One big question for every round-of-16 qualifier

According to ESPN's analysis, as the World Cup field shrinks to sixteen teams, each remaining contender faces a defining question. Some, like the U.S., must navigate their knockout run without a suspended star striker. Others confront different vulnerabilities: defensive liabilities, limited attacking depth, or tactical mismatches that become impossible to mask when every match determines survival. The group stage is over—no more room to hide. The genuine test arrives: can each team overcome its central weakness and advance deeper into the tournament?

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