Trollheart

Day 9

Group G

Cameroon v Serbia (Result: 3-3 )

Both teams looking for their first win after disappointing starts which were certainly not lacking in effort, but produced no wins, it was Serbia who went closest first with a volley that just tipped off the post; as they say, a coat of paint away. On 16 minutes they were at it again but again just wide, while Cameroon had a great shot in the 18th, then from a corner in the 27th a lovely little flick-on saw them take the lead despite all the pressure having come from Serbia. Not discouraged though, the Serbs were back in it just before half time with a lovely free kick headed in. Cameroon tried, unsuccessfully, to clear in the box but ended up giving it to the Serbs who scored again as extra time played out, Serbia now in the ascendancy at the end of the first half.

Starting the second half as they had ended the first, it was three goals for Srbia when they broke and passed a tap-in, Cameroon defence all at sixes and sevens. Cameroon weren’t finished though as they scored a beautiful lobbed goal in the 62nd minute, only to find it ruled offside, which was a pity as it really was sublime, one of those you just watch as it bounces - and then it wasn’t offside. In a rare overruling, the goal was allowed so now Cameroon were coming back and incredibly less than a minute later they were level! Superb run from their own half and a sweet shot. Serbia unable to believe how quickly their lead had gone.

Both teams going for the win now, Serbia almost took it on 88 minutes but the ball went high and wide though not by much, and it ended level at the final whistle, a real thriller of a match and a great advertisement for international football and for the World Cup, as well as a game which will do the reputations of both national teams no harm at all. Honours even, but still no win for either.



Brazil v Switzerland (Result: 1-0)

Brazil were without their talisman, Neymar, but still must have fancied their chances against a relatively pedestrian (in comparison) Swiss side. Brazil rising high at the top of Group G, they weren’t about to surrender that position easily, and as expected they had the lion’s share of the possession, almost scoring on 26 minutes, and again in the 30th, but come the end of the first half and there was still no score, which had to be a tribute to the stoic Swiss defence. At one point the lights went, not off but dimmed, as if someone had turned down the switch, and everyone looked at everyone else, but it only lasted seconds and was the most minor of disruptions, especially coming as it did at the end of the half.

Good defence they may have had, but the Swiss had had barely a shot at the Brazilian goal as we moved into minute 63 and Brazil scored, but once again that old bugbear, VAR and the offside rule, and the fame remained at 0-0 until the 82nd minute when Brazil scored, and this time it wasn’t going to be ruled out! Absolutely fantastic shot, one of the best of the tournament so far I would say, and certainly worthy of a Brazil team which, to be fair, had not exactly sparkled on the field. Now their tails were up though, and they almost scored a second five minutes later, and five after that as the match moved into extra time, but there was no problem as they took the match, but only by one goal.

Group H

Ghana v Korea Republic (let’s just call it that; I’m getting tired of writing South Korea/Korea Republic. You know who I mean. And yes, I know that took longer to write than if I had just written South Korea/Korea Republic and left it at that!) (Result: 3-2)

Ghana faced early elimination if they lost this one, Korea looking to do better than they had done up to now, so each team desperate to win the match. A slow start, with nothing to write about till the 24th minute, but then Ghana scored a precious goal from a free kick. Suspicion of handball but the check said no, and the goal stood. A second then for the Africans, unfortunately I can’t tell you when it was, as for some reason the time disappeared off the screen. Oh, it’s back: it was in the 34th minute. 2-0 to Ghana then as they went into the break.

Korea went close as the second half opened with a beautiful headed on 52 minutes, well on target but turned away by the goalie, but five minutes later Korea had scored, a sumptuous pass and a header that could not be stopped if there had been six keepers in the goal. Now of course Korea had to go for it, and so they did, netting again with another header in the 60th minute. Fantastic teamwork. All square at 2-2. Then of course Ghana came back in the 67th and scored again to retake the lead. Free kick in the 72nd took Son down and Korea nearly levelled it back again but the keeper clawed it away. Bit of a scramble in the box then but it came to nothing, which did not stop Korea coming again, this time hitting the post. Another match that went to ten minutes extra time, Korea battering the Ghanaian goal in that time but failing to score, giving Ghana their much-needed win. Korea were annoyed that they were not allowed take the corner given at the end of extra time, but the ten minutes had already elapsed so he was within his rights to blow the whistle.

Portugal v Uruguay (Result:2-0 )

Back to the Cristano show? Some nice improvisation from Portugal’s star man in the first few minutes, but no goal while Uruguay had a shot in the 10th, winning a corner which only just went over the top. A good attack by Portugal in the 28th minute but the keeper caught it while Uruguay almost scored in the 32nd but the keeper again in the way and made a lovely save, another shot sent wide in the 35th, Uruguay really giving Portugal a game now. Man down for the Iberian side in the 40th minute, then we had a pitch invader in the 50th; always fun and I’m sure the Qatar secret police will make him a nice cup of tea when they get him back to the station - looked like he had an LBTGQ rainbow flag: they won’t like that!

Back to the football though, and Portugal again on the attack in the 53rd minute, that man netting with a header, jumping high to nod the ball in on 54 minutes, though there seems to be some confusion over who scored, as Fernandes crossed and it looked as if the ball went in without any help from Ronaldo. Suarez came on in the 71st minute and Uruguay then went really close but the ball hit the post on 75 minutes. Up the Portuguese end in the last few minutes of the game and then a frankly ridiculous penalty for Portugal, giving them a 2-0 lead and an easy passage into the round of sixteen.

Group G

1st: Brazil (6 points)
2nd: Switzerland (3 points)
3rd: Cameroon (1 point)
4th: Serbia (1 point)

Group H
1st: Portugal (6 points)
2nd: Ghana (3 points)
3rd: Korea Republic (1 point)
4th: Uruguay (1 point)

Tomorrow’s matches
Group A

Ecuador v Senegal

Netherlands v Qatar

Group B

Iran v USA

Wales v England

Some interesting matches there. Iran v USA? Sweet. And Wales v England? Qatar, already out, will be playing for pride, or should be, so it promises to be a good day.

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018