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Day 6

Into the second match of each group we went, with those who did well hoping to capitalise on and retain their spot at the top of each group, those who had not yet scored hoping to avoid going out in this early stage.

Group A

Netherlands v Ecuador (1-1)

Netherlands began as they meant to go on, five minutes on the clock and they were already on the score sheet, Ecuador going close in the 31st minute but stopped by the keeper. Just as the first half ended though they equalised, or thought they had, the keeper adjudged to have been obstructed and so the goal chalked off. They sorted it in the 4th minute of the second half though as the score was levelled. Appeals for offside from the Dutch came to nothing and the goal stood.

Ecuador were really pouring on the pressure now, and the Netherlands did not seem to have any answer as their goal was battered. They did put together a decent passage of play in the 65th minute but blasted high over the goal, their only real shot in the second half. Into extra time and Ecuador were pushing for the winner, but it ended all square, in a match the Dutch could very well have been expected to have lost, so they must be reasonably happy with the result.

Qatar v Senegal (Result: 1-3)

This was probably expected to be the least exciting of today’s matches, the holders having been put to the sword by Ecuador in the opening match, while Senegal had failed to shine against Belgium. You could say both teams had something to prove. Senegal had the only real shot on 23 minutes but shot wide, then in the 33rd Qatar asked for a penalty. The ref said no, though everyone in the ground seemed to think it was. Senegal scored then in the 40th minute with a lovely side-footed effort with a second added from a corner in the second half.

Qatar again had nothing in the tank, toothless as they had been against Ecuador, but went close in the 67th, a great save by the keeper the only thing that stopped the deficit being halved. Qatar were on the attack now, and in the 78th minute they got their first ever World Cup goal, making it more of a game now. Senegal however were quick to restore their two-goal advantage in the 83rd, and now there was no way back for the hosts. A quick free kick in the 88th gave Senegal a shock but went just wide, and Senegal won 3-1.

Group B

Wales v Iran (Result 0-2)

Sometimes football takes very much a backseat and becomes secondary, even peripheral, to world events concerning those teams, and this was very much the case as Iran protested against the draconian law in their country which has resulted in death sentences being handed down to protesters as the regime desperately tries to cling to power like a dying miser clutching his fortune, and determined to take it with him to the grave. As before, the team refused to sing the Iranian national anthem (some of them anyway), and it was a match fraught with emotions, Wales no doubt feeling in solidarity with the Iranians, but still with a job to do.

They went close in the 12th minute but the goalkeeper, in to replace the one who suffered concussion in the England match, and it was Iran who took the lead in the 15th minute, only for it to be ruled offside, which was the right decision, but you really felt for them with that release of the pent-up frustration, only to be denied their early lead. So scoreless at the break, but Iran had the better chances, twice missing the post in the 52nd minute, two shots within twenty seconds of each other. Whatever their personal feelings or loyalty to their country - or lack of it - Iran certainly had come to play.

And play they did, coming close again in the 72nd, Wales with nothing to offer until the 83rd minute when the shot was kept out by the keeper, and shortly afterwards the Welsh keeper was off, red card for having come out and taken down the Iranian player. 86th minute, and surely now Iran had the momentum, and again they went close again but still no goal. Then in the last minute of nine of extended time Iran scored, and the game was theirs. For some reason the ref kept the game going after the 9 minutes allowed, right into eleven, almost twelve, Wales hoping for a miracle, but it was Iran who scored again deep in the extended extended time, with a superb result. You’d have to say they deserved their victory.

England v USA (Result: 0-0)

The match everyone but me was waiting for: could England take the USA down and retain their position at the top of Group B? Would USA turn out to be tougher opponents than they have been previously? The Americans have certainly come on in leaps and bounds from the time when they were the new boys, there to make up the numbers. Nobody’s saying they’re challengers, but they could not be counted out. England of course had a vastly superior goal difference and were looking to add to that, Kane going close in the 9th minute but shooting wide. From the resulting corner Stones missed it and Mount blasted high over the bar.

USA squandered a golden chance to take the lead in the 25th, again shooting high, and keeping up the pressure on England gave them a torrid time, Pulisic also going close but the ball hopping off the bar, the keeper beaten. Another Pulisic shot in the 42nd minute underlined how the USA were bossing the game, even if they couldn’t convert a shot as we headed into the final moments of the first half, Mount just missing a decent opportunity. It seemed likely there’d be no six-goal thriller this time. Into extra time and England got a free kick, Kane shooting wide, which ended England’s chances as the match ended in a nil-nil draw.


Qatar’s poor performance sees them go out, the first host nation to exit so soon in the entire history of the World Cup. Netherlands top Group A with Ecuador second only on goal difference. England remain at the top of Group B but are only one point now ahead of Iran (what? Yes, you heard right: Iran) with Wales at the bottom. Crucial matches coming up.

Tomorrow’s matches

Group C

Poland v Saudi Arabia

Argentina v Mexico

Group D

Tunisia v Australia

France v Denmark

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