2022 World Cup – Tuesday 06 December 2022

The first four last sixteen had all gone pretty much to form, so were there to be any shocks from the remaining four fixtures? There hadn’t even been any games going to extra-time or penalties, so was this about to change?

 

Japan 1 (1) – (0) 1 Croatia AET. Croatia won 3-1 on penalties. (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

Japan scorer: Maeda (43′). Croatia scorer: Perisic (55′)

 

Indeed it was.

This was the third World Cup meeting between the teams. The first encounter was in 1998, when a Davor Suker goal was enough to see Croatia win 1-0 in a group game. They met again in 2006 again at the group stages with a penalty save from Japan’s Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi denying Croatia victory as the game ended 0-0.

In what was a pretty open and entertaining game, Japan were the more lively of the two sides and deserved their lead just before the break when Celtic’s Daizen Maeda was quickest to react and fire home. Croatia though were level within ten minutes of the restart when Spurs’ Ivan Perisic powered in a header. Thereafter both ‘keepers, Dominik Livakovic for Croatia and Shuichi Gonda made decent saves to maintain the 1-1 score and send the game into extra-time.

As so often little was created in terms of chances and there was inevitability that penalties were needed to separate the sides. The record books will show that Croatian goalkeeper Livakovic was the hero saving three penalties as his side progressed 3-1, but if truth be told, the quality of those from the Japanese players was poor. Croatia runners-up in 2018 through to the Quarter Finals.

 

Brazil 4 (4) – (0) 1 South Korea (Stadium 974, Doha)

Brazil scorers: Vinicius Júnior (7′), Neymar (13’ pen), Richarlison (29′), Lucas Paqueta (36′). South Korea scorer: Paik Seung-ho (76′)

 

No competitive fixtures between these two sides but met as recently as June this year when Brazil ran out 5-1 winners in Seoul, with goals from Richarlison, two penalties from Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus.

When Lucas Paqueta scored Brazil’s fourth after thirty-six minutes, that score line six months earlier looked in danger of being surpassed. The five-times champions simply blew South Korea away will skill and pace with the pick of the goals the third scored by Richarlison who started and finished a very slick Brazilian move. Second-half the onslaught continued but Korean ‘keeper Kim Seung-gyu made a number of saves to ensure the defeat wasn’t even greater. South Korea did manage a consolation through Paik Seung-ho and would have had a couple more but for some excellent work by Alisson in the Brazilian goal. Brazil on a roll, and on this display you’d be nuts to bet against them winning a sixth World Cup.

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2022 World Cup – Friday 02 December 2022

Group F:

Croatia 0 (0) – (0) 0 Belgium (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)

 

Canada 1 (1) – (0) 2 Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)

Canada scorer: Aguerd (40’og). Morocco scorers: Ziyech (4′), En-Nesyri (23′)

 

Going into the last games in Group F, 2018 runners-up Croatia were top with four points, with Morocco second on goal-difference, Belgium in third and Canada already out with nil point.

Yesterday I said how the World Cup hadn’t really sparked into life and boy this was about to change. The story of the day from this group was the elimination of FIFA ranked #2 Belgium and Morocco finishing top of the pile. Much has been made of Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’, its lack of delivering major titles and recently internal rumblings within the dressing room. They had to beat Croatia to progress and knew that a single goal would be enough. Romelu Lukaku had been injured prior to the World Cup with virtually no playing time under his belt but Belgium brought him on in the second half. A number of chances came his way, but his rustiness showed as he was unable to convert any. He was distraught at the whistle as assistant coach Thierry Henry tried to console the striker. Head Coach Roberto Martínez confirmed later that this was his last game in charge and whoever comes in has a rebuilding job to do with The Red Devils.

Morocco saw off a spirited Canada to clinch top-spot and seal a place in the last sixteen, equalling their achievement in 1986 when they lost to a late Lothar Matthaus goal against West Germany. The Atlas Lions have been impressive in Qatar and their tie with Spain will be an interesting one.

