Day 20
Netherlands v Argentina (Result: 2-2; Netherlands go out on penalties )
Two heavyweights in this quarter final and it was Argentina who scored first in the 34th minute with a beautiful goal including a superb assist by Messi, then the man went close himself on 62 with a lovely free kick, just skimming the top of the net. But then a penalty in the 70th seemed to have given the win to Argentina thanks to Messi. But hold the phone! A goal for Netherlands in the 82nd gave them hope, and they almost drew level five minutes later. Then all hell broke loose as the ball was kicked into the Dutch dugout and everyone ran out onto the pitch.
At which point, my recording cut out thanks a fucking lot RTE! Idiots ran some shitty dating show over time so ate up 20 minutes of my football time. So I missed everything after that, and by all accounts it was a nail-biter, Netherlands scoring in the final minute of extra time to draw the match and take it to penalties, which Argentina won 4-3, and they go through.
Croatia v Brazil (Result: 1-1; Brazil go out on penalties )
At this stage you really can’t take anything for granted, but Brazil must have been favourites to go through to the semis. They started as they meant to go on, with a good shot in the 3rd minute but the goalie caught it. Croatia then went up their end and had a good chance in the 12th, then a corner resulting from Brazil being a bit too casual in their own box, but they made up for it with a tight defence. Dispossessed though again in the 14th and it was obvious Croatia had semi-final dreams of their own, the intention being to repeat their performance in the last World Cup when they just lost out to France., but obviously to improve it this time and win for the first time ever. Two more chances for Brazil in the 20th but still no goals either side. Croatia player singing “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” in the 24th minute, but just a yellow for what was a very high kick for the Brazil player: another ref might have flashed the red.
Foul on 40 minutes gave Brazil the chance to take a free into a goal, but again it was the keeper’s and into the second half we went, goalless still. Almost an own goal in the 47th (for some reason the clock showed 58 for a second or two, no idea why) then it was a handball but no penalty for Brazil. It certainly wasn’t the easy, flowing, graceful football we’ve seen from them up to now, and Brazil were paying Croatia lots of respect, with good reason Croatia had their share of the play, and this could still go either way. 78 minutes and still goalless. Would this go to extra time? 84th minute, Croatia lost possession in the Brazil box and the South Americans nearly scored from it, but into extra time we went.
Croatia could have taken it in the 12th minute but blasted over, and then in the final minute of extra time first half Brazil scored. Advantage surely now with the five-time-champions. But then in the 25th minute Croatia levelled! Now we were surely going to penalties.
1st Croatia penalty: scored
1st Brazil penalty: saved.
2nd Croatia penalty: scored.
2nd Brazil penalty: scored
3rd Croatia penalty: scored
3rd Brazil penalty: scored
4th Croatia penalty: scored
4th Brazil penalty: missed
Brazil go out! Croatia go through.
So the hopes of South America now ride on Argentina, and the exit of Brazil must be good news for England, who play tomorrow.
The remaining two quarter-finals are:
England v France
Morocco v Portugal
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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018
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