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Old 12-04-2022, 07:12 PM   #45 (permalink)
Trollheart
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Day 15


France v Poland (Result: 3-1; Poland out)

Having strolled into the round of sixteen with some incredible, and some underwhelming performances, but still at the top of their group, France would have fancied getting through to the quarter-finals, and being the holders of the current World Cup who would disagree? Poland had had a harder road to the qualifying stages but were here to make a statement. This should have been a high-scoring, high-intensity match and France were on the attack from the 10th minute, Mbappe almost opening the scoring but the high volley went into the keeper’s arms. Keeping up the pressure they got a second corner in the 12th but that came to nothing, then a nice shot in the 15th but again straight at the man in the goal. Poland very much on the defence had not had a shot, nor indeed been down the French half in the first twenty minutes, but couldn’t take their chance when they did finally break.

France then squandered a great move in the 28th, really should have been a goal but slid to the side of the post. You felt with all the chances going begging for the title holders, Poland could capitalise on their mistakes and make them pay, and they kept trying, with three shots in quick succession in the 37th, how one of them didn’t go in is a mystery. France finally took one of their chances just before the end of the half, with Poland almost replying immediately in the last seconds, but 1-0 it remained at half time, despite a pretty terrible fumble by the French keeper.

After a somewhat questionable free in the second half France went close to settling the game but the keeper was equal to it. They did score then on 57 minutes but the whistle had already gone for a foul so it didn’t count. Lovely goal though, overhead kick. Poland managed to force the play down the French end in the 64th minute but it wasn’t long before France were back menacing the Polish goal, another side netting shot reminding the Poles they were up against it and that France weren’t going to settle for winning by a single goal, if win they did. A Polish free kick resulted in a good shot but over it went as the clock ticked on, France still ahead. On 74 minutes it was all over, Mbappe scoring and putting clear daylight between the two teams. Poland kept trying, but with three minutes of normal time left the chance they would score two goals looked remote to say the least. And even more remote when Mbappe made absolutely sure as two seconds of extra time slipped by. At the death, Poland got a penalty for a handball but even then they couldn’t score. Then further drama as the penalty had to be taken again, keeper off his line. This time they did score, though it was nothing more than a consolation. France through, as expected, Poland go out.



England v Senegal (Result: 3-0; Senegal go out)

Gareth Southgate’s boys would have been expecting to breeze past Senegal and into the quarter-finals, hoping to improve on last tournament’s finish of getting to the semis, but it was the Africa Cup of Nations champions who had the first attack, harmless really though and easy for the keeper. Bit of a scrap and England had a free kick in the 6th minute, then Senegal had a chance in the 22nd but over the roof it went. Suspicion of handball by England but no penalty. Senegal continued to pile on the pressure, another possible handball, again ignored, not even checked, and England knew they had to up their game. And they did. In the 38th they finally scored through Henderson, very much against the run of play.

Kane shot high in the 40th, goal at his mercy, then Shaw missed his chance but Kane took his in the last seconds, Senegal losing the ball in the England half, the English now in control if Senegal could not get themselves sorted in the second half. And they seemed to have a lot of trouble even getting the ball, their confidence probably shot after playing so well, bossing the game and then losing in the last few minutes. A third for England in 56 left the match in no doubt; not anyone who would bet against them now. And so it ended, after a really stuttering start England swept Senegal aside and stride confidently on into the quarter finals.

This sets up an exciting quarter final between France and England, the old enemy (don’t England have a lot of those?)

Tomorrow’s matches

Japan v Croatia

Brazil v Korea Republic
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