World Cup 2018: Goal extravaganza in Moscow and the strong-willed victory of champions
June 24, 2018 | 12:42 |213
Victor KARDASHOV
BELGIUM - TUNISIA - 5: 2
On the football field of the Moscow stadium "Spartak" - in opposition to the national team of Tunisia - the Belgian team could follow the national teams of Russia, Uruguay, France and Croatia to register an early exit to the playoff stage. To do this, they had to defeat the "Eagles of Carthage" in the match on June 23rd and wait for the results of the match the next day, with the participation of England and Panama. The referee was Jair Marrofo from the United States. "The Red Devils" began very effectively. On the move, rushing into the attack, they are already in the fourth minute to earn a penalty, confidently implemented by Eden Azar, who, by the way, is a regular "puncher" of such penalties in Chelsea. At the 16th minute Romel Lukaku from Manchester United doubles the advantage of the nominal hosts, leaving no chance for the goalkeeper of the opponent.
But after a couple of minutes, the intrigue returned to the match. The ball is sent by Vahbi Khazri ("Rennes") to the penalty area, and Dylan Bronn hits with his head under the cross. 2: 1.
After that the Belgians created two more dangerous moments, the second of which was crowned with success. On the third added minute Lukaku scored one more goal in this meeting. Going "one on one" with the goalkeeper of the national team of Tunisia Ben-Mustafa, the forward calmly throws the goalkeeper and increases the gap of his team from the opponent.
Less than six minutes from the beginning of the second half of the meeting, as Eden Azar, having beaten the goalkeeper of the "Eagles of Carthage", scores the fifth goal in this meeting. And the fourth - for his team. The advantage of the Belgians is devastating.
Throughout the meeting, the "Red Devils" have a notable gaming advantage. At the 68th minute, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez released fresh striker Misha Bachuayi, representing Dortmund "Borussia". The striker, having just appeared on the field, begins to exert pressure on the defense of the Africans. 76th, 78th, 80th minutes ... all the time is dangerous and all the time Bachuyai is on the spearhead of the attack.
After another ten minutes Misha achieves his goal. "Red Devils" play the corner, Jüri Thielemans sends the ball to the edge of the goalkeeper. Well, and Bachuayi is kicking at the gate, in the backstop to the goalkeeper of the "eagles". 5: 1!
But this event in the match did not end the game. In the third minute, added to the meeting time, the Tunisians score the second goal - a goal of "prestige". Not very beautiful, but confident. The author of the ball is Wahbi Khazri, who took part in the first capture of Belgium by the Eagles of Carthage.
To summarize: in Group G Belgium leads with six points, followed by the British with three, but having a match with the national team of Panama in reserve. They will play on June 24. Most likely, the first two places will be played by the ancestors of football and the "red devils". "Canalists" and Tunisians are obvious "underdogs" in their group.
SOUTH KOREA - MEXICO - 1: 2
In Rostov-on-Don, in the south of Russia, we were waited by one more fascinating duel of the World Cup-2018. The South Koreans, who stumbled in the first match with the Swedes, longed to score, at last, the first points on this World Cup. And the Aztecs, who beat the champions of the world a few days ago, are ready to approach one more step to the coveted exit from the group in one eighth finals of the World Cup. Up to the 15th minute the match was completely uninteresting. Perhaps, the heat of Rostov has affected? But by the 25th minute the South Koreans began to wake up and create dangerous moments at the gate of the national team of Mexico. And then the Serbian referee Milorad Majic appoints a penalty in favor of the "Aztecs". And the forward of the "green" Carlos Vela coolly and powerfully punches in the right corner. The goalkeeper did not guess. After a goal scored, the game again becomes boring until the end of the first half.
At the 57th minute of the second stretch of the game, "Asian Tigers" created a dangerous moment, but the ball flew exactly to Guillermo Ochoa, goalkeeper of the Mexican national team. "Aztecs" snapped after two minutes - a hard blow by Guardado in a beautiful jump parried by Cho Hyun W.
