2018 World Cup: Benefit of Mbagpe and Cavani
July 01, 2018 | 12:30 |3213
Victor KARDASHOV
FRANCE - ARGENTINA - 4: 3
Two great teams. Two great football legends. France and Argentina. On June 30, in the 1/8 finals of the World Championship at the Kazan Arena stadium, the players of these countries issued a truly great match worthy of the final of the World Cup. The beginning of the match was left for the French team. On the 9th minute, the ball hits the crossbar after penalty execution by Antoine Grismann. Two minutes later, the young striker of "tricolor" Kilian Mbappa from the "PSG" at high speed entered the penalty area, where Marcos Rojo violates the rules. The defender of "MU" gets a yellow card, and the Iranian referee of the match Alireza Fagani points to the 11-meter strike. To execute a penalty goes Grizmann and punches almost in the center, the goalkeeper of "albiseleste" falls in the other direction. 1: 0 - France led in the account. After that, Europeans try to play the second number, on counterattacks. At the 21st minute the midfielder of "three-color" Paul Pogba does not get into the gate from advantageous position, the 28th minute could bring a penalty in favor of the national team of Argentina, but the judge did not see no foul in the episode.
Four minutes before the end of the main time of the first half, the blue and white compare the score. Wonderful goal! Player of "Ajax" Nicholas Talyafiko passed on to Angel Di Maria ("PSG") and he just beats in the corner of the gate. Goalkeeper of the "blue" Hugo Lloris effectively jumped, but was powerless.
In the third minute of the second half of the meeting, the Argentina national team is ahead. Lionel Messi beat on the ball, but the decisive role was played by the substituted Gabriel Mercado. The defender of "Sevilla" leads the South Americans forward.
At the 56th minute, the French could have scored a goal, but it did not work out. Well, a minute later they get it, and how! Benjamin Pawar scores a fine goal, and the ball flies on a swirling trajectory right into the far corner of the gates of Franco Armani.
64th minute - the European team comes out again. Kilian Mbappe sends the opponent in the penalty and a strong blow punches the goalkeeper of "albiseleste." 3: 2!
It takes four more minutes and Mbappe, who diverges due to the transfer of Olivier Giroux from London "Chelsea" goes to a rendezvous with an Argentine goalkeeper and sends the ball into the corner of the gate.
Two minutes later, Giro could make a difference in the score devastating. But the forward does not hit the target - the ball is in the net, but from the outside.
By the 75th minute the opportunity for replacements in the composition of white and blue is all spent. Argentine national team coach Jorge Sampaoli throws into battle all his personnel reserves - Sergio Aguero, Federico Fasio and Maximiliano Mesa. Strangely, but for some reason remain on the bench, the attackers are Paulo Dibala and Gonzalo Higuain ...
The ending of the match was held with the advantage of the South American team, the French coach Didier Deschamps gradually uses all three allowed substitutions. Alireza Fagani adds four minutes to the main time of the match.
But the team of Argentina does not give up! At the third compensated minute, it reduces the difference in the score to a minimum. Di Maria and Messi bring the ball to Sergio Aguero and the representative of the English Premier League did not miss. Blow with the head head - and the ball in the net! But there is too little time left to try and change the course of the game during overtime.
The judge gives the final whistle, the sound of which becomes farewell for Argentina at this World Cup. And the "tricolor" goes to the quarterfinals, where they will wait for the end of the match in Sochi between the national teams of Uruguay and Portugal. It is in this confrontation that the rival of the French team will be decided in the battle for entering the semifinals.
URUGUAY - PORTUGAL - 2:1
Stunning stadium "Fisht" became a place of struggle of two irreconcilable and perfectly playing opponents - the national teams of Uruguay and Portugal. The main arbiter of the meeting, Cesar Ramos Palasuelos, who lives in Mexico, gives the signal to the beginning of the match. From the first minute, active Uruguayans are trying to score a "quick" goal. Portugal - counterattack. And on the 7th minute forward of "Celeste" Edinson Cavani, quickly moving along the right flank, makes a magnificent diagonal pass through the entire field of Suarez. Forward of "Barcelona" takes the ball and hangs in the penalty area. Cavani manages to move there and beats his head, literally flashing the goalkeeper of "European Brazilians." Uruguay led in the account. At the 22nd minute, South Americans could score the second. Very dangerous penalty earns near the possessions of Portugal Luis Suarez. Himself and executes it. The ball flies dangerously from 25 meters under the "wall" and the Europeans are rescued only by the skill of the goalkeeper of the Lisbon "Sporting" Rui Patriciu.