Group E:

Japan 2 (0) – (1) 1 Spain (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Japan scorers: Doan (48′), Tanaka (51′). Spain scorer: Morata (11′)

 

Costa Rica 2 (0) – (1) 4 Germany (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)

Costa Rica scorers: Tejeda (58′), Neuer (70’og). German scorers: Gnabry (10′), Havertz (73′, 85′), Fullkrug (89′)

This was a group that was expected to see Germany and Spain made it through. However, with 71 minutes gone with Japan 2-1 up in Al Rayyan and Germany losing by the same score to Costa Rica in Al Khor, it was the Spanish and the Germans who were heading for an early exit. And whilst Die Mannschaft recovered to win the game 4-2, Japan held on to ensure they topped the group with Spain going through on goal-difference to the last sixteen.

The major talking point now and since has been Japan’s second goal which was only given after VAR intervention. Depending on the angle various people have either made a case for the ball being in or out. The official view is that is you drew a line up vertically from the by-line then a small part of the ball was still in play and therefore as VAR indicated the goal was valid. Germans and controversy about the ball crossing the line – now where have I heard about that before…

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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.

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2022 World Cup – Thursday 24 November 2022

Thursday 24 November

GROUP F: Morocco 0 (0) – (0) 0 Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)

 

GROUP E: Germany 1 (1) – (0) 2 Japan (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Germany scorer: Gundogan (33′ pen). Japan scorers: Doan (75′), Asano (83′)

 

GROUP F: Spain 7 (3) – (0) 0 Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)

Spain scorers: Olmo (11′), Asensio (21′), F Torres (31’pen, 54′), Gavi (74′), Soler (90′), Morata (90’+2)

 

GROUP E: Belgium 1 (1) – (0) 0 Canada (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Belgium scorer: Batshuayi (44′)

 

Another quartet of games on a day which started with a 0-0 included another major shock, a goal-fest and ended with nearly a second shock of the day.

2018 beaten finalists Croatia were first on Wednesday morning against Morocco and was as the cliché goes a bit of a bore draw. The less sad the better. Thankfully up next was a slow burner which turned into the surprise result of the day as Japan came from behind to beat Germany 2-1. Before kick-off Germany took their positions for the traditional team photo and then the players covered their mouths, with manager Hansi Flick saying it was “to convey the message that FIFA is silencing” teams. An interesting start to proceedings. Germany dominated the first half and got their reward when a penalty from Gundogan just after the half hour mark put them ahead. It was though to be a game of two-halves as Japan got at the Germans time and time again and were rewarded with an equaliser fifteen minutes from time. Then to cap it off, substitute Takuma Asano, who plays for German club VfL Bochum scored seven minutes from time slotting home from an acute angle. Understandably at the whistle the Japanese celebrations were a joy to behold. Is another German wobble on the cards?

Spain then took on Costa Rica in what turned out to be a pasear por el parque. As with the England game earlier in the week its difficult to make too much of the result when a side is hammered 7-0. Of course it’s a confidence booster for a team but can equally give a false impression especially when there are harder challenges to come in the later stages of the competition.  The pick of the goals came from Gavi, Spain’s fifth and their last in time added on from Morata.

The day ended with what on paper looked like a no contest, as Belgium ranked number two in the World took on Canada ranked forty-first. The North American side pushed Belgium all the way and had a glorious chance to go ahead in the first half, but Alphonso Davies saw his spot-kick saved by Belgium ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois. They came to rue that miss and the many other chances they created as shortly before the break as Michy Batshuayi finished clinically from a long ball. Canada were the better side throughout as acknowledged by the Belgian manager Roberto Martinez in a post-match interview and in reality deserved at least a point. This could yet turn out to be an interesting group and on this performance Canada will be tough opposition for both Croatia and Morocco.

 

Group G: Switzerland v Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

The opening game of the day sees Switzerland who were winners of UEFA Group C, going unbeaten with five wins and three draws, take on Cameroon who qualified as CAF third round winners. The Swiss are in the finals for the twelfth time reaching the Quarter Finals in 1934, 1938 and in 1954 when they hosted the tournament. Familiar faces within the squad to English fans will be Manuel Akanji (Manchester City), Fabian Schar (Newcastle United), Denis Zakaria (on loan at Chelsea from Juventus), Remo Freuler (Nottingham Forest) and Granit Xhaka (Arsenal). Cameroon are in the finals for the eighth time, with 1990 their further progression to date when they were beaten in the Quarter Finals by England. A couple of players in the English leagues are Swansea City’s Olivier Ntcham and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo. Their captain is the experienced striker Vincent Aboubakar, and the Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions) will need him to be firing if they are to make any impression in this group. Is a 0-0 on the cards?