It seems that the opponents decided to play in this meeting in turn. At the 65th minute, hot again at the gates of Mexico, on the 66th - the answer of North Americans. With the only difference is that the latter turned out to be productive! Javier Hernandez, nicknamed "Chicharito", playing in the English "West Ham", alone outcame the defender of the "Tigers" and struck in the corner of the gate. Already 2-0 in favor of the national team of Mexico.
At the 76th minute the South Koreans could reduce the gap in the account, but Hong Ming Song lost precious time. And only on the third added minute he scores in the gates of the "Aztecs". Striker Tottenham scored spectacularly under the crossbar. Ochoa jumped no less spectacularly. The final whistle fixes the final score of this confrontation - 2: 1 in favor of representatives of North America.
Despite six points in his piggy bank, the national team of Mexico is not yet in the playoffs. But there can be in the case of Sweden's victory over the world champions - Germany. Or even a draw between them. And our next story is about this fight, which took place in Sochi, at the stadium "Fisht".
GERMANY - SWEDEN - 2: 1
Yes, the sensation could happen. After the victory of Mexico over the South Korean team, the Swedes could send the current world champions home. For this, Scandinavians needed to get three points, i.e. beat the bundesteam ... Thirty minutes of the first half passed with overwhelming superiority of the Germans. Several really dangerous moments were created. True, at the 13th minute of the match it looked like a violation of the rules by the hosts in their own penalty area. Jérôme Boateng (Bayern Munich) struck the leg of Swedish striker Marcus Berg. But the judge is adamant - there was no violation, and there will be no penalty. But what about video replay? The Polish referee does not want to watch the video ... Well, Shimon Marciniak does not like the replays ... At the 32nd minute, Tony Kroos of Real Madrid loses the ball and gives it to his opponent. Developed a counterattack of the Swedish national team, at the end of which the player of the French "Toulouse" Ula Toivonen takes a throw from the partners and beats Manuel Neuer. The Scandinavians open an account in such an important duel!
Seven minutes later, the German car misses a real chance to recoup. Thomas Müller managed to get to the defense of "tre krunur" ("three crowns" - the popular name of the Swedish soccer team). It's unfortunate ... but the world champions could go on a break with a draw.
At the very end of the first half, the Scandinavians could score the second goal. But the goalkeeper of the "Bavaria" Neuer in the jump saves the team. And then the referee sends the players to the locker rooms.
Immediately after the start the second half of the meeting, "smelled" with a close goal. And in the 48th minute, Marco Royce in an awkward movement, knees the ball in the turmoil at the gate of Sweden. 1: 1.
Immediately after the goal, the pressure of Germany multiplies. Apparently, the mentor of the Bundestim Joachim Loew held an explanatory conversation with his players during the half-time interval. Moments follow one another. I wonder if German football players will have enough physical training to maintain such a high tempo all forty-five minutes of half time?
A little more than fifteen minutes of normal time till the end of the game, and the attacks of world champions, although very dangerous, but ineffective. The 55-year-old head coach of the "three crowns" Janne Andersson is visibly nervous.
At the 82nd minute of the match, Germany's national team remains in the minority. Boateng receives a second yellow card and will miss such an important match for the Germans.
Five minutes later, Joachim Loew releases the midfielder instead of the defender. What does it mean? All-in game from a German specialist? In a minute the goalkeeper of Scandinavians Robin Ulsen beats the ball to the corner. But it was very dangerous! The main time of the match expires. Shimon Marciniak adds five minutes. The current champions have five minutes to wrest victory from the unyielding Swedes.
The Bundestim does not slow down. The second compensated minute - the bar after the strike of Julian Brandt, the unsuccessful finishing of Werner. And yet they do it! Tony Kroos (Real Madrid, Madrid), performing a free kick, hits the ball just like a "nine"! The Germans win a strong-willed victory.
Thus, in the group F the chances of reaching the playoffs are relatively equal for the teams of Mexico, Germany and Sweden. Everything will be decided by the third round.
On June 24th, the world cup will continue with the matches of the teams of the groups G and H. Let's see if the British will be able to leave the group ahead of schedule and thus ensure a ticket to the play-offs of the Belgian national team.
