World Cup group stage thrilled even without the jeopardy

For a World Cup group stage that was supposed to be without much jeopardy, it sure ended with drama. Sasa Kalajdzic's 96th-minute equaliser, just moments after Algeria had gone ahead, salvaged a 3-3 draw for Austria and their place in the knockouts.

In a way, it summed up the contrast between our fears and the reality of a World Cup that has been full of fun. Algeria and Austria could have played out a goalless draw and both gone through. Instead, they served up six more goals to add to the lengthy list.

There were 215 of them in total, a record for the group stage. And if you are thinking that is just because there were more games, it is not the whole story. Indeed, the average of 2.99 per game is the highest since the 1950s. And there haven't been many beatings.

• Knockout bracket, third-place table and fixtures
• World Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World Cup
• Follow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App

Yes, it was all to get us back to 32 teams - the number of nations that competed in each of the previous seven tournaments. But none of the newcomers truly disgraced themselves. In fact, they have illuminated the summer along with the superstar names.

Curacao's equaliser against Germany will forever be cherished. Jordan depart with three defeats but scored in every match, including against the holders Argentina. The magical Cape Verde will face Lionel Messi and co in the last 32 and remain undefeated.

As for Messi himself, it was his hat-trick against Algeria that sparked it all but he has not been alone. The quartet chasing him for the Golden Boot are Vinicius Junior, Mousa Dembele, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. It is a Ballon d'Or shortlist. The stars have turned up.

There will be some accusations of stat-padding and they are not entirely unfounded. It is all a far cry from Paolo Rossi winning a Golden Boot thanks to a hat-trick against Brazil before a brace in the semi-final and grabbing his sixth goal in winning the 1982 final.

Both of Cristiano Ronaldo's goals have come against Uzbekistan. Messi helped himself to one against Jordan. Haaland and Mbappe got two apiece against an Iraq side that did rather sneak in through the backdoor, beneficiaries of the extra places awarded to Asia.

Iraq missed out on the qualification spots that went to South Korea and Jordan in their initial group, lost out to Saudi Arabia in the next group stage and still managed to come through a playoff. There will be those who think Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz has a point.

"The number of teams that can qualify for this competition can turn it into something vulgar and ordinary," he said on Saturday. "The World Cup should be something with meaning and significance. It should be rare. But, as you know, today, money talks."

The format certainly has its challenges. We have lost only a trio of European teams. Czech Republic were unfancied. Turkey and Scotland were appearing for the first time in 24 and 28 years, respectively. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Uruguay not winning a single game.

They were the only South American side not to make it through, while Tunisia were the only one of Africa's 10 teams to exit before the knockouts. A strong showing by the continent, in stark contrast to Asia's representatives - seven of whom are gone already.

It has certainly been a lot - more games than have ever been played at a World Cup before - just to eliminate these 16 teams. But the talk of a tournament diluted does not quite define it. This thing, for all the tinkering that goes on, still remains too special for that.

It is the World Cup of Raul Jimenez's emotional goal for Mexico and Folarin Balogan getting the party started for the United States. Of Kerim Alajbegovic announcing himself for Bosnia-Herzegovina at 18 and Vozinha doing much the same for Cape Verde at 40.

Of Giovanni Reyna's trivela and Marcelo Bielsa's travails. Of Rafik Belghali having some help from a corner flag and Kevin Pina doing it all on his own. Ecuador's joie de vivre. Austria's desperation rewarded. It has already been a World Cup packed with colour.

Still agree with Queiroz? No problem. "The group stage is the warm up and qualification for the next round is like a credit card. Now you have to start paying," added the grumpy Portuguese. "Everything goes to the winner, every game is drama, nobody can hide."

This World Cup is just getting started.