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Day 16

Japan v Croatia (Result: 0-0; Japan go out on penalties )

Japan had surprised getting to the top of the group, but Croatia were well used to being in the round of sixteen, so could the Japanese pull off another shock result? They were on the attack from literally minute one, with a great kick from a free just going wide and resulting in a corner, from which Japan came close again. Two minutes on the clock and Croatia already feeling the pressure. The veterans were not giving up that easily though, and came very close in the 7th minute. Great move then from Japan in the 11th, excellent cross but just missed, and again in the 16th. Japan definitely had the lion’s share of the play as they forced Croatia into their own half and threatened their goal more than the Croatians did theirs. Two long crosses in the 27th but Croatia could put neither away, from the right or from the left.

It really looked like Japan would be first to score, capitalising on all their early possession and pressure, and they kept coming so close but could not put the ball in the net, a corner in the 42nd resulting in another one which finally ended up in the goal and Japan were ahead at the death. Then the old annoyance, a marginal offside decision, but the goal stood, to Japan’s relief. Into the second half then and it was advantage Japan, Croatia really having to go for it now. They’d been somewhat disappointing in the first half, but they sorted that on 55 with an equaliser. Japan set about redressing the balance with a fantastic shot on 59 but just over, then an equally excellent shot from Modric which was saved. Both teams fighting hard now for the goal that would probably decide it as we hit 65 minutes. Croatia went close, pushing all the action up the Japanese end now and on 77 a great block kept out what could have been the winning goal.

Japan then had a golden opportunity just as reached 80 minutes but to extra time it went, for the first time this tournament with the scored locked at 1-1, and as teams tired, as it often is, a simple mistake, a lapse in concentration, a dodgy or lucky decision could decide who went through to the quarter finals. Japan nearly took it on 14 minutes of the extra time but the keeper was equal to it, then a corner in the dying seconds went nowhere and off we went into the second half of extra time. Reaching 20 minutes, it was looking like penalties, Japan turning the screw and then Croatia missed a sitter and we were into that dreaded shootout for the first time in the World Cup 2022.

First Japanese penalty saved, first Croatian scored. Advantage Croatia.
Second Japanese penalty saved, second Croatian scored. Surely now the game was Croatia’s.
Third Japanese penalty scored, third Croatian missed. Pendulum swinging the other way?
No. Fourth Japanese penalty saved, fourth Croatian scored and they go through.

Brazil v Korea Republic (Result: 4-1; Korea go out )

Another foregone conclusion? Like their Asian neighbour, Korea Republic had pulled off some surprising results, but would beating Brazil be a bridge, or indeed a whole pile of bridges too far? And with Neymar back in action, you’d have to think this game was Brazil’s for the taking.Certainly they ran rings around Korea and netted in the first 6 minutes, which didn’t look good for the Koreans. This could end up being an exhibition match as Brazil turned on the style and played to the gallery. And did they play. Penalty in the 10th and they were two ahead, a very cool penalty indeed. What a showman Neymar is. Even kissed the ball before he took the kick.

Korea got a chance to play in the 15th minute, had a great shot which was just saved by the Brazil and Liverpool keeper, and another high shot a minute later after a corner. But ten minutes later Brazil were cruising as Richarlison scored their third. Surely no way back for Korea now. More a case really of how many would they be beaten by, as it became four on 35 minutes. Korea didn’t give up, to their credit, but Brazil were just too good for them, and though they went close as the second half began, the night, and the game, was the Brazilians’. They had their moments, Allison making a triple save in the 67th minute, and then finally scored in the 76th with a bullet, which at least made the scoreline look a little less embarrassing.

Brazil probably seemed overconfident, one might even say arrogant at this point, though you could hardly really blame them. They cruised through to the quarter finals, as everyone had expected they would, and they really put Korea to the sword without seeming to even break a sweat. That’s what Brazil can do at their very best.