Group H: Uruguay v South Korea (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)

These sides have previously met in the World Cup. First in 1990 in a Group E game where a Daniel Fonseca goal in time added on was enough to see Uruguay progress from the group. Eight years later in South Africa they played each other in the last sixteen with two Luis Suarez goals either side of Lee Chung-yong’s equaliser saw Uruguay through 2-1. Suarez is still with the Uruguayan squad in what will surely be his last hurrah at the World Cup finals. Battling for the scoring spotlight on the day could be Spurs Son Heung-min and Wolves Hwang Hee-chan. Uruguay to make it three wins against the South Korean’s in World Cup finals tournaments.

Group H: Portugal v Ghana (Stadium 974, Doha)

The story that has dominated ahead of this fixture is the ending of the second spell of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. It’s been a traumatic time since he gave his explosive interview with Piers Morgan which has resulted in him leaving Old Trafford. You have to ask did he see the open criticism of the management and owners of the club as the best way to get a move away or was this a genuine insight into life under Erik ten Hag and the Glazers. Portuguese fans will hope that it leaves Ronaldo with a clear head for international duty, but there will be the lingering doubts and indeed the impact it may have on the dressing room. Ghana will be hoping to take advantage of any discord that may be lingering within the Portuguese ranks, with Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew looking to add to his international tally of 19 goals. An upset could be in the making.

Group G: Brazil v Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

If you talk World Cup’s you talk Brazil, although the five times winners last triumph was twenty years ago. With panto-villain Neymar up front, the born-again Gabriel Jesus and the enigmatic Richarlison, there are undoubtedly goals in the side. They are on a decent inbeaten run coming into these finals and with two great ‘keepers in Alisson (Liverpool) and Ederson (Manchester City) the perceived concern about the weakness of Brazil’s last line of defence is no longer there. They will be a threat. Serbia have their own threat though in Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic who now has 50 goals for his country from seventy six internationals, although there are concerns about a recent injury. Whilst ‘Mitro’ is the only English based player, eleven of the Serbian squad play their trade in Italy. No doubt The Eagles of Serbia will battle hard but expect the class of the boys from Brazil to come through.

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2022 World Cup – Wednesday 23 November 2022

GROUP C: Argentina 1 (1) – (0) 2 Saudi Arabia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Argentina scorer: Messi (10’ pen) Saudi Arabia scorers: Al-Shehri  (48′), S. Al-Dawsari  (53′)

 

GROUP D: Denmark 0 (0) – (0) 0 Tunisia (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)

 

GROUP C: Mexico 0 (0) – (0) 0 Poland (Stadium 974, Doha)

 

GROUP D: France 4 (2) – (1) 1 Australia

France scorers: Rabiot  (27′), Giroud (32′, 71′), Mbappe (68′). Australia scorer: Goodwin  (9′)

 

Four games, two goal-less, a win for the current World Champions and the first big shock of the tournament.

In a day of four games, it was an early start for those in the UK with the Argentina game starting at 10:00 and La Albiceleste quickest out of the blocks. Messi had an early effort after two minutes saved but had put Argentina ahead just eight minutes later. Again you have to question the VAR decision. From a free-kick, Leandro Paredes was pulled down and the spot-kick awarded after a check. Please can someone tell me how this was different to the Harry Maguire incident in the England v Iran game…Anyway Argentina didn’t capitalise on their first half dominance with VAR doing its best to ensure it was 1-0 at the break. Out came the Saudis who were level within three minutes of the restart and ahead on fifty-three minutes with a superb strike from Al-Hilal  forward Salem Al Dawsari. The South Americans huffed and puffed and even with fourteen minute of time added on couldn’t find an equaliser. Credit to Saudi Arabia, but don’t write off Argentina just yet.

Group C’s other game between Mexico and Poland ended 0-0 where the crucial moment came on fifty-eight minutes as Polish captain Robert Lewandowski had his penalty saved.

Group D also saw a 0-0 with Denmark and Tunisia with Danes having the best chances in the second half.

