(Don’t) Cry for me Egypt – Uruguay 1 Egypt 0
Football can be a cruel game. Uruguay the better, more experienced team with a greater Football legacy won 1:0. But you must feel for Egypt a Mo Salah – less team was just about to prove an old football adage: tenacity, resilience, commitment and teamwork (especially on defense) could (almost) trump individual quality and experience. Egypt displayed an exceptionally tenacious defense led by their captain Ahmed Fathi. They were first to every 50/50 ball with clean tackles and broke Uruguay’s rhythm. Once again as has been their record Egypt did not threaten in the final third and Uruguay’s goalie was never challenged. The menacing attacking duo of Cavani and Suarez did not click until the 89th minute. Cavani though had the best chances in the 82nd minute when his spectacular shot was met by an even more spectacular flying save by Egypt goalie El Shanawy, and again when he hit the post from a well taken free kick in the 88th minute from 25 yards out. In fact, Cavani contributed to the corner kick in the 89th minute that Gimenez headed perfectly for a goal, giving El Shanawy no chance to even move. But for the football aficionados Uruguay’s captain Godin was a delight to watch and admire. A lesson in leadership, responsibility and accountability. By far the most valuable player on the field with a similar performance and leadership by Egypt’s captain Ahmed Fathi who marshalled the entire Egyptian defense. Luis Suarez did not bite anyone but also exhibited anger and frustration in what for him was a sub- par performance (hard to play well without Messi and Neymar on your side). Looks like Uruguay has what it takes to move on but don’t discount Egypt’s chances especially if Mo Salah recovers for the next match.
Every (bad) thing can happen in Football and usually does – The better team Morocco scores on itself. Iran 1 Morocco 0
If the first match today was cruel to Egypt this one was brutal to Morocco. By far the better team over the 90 minutes in every statistical category succumbed to an own goal in the last minute of injury time. 1:0 for Iran. It doesn’t get more devastating than that after 4 years of preparation and qualifying for the World Cup.
Iran versus Morocco what an interesting political battle. Mostly secular Sunni/Berber Morocco against Shi’a Orthodox ruled Iran. The first progressive the latter regressive (the regime not the people) Oh, it’s a football match so politics aside (or not)?
Fast paced albeit somewhat of scrambly first half with few excellent chances for both teams scuttled by heroic goaltending on both sides and no score. At half time Morocco seems to have the edge. Both team played a more physical long ball British style of football. This match was in total contrast to the next match between Spain and Portugal. Under one hundred passes for Iran, a pathetic statistic. Pass completion has been atrocious on both sides. The only positive was the spectacular goal tending for both teams. Some say a “team did not deserve” to win. This was Iran today but ask them if they care – they are and rightly so elated.
Ronaldo 3 Spain 3: The Beautiful Game on display: A match for the ages
The third match of the day looked like a different sport compared to the previous two. Quality, intensity, skill and passing especially by Spain. Riveting, scintillating. If the tournament were to end today it would have been worthwhile if just for this match. The final score 3:3 must agonize the Spanish. In my opinion Hierro cost the Spanish 2 points by substituting Costa, Iniesta, and Silva in the last 20-25 minutes to protect a 3;2 lead. Only Spain can run the clock by maintaining possession for that long, but this was ridiculous.
The match itself started with a Ronaldo manufactured penalty kick in the 3rd minute. By manufactured I don’t mean that it wasn’t deserved. Ronaldo is an expert at drawing fouls off defenders in a perfectly “legal” manner. 1:0. Ronaldo by himself delivered the point to Portugal he now scored in 4 consecutive World Cup Finals Spain was by far the better team as the stats will attest. It was Spain’s Tiki Taka v Portugal’s long diagonal passing. Diego Costa of Spain, not known as a finesse player equalized for Spain by bamboozling 3 defenders and tucking the goal away from 10 yards. The Virtual Assistant Referee (VAR) technology came into play for the first time in the World Cup to confirm that Costa didn’t foul one of the defenders before scoring. Var confirmed: The Goal stands. Just a minute later a powerful Spanish shot (Isco) hit the crossbar and bounced on the goal line but Goal technology confirmed that it did not cross the line for a goal. As you can see technology already played a significant role. Especially in the first half the match was riveting: speed, linkages, intricate passing. Mesmerizing for the football lover. Then just at half time Ronaldo scores again on a relatively innocent on the ground shot against the run of play. De Gea considered the best goaltender in the world misplayed the ball and allowed the softest goal of his career. What a blunder! Happens to the best of them but this may have been a costly one. The dazzling tempo slowed down to begin the 2nd half but picked up feverishly after Diego Costa scored his second goal from a well-crafted free kick by David Silva. 2:2 Within a minute, of incredible pressure by Spain Nacho scored a spectacular goal from 18 yards out and now Spain leads 3:2 he redeemed himself for the penalty on Ronaldo in the 3rd minute.
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