World Cup diary 2018 – Saturday 30 June

And now the real drama begins, as the knockout phase starts today, and that can mean the joys of extra-time and penalties. It will also see the use of a different ball as the Adidas Telstar 18 will be replaced with the Telstar Mechta which has a different design. The 18 had black flashes which on the Mechta will be red, apparently to reflect of the colour of the host country, Russia. FIFA added in a press release that the red is also to signify the “rising heat of knockout-stage football”. It’s obviously not a marketing ploy at all…

France v Argentina

These two have met in World Cup Finals, the first occasion came in the inaugural competition in 1930 when Uruguay were the hosts. It was a Group 1 encounter that took place at the Parque Central in Montevideo, with Argentina winning 1-0 with a goal from Luis Felipe Monti nine minutes from time in front of a crowd of 23,409. Argentina topped the group and made it to the Final only to lose to hosts Uruguay 4-2. The second meeting came when Argentina hosted the event in 1978, with the game against France once again in Group 1. As in 1930, the South American side came out on top winning 2-1 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, where a crowd of 71,666 saw a Passarella penalty on the stroke of half-time give the hosts the advantage only for Platini on the hour mark to level. However, Argentina weren’t to be denied and a Luque effort on seventy-three minutes secured the win. Argentina went on to progress to the Final beating the Netherlands 3-1 (AET).

My head says that Argentina will make it through and Messi will come to the rescue of his country, but my heart wants the French to get to the Quarter-Finals. Both teams have line-ups littered with big names, and whilst France came through their group comfortably, Argentina left it very late to seal their place. Could this be a cagey encounter and end up going to penalties?

Uruguay v Portugal

No previous World Cup encounters, but two International meetings between the teams. The first in 1966, when a Jose Torres hat-trick saw Portugal beat Uruguay 3-0 in Oeiras, in a friendly ahead of the World Cup that year. A second encounter took place six years later in the tournament to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Brazilian Declaration of Independence in the second group phase of the competition. The game ended 1-1 with Ricardo Pavoni (20’) putting Uruguay ahead and Portugal levelling through Jaime Graca a minute before the break. Portugal went on to the Final, only to lose 1-0 to Brazil.

Another difficult game to call. Ronaldo has that determined look about him and he’ll need to be at his inspirational best to see his side through against a Uruguay side that won all three of its group games. Portugal had a tougher group to negotiate, so with that in mind, I’m going for the current European Champions to make it through.

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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 – Thursday 28 June

Going into yesterday’s fixtures there was the possibility that both Germany and Brazil could have exited the competition at the group stage. The South American’s progressed with a goal in each half, through Paulinho (36′) and Thiago Silva (68’), although Mitrovic had two decent headed chances that the Serbian couldn’t convert when the score was still at just 1-0. In the other Group E game, Switzerland took on Costa Rica, knowing that a point would be enough to take them through. Costa Rica dominated the opening half-hour and but for the woodwork and some fine saves from Swiss ‘keeper Yann Sommer, would have been comfortably ahead. However, somewhat against the run of play, Switzerland went in front when Dzemali smashed home a knock-down in the box on thirty-one minutes. Costa Rica though got back in the game after the interval with a smart header from Waston and then followed a dramatic last few minutes. First with just two minutes of normal time left. Drmic swept home sweetly to restore the Swiss advantage at 2-1. Almost immediately, Costa Rica were awarded a penalty, which was then overruled by VAR for offside. However, they weren’t to be denied the chance of an equaliser as on ninety- three minutes they were awarded another penalty. Up stepped captain, Bryan Ruiz who crashed the ball against the crossbar but as it bounced out it rebounded off the back of ‘keeper Sommer’s head and into the net to secure a 2-2 draw and a point for Costa Rico. In terms of the final placings, it meant Brazil topped Group with Switzerland in second place.

