|
|
Post by dem on Nov 20, 2022 15:18:15 GMT
Might as well, see how it goes.
Today
Group A:
Ecuador V Qatar.
Unfancied hosts entertain team who play, and more often than not win their own home matches at altitudes above 10,000. With Netherlands and Senegal in waiting, defeat for either side will put massive dent in their ambitions to survive group stages.
Monday 21
Group A
Netherlands V. Senegal.
Group B
England V. Iran
USA V Wales
|
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 20, 2022 18:19:14 GMT
I'm not expecting much from England this time. Actually, expectations are so low that I am not even sure they will make it out of the group. Their form has been lacking of late, goals have been hard to come by, and there are big question marks over defence. Still, they do have some decent players, and if they can click then who knows?
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 20, 2022 21:03:23 GMT
Ecuador 2 Qatar 0 Either the hosts froze on the big stage or they are hopelessly out of their depth. Game over as a contest inside 30 minutes. Ecuador, who had what looked a perfectly legit goal struck off after 3 minutes, strolled to a two goal lead, never looked in danger of losing it. Ominously, a mass exodus of "fans" at the interval saw the mismatch play out to a half empty stadium, the stuff of FIFA's nightmares. I'm not expecting much from England this time. Actually, expectations are so low that I am not even sure they will make it out of the group. Their form has been lacking of late, goals have been hard to come by, and there are big question marks over defence. Still, they do have some decent players, and if they can click then who knows? We've not long to find out. I think the woeful Nations league campaign may be a blessing; it makes a welcome change for them to begin a tournament without the press hyping them as world champions elect. Haven't closely followed anyone else's form, but sense a tight group. Get past Iran tomorrow and England should qualify. Netherlands V Senegal looks tasty. The only worry is, having watched today's game, neither would regard a draw as any great disaster.
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 22, 2022 10:02:09 GMT
Group A
Netherlands 2 Senegal 0. Had this down as pick of the day's games, but no such luck. Promising end-to-end opening settled into a dour stop-start struggle before another half-full (if that) stadium. Two goal advantage, courtesy of two late strikes, flattered Dutch on the night.
Group B
England 6 Iran 2. There was me anticipating a grim stalemate. Exciting attacking display by Southgate's youngsters-plus-few-wise-heads. 3-0 at interval, was dreading the game to die in second (see previous evening), but commendably both sides kept at it. Iran fans a credit — no skulking out for them [Qatari's please note]. Mehdi Taremi - who took his goals (1 pen) well, looks a handful if given decent service and joins super Saka and E. Valencia as early golden boot contenders. Hope their keeper is OK. Iran players and fans protest against their rulers as National anthem played, a dignified and powerful display of solidarity.
USA 1 Wales 1. The Americans reached half-time with just a (very well worked and taken) goal to show for their dominance. Wales belatedly turned up for second half, and an improved performance was rewarded when their passionate talisman converted passionately from the passionate penalty spot. Honours even, but under a new FIFA directive, result overturned, and the Welsh declared winners, for obvious reasons.
Today
Group C
Argentina V Saudi Arabia
Mexico V Poland
Group D
Denmark V Tunisia
Australia V France
Argentina good as odds-on to progress from group. Can Poland's human battering ram smash them through in second place? Will Aussies open with their greatest ever result V, flamboyant, if injury hit world champs? I like Denmark , thought they were desperately unlucky to lose to a ghost penalty V England in Euro semi final.
|
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 22, 2022 10:34:21 GMT
That was a good performance from England. They did what they needed to do and with some style. Two controversial penalty decisions, one early on and one at the end of the game. Pundits astonished that the Iranians wrestling England players to the ground wasn't given, while the seemingly less onerous England infraction won a penalty. Hope England keep up this energy, they are at their best when playinh at pace. Still questions over the defence, particularly against better opposition, and Maguire coming off with an injury a concern--concussion?
Looking forward to the France vs Australia game. France must be favourites, but Aussies could be tricky opponents.
