World Cup diary 2018 – Thursday 12 July

England (1) 1      [Trippier (5’)]

Croatia (0) 2       [Perisic (68′), Mandzukic (109′)]

AET

Twenty-two minutes…twenty-two minutes from a World Cup Final. That’s how close The Three Lions were. The interesting thing is to see how the whole squad reacts, not just in the coming season back at their respective clubs, but the next time they are in an England shirt. They will all know how close they came and that fact will forever lurk in their subconscious.

That first-half dominance just wasn’t made to count and Harry Kane will know that his golden chance to make it 2-0 will be shown for years to come, long after he has retired. The England side that played the second-half didn’t look the same as that in the opening forty-five minutes. Was it the pressure of the situation? Was it a game too far? Watching it, there was an inevitability about the Croatian equaliser as they got on top of England and it felt like we were clinging on as The Three Lions started Extra-time. Credit to Croatia, for all the pundits talk of them being tired because of the games they had played, they simply got stronger and were by the end worthy winners.

Deflated just doesn’t begin to describe the sensation at the final whistle. Right now, it feels like the competition is over and I’ve really no interest in the Third Place Play-off that England will have to contest with Belgium on Saturday or at this point in time the Final itself. It’s not bad sportsmanship, it’s just that I feel drained after the tension and relief of the Columbia result and the expectation that the Sweden game suddenly created.

However, I will, like the England, squad, take a break until Saturday, regroup and see things through to the end.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Wednesday 11 July

France (0) 1        [Umtiti (51’)]

Belgium (0)

Yesterday in this diary I plumped for a Belgium victory and in the opening twenty minutes of the game this looked like a good bet as Les Diables Rouges carried on from where they left off against Brazil. However, France showed tremendous resolve and as the game went on grew increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack. Both ‘keepers – two of the best in World, in Lloris and Courtois – were called upon in the first-half to make important saves and keep it all square at 0-0 as the teams went into the half-time break.

France were quickest out of the blocks in the second period and were ahead just six minutes after the break, when Umtiti headed home from a corner. It was a lead that Les Bleus held onto despite Belgium having 64% possession. France were organised and on the break created the best opportunities in the second-half, with Mbappe showing what a talent he will be.

Congratulations to France and commiserations to Belgium.

 

England v Croatia: Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow

The football gods have answered my call throughout the tournament to date and of course the appeal goes out once again that the Three Lions take a step further than they did at Italia ’90 and a bit closer to the heroics of 1966.

England’s last two games against Croatia came in the qualification for the 2010 World Cup Finals and brought two convincing wins, as the Three Lions won 4-1 in Croatia in September 2008 with a Theo Walcott hat-trick and a Rooney goal and followed it up with a 5-1 win at Wembley a year later with Lampard and Gerrard bagging two goals apiece with Rooney completing the scoring. Now to ask the football gods for such thumping wins would be a step too far, but I’d settle for another Sweden-like performance to keep the dream alive.

I woke up this morning wondering how the players slept last night and what will go through their minds as kick-off tonight creeps ever closer. At the minute I feel pretty calm, but we are still just over six hours away from kick-off. I’m hoping the calmness, closeness and confidence that Gareth Southgate has created within the squad continues to grow and that it translates into another victory. The time of celebrating Semi-Final failure needs to be put behind us. Time to believe – It’s Coming Home!

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World Cup diary 2018 – Sunday 08 July

England (1) 2 [Maguire (30′), Alli (58′)]

Sweden (0) 0

Once again my thanks to the football gods, most especially since the win was achieved without the finger-biting tension of the Colombia game. It was all rather serene and a bit surreal. It is a rare treat watching an England game without the usual dread and fear. Is it because there is no expectation of this squad or the calm that manager Gareth Southgate exudes? It’s just all rather strange, but I’ll take it. On the day, England deserved the win, and two headers were enough to put out the Swedes, with Jordan Pickford earning a clean-sheet with some vital saves at important sides. And now it all gets rather serious knowing that a place in the Final is just ninety minutes away.

