Trollheart

Day 7

Group C

Poland v Saudi Arabia (Result: 2-0)

Riding high on their unexpected win again the might of Argentina, Saudi Arabia went close in the 12th minute, just hitting the bar, but gave away a corner in the 25th which gave the Poles a chance to score, a chance they spurned. Just before the end of the half though they were ahead with a lovely volley into the net. The Saudis fought back as the half drew to a close, and were awarded a very questionable penalty. The footballing gods of fairness must have been watching though, as Saudi Arabia missed, and even the follow-up was skied. I think everyone who wasn’t a Saudi would have deplored the score if that penalty had gone in. Ref needs glasses.

So into the second half and Poland retained their lead, the Saudis again going close in the 60th minute but shooting high and wide, while Poland rattled the bar two minutes later. End to end stuff, as they say, and Saudi Arabia again came close in the 78th minute, again the shot went wide, though not by much. A terrible mistake by the Saudis then gifted the ball to the Poles and they made sure on 82 minutes, shooting past an unprepared and shocked goalie. They nearly added a third in the dying moments but tried to be too clever and missed. Still, the outcome was in no doubt and Poland took the match, a hard-fought one certainly.

Argentina v Mexico (Result: 2-0)

After a disappointing first match, could Argentina improve on their poor performance and restore faith in them as challengers for the title? A sort of a Latin face-off? Portugal v Spain, in a way? Argentina would as always be looking to Messi to come good, and you have to say that a lot of the time they do seem to be a one-man team. Still, when that one man is Lionel Messi, maybe that’s all you need. Mexico weren’t going down easily though, and a free awarded for a bad tackle in the 9th minute almost paid dividends. But not quite. A lot of harsh tackles, from both sides, in what I think you could call a bad-tempered match, Argentina no doubt smarting from that defeat to the Saudis, Mexico desperate to get their first goal.

It will come as no surprise though to hear that the one to score for Argentina in the 64th minute was that man Messi, and suddenly the momentum was with the South Americans. Mexico seemed a little stunned, and never looked like recovering after that. They had no chance to after Messi passed to Fernandes and Argentina made sure on 86 minutes. Argentina back where they belong, where they expect to be, and where their country demands they be.

Group D

Tunisia v Australia (Result: 0-1)

Both sides needed a win, having failed to win their first match, and it was Tunisia who had the first meaningful attack on 19 minutes, though it came to nothing. Two minutes later the Aussies had their first goal, a break from defence and a lovely header. Tunisia tried to level up the scoring in the 40th minute but the keeper saved, and then in the second of five extra minutes of the first half they almost scored again, but it remained 1-0 at the break. No reply from the North Africans as Australia attacked in the 55th minute but failed to score, again missing a glorious chance in the 70th when the cross was just missed, otherwise Australia were 2-0 up and that would have been that.

Tunisia tried again a minute later but the keeper was in the way, doing what he’s paid to do, and he took some pressure in the last fifteen minutes of normal time, stopping a long-range shot in the 80th and again in the 88th and into extra time, their last chance going in the third minute of six of extra time. They didn’t give up though, unwilling to let it go, but then Australia headed down their half and nearly scored again. Well, no they didn’t really but it took pressure away from their goal, and they hung on to win the match by one goal.

France v Denmark (Result: 2-1)

France had a point to prove, defending their World Cup title; Denmark had also much ground to make up. There were chances for both teams in the first 20 minutes, then a really bad tackle which should have resulted in a red card only got a yellow, the shot coming close from France but stopped by the keeper, Schmeichel kept very much the busier of the two. Denmark did come close in the 35th minute but the shot, though powerful, went wide, while a minute later the Danish goal was again under siege. Giruoud missed a header, Mbappe shot high, but the first half ended scoreless.

The French began the second half as they had ended the first, battering Kasper Schmeichel’s goal and that pressure was bound to tell, as it did, finally, in the 60th minute, and who else but Mbappe, touted by many as one of the greatest players in the world? Denmark hit back, a corner seven minutes later drawing them level when it really looked like they were going to leave empty-handed. Now we had a game. In the 72nd it was almost Denmark taking the lead but after a sustained period of pressure in which France had four corners almost in succession Mbappe did it again, scoring on 85 minutes with a beautiful shot. France secure and ready to move on to the next round, Denmark in real trouble.

So topping Group D, as expected, the French march on with Australia second, Denmark hoping to make up lost ground while in Group C it’s Poland with Argentina behind them.

Tomorrow’s matches

Group E

Japan v Costa Rica

Spain v Germany

Group F

Belgium v Morocco

Croatia v Canada

No prizes for guessing which is the big game!

Watch out for my World Cup Week One Roundup tomorrow.

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