|
|
|
|
Post by jamesdoig on Nov 23, 2022 3:38:45 GMT
Looking forward to the France vs Australia game. France must be favourites, but Aussies could be tricky opponents. Started well! But all downhill from about the 9th minute... |
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 23, 2022 10:26:11 GMT
Looking forward to the France vs Australia game. France must be favourites, but Aussies could be tricky opponents. Started well! But all downhill from about the 9th minute... If that golden chance had gone in and made it 2-0 to Australia, it could have been a different story, and I think it is fair to say that was the Aussies most difficult group match. Denmark and Tunisia ended up goalless, so Australia is only a point behind and its all still to play for. Saudi Arabia 2 Argentina 1 was a major shock. This has to be Messi's last hurrah, and it looks like time is catching up with him. Still, with Poland and Mexico drawing, the next round of matches will be crucial. |
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 23, 2022 10:33:56 GMT
Group C
Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2. All smiles and high-fives after 10 minutes, the original masters of the dark arts were deservedly undone by a team more cynical than their old selves. Serial fouling, time-wasting, amateur dramatics and even some superb football. Good as the Saudi's were, the pre-tournament joint favourites were abject in a second half that lasted an eternity. Shouldn't write them off just yet, though, especially after watching;
Mexico 0 Poland 0
Not great, plenty of commitment but neither could find a finish. Best chance fell to action man lookalike Robert Lewandowski, but the Poles' greatest goal machine had weak penalty saved by Guillermo Ochoa.
Group D
Denmark 0 Tunisia 0. Another stalemate, but arguably the most exciting match to date. First half all Tunisia, the Danes coming back strong after break. Close shaves at both ends, penalty shouts, one each ruled out for offside, and a Kaspar Schmeichel wonder-save of the tournament contender.
Australia V France. Aussie's taking a shock lead annoyed the World champs out of their lethargy, after which it was pretty much one way traffic. Even so, underdogs were the width of a post away from equalizing before Mbappe netted the killer third. Ominously for the rest, the French are traditionally slow starters. Not this time.
Today
Group E
Germany V Japan
Spain V Costa Rica
Group F
Croatia V Morocco
Belgium V Canada
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 24, 2022 19:04:45 GMT
Group E
Germany 1 Japan 2. Not sure this is quite the shock result people are making out. Japan showed they were a force at the 2018 world cup (especially in the 3-3 epic with Belgium). That said, 1-0 upon the half hour, squandering several opportunities to add a second, Germany looked relatively comfortable for seventy minutes, until an inspired double substitution saw their opponents storm back and into the lead. Germany now need to win their next game to have any chance of progress. The problem being, their next opponents are ....
Spain 7 Costa Rica 0. As scoreline suggests. Dynamic start by a scarily youthful Spanish at the Halfempty stadium. CR did well to keep the score down.
Group F
Croatia 0 Morocco 0. Only caught last 20 mins by which time both sides seemed content to come away with a point.
Belgium 1 Canada 0. Reminded me of the England V Spain game in the Womens' world cup, where the Lionesses, played off the pitch, still won because, for all their dominance, the Spanish girls couldn't finish. Last night the Canadians were all over last years #1 ranked team in the world for entire 100+ minutes and still managed to lose.
Today
Group G
Cameroon 0 Switzerland 1. Didn't see. Can't comment.
Brazil - Serbia. About to kick off Later. Maybe the best game yet. Serbia excellent for an hour, but when Brazil got going they were irrepressible. Brilliant to watch.
Group H
S. Korea 0 Uruguay 0. Game of few chances. Dragged. Couldn't get into it.
Ghana 2 Portugal 3. So-so game came alive just after the hour when Ronaldo won and blasted home a penalty. Ghana having offered so little in attack, final scoreline looked extremely unlikely at that point. What followed was maybe the most exciting, feisty half hour of the tournament to date. Terrific entertainment. Portugal nailed on to be tournament panto villains yet again. There will be red cards somewhere along the line.
Friday 25th
Group A
Qatar V Senegal
Ecuador V Netherlands
Group B
Iran V Wales
England V USA
|
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 25, 2022 13:18:44 GMT
I thought Germany got a tad complacent. That result has certainly put the cat among the pigeons in that group.
After a hammering, Iran came back very well against Wales. Really thought the Welsh would have chalked up their first win. The Welsh goalie channeling Bruce Lee didn't help. Could Iran make it out of the group? Well, that surprising victory will make their clash with Uncle Sam's boys a tasty prospect.
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 25, 2022 17:31:59 GMT
Group AQatar 1 Senegal 3 Qatar also put on an improved showing (albeit when they were two down), but have departed the competition within six days of opening it. Mass exodus of home fans - again - when Senegal passed in a third. Half expecting an announcement that, under a new FIFA directive, Ecuador and Senegal have been disqualified with results expunged as their victories over the host nation were "politically motivated" and "have no place in sport." Qatar reinstated progress to knock outs. Iran 2 Wales 0I thought Germany got a tad complacent. That result has certainly put the cat among the pigeons in that group. After a hammering, Iran came back very well against Wales. Really thought the Welsh would have chalked up their first win. The Welsh goalie channeling Bruce Lee didn't help. Could Iran make it out of the group? Well, that surprising victory will make their clash with Uncle Sam's boys a tasty prospect. I think they can. As Gareth Southgate's lads discovered in opening game, Iran have goals in them, and today they might have had the game won even before Wayne Hennessy's passionately mistimed challenge on menacing Medhi Taremi's head. As you say, should USA fail to win tonight, these two's grudge decider could get a little spirited. Eng and Wales don't usually do friendlies either, come to that.