Football’s coming Home? You just never know.

 

Russia (1) 2 [Cheryshev (31′), Figueira Fernandes (115′)]

Croatia (1) 2 [Kramaric (39′), Vida (100′)

AET Croatia won 4-2 on penalties

After the England game, try as I might, I just didn’t have the enthusiasm for this one as the lure of a few cold beers had a greater attraction. It was also due in part to the fact that I thought a Russia win was nailed on and there was little point in watching it.

Congrats to Croatia, beating a host nation is an achievement.

Time for a break and the resumption on Tuesday.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Saturday 07 July

France (1) 2 [Varane (40’), Griezmann (61′)

Uruguay (0) 0

First through were the 1998 World Cup winners. Not a classic of a game by any means, but France kept their cool (for the most part) as a niggly Uruguay side tried to disrupt the rhythms of Les Blues. The French scored at the perfect time, just before the break with a cracking header from Varane, but had skipper Lloris to thank for having that advantage at the break as he pulled off a stunning save from Caceres header.

Uruguay did little to create a real chance in the second period and were effectively out after a howler from their ‘keeper Muslera when he tried to punch way a Griezmann shot rather than catch it and all he did was to paddle into his own net. There was also a flashpoint late in the game as Uruguay didn’t take to kindly to some showboating by Mbappe, and the youngster fell to the crowd after minimal contact from a Uruguayan player. Another piece of embarrassing reaction from a player when the physical contact was minimal. For me there should be retrospective action for incidents like this. Uruguay’s miserable day was complete when defender Gimenez spent the last five minutes of the game on the verge of tears. Europe 1, South America 0. Could Belgium do the same later in the evening?

Brazil (0) 1 [Augusto (76’)]

Belgium (2) 2 [Fernandinho (13′ own-goal), De Bruyne (31′)]

Well, well, well.

Europe 2, South America 0.

Belgium were quite simply outstanding as a unit in the first-half – every last one of them and they thoroughly deserved to be ahead at the break. Yes, the Fernandinho own-goal which gave Belgium the lead was fortunate, but they had earned it through a great tactical set-up and which was rewarded by the brilliance of a second goal from Kevin De Bruyne just after the half hour mark.

The system though which demanded a high work rate, took its toll on the Belgium side in the second period as Brazil poured forward. Neymar went down a couple of times in the box, as is his want, and had his claims waived away, but Brazil also has a genuine claim turned down when Vincent Kompany’s appeared to foul Gabriel Jesus, but VAR said no – oh where is the consistency of the system? Finally, the five-times World Champions broke the Belgium line with an Augusto header and it felt as if a Brazilian equaliser would come. However, Belgium battled to the end and in stoppage time, Courtois produces a brilliant finger-tip save to deny Neymar. All that was left was for the Europeans to celebrate and the Brazilians to get the plane home.

What drama awaits today?

England v Sweden: Cosmos Arena, Samara

Two previous meetings in the Finals, the first in 2002, the second in 2006. That first meeting was in Group F, and known as the ‘group of death’ given that England and Sweden were joined by Argentina and Nigeria. It was the opening game for England and Sweden, with a first-half goal from Sol Campbell goal putting the Three Lions ahead only for Niclas Alexandersson to level just before the hour mark. Both teams emerged from the group to the knock-out phase. Four years later the two teams met again, this time in Cologne, in Group B, in the final round of games, England twice were ahead through Joe Cole (34’) and Steven Gerrard (85’), only to be pegged back each time with goals from Marcus Allback (51’) and in stoppage time Henrik Larsson. As in 2002, both sides went through from the group to the last sixteen.