And again the initiative passes to the rival of Uruguay. It's time for the positional attacks of Portuguese footballers Cristiano Ronaldo looks good in the game, but he is carefully guarded by defenders of the "celestial" and can do nothing so far. Perhaps, it is not necessary for the Pyrenees to conduct all their attacks through their leader? It is very predictable and Uruguayans are ready for such a game of the opponent ...
Almost half an hour played in the first half. Ronaldo performs the "standard" and falls into the South American "wall". While in the duel of coaches, Uruguayan specialist Oscar Tabares wins. His plan for the game is more effective than the installations of 63-year-old Fernando Santos to his charges. Their opponents "Read" the game of the Portuguese as an open book.
As a result - nothing intelligible was created in the first half by European football players. At the 44th minute of the match, they earn a corner, however, Luis Suarez lies on the lawn and the doctors are rushing ... The Pyrenees are playing the "standard", then follow the canopy into the penalty area and the ball is in the hands of the goalkeeper of "Celeste" and "Galatasaray" Fernando Muslera. The Mexican referee adds two minutes. During this time, the author of the only goal of the first half managed to break through the gate of the Portuguese dangerously. But a little inaccurately flew the ball after hitting Cavani. The players go to rest.
The squad of Santos need to change something in their game, who must make the most of the fifteen minutes of the break to restructure the actions of his wards.
The second half began in the same compositions, the main coaches of the teams are not in a hurry with the replacements. Unlike his colleague, Fernando Santos is very nervous, almost sitting down on the bench.
Team of Portugal at the 55th minute played the corner, Rafael Guerreiro executed a hit in the penalty area and Pepe scored such a goal, so necessary for his team and for his country! The goalkeeper of Uruguay could not parry the head of the defender of "Besiktas". Parity is again established in our match. By the way, this was the first (!) missed ball at the 2018 World Cup for Uruguayans.
The answer of the South Americans did not take long. On the 62nd minute, Edinson Cavani, scores the second goal. Timely pass of Bentancourt and forward of the French club beautifully traces the Portuguese goalkeeper. "Celeste" come forward!
Seventy minutes of the game behind. Team Portugal is losing the chance to equalize again. After an error Uruguayan goalkeeper Bernard Silva does not get into the goal, launching the ball into the stands. Right after that, Oscar Tabares changes the author of two goals of the Uruguayan national team, injured. Changes, contrary to expectations, the attacker of the "Girona" Christian Stuani. Is the risk of such a replacement too great? Maybe it's time to play for "keeping" the score? But the head coach is more visible.
At the 83rd minute it becomes dangerous at the gate of South Americans. Ricardo Quaresma ("Besiktas") could not break through properly, but could be very effective!
Champion of Russia as part of the Moscow "Locomotive" Manuel Fernandes out instead of Joao Mariou. This is the last, third replacement for Portugal. Immediately two blows marked Fernandes. The last minute of the match. How much will Palasuelos add? Four minutes ...
The goalkeeper of the "villainous" Fernando Musler is already being drawn for time. All the added minutes have expired, and the judge does not stop the game. On the fifth minute - the team from the Iberian Peninsula asks for a penalty. The judge does not give one. Next, the Portuguese earn a corner. And again - nothing ... This interesting match ends and the team of Uruguay is sent to prepare for a meeting with the French in Nizhny Novgorod. And the champions of Europe, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, go after Lionel Messi to the ticket offices of Domodedovo airport.
The first day of July will please football fans with a confrontation between the hosts of the championship, the Russian national team and the formidable Spaniards. And after that the match between the teams of Croatia and Denmark will take place. The games of the eighth finals of the 21st World Cup in Russia are continuing.