The real drama of the day though was to be in Group F. Sweden dispatched Mexico with three second-half goals from Augustinsson (50′), Granqvist (62′ pen) and Alvarez (74′ own-goal), leaving both sides with six points. It meant that Germany had to beat South Korea to advance. The 2014 Champions huffed and puffed with late pressure creating a couple of decent chances. However, as the game went into stoppage time it was the South Koreans who made the breakthrough, with Kim Young-Gwon having all the time in the world to control and slot into the German net. As Germany looked for a consolation with time running out, ‘keeper Manuel Neuer was caught in possession in midfield. Korea pumped the ball goal-wards, where Son Heung-Min gleefully slotted into an empty German goal to record an improbable 2-0 victory.

Two of the most interesting facts to emerge from this result were:

 

  1. The Champions curse – Germany fell in the Group stages four years after lifting the trophy, as did France in 2002, Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014.
  2. It is only the second time that Germany have been eliminated from the first round at the World Cup, with 1938 the last occasion.

 

What all the results from Group E and F meant was that the last 16 games are as follows:

July 02 Brazil v Mexico   July 03 Sweden v Switzerland

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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 – Tuesday 26 June

With the final round of group games starting yesterday, for those with something to play for, the pressure cranked up another notch.

First up were the two games in Group A, with Russia and Uruguay already confirmed as advancing to the knock-out phase and the result all about top spot. In the end the Uruguayans gave the Russian bear a bloody nose as they romped to a 3-0 victory over the host nation. Saurez opened the scoring on ten minutes with a clever low free-kick, with a Cheryshev own-goal after twenty-three minutes doubling the South American’s advantage. Even worse was to follow for Russia when Smolnikov was dismissed for a second yellow card fourteen minutes before the break. All that was left in the second-half was a tap-in for Cavani on the stroke of the full-time whistle to complete the scoring and secure top spot for Uruguay.

In the other group game, it was the battle to avoid finishing bottom, between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Egypt dominated the opening half and went ahead after twenty-two minutes, with Mo Salah latching onto a ball through and lobbing the Saudi ‘keeper Yasser Al-Mosailem. It was Egypt’s first World Cup goal from open play since 1934. Now whilst it as a good finish, the goalkeeper rushing that far out made the choice for the Liverpool striker in terms of what he needed to do. Salah had another great chance when one-on-one with Al-Mosailem, but his dink over the ‘keeper this time drifted wide of the mark. Once again VAR was in the headlines, when with four minutes remaining in the first-half, Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty for handball against Ahmed Fathi. Now I’ve watched it back and the player has his head turned away and the ball strikes his trailing arm, where is the intent in that? For me, justice was served when Egyptian ‘keeper El Hadary (who at 45 years and 161 days beat the record of Colombia ‘keeper Faryd Mondragon (43 and three days at Brazil 2014) to become the oldest player to take to the field), made a tremendous save from the spot-kick. However, like buses another penalty soon came long as Saudi Arabia were awarded another deep into first-half stoppage time, with Al Faraj slotting home. After the break, El Hadary was the busier of the two ‘keepers, but he could do nothing as in the fifth minute of stoppage time Salem Al Dawsari secured a 2-1 win for Saudi Arabia, to leave Egypt bottom of the group without a single point.