Once more I’ll be calling on the football gods to look kindly on the Three Lions and see them make passage to the Semi-Finals for the first time since 1990. On paper there is no reason that England shouldn’t make it through, but expect a different style of game from Sweden, one devoid of the shocking antics of Colombia. It no doubt will be a nervous and difficult watch, but having broken the penalty hoodoo now, it’s time to throw off the recent record of Quarter-Final exits.

Russia v Croatia: Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

In the guise of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, there was a World Cup Finals encounter during the 1962 competition in Chile, with the Soviet Union winning 2-0 in a Group 1 game. As Russia and Croatia there have been three meetings, the first in the European Championship Qualifiers in 2006, saw the teams play out a 0-0 in Moscow, with the return game in Zagreb also goalless. Their last meeting was in a friendly in Rostov, with Croatia winning 3-1.

The hosts Russia have exceeded expectations and with a new-found belief are a real threat. Croatia for all their talent limped through their last sixteen tie against Denmark. They are going to have to be at their best if they are to tame the Russian bear, but I’ve a sneaking feeling the hosts are going to get through again.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Monday 02 July

Russia (1) – (1) Spain [Russia win 4-3 on penalties]

Well I’m fairly much speechless even a day after the game. Spain with all the possession but created very little, with Russia just content to sit back – it wasn’t a great watch at all. On the one hand Spain got what they deserved because they didn’t have the guile to breakdown the hosts. However, for me, yet again the VAR and referee have come up with a wrong call, when Spain were denied a penalty in the closing minutes of Extra-time. As a free-kick was swung in there was a case for three Spanish players being pulled down, yet the referee deemed none of them to be fouls – a quite startlingly decision. Just where is the consistency in this tournament. And then to cap it all off the BBC pundits in the studio made no mention of the incident. Really?

Croatia (1) – (1) Denmark [Croatia win 3-2 on penalties]

With my frustration at events still lingering from the earlier game, I wasn’t really in the mood for this one and ended up only tuning in for the Extra-time and penalties. It appears that Croatia made heavy weather of things with perhaps the tag of favourites in this tie being a burden for them. However, despite the heroics of Danish ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel, he was outdone by his Croatian counterpart Danijel Subasic who saved three penalties in the shoot-out.

Well I’m hoping my enthusiasm can be reignited with the two clashes today, starting with:

Brazil v Mexico

This will be the fifth encounter in World Cup Finals for these countries. The first came in 1950 when the tournament was played in Brazil and in a Group 1 game, the hosts swept to a 4-0 win. Four years later in Switzerland the result was even more emphatic as Mexico were on the end of a 5-0 beating in the group stages. Their third meeting in the World Cup came in Chile in 1962 with Brazil winning 2-0 including a goal from Pele. Just four years ago in Brazil, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw in Group A, which saw Mexico break the run of defeats, but they have yet to score against the Brazilians in any of the four games. What a time to get a first goal.

It’s been a tournament with a number of the big guns going out – will Brazil really be another casualty? I can’t see it, but who would have said, Argentina, Germany, Portugal and Spain would already be on the plane home.

Belgium v Japan

There has been one meeting in the Finals tournament before, back in 2002 when Japan co-hosted with South Korea. In a Group G game in the Saitama Stadium, a crowd of 55,258 saw the teams play out a 2-2 draw. Belgium went ahead through Marc Wilmots (57’) with Japan level two minutes later through Takayuki Suzuki. Junichi Inamoto then put Japan ahead on sixty-eight minutes, only for Peter Van Der Heyden to level things up with fifteen minutes remaining.

Belgium are a gifted team and you would expect them to progress, but after the way Russia frustrated Spain yesterday, is this the game-plan for the Blue Samuri?

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World Cup diary 2018 – Wednesday 27 June

Going to be honest and say that the first batch of games from yesterday which saw Group C conclude, passed me by. I’ve nothing against Denmark, France, Peru or Australia (well maybe Australia, as an Englishman it’s great to see the Aussies lose at any sport), but my focus was on the evening games in Group D involving Iceland, Croatia, Argentina and Nigeria. As a result I merely picked up the final scores in early evening that saw Denmark and France go through after a 0-0 stalemate, with the French topping the group and Australia finish bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat to Peru in the other game.

