World Cup 2022 thread

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DAY 3

Some heavy hitters kicking off this third day, including twice-winners Argentina and France, as well as Denmark, Poland and Mexico, all of whom will fancy their chances of getting into the next stages. First up:

Group C

Argentina v Saudi Arabia: Result 1-2) (No, you read that right).

This should have been a done deal. As I say above, Argentina have great pedigree in this tournament, having won twice, and made it through to this stage without losing a single game. They also have had in the past in their team the mighty Maradona, these days his place as such is taken by Lionel Messi, once - and possibly still - acknowledged as the best footballer in the world. They should have swept the Saudis aside like swatting an insect, Messi shooting in the second minute but missing, and then scoring a penalty in the ninth, nothing to it. He scored again in the 22nd minute but the goal was ruled offside, however Martinez netted seven minutes later and Saudi Arabia looked well and truly done. Until it looked like his shadow was offside and again the goal was ruled out. Incredibly, Martinez scored again in the 34th minute but was again ruled offside, this one clearer.

With the score, which should perhaps have been 3-0 to Argentina, only at 1-0, Saudi Arabia scored as the second half begun and it was all level. Then amazingly scored again to take the lead only five minutes later with a peach of a shot, rocket of a volley from what, 30 yards outside the box? Argentina of course laid siege to the Saudi goal but even though they came so close, the final shot was saved and to everyone’s amazement, after THIRTEEN MINUTES of extra time (what the blue living…?) the impossible had happened. Saudi Arabia had beaten the mighty Argentina! Shock of the tournament so far, without question.


Mexico v Poland (Score 0-0)

Chances mostly went Mexico’s way, but by half time the score was still 0-0 until Poland got a penalty in the 57th minute - and missed. A second scoreless draw, and the first missed penalty in the tournament.

Group D

Denmark v Tunisia (Result 0-0)

Great to see Christian Eriksen back after his cardiac arrest in last year’s Euro Championships. Other big names in the team includes Kasper Schmeichel, son of the great Manchester United keeper Peter, and currently playing with Leicester, as well as Pierre Hoijberg, who plays with Tottenham Hotspur. Tunisia seemed to have taken the lead in the 22nd minute but the old offside came into play again, and it remained scoreless despite a few good chances for both sides. This match therefore became the first 0-0 draw of this World Cup. Would not have expected that.

France v Australia (Score 4-1)

Mbappe, Dembele, Giroud, Griezmann, Lloris: major names in French and indeed English Premiership football, surely likely to roll all over Australia, and yet it was the Socceroos who opened the scoring on 8 minutes! France weren’t too long replying, scoring in the 26th minute to tie it up at one each. Australia quickly lost possession just outside the box and Giroud took full advantage, putting his country in front. Naive defending if ever there was. Mbappe missed a sitter as the first half came to a close, but Australia almost drew level in the last few minutes of the half, hitting the post.

Into the second half and Mbappe got his goal in the 67th minute, taking France into a comfortable lead they never looked like losing. Nor did they, Giroud netting his 51st goal for his country, equalling the record of legend Thierry Henri, and giving France a 4-1 lead in the 70th minute. And so it ended, France showing why they are world champions, and have no intention of surrendering that title easily.

So, to everyone’s surprise - no, amazement, almost incredulity - it’s Saudi Arabia who top Group C with Argentina right at the bottom. If you bet with Paddy Power on that you’ll be a rich person now. No such surprise in Group D, where France comfortably and expectedly take top position.

Tomorrow’s matches

Group F

Morocco v Croatia: Croatia have the mercurial Luca Modrić, a real star of previous tournaments, even if he is getting on now (37 years old). They reached the finals last time out, being beaten by France, and will be out for revenge this time no doubt. I can’t imagine Morocco will present much of a problem to them, though I did say that about Saudi Arabia yesterday, and look what happened. Hey, this is why we love football!

Belgium v Canada: Belgium are another of the world’s football titans, with names like Kevin DeBruyne, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard in their squad. They have a good record, reaching the quarter-finals in 2014 and the semis in 2018. They should breeze past Canada, but again, you can never say.


Group E

Germany v Japan: Some major league hitters coming into the tournament tomorrow. Who doesn’t know the mighty Germany, four-time winners and four-time runners-up, technically three times both as West Germany and once as the reunified Germany. With players like Muller, Gündoğan and Havertz, they’ll be expected to sweep all before them. Japan are no slouches either though, and should put up some stiff competition.



Spain v Costa Rica: Another big name of course is Spain, 2010 winners but who failed to shine at more recent tournaments, going out in the group stages in 2014 and the round of 16 in 2018 . With players like Rodri and Pedri (the latter touted by pundits as the most exciting new young footballer in the world), Torres and Morata, who have scored 13 and 27 goals for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively, they surely must put Costa Rica to the sword tomorrow. Surely?