The final game of the day for anyone still gorging on the fourth fixture saw Australia give World Cup holders a bloody nose with a Craig Goodwin goal after nine minutes. Two quickfire goals after twenty seven minutes and thirty two minutes saw the French go 2-1 ahead. First Rabiot headed home and them Oliver Giroud scored his fiftieth international goal after Australia gave the ball away at the back. France could have been out of sight at the break as they created further decent chances. Into the second half and the French eased to a 4-1 win with the ever busy and creative Mbappe heading in on sixty-eight minutes and then turning provider three minutes later as he delivered the perfect cross for Giroud to score with a header, equalling Henry’s record of 51 France goals in the process. France looking ominously good.

 

GROUP F: Morocco v Croatia (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)

Morocco qualified as CAF third round winners so making it to the finals for the sixth time. Nayef Aguerd (West Ham), Ilias Chair (QPR), Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) and Anass Zaroury (Burnley) will be familiar to English fans and are part of a squad who didn’t concede in their last three games before Qatar with wins over Chile (2-0) and Georgia (3-0) and a draw with Paraguay (0-0). Croatia of course put pay to the Three Lions hope of a final appearance in 2018 winning 2-1 in the Semi-Final clash. The side is led by the mercurial Luka Modric supported by the vastly experienced squad members Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric. I really can’t see anything other than a victory for Kockasti (The Checkered Ones).

GROUP E: Germany v Japan (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Four-times World Cup winners strolled through qualification from UEFA Group J with nine wins and a surprise 2-1 loss to North Macedonia. Die Mannschaft like England were far from convincing in their recent Nations League campaign and at the 2018 finals in Russia failed to make it out of the Group Stages, whilst at the Euros exited in the last sixteen to England. Will this be another tournament of frustration? Certainly their opening game against Japan will be a tester. Previous to 2022 the Blue Samurai have appeared at the last six finals reaching the last sixteen in 2002, 2010 and 2018. The Japan forward line looks short on goals at international level and this will be a concern.

GROUP F: Spain v Costa Rica (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)

Spain had a fairly comfortable passage to the finals as UEFA Group B winners, whilst Costa Rica were the last side to qualify back in June after beating New Zealand 1-0 in the CONCACAF–OFC play-off final held in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Qatar. The Spanish side looks light on goals as this level with only Alvaro Morata and Ferran Torres in double figures, 27 and 13 respectively and the feeling is that it is a side very much in transition. This is Costa Rica’s sixth appearance at the finals, reaching the Quarter Finals in 2014 before going out on penalties to the Netherlands. They have an experienced squad with four players over the 100 caps mark, including, Keylor Navas (107), Celso Borges (155), Bryan Ruiz (146) and Joel Campbell (119). This could be a stalemate, although don’t be surprised if Spain pinch it by a single goal.

GROUP E: Belgium v Canada (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Belgium won UEFA Group E going unbeaten with eight wins and two draws and were third place winners in the 2018 World Cup. A vastly experienced and talented squad, the criticism of Belgium teams down the years is that they have always underachieved. Certainly 2022 will be the last chance of World Cup glory for a number of the squad echoed in a recent interview by captain Eden Hazard, who also reflected that his own level is not what it was. Canada qualified as CONCACAF third round winners and last appeared in the finals in 1986 losing all three Group games to France, Hungary and the Soviet Union. They are coached by John Herdman an Englishman who moved to New Zealand in 2001 and coached the New Zealand women (2006–2011), the Canadian women (2011-2018) and the Canadian men from 2018. Within their squad is St Johnstone’s David Wotherspoon and Reading’s Junior Hoilett and eleven squad members playing in the MLS. Belgium to get off with a win must be on the cards.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Tuesday 03 July

Brazil (2) – (0) Mexico

No matter how good this side is (or thinks it is) I really have no time for the Brazilians and it is all down to one player – as I can’t call him a man – because quite frankly his antics are embarrassing. Yet again we had another exhibition from the self-proclaimed best player in the world, Neymar, showing the petulance and over-acting that are more likely to be associated with a five-year-old child.

There is an inevitability about Brazil’s progress to the Final that frankly fills me with dread.