So to the events in Group D and my match of choice involving Iceland and Croatia. I have a friend working for Iceland in their media team, so firmly nailed my colours to the mast of the Vikings hoping they would beat the Croatians and the result of the other game went their way. However, it was not to be despite the Iceland side giving it everything that they had. Chances came but in the end they looked a tired side and when you consider that in a good summer temperatures can reach 20-25 degrees Centigrade in Iceland, yet had to perform in temperatures of 30+, were the weather conditions a factor for their exit? Ultimately though they slumped to a 2-1 defeat which left Iceland with just a point from their three group fixtures.

With the game finished I switched channels to catch the last seconds of the Argentina and Nigeria game, where a cracking finish from Marcos Rojo just four minutes from time saved the two-times World Champions from exit of the 2018 tournament at the expense of Nigeria. For all the brilliance of Messi’s first-half goal and Rojo’s winner, the abiding image was of Maradona in the stands celebrating the second Argentinian strike by standing and displaying offensive hand gestures. I can’t share the opinion of those who consider him a ‘great’ since his image during his playing days will forever be tainted by the ‘Hand of God’ incident in 1986 and his banning from the 1994 World Cup for drug use. His antics since the conclusion of his playing days have reduced him to a laughing stock and embarrassment to his country.

Back to events on the pitch and those results from yesterday lead to the following last 16 ties:

June 30 France v Argentina          July 01   Croatia v Denmark

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World Cup diary 2018 – Friday 22 June

Only one place to start really and that is the last game of Thursday’s action, involving Argentina and Croatia at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

Much has been made in the press of the image of Lionel Messi with his hand pressed against his head as the camera passed down the Argentina team line-up. Was he stressed? Did he have a headache coming on? Could he not face the camera? Was he merely offering a prayer? And this is where the image becomes determined by the outcome of the game. Argentina put in a lacklustre performance, are soundly beaten by Croatia and therefore the automatic assumption of the press is that Messi was stressed, weighed down by the expectation of a nation and once more has to carry the team through another game. For all his quality and records at Barcelona, the World Cup stage has not brought out the best of Messi and it looks like his final fling at becoming a World Cup winner is about to vanish.

With all the attention on how poor Argentina were, the absolute blooper by ‘keeper Willy Caballero (what a wonderful chip to set up the volley) and the lack of impact of Aguero and substitute Higuain made, Croatia haven’t been given the credit they deserved. The volley by Rebic was technically brilliant and Croatia’s second by Modric one of the best goals of the tournament. By the time Rakitic fired in the third in stoppage time, Argentina were a bewildered rabble who could only stop and watch as their humiliation was completed.

However, despite having only a point after two games in Group D, Argentina know that qualification for the knock-out stage can still be achieved. Don’t cry for me Argentina? Well not yet at least.

Elsewhere yesterday, two games in Group C, with Australia up against Denmark and France taking on Peru. Denmark went ahead against the Aussies with a well worked strike from Christian Eriksen, only to be pegged by a dubious penalty for Australia. The Aussies appeal was half hearted as the ball appeared to be headed at the arm of Poulsen, with no intent as far as I could see. For me a case of VAR not working and not making the right decision as the penalty rate continues to rise in the competition.

Finally to France against Peru, where Les Bleu did enough to earn a 1-0 win courtesy of a scrappy goal from Mbappe in the first-half. The French at times showed great flair, but struggled at other times with the physicality of the Peruvians, who huffed and puffed but couldn’t find an equaliser. At least half-time provided a couple of comedy moments, with Patrice Evra’s bow-tie and sweater combo a sight to behold and the fact that his two ex-Manchester United colleagues, Messer’s Giggs and Keane looke so bloody miserable. Do they know they are getting paid to watch football? If Patrice needs fashion tips he should have looked no further than the kit the Peru side wore against France, surely one of the most iconic kits in World Cup history.