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 26, 2022 10:51:48 GMT
England 0 USA 0. After that sizzling Sister Hyde of a display in group opener, back to the familiar Dr Jekyl grimness of recent vintage. Decent point in the circumstances, as the Americans took control of mid-field. England never really got a grip on the game. Neither side offered anything worth shouting about up front.
Ecuador 1 Netherlands 1. Ecuador's attacking football is very pleasing on the eye. The Dutch have been disappointing in that respect, but they've now qualified, barring an unlikely caning from speedily eliminated Qatar. Ecuador V Senegal has group classic potential.
Today
Group C
Poland V Saudi Arabia
Argentina V Mexico
Group D
Australia V Tunisia
Denmark V France
As I type, a Mitchell Duke header has put the Aussies in front against Tunisian's in a loser goes home clash. [edited because it isn't quite loser goes home. Tunisia have a point from that impressive draw with the Danes]
|
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 26, 2022 11:02:55 GMT
England 0 0 USA
That was a very nervvy 90 minutes. Such a difference from the Iran game when England played at a high tempo. Against the USA they were playing at a far more sedate pace, almost lethargic it seemed at times. No idea if that was deliberate, but if it was then it didn't really work in terms of putting pressure on the USA. Chances were at a premium, and the USA may think themselves unlucky not to have won, having hit the bar. Having said that, England should progress to the next round, where they will surely need to play much better. If England had won They could have rested players and brought in fringe players to give them some game time, but it's rarely that simple when England are playing. Draw has also set up a very interesting match between Iran and the USA, and based on previous results it's quite possible the Iranians could make it through.
|
|
|
|
Post by dem on Nov 27, 2022 12:05:11 GMT
Poland 2 Saudi Arabia 0. Poles triumph in eventful, ultra bruising encounter. A superb penalty save, close shaves and missed sitters by both sides, and a horrible defensive lapse gratefully exploited by human tank Lewandowski to belatedly open his world cup account. Enjoyed this one.
Argentina 2 Mexico 0. Dreadful first half, Mexico playing for a 0-0 out of necessity as they've nothing up front. Argentine, bereft of imagination and clearly terrified of shameful group stage elimination, finally perked up when manager brought on fresh legs. Messi scored with a smart opportunist strike (he did nothing else right all night) and sub Enzo Fernandez classy finish put a gloss on it. They'll probably go on and win it now ...
Australia V Tunisia. Missed second half, first was very "combative" and I'd imagine that continued. Terrific result for Aus, especially when you consider how well their opponents played in holding the Danes ....
Denmark 1 France 2. ... who so nearly held out for a deserved point. Probably as close as anyone is going to come to frustrating the holders until the semi's at earliest.
Today
Group E
Costa Rica 1 Japan 0. There's the real shock of the tournament. It wasn't pretty (God, it wasn't), but to come back off a 7-0 drubbing and win your next game is huge testament to their character. No-one will be happier at this result than the team the Japanese deservedly beat a few days back. They just got a get out of jail card.
Germany V Spain
Group F
Belgium - Morocco
Canada V Croatia
Later
------
Belgium 0 Morocco 2. Africans worthy winners and well poised to progress. Last realistic chance for ageing Belgian "golden generation" to win major trophy not going at all to plan.
Canada 1 Croatia 4. Canucks ahead inside two minutes, after which an inspired Croatia, who never really got going in Morocco clash, showed their class. Shame to see Canada go out early, especially after that energetic, all out attacking display which so unnerved the Belgians.
Germany 1 Spain 1. High drama! At 1-0 down, the Germans were on the brink. Now a win over Costa Rica might be enough. Group E mirroring B in that team at bottom can still qualify and team on top go out.
Halfway through after Monday's games. Swiss have made a habit of upsetting the best, but can they frustrate Brazil? Portugal - Uruguay likely to see a card or two. Serb-Cameroon also likely to keep ref busy.
Group G
Cameroon V Serbia
Brazil V Switzerland
Group H
Ghana V South Korea
Portugal V Uruguay
|
|
|
|
Post by ripper on Nov 28, 2022 12:01:06 GMT
The Aussies back in it and Costa Rica's surprise victory, not to mention that draw between Spain and Germany. I have a feeling Japan will rue that loss.
Right now, Serbia and Cameroon are playing in a thrilling game. Serbia were 3-1 up and then the African side said hold my pint and scored a brace in two minutes. One of the best games so far imo.
|
|