Belgium (3) – (2) Japan

If the antics in the Brazil game showed the downside of the game, then it was a mighty relief that Belgium and Japan showed why football is so loved. The game was in the balance at the break with the score at 0-0, but within seven minutes of the restart Japan had scored twice through Haraguchi (48′), and Inui (52′) and it looked like another upset was on the cards. Then on sixty-five minutes, Belgium boss Roberto Martinez made a double substitution with Chadli and Fellaini replacing Carrasco and Mertens. Within four minutes Belgium were back in it, somewhat fortuitously as Vertonghen’s header looped into the goal. It was the spark the European team needed and on seventy-four minutes they were level, as Fellani outmuscled the Japanese defence to head in the equaliser. Japan though simply kept going and just when it looked like Extra-time was on the cards, Belgium broke superbly from a corner and in a devastating move swept in the winner courtesy of Chadli. Breath-taking stuff. So, so cruel on Japan, but what a comeback by Belgium,

Today the final two games in the last sixteen phase takes place and by this evening the full Quarter-Final line-up will be known.

Sweden v Switzerland

These two have never met in a Finals tournament, but have played in the Qualifiers on five occasions. The first of these was in Group 1 for the 1962 World Cup in Chile, when in May 1961 Sweden beat the Swiss 4-0 in Stockholm. In the return game in Bern, Switzerland turned the tables winning 3-2. Both sides finished with six points and it meant a play-off was required to see who would progress to the Finals. The game was played at a neutral venue, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, and the Swiss came from behind to win 2-1 and take their place in Chile. The sides were next to meet in the Qualifiers for the 1978 World Cup, in Group 6, which also contained Norway. Switzerland hosted Sweden in October 1976, It was the same score-line in June 1977, when the side met in Solna, as Sweden topped the group and take their place in the Finals in Argentina.

A cagey European encounter given what is at stake? I’ll go for the Swiss given their strike force, but it may take Extra-time to separate the teams.

England v Colombia

1998 World Cup (France) 26 June 1998 – Group G

England (2) 2 – 0 (0) Colombia

Anderton (20’), Beckham (29’)

David Seaman, Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Graeme Le Saux, Darren Anderton (80’ Rob Lee), David Beckham, Paul Ince (83’ David Batty), Paul Scholes (73’ Steve McManaman), Michael Owen, Alan Shearer (captain)

It’s the only time the two countries have met in the Finals and all I respectfully ask the football gods is that they can deliver a similar result tonight. It’s an evening for keeping a clear head and in true football cliché style, just take one game at a time. Yes we know how the draw pans out, but please, please let’s get through tonight first.

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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 – Friday 29 June

So that’s that. The final round of group games were completed yesterday and the final sixteen teams are now all known.

The action began in Group H, and with Poland already out, it was left to Colombia, Japan and Senegal for fight for the top-two spots. It was to prove a controversial afternoon as with Colombia ahead 1-0 against Sengal through Mina (74′) and Japan losing 1-0 to Poland through a Bednarek (59′) goal, the Japanese knew that if the scores remained the same that was enough to send them through. With Senegal and Japan having the same points and goals scored it came down to the number of bookings. It produced a final ten minutes of the game that caused such outcry in 1982 between Austria and West Germany when they effectively played-out time without any intend of going forward, that FIFA made final round games kick-off at the same time. The reaction some 36 years later is no less vociferous, but let’s consider a couple of things. Firstly, Japan did nothing wrong, what they did was within the laws of the competition and whilst some might argue it’s not in the spirit of the game, they were perfectly within their rights to finish the game as they did. Secondly, it was a risky strategy from Japan, as Senegal only needed to equalise and the Blue Samurai would have been eliminated. Something for FIFA to ponder once this World Cup finishes.

That just left Group G to be completed with England and Belgium competing for top-spot and Tunisia and Panama vying to avoid finishing bottom. Tunisia won the game 2-1 thanks to a second-half strike from Sunderland’s Wahbi Khazri, condemning Panama to the bottom slot in the group. In the battle at the top, both sides rested players with England making eight changes and Belgium nine, so it was no surprise that it felt a somewhat disjointed game, that was ultimately won by a superb Adnan Januzaj strike six minutes into the second-half. Much of the debate wasn’t around the game itself, but which looked a better route to progression, which to me is all pretty academic if you don’t win your last sixteen game.

It left the final pairings as follows:

July 02 Belgium v Japan                 July 03 Colombia v England.

