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DAY 4

GROUP F

Morocco v Croatia (Result: 0-0)

Scoreless at the break, Croatia not surprisingly in the ascendancy and nearly scoring from a corner as the second half got underway, that’s nevertheless how it ended. A great result for Morocco and something of a humiliation for last tournament’s finalists.

Belgium v Canada (Result: 1-0)

Canada were competing in the tournament for the first time in 36 years, so the signs were not good, even though Belgium were without Lukaku, but Canada had a chance to pull off an early and unexpected lead in the tenth minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball, but embarrassingly missed. Chance gone, but Canada kept going and gave Belgium a game they might not have expected at all. It was however Belgium who scored first, after Canada had been denied a second penalty which looked good, but was ruled not viable by VAR (Video Assistant Referee duh). Canada certainly were not folding and they kept up the pressure into the second half, keeping Belgium just the one goal ahead and nearly scoring themselves in the 80th minute.

A valiant effort, and Canada definitely stamped their intention on the World Cup 2022 not to be just there to make up the numbers, but Belgium held on for the win. It couldn’t be said they swept Canada aside by any means, and you would wonder how they’ll do when they come up against the bigger teams. Come to that, how will Canada do in their next matches? After that display, I wouldn’t be betting against them.

Group E[/u][/b]

Germany v Japan (Result: 1-2)

Seemed like a dream start for Japan, scoring in the seventh minute, but the spectre of the offside rule loomed again and the goal was ruled out. Still, a wake-up call perhaps for the Germans, who battered the Japanese goal for the next twenty minutes until they got a penalty which Gundogan dispatched with real coolness and skill. In the dying seconds of the half they added another, this time from Havertz, but this was ruled offside, to Japan’s relief. Back on the attack from the start of the second half, Germany weren’t letting up, Musiala dancing through the defenders like they weren’t there as the clock hit fifty minutes, but unfortunately though the skill was there the finish was not, and he blasted high over the bar.

Gundogan went close next, hitting the post, before Japan finally levelled it up as we got to the seventy-fifth minute. Worse was to come for the Germans as Japan struck again in the 82nd minute to go ahead. And they held on to win, another real upset in this already very interesting World Cup. Banzai!

Spain v Costa Rica (Result: 7-0)

Two giants of the tournament taken down, could Costa Rica make it three? As I said yesterday, Spain have faltered badly in recent World Cups, but they have some exciting new players in the squad this time out, so they must have fancied themselves and they certainly had something to prove to the world. And they started early, scoring in the eleventh minute. Costa Rica couldn’t even get a kick and it really looked like Spain were playing a practice match as they netted a second in the 21st minute. To make matters worse for the South Americans, Spain got a penalty, three-nil and we hadn’t even played thirty minutes.

Second half didn’t change things as Torres scored a second, giving Spain a 4-0 lead that looked about as likely as being impacted as followed by another in the 75th minute. One more goal and they would have equalled England’s so-far highest-scoring match, in fact with no reply likely from the Costa Ricans they would better it. It was never in doubt and Spain hit Costa Rica for six, showing they are again the footballing power other countries used to fear. Eight minutes of extra time allowed them to score a seventh, the highest number of goals of any team so far in this tournament, and you sort of had to feel sorry for Costa Rica, who must have been relieved to hear the final whistle.

That puts Spain at the top of Group E, with Germany an unexpected and disappointed/disappointing third, behind Japan. Belgium top Group F with Croatia second


Tomorrow’s matches

Tomorrow we open the last two groups, G & H

Group G

Switzerland v Cameroon: Switzerland usually fizzle out early, whereas Cameroon had their best showing in 1990, having only qualified for the first time eight years prior, and made the quarter-finals, but being beaten by England.

Brazil v Serbia: Who needs to be told how good Brazil are? Five times champions, reaching the quarter-finals four times, and with players so good they don’t even need a second name: Allison. Fred. Fabinho. Ederson. Expect them to roll all over Serbia.



Group H

Uruguay v South Korea (Korea Republic); Although Uruguay won the very first World Cup in 1930, and again in 1950, the best they’ve managed in recent times has been the semi-finals in 2010, so they’ll be hoping for a decent showing. With the ever-controversial Luis Suarez in their team they should be nothing if not interesting, and there’s Man United’s Edinson Cavani to cope with too. South Korea (now known, apparently, as the Korean Republic) have Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker, Son Heung-min, their best placing being the semis in 2002. Could be quite a battle.

Portugal v Ghana: Another of the big hitters. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the pure skill and talent of Cristiano Ronaldo, and despite his recent spat with Man United, resulting in his leaving the club this week, he’ll be there, alongside people like Neves, Nunes, Fernandes, Silva and Cancelo, desperate to improve on their country’s best placing so far of 4th in 2006.

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