 after two games, this quartet effectively threw their final pool games against Tunisia, Cameroon, Korea and Japan, resting their top players for bigger fixtures to come.
We simply can't condone such a cavalier attitude to losing.
Qatar
If you drew the host team in your office draw, the good news is they failed to secure a point in poolplay and may yet seal you a payout for the worst team of the tournament.
Yes, that's you, executive assistant Jo Clarke in the Newshub sweepstake.
Qatar shaded Canada on goal difference for the worst record through the early phase.
Commiserations to those holding Costa Rica, who seemed dead certs for most futile campaign, after losing 7-0 to Spain in their opener, but somehow got up over Japan in their second outing to dash even those hopes.
Grant Chapman is Newshub's online sports lead