Today there are no games with the knockout phase beginning on Saturday with two Europe v South America clashes as France play Argentina in Kazan and later in the day, Uruguay play Portugal in Sochi. Both very difficult to call. Like the teams I’m resting for today and will pick up with previews tomorrow.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Monday 25 June

Yesterday I asked the footballing gods for a calm afternoon watching England and boy did they deliver. Yes, of course Panama were a limited side and their antics in the first-half were nothing short of embarrassing at times. However, you can only beat what is in front of you and there have been too many occasions down the years when the Three Lions have struggled to overcome stubborn opposition. England blazed their way to a 5-0 half-time lead thanks to a John Stones brace (8′ and 40’), a pair of Harry Kane penalties (22′ and 45’+1) and a sublime strike from Jesse Lingard (36′), with their set-pieces causing havoc for the Panama defence on every occasion. Understandably the second-half was a quieter affair, with Panama thankfully leaving their rough-house tactics in the changing room. Still there was enough time for captain Kane to claim a hat-trick and a consolation for Panama from a smart Defoy finish. Qualification sorted and the Belgium game becomes merely a top-spot battle.

Elsewhere in Group H, Poland were surprisingly dispatched 3-0 by Colombia, meaning the European team were out. With Japan and Senegal playing out a 2-2 draw, it means that the two teams going through won’t be sorted until the final round of games. One talking point for me though and highlighted in the Japan game, was the continuing modern trend for goalkeepers to punch the ball rather than catch it, for both crosses and increasingly shots. Take Senegal’s opening goal – Kawashima the Japanese ‘keeper, attempted to punch away a shot that was perfectly catchable and in doing so knocked it against Sadio Mane and it rebounded in for a goal – totally avoidable. Is it that modern day balls move so much that ‘keepers can’t trust the flight so feel punching it away is the best option, or is it a modern coaching fad that will pass? It will be interesting to monitor the men better between the sticks in the rest of the tournament.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Wednesday 20 June

The three games from yesterday continued to defy what many ‘experts’ had predicted pre-tournament. Tuesday opened with Columbia taking on a Japan side that was derided as very ordinary even by its own fans. Yet at the whistle in the Mordovia Arena, it was the Blue Samurai who had put the South American team to the sword. Japan were greatly helped by the third-minute dismissal of Carlos Sanchez for handling Shinji Kagawa’s shot at a goal, with the resultant penalty converted by Kagawa. Columbia though equalised through a low struck free-kick from Juan Quintero. Some parts of the media lauded it as a ‘clever free-kick’ as it passed under the leaping Japanese wall, for me though, ‘keeper Kawashima really should shoulder some of the blame for the goal. However, Japan were not to be denied victory and a header from Yuya Osako seventeen minutes from time, sealed an opening game win in Group H.

In the second game of the day, once again it was the unfancied team that came out on top. None of the African teams at the tournament had so far picked up a point and nobody gave Senegal much of a chance against a Poland side with Robert Lewandowski leading the Poles attack. However, eight minutes before the break, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye fired goal-ward, only for his shot to be deflected in by Polish substitute Thiago Cionek. Poalnd, the seeded team in the group, failed to cope with Senegal’s physicality throughout the game and as such it was no surprise when they scored on the hour mark to double their advantage. It was however, tinged with controversy. After receiving treatment on the sidelines, M’Baye Niang came back on to the field of play and instantly latched onto a Polish backpass, beating Juventus ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny and Southampton defender Jan Bednarek to the ball, before slotting home into an empty net. Despite the protests of the Eastern European side, the goal stood. With four minutes remaining Grzegorz Krychowiak headed home for Poland, Senagal though held out for a 2-1 win, a victory they deserved.

Whilst the two earlier games saw the last of the first-round fixtures, the closing game on Tuesday night saw the second-round open in Group A with hosts Russia taking on Egypt. Prior to the start of the World Cup, this was a Russian side struggling badly with form and which wasn’t given any chance by its media and fans. However, this was a team rejuvenated by their 5-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia and they continued to grow into the competition with a 3-1 win over Egypt. Fathi (47′ og), Cheryshev (59′), and Dzyuba (62′) put Russia comfortably ahead just after the hour mark and even a Mo Salah penalty after seventy-three minutes couldn’t dent another moral boosting victory for the Sbornaya. The result all but ensured passage to the knock-out stages for Russia and almost certain exit for Egypt.

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