2022 World Cup – Monday 28 November 2022
Group E: Japan 0 (0) – (0) 1 Costa Rica (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
Ecuador scorer: Fuller (81′)
Group F: Belgium 0 (0) – (0) 2 Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)
Morocco scorers: Sabiri (73′), Aboukhlal (90’+2’)
Group F: Croatia 4 (2) – (1) 1 Canada (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan)
Croatia scorers: Kramaric (36′, 70′), Livaja (44′), Majer (90’+4). Canada scorer: Davies (2′)
Group E: Spain 1 (0) – (0) 1 Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)
Spain scorer: Morata (62′). Fullkrug (83′)
Yesterday started with two shocks results, had a shock start in game three, with the last of the day seeing two former World Cup winners play out a draw.
Whether Japan or Belgium had Lionel Ritchie’s Easy Like Sunday Morning, playing in the dressing room rooms before their respective matches, we will never know. However, the players of The Blue Samurai and The Red Devils certainly had something spinning around in their heads as both lost in games they were expected to win.
Having stunned Germany in their opener and Costa Rica having shipped seven goals against Spain, this looked on paper a cert for a Japanese victory. They made five changes for the game, and it didn’t do them any favours. As with so many fixtures to date half time arrived goal-less. The second half was just as tight but with nine minutes remaining Costa Rica broke the deadlock, with Keysher Fuller curling home a winner. In truth though Gonda in goal for Japan should have possibly done better getting two hands to the effort.
Next up were Belgium who despite having just squeezed past Canada were still favourites to beat Morocco who had opened with a 0-0 draw with Croatia. Belgium were decidedly sluggish in the first half and the disallowed goal in the first half should have been a warning as to Morocco’s threat. Instead they sleep walked into a bad dream as Thibaut Courtois made a hash of a free kick from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal added a second in time added on. Credit to Morocco but a decidedly rocky display from Belgium.
Could game three continue the trend of the day? Well after two minutes Canada went ahead through a cracking header from Alphonso Davies against Croatia, and it looked possible. The Croats however didn’t panic and by the break were 2-1 up with smart finishes from Kramaric (36′), Livaja (44′). Canada though continued to create chances in what was an open game, and it wasn’t until Kramaric’s second twenty minutes from time that finally broke the Canadians resistance. The last period was all Croatia as their class told and it was no surprise when added a fourth in time added on. Shock result avoided and Canada off to the departure lounge.
Into the last game of Sunday and was there an exit for Germany in the making in their game against Spain? These two last met in the 2010 finals in South Africa, when a Puyol goal in the second half was enough to send the Spanish through to their first ever World Cup Final. Another game, another first forty five minutes goal-less although an entertaining half, nonetheless. Spain though went ahead as substitute Alvaro Morata brilliantly flicked home from inside the box just after the hour and Germany were looking at a second loss. However, the Germans kept pushing and got their leveller seven minutes from time, as Fullkrug smashed home from inside the box. No one in the group eliminated and all to play for in the last round to come.