Three days into the knockout stage and the patterns are obvious if you're watching closely:

1. Low blocks are dying against patient buildup. Teams sitting deep and inviting pressure are getting picked apart in the final 15 minutes once fatigue kicks in — not by pace, but by patient rotations pulling defenders out of shape.

1. Fullbacks are the new playmakers. The teams still alive are getting more progressive passes from their fullbacks than their actual attacking midfielders. If a team's fullback isn't touching the ball 70+ times a game, they're struggling to control tempo.

1. Set pieces are deciding matches that shouldn't be close. A disproportionate number of knockout goals this tournament have come from dead balls — a sign that as fatigue and pressure mount, structured chaos beats open play.

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