With Group A sorted it was the turn of Group B to reach its conclusion. Here going into the games, involving Iran against Portugal and Spain up against Morocco, all that was certain was that Morocco were out. And both games proved to have high drama and controversy. Iran knew they had to beat Portugal to make the last 16. The European Champions has the better chances in the first-half and scored on the stroke of the break, when a stunning strike from Ricardo Quaresma put them ahead. All the fun though was yet to start. It all began eight minutes into the second-half when after a VAR review Ronaldo who had been fouled, had his spot-kick saved. It gave the game an edge that was lacking in the opening half, and it ramped up controversially ten minutes from time. Ronaldo swung an arm at Morteza Pouraliganji, catching him in the face. Somehow after a lengthy VAR review, the Real Madrid player was only shown a yellow. I have every sympathy for the Iranian coach who said after the game that there was effectively one rule for players like Ronaldo and Messi and another for the rest. The question is though, is it the fault of VAR or the on-field referee? Then with Portugal seemingly on their way through with a 1-0 win, three minutes into time added-on Iran got a penalty after a VAR review. In my view a crazy decision, the Portuguese defender has merely challenged for a header with the ball catching him at close quarters on the arm. He couldn’t have got out of the way or at such close quarters had any intent to handle it. Again, VAR or poor call by the referee? Iran though had one last chance as Mehdi Taremi fire into the side-netting with his effort from inside the penalty box. If he had scored Iran would have been through.

In the other encounter Morocco took the lead after a cool finish from Boutaib following a mix-up on the halfway line by the Spanish just before the quarter of an hour mark. Spain were level just five minutes later though as Andres Iniesta brilliantly set-up Isco to score. Morocco regained the lead nine minutes from time with a stunning header from En-Nesyri, which looked to have secured a 2-1 win for the North Africans. However, it wasn’t to be as Iago Aspas back-heeled home an equaliser in stoppage time for the Spanish. It went to review and in a very tight decision the goal stood. It was cruel on Morocco, but enough for Spain to head Group B, courtesy of goals scored.

It was a day in which VAR did nothing to leave me thinking that it will improve the game. Currently there is no consistency as to the way it is used and for me has highlighted a weakness in the quality of the match officials as much as anything else. Are these really the best referees out there? After what I’ve seen so far, I’m not really sure.

Following the finish of Groups, A and B, it means the following last 16 games have now been confirmed:

June 30 Uruguay v Portugal and July 01 Spain v Russia

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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 – Sunday 24 June

Okay, okay…I should be reflecting on how Germany got themselves out of a hole by beating Sweden with ten-men with a last gasp fabulous free-kick, in only a way that Die Mannschaft seem to be able to do. And yes I probably should be talking about how Belgium looked frighteningly good in their demolition of Tunisia 5-2 or how Mexico took a giant stride towards progression to the last 16 with a 2-1 victory over South Korea.

However, the truth is that I simply can’t…I’m just too nervous. It’s that horrible gut wrenching feeling that comes with watching England when it comes around to tournament time. It’s strange but having watched Fulham secure a return to the Premier League at Wembley against Aston Villa, there was a strange calm about the game, despite having only a slender 1-0 advantage and having to play out the final twenty minutes with ten-men. It is just never the same with England.

The curious think is that it seems to have got worse as I’ve got older. Watching the 1982 tournament in Spain was enjoyable yet ultimately disappointing, but by 1986 and Mexico the dread had kicked in and so all subsequent competitions whether the European Championship or the World Cup have become increasingly tortuous. It possibly has a great deal to do with the way the Three Lions get themselves knocked out whether it be a contentious decision, penalties or just being plain awful.

Oh that today the team strolls to a 3-0 half-time lead over Panama and comfortably sees out the second-half. However, the reality is that it just transfers the feeling to the next game and the inevitability of an exit in the way only England can manage to do.

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World Cup diary 2018 – Saturday 23 June

Friday’s games could all have been labelled as the ‘late, late show’ starting with the Group E encounter between Brazil and Costa Rica. VAR once again had its part to play twelve minutes from time, thankfully reversing the on-field decision of the referee to award Brazil a penalty after a theatrical collapse from Neymar. With ninety-minutes up, the score was 0-0 and a frustrated and petulant Brazilian team looked to be heading for a second successive draw at these Finals. However, in the first minute of stoppage time, Coutinho fired home after a knockdown in the box to save his teams blushes. Then just five minutes later, Neymar got a less than deserved second for the five-times World Cup winners. As with the Brazil squad in 2014, I just can’t warm to them and have fingers crossed that another beating a la Germany four years ago is waiting in the wings for Neymar and his chums.

