Rise of a Football God

The first Round of 32 iteration of a FIFA World Cup tournament finally came to an end.

32 countries played, only 16 progressed to the next stage.

And with Croatia's qualification, the Round of 16 draw was finalized.

[Round of 16 Draw:]

Netherlands vs Colombia Brazil vs Uruguay England vs Germany Nigeria vs Spain France vs Portugal USA vs Sweden Ghana vs Croatia Argentina vs Egypt

8 games, all potential blockbuster encounters.

Football fans around the world were hyped.

The 8 games would be played across 4 days, the first Round of 16 game scheduled for July 8th, while the final Round of 16 game was scheduled for July 11th.

With the draw finalized, football fans waited in anticipation, fanning the flames of banter on social media even as the professional players locked in, preparing for the Round of 16 in their respective training centers.

Time moved fast. In a jiffy, it was D-day.

[FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16]

[Match 1: Netherlands vs Colombia]

[Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, USA]

[Date: July 8th, 2026]

[Kick-off: 17:00 local time]

[Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)]

There were over 71,000 fans in the stadium in Houston, USA.

The weather was sweltering under the dome, like the atmosphere on the pitch where players of both nations stood on the pitch, warming up for the game.

This was a fixture worthy of a semifinal.

Two international footballing giants, one from South America, and the other from Europe… it was a clash of South America vs Europe.

The Dutch, clinical and controlled, had cruised through their group and swept Poland aside in the Round of 32.

Colombia, wild and wonderful, rode the genius of James Rodriguez and the ferocity of Luis Diaz past Italy in a classic.

Both were champions. Both were winners.

At this stage of the World Cup, the passengers were already weeded out, leaving only the true challengers and potential champions.

It was two contrasting football cultures, but one unforgettable battle.

The starting lineups of both nations was released an hour and 30 minutes before the game as they held nothing back.

Ronald Koeman's Netherlands started in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Justin Bijlow in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive trio of Jurien Timber, Virgil Van Dijk, and Nathan Ake.

Mathias De Ligt was out due to injury.

In midfield was the fearsome quadruple of Denzel Dumfries, Frankie De Jong, Reijnders, and Tyrell Malacia. The sole center attacking midfielder was Xavi Simons, while the 2 strikers were Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay.

It was a fearsome lineup, but Colombia's lineup hardly paled in comparison.

Colombia started in a 4-2-3-1 with Camilo Vargas in goal, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Munoz, Lucumi, Cuesta, and Mojica.

In midfield was the duo of Lerma and Uribe, while the creative players upfront were the electric Luis Diaz, the resurgent James Rodriguez who captained the side, and Carrascal.

Jhon Duran led the line as the striker.

In the final few seconds before the game would start, everyone could feel the palpable tension in the stadium.

It didn't feel like a football game at all. Rather, it felt like a war.

FWEEE!

The game started.

Both nations started with contrasting energies.

Whereas Colombia started with lightning and the typical South American energy and aggression, the Dutch started with patience.

Energy and aggression beat patience.

In the 12th minute, Colombia got their breakthrough through the electric Luis Diaz.

BZZZ!

It was a one man storm!

Diaz blitzed past Denzel Dumfries with blistering past, cut inside Timber with electric tight-space dribbling, and then lashed a rocket into the far corner.

The goalkeeper dived but he only came close. He couldn't stop it.

1-0 Colombia.

BOOM!

The yellow wall behind Vargas exploded.

That only ignited the game even more.

After that goal, the Netherlands woke up, but Colombia was ready for them as they continued executing their relentless press and energetic game plan.

Just 7 minutes after Diaz's goal, James curled a free-kick toward the top corner. Bijlow got fingertips to it, barely keeping Netherlands in the game.

But the Dutch didn't flinch. Even if they did, not for long.

They responded in the 28th minute of the game.

Simons fed Malacia on the overlap. The cross came in, and Gakpo ghosted between center backs to guide it home.

1-1.

Sharp. Clinical. Dutch.

The game settled into a high-stakes chess match… until chaos returned.

The first half came to an end level.

But in the second half, it was all fireworks, a literal supernova as Colombia turned up the flair while the Dutch turned up the speed.

The tempo increased. Rapidly.

And then, in the 57th minute…

BAM!

The Dutch found their breakthrough.

"DEPAYYYYYY…!" The commentator roared.

A fast break; De Jong intercepted, launched it forward. Memphis Depay controlled mid-air and fired in on the bounce.

2-1 Netherlands.

Their quality shone through.

But Colombia were never out.

In the 68th minute, Colombia struck again. James Rodriguez.

It came from a corner. The ball was flicked to the edge of the box, where James side-volleyed it low through a crowd.

The goalkeeper didn't see it.

2-2.

NRG Stadium erupted. Fans on their feet. Coaches pacing like caged lions.

In the 79th minute, Duran increased the hypertension of Dutch fans around the world as he hit the crossbar with a powerful shot.

So close to a stunner! Colombia smelled blood.

The game went to extra time.

No winner was found at fulltime.

In extra time, fatigue set in. Legs gave out. But hearts kept pushing.

In the 102nd minute, Colombia's Vargas made a terrific save as Depay tried a cheeky chip.

Vargas flew in and clawed it away… save of the tournament contender.

Then, the killer blow came in the 116th minute.

Xavi Simons.

Dumfries surged down the right, cut it back.

Simons? He didn't even think. He hit it first time, low and perfect into the far bottom corner.

3-2 Netherlands.

BOOM!

The NRG Stadium exploded.

Simons ran straight to the bench; arms spread, pure euphoria.

Colombia had nothing left to give. And with the final whistle… it came to an end in Colombian heartbreak.

[FULL-TIME (AET): Netherlands 3-2 Colombia]

The Dutch survived. Colombia fell in glory.

A game for the history books; full of moments, heroes, heartbreak, and thunderous goals.

Xavi Simons won the man of the match award with his 1 goal, the match winner, 2 key passes, 1 tackle, and 1 interception.

Like the commentator said:

"A 23 year old with the brain of a veteran and the heart of a lion".

Xavi Simons faced the media at the end of the game, all smiles, filled with endless enthusiasm and excitement.

"I dreamed of this moment since I was a boy. I'll never forget it".