This leaves our third quarter-final then as
Brazil v Croatia

With one more to be decided when tomorrow’s last teams play. And they are

Morocco v Spain

Portugal v Switzerland

Day 17

Morocco v Spain (Result: 0-0; Spain go out on penalties )

One of the favourites for the final, Spain have been slicing their way through the tournament, despite a shock loss to Japan, and are hoping to realise the huge potential in their team which has nevertheless seen them underperform in the last few World Cups, though Morocco are unbeaten so far. 10-minute mark saw Morocco get a free kick but the effort blasted over the top, a few shots by Spain but side netting; you would imagine they were getting closer though. They weren’t having it all their own way though and Morocco had a good few shot but again no goals as we headed towards the end of the first half. A corner for Spain - first corner of the game - went nowhere and you would have to imagine Spain would up their game in the second half. They’d have to if they wanted to progress. Quite sedate really so far.

At 78 minutes it looked likely to be decided by the first goal scored, but kind of hard to see where it was coming from, Spain certainly not controlling the game; perhaps a moment of magic would be needed if we weren’t to go into extra time. Almost happened on 81 but straight across the face of the goal. Could Morocco pull off a shock upset and send Spain out? It had not been the flamboyant, comfortable performance we might have expected from Spain, but even a workmanlike 1-0 would do. Last-ditch defending by Morocco in the last two minutes saved them, and in the dying seconds Spain got a free and that looked like it but saved, and into extra time.

Great defending again from Morocco, and Spain just could got get through, but Morocco almost did in th 13th minute. No matter how this ended, you could not fault Morocco’s defence, just their attack, which was lacking in the final third. In fact, they almost shot themselves in the foot in the final minute with a header that could have gone into their own goal and won it for Spain.

And so to the second game to go into penalties.
Morocco’s first: scored.
Spain’s first: missed.
Morocco’s second: scored.
Spain’s second: saved,
Morocco’s third: saved
Spain’s third: saved.
Morocco’s fourth: scored and Morocco go through! Spain are OUT! And who would begrudge it to the Africans?

Portugal v Switzerland (Result: )

The big news of course was that Ronaldo was not picked (though of course he was available as a substitute), but even so Portugal must have fancied their chances of going through against a Swiss side who twice looked like going out in the group stages. A beautiful shot from Portugal in the 17th minute, angle really tight but not a problem to Ramos. Another great attack in the 21st but straight at the keeper this time. Fantastic long pass down the field for Portugal but again the keeper could easily gather. Switzerland almost scored in the 28th but just wide while Portugal went down the Swiss half again, keeping the pressure high. On the strength of this performance it seemed unlikely Ronaldo would even be needed, as 33 minutes saw a bullet jumping header and Portugal were two ahead.

Switzerland almost scored five minutes later to reduce the deficit, but cleared off the line, the Swiss on the attack now, but then a wild pass gave the ball back to Portugal, Ramos missing what should have been their third, and surely ending the game before the second half had even begun. But even at 2-0 Portugal were going to be hard to break down, and when they got a third in the 50th that was it. Nothing Switzerland could do now. In testimonial mode now, Portugal added another on 55 minutes, Switzerland netted on 57 to at least get on the board, but it was a vain attempt and a foregone conclusion as Ramos got his hat-trick at 21 years old and Portugal had five.

No extra time or penalties needed here! Could have been watching Brazil, almost. Portugal had the game in their pocket, and they knew it. So did Switzerland, only an offside flag saving them from going down to six, though as extra time clocked up they did get their sixth, and it was as comprehensive a performance as we’ve seen in this World Cup. Superb. Cristiano who?

So just to check on all quarter finals:

Netherlands v Argentina

Croatia v Brazil

England v France

Morocco v Portugal

No matches tomorrow or Thursday, so a rest for me. See you on Friday for the first two quarter finals as Croatia take on the might of Brazil, and Argentina go head to head with the Dutch.

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