Anyway, the weekend approaches and the build-up to England’s game will start to build up, but before that The Three Lions nemesis from Euro 2016, Iceland are in action against Nigeria, completing the second round of games in Group D. Whilst the other two games today see Group E encounters between Brazil and Costa Rica and Switzerland and Serbia. Serbia and Brazil to win? Or is there a banana skin awaiting Neymar?

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FIFA World Cup 2014 – Tuesday 24 June 2014

The early games yesterday saw Group B played to a conclusion and in all fairness didn’t hold a lot of drama, given that Netherlands and Chile were already through and Spain and Australia were out. Of course there was top place to play for and at the other end avoiding the wooden spoon.

In the end it was the Dutch who took top spot with a 2-0 over Chile. Both goals came in the second-half from substitutes Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay. In between the goals though, Chile might reflect that they were unlucky not to get a penalty. From a corner, Dutch defender de Vrij appeared to hold back Jara and to compound the issue then made contact with the ball using his arm. It wasn’t to be and the Netherlands took the points leaving Chile as runners-up in the group.

Australia ended up with the wooden spoon in what was a pretty comfortable 3-0 win for Spain. The Spanish dominated from the off and it was a surprise that it took until the 36th minute before they scored. Juanfran got behind the Australian defence and his cross was cleverly back-heeled home by David Villa. It was much the same in the second-half as Australia got pulled apart at the back, with Torres and Mata completing the scoring.

The only fun to be had was in Group A. Cameroon were already out and were up against Brazil who were all but through. So it was the Mexico v Croatia game that was the one to watch. The Mexicans knew that a draw would be enough for them, whilst Croatia needed a win to progress.

Given the importance of the game it was no surprise that the game got at times a little physical with players all too willing to square-up to each other at times, handbags et al. Despite Croatia needing to win to progress, it was Mexico who had the better first-half chances, although the game remained 0-0 at the break. This World Cup has seen the officials be very good with the spray cans, but I would have like them to have been better at the ‘real’ elements of their job during the games. Here in the second-half there was another glaring mistake from an official, as Srna blocked a cross using his arms denying Mexico a penalty. However, it wasn’t long before the Mexicans went ahead when Marquez headed home. Within three minutes they went 2-0 up, as Guardola fired home. Croatia were now looking ragged and they were exposed once more on 82 minutes as a cross found substitute Hernandez for an easy finish. The Croatians though had the final word as a well worked goal saw Perisic finish cleanly. However, there was one last incident in what had been a frantic last fifteen minutes when substitute Rebic was sent-off for a nasty challenge on Mexico’s Carlos Pena.

In the other Group A fixture, the game was won 4-1 by Brazil, which sealed top spot, with Neymar Junior getting two goals.

Following those results it means that the fixtures for the next round are as follows:

Brazil                     v              Chile

Netherlands       v              Mexico

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FIFA World Cup 2014 – Thursday 19 June 2014

Well what a night that was…

It all kicked-off with a bit of a thriller between Australia and Netherlands. When Jedinak scored from the spot to put Australia 2-1 early in the second-half, the mad world that has been Group B looked to have another unforeseen story to tell. However, van Persie quickly brought the Dutch level and sealed victory with a goal from Memphis Depay. It could have been so different for the Socceros, as minutes before the Dutch winner Mathew Leckie had a glorious chance to put Australia ahead which went begging.

Netherlands through, Australia out.

The drama continued as we watched to see if World Champions Spain could get their tournament back on track. Was the defeat to the Netherlands just a blip? Well by half-time Chile were 2-0 ahead with goals from Vargas and Aranguiz and Spain were looking devoid of ideas and seemed resigned to defeat.

Chile through, Spain out.