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DAY 4

GROUP F

Morocco v Croatia (Result: 0-0)

Scoreless at the break, Croatia not surprisingly in the ascendancy and nearly scoring from a corner as the second half got underway, that’s nevertheless how it ended. A great result for Morocco and something of a humiliation for last tournament’s finalists.

Belgium v Canada (Result: 1-0)

Canada were competing in the tournament for the first time in 36 years, so the signs were not good, even though Belgium were without Lukaku, but Canada had a chance to pull off an early and unexpected lead in the tenth minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball, but embarrassingly missed. Chance gone, but Canada kept going and gave Belgium a game they might not have expected at all. It was however Belgium who scored first, after Canada had been denied a second penalty which looked good, but was ruled not viable by VAR (Video Assistant Referee duh). Canada certainly were not folding and they kept up the pressure into the second half, keeping Belgium just the one goal ahead and nearly scoring themselves in the 80th minute.

A valiant effort, and Canada definitely stamped their intention on the World Cup 2022 not to be just there to make up the numbers, but Belgium held on for the win. It couldn’t be said they swept Canada aside by any means, and you would wonder how they’ll do when they come up against the bigger teams. Come to that, how will Canada do in their next matches? After that display, I wouldn’t be betting against them.

Group E[/u][/b]

Germany v Japan (Result: 1-2)

Seemed like a dream start for Japan, scoring in the seventh minute, but the spectre of the offside rule loomed again and the goal was ruled out. Still, a wake-up call perhaps for the Germans, who battered the Japanese goal for the next twenty minutes until they got a penalty which Gundogan dispatched with real coolness and skill. In the dying seconds of the half they added another, this time from Havertz, but this was ruled offside, to Japan’s relief. Back on the attack from the start of the second half, Germany weren’t letting up, Musiala dancing through the defenders like they weren’t there as the clock hit fifty minutes, but unfortunately though the skill was there the finish was not, and he blasted high over the bar.

Gundogan went close next, hitting the post, before Japan finally levelled it up as we got to the seventy-fifth minute. Worse was to come for the Germans as Japan struck again in the 82nd minute to go ahead. And they held on to win, another real upset in this already very interesting World Cup. Banzai!

Spain v Costa Rica (Result: 7-0)

Two giants of the tournament taken down, could Costa Rica make it three? As I said yesterday, Spain have faltered badly in recent World Cups, but they have some exciting new players in the squad this time out, so they must have fancied themselves and they certainly had something to prove to the world. And they started early, scoring in the eleventh minute. Costa Rica couldn’t even get a kick and it really looked like Spain were playing a practice match as they netted a second in the 21st minute. To make matters worse for the South Americans, Spain got a penalty, three-nil and we hadn’t even played thirty minutes.

Second half didn’t change things as Torres scored a second, giving Spain a 4-0 lead that looked about as likely as being impacted as followed by another in the 75th minute. One more goal and they would have equalled England’s so-far highest-scoring match, in fact with no reply likely from the Costa Ricans they would better it. It was never in doubt and Spain hit Costa Rica for six, showing they are again the footballing power other countries used to fear. Eight minutes of extra time allowed them to score a seventh, the highest number of goals of any team so far in this tournament, and you sort of had to feel sorry for Costa Rica, who must have been relieved to hear the final whistle.

That puts Spain at the top of Group E, with Germany an unexpected and disappointed/disappointing third, behind Japan. Belgium top Group F with Croatia second


Tomorrow’s matches

Tomorrow we open the last two groups, G & H

Group G

Switzerland v Cameroon: Switzerland usually fizzle out early, whereas Cameroon had their best showing in 1990, having only qualified for the first time eight years prior, and made the quarter-finals, but being beaten by England.

Brazil v Serbia: Who needs to be told how good Brazil are? Five times champions, reaching the quarter-finals four times, and with players so good they don’t even need a second name: Allison. Fred. Fabinho. Ederson. Expect them to roll all over Serbia.



Group H

Uruguay v South Korea (Korea Republic); Although Uruguay won the very first World Cup in 1930, and again in 1950, the best they’ve managed in recent times has been the semi-finals in 2010, so they’ll be hoping for a decent showing. With the ever-controversial Luis Suarez in their team they should be nothing if not interesting, and there’s Man United’s Edinson Cavani to cope with too. South Korea (now known, apparently, as the Korean Republic) have Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker, Son Heung-min, their best placing being the semis in 2002. Could be quite a battle.

Portugal v Ghana: Another of the big hitters. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the pure skill and talent of Cristiano Ronaldo, and despite his recent spat with Man United, resulting in his leaving the club this week, he’ll be there, alongside people like Neves, Nunes, Fernandes, Silva and Cancelo, desperate to improve on their country’s best placing so far of 4th in 2006.