Iceland were next up against Nigeria in Volgograd, and despite starting well, lost out to a brace from the Leicester City striker Ahmed Musa (49′ & 75′) who is currently on loan with CSKA Moscow. Despite the fantastic support of their fans, Iceland couldn’t handle Nigeria in the second-half and even a penalty ten minutes from the end, which would have given them a lifeline was blazed high and wide by Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson. It was a result that gave fresh hope to Argentina being able to now make the knock-outs.

The final game turned out to be controversial for a number of reason. Serbia were good value for their 1-0 lead at the break courtesy of on-loan Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after five minutes. However, the Swiss were significantly better in the second-half and an absolute screamer from Granit Xhaka. Despite that Mitrovic continued to be a threat and should have had a penalty mid-way through the second period, as when he attempted to get his head on a cross, he was in what only be described as a two-man rugby tackle was hauled down. Now you don’t need VAR to see that it was a blatant penalty, so quite what German referee Felix Brych was thinking goodness only knows. The Serbs were then punished again as in the final minute Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri broke from the half-way line to score the winner. As with Xhaka, Shaqiri celebrated with a gesture that had political significance.

As the BBC explained: Serbia has hit out at a “provocative” double eagle celebration by two ethnic Albanian goalscorers in the World Cup…Their gesture is a nationalist symbol representing the double headed eagle on Albania’s national flag. Critics say it could inflame tensions among Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians… Xhaka and Shaqiri’s families are from Kosovo, where a Serbian crackdown on the Albanian population only ended with NATO military intervention in 1999…Xhaka’s father spent three-and-a-half years as a political prisoner in Yugoslavia for his support for Kosovan independence. Shaqiri was born in Kosovo and his family fled to Switzerland as refugees…Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority declared independence in 2008 but Serbia, its ally Russia and most ethnic Serbs inside Kosovo do not recognise it.”

Many say that sport and politic shouldn’t mix, but history is littered with examples of the when tournaments are used as propaganda or provocation by countries and their governments. And when the world is watching it is the biggest free advertisement going.

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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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World Cup diary 2018 – Thursday 21 June

Yesterday saw a Group A fixture between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia and in Group B, Portugal v Morocco and Spain v Iran with all seemingly having come under the influence of the Arsenal coaching manual circa 1980s from George Graham, as all three games ended 1-0, with Uruguay, Portugal and Spain the victors.

Uruguay had a goal after twenty-three minutes from Luis Saurez to seal their victory and send La Celeste into the last 16 along with Russia, whilst Saudi Arabia are eliminated. The meeting of the two teams in the final round of fixtures will determine who tops Group A.

Another big name in Cristiano Ronaldo, scored the only goal after four minutes to put Morocco out of the tournament. Credit to the Portuguese star, who was brave in diving amongst the flying boots of the Moroccan defence to head home and with his fourth goal of the competition, lead the race for the Golden Boot. However, credit to the African side who exposed the weakness of the European Champion’s defence, yet couldn’t find a leveller and have just pride to play for in their final group game.

Finally to Spain, where a fortunate ricochet allowed Diego Costa to put Spain ahead early in the second-half. Iran had what they thought was an equaliser but with the aid of VAR the Ezatolahi effort was ruled out. Despite defeat Iran could still qualify for the knockout phase, but they will need to overcome Portugal in the Mordovia Arena next Monday. If the Iranians don’t get through, they will leave us with one of the comedy moments of the tournament. Into the last minute of normal time, Iran had a throw deep in the Portugal half, where defender Milad Mohammadi decided to opt for a spectacular summersault throw-in. However, the sight of him halting it after the initial roll, was bizarre to say the least.

Let’s hope for a few more goals today as Denmark take on Australia, France play Peru and Argentina take on Croatia and of course moments that bring a smile to the faces of the watching world.

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