To round off the evening it was back to Group A and Croatia against Cameroon. The Africans imploded in this one, going behind early to a goal from Olic and had Song sent off making it an almost impossible task to get back into the game. Croatia strolled to a 4-0 win with second-half goals from Perisic and two from Mandzukic. As if that wasn’t bad enough, two Cameroon players, Moukandjo and Assou-Ekotto, ended up in argument, with the later seemingly head-butting his teammate.

Cameroon out. Croatia still in the mix to qualify to the knock-out phases.

And so to today…

Group C has Columbia take on Ivory Coast and Japan take on Greece. However, squeezed in between those games is the torture and agony that will be England against Uruguay. Up and down the country we’ll gather round our televisions like moths to a candle to see whether we’ll crash and burn in defeat or bathe in the warm glow of victory.

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FIFA World Cup 2014 – Wednesday 18 June 2014

Group H

 Belgium (0) 2 – 1 (1) Algeria

Good managers made decisive decisions that change the course of games.

At half-time Belgium were behind to a penalty converted by Feghouli and were frankly struggling. Marc Wilmots made three changes during the second period and two of them, Fellaini and Mertens came up with the goals that won the game.

 

Group A

Brazil (0) 0 – 0 (0) Mexico

Only the second draw of the Finals so far, but one that Mexico more than deserved.

Ochoa was outstanding in goal for Mexico making three brilliant saves, but the Mexicans were also an attacking threat with several shots on goal in the second-half.

The more I watch Brazil in the tournament the more I dislike them. As in the game against Croatia, it was Marcelo who irked me as he threw himself to the floor to try and win a penalty with two minutes remaining in the game.

Note to FIFA: ability to retrospectively book players should be considered.

 

Group H

Russia (0) 1 – 1 (0) South Korea

The day ended with another game low on quality, but high on goalkeeping errors. Neither Korean custodian Jung Sung-ryong nor his Russian compatriot Akinfeev will look back on this game with any distinction.

Akinfeev had looked vulnerable to long-range efforts in the first-half, but his clanger to give South Korea was horrible to watch, as a shot from Lee Keun-ho squirmed from the keepers grasp and over the line.

Jung Sung-ryong in the Korean goal was also unconvincing during the game and he will have be disappointed in his part in the Russian equaliser, as his attempt to stop a cross-shot was only palmed away, where Kerzakov gratefully swept it home.

Note: I bet Rob Green enjoyed watching this one…

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

In previous tournaments things haven’t got interesting until the second round of group fixtures. Brazil 2014 has bucked that trend, as the opening round of games have for the most part been open and full of goals. The reality is that for some teams their World Cup will be over after the second round of games. Today nervously looking at their room reservations are the following:

 

Group B

Australia v Netherlands

Of course the obvious thing to say is that the Dutch will win this at a canter after putting the World Champions to the sword in their opening game. Australia don’t exactly look like a team in form after their opening 3-1 beating at the hands of Chile. But this tournament has not been easy to call at all – could there really be an upset?

These sides have met three times previously, with two draws and a win for Australia in 2008, when a Harry Kewell penalty and a goal from Joshua Kennedy saw them win 2-1.

Can they? Really?

 

Spain v Chile

The big question is whether Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque will make significant changes or will he keep faith with the side that collapsed so spectacularly against the Netherlands? Chile have never beaten Spain in their 10 meetings, but will be hoping it is third time lucky in terms of World Cup games against Spain.

The teams played each other in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, when Spain emerged 2-0 winners and in South Africa in 2010, when the Spaniards won 2-1. Both games as with this fixture were at the group stages.

A draw tonight would make the last round of games very interesting…

 

Group A

Cameroon v Croatia

These two sides have never played each other before and having lost their opening game, this meeting is hugely significant as a loss for either is check-out time. Croatia will feel slightly aggrieved with their loss to the hosts in the opening game, and if they use that injustice in a positive way they could collect a win here.

Tantrums and fouls aplenty as a draw is played out?

 

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