Halfway through Matchday 3 and the good times keep on
rolling at the World Cup. This has been one of the most exciting Group Stages the World
Cup has seen in a long time, with the fates of teams hanging by the balance
till the last minute. It was no different in one group yesterday, while the
other group slipped into anti-climax. I review the matches from Groups C and D
in today’s article. I will also oreview tonight’s games for Groups E and F.
Previews
Group C
Match 5: Australia
vs Peru
Australia went into this game with a slim chance of making
it to the next round. Peru have impressed and entertained but find themselves
already out of the running. The latter got off to the better start. Andre Carrillo
volleyed in from a Guerrero cross with 18 minutes on the clock, a superb finish
from the right winger from a difficult angle. Australia pressed for the equalizer,
and Rogic nearly got it after dribbling past four defenders, but his shot was
straight at the goalkeeper who kept it out. Some desperate defending kept out
the Australians again a few minute later. Peru, like in the first, started the second
half better and extended their lead in the 50th minute. Captain
Guerrero scored this time after having assisted the first. Australia’s slim
hopes were slipping away. Australia had a good chance to get one back 10
minutes later from a corner but Behich’s shot was agonizingly wide. Nearly the
same situation repeated a minute later, and this time it was a Peruvian block
in front of goal which kept the Aussies out. That is as good as it got for the
latter, as their challenge fizzled away. Peru took home a deserved victory from
the tournament and Australia once again failed to get out of their group.
Final Score: Australia
0 – 2 Peru
Match 6: Denmark
vs France
France put some early pressure on the Danes, with Hernandez
cutting in from the left, leading to a shot from Giroud which was saved, and a
penalty shout from Hernandez which was turned down. Denmark had a chance at the
half-hour mark, but Mandanda closed down Eriksen who had ran past his defender
and nearly reached a through ball from the left wing. The best both teams did
for the next half an hour or so were shots from distance, one of which was
spilled by Mandanda but he recovered to gather. And the trend of long range
efforts continued for France as Denmark sat back and played for the draw. Fekir
had two efforts but they didn’t go in. In injury time, Mbappe made a mazy run
through the Danish defense with the help of a couple of lucky deflections but
could not find a teammate in the box. That’s it remained, meaning that this was
the first 0-0 draw of the tournament. It’s taken 38 games! Both teams qualify
from the group.
Final Score: Denmark
0 – 0 France
Group D
Match 5: Iceland
vs Croatia
Croatia were already through but Iceland had all to play for.
Croatia rested nine players, which would’ve come as further motivation for
their opponents. Iceland came out firing, with a couple of early chances, which
also included some sloppy defending from Croatia. Subasic made an acrobatic
save from Gunnarsson’s curling effort. Croatia finally got into the game in the
second half. Badelj hit the bar from more than 30 yards out with the goalkeeper
beaten. And it was Badelj who broke the deadlock just a minute late with a fine
half-volley from a difficult height. Iceland nearly equalized immediately.
Subasic tried to punch a corner but missed but recovered to save Ingason’s goal-bound
header. Ingason hit the bar from the resulting corner. Iceland finally got
level in the 75th minute, after being awarded a penalty for
handball. Sigurdsson made no mistake this time, having missed from the spot
against Nigeria. Iceland needed another goal to keep their hopes alive, and
having seen them in the past, one could never count them out. However, it wasn’t
to be for the tiny island nation as they were dispossessed in defense by
Badelj, who set up Perisic. The latter scored into the far corner to send
Iceland home, and confirm Croatia winning the group.
Final Score: Iceland
1 – 2 Croatia
Match 6: Nigeria
vs Argentina
Argentina were inexplicably on the brink of elimination
after their defeat to Croatia. They had to win this match, and that too by a
goal more than Iceland. As we know, the latter could not pull it off but
Nigeria were on 3 points and only needed a draw in this one. Much like their
first match against Iceland, Argentina started off in determined fashion,
causing some problems for the Nigerian defense. On 14 minutes, Banega played a
superb cross-field lob which Messi controlled with his chest, set it up with
two further touches and shot past the goalkeeper with his ‘weaker’ right foot.
Messi had arrived at this World Cup and the fans were going crazy. The game
slowed down a bit, with both teams struggling to take control of the midfield.
Messi hit the post from a free-kick, which the goalkeeper got fingertips to.
That was actually a very good save from the latter. Nigeria were awarded a
penalty at the start of the second half when Mascherano brought down Balogun. Perhaps
it was a soft decision, but the Argentine defender did have his arms wrapped
around his Nigerian counterpart, who rather easily fell to the floor. Victor
Moses stepped up and converted and now Nigeria were going through. Ighalo had a
glorious opportunity to get his team ahead after some loose defending by Rojo
in the box. The Nigerian forward fired wide, but then there were massive
appeals for handball against Rojo. The replays showed that the ball did hit
Rojo’s hand, after he headed it himself but the referee deemed it
unintentional. This was similar to the penalty given against Portugal against
Iran just one day earlier, and this inconsistency is what gets fans on the
edge. All things said and done, Ighalo should really have scored anyway. 10
minutes later, with Nigeria having absorbed a lot of pressure in the mean-time,
Mercado found space on the right wing and swung in a cross to the center of the
area. Rojo, of all people, was the one that got on the end of it and volleyed
it into the bottom corner. Fortune had turned again and once again, Argentina
were heading to the knockouts. Nigeria could not come back for a second time
and somehow Argentina had held on and were moving on.
Final Score: Nigeria
1 – 2 Argentina
Previews
Group E
Match 5: Mexico
vs Sweden
Mexico, though not already though to the knockouts, will see
this match great opportunity for them to win the group and possibly avoid
Brazil in the next round, who are expected to win Group F (more on them later).
All they need is a draw. Sweden are tied for second with Germany and will also
be looking for a positive result. As such, we can expect an open encounter, as
both teams will look to go for the win. If Mexico play like they did against
Germany, they can very well exploit the gaps that might open up when Sweden
press forward. The partnership of Lozano, Hernandez and Layun up front has been
very fruitful for the Mexicans and they will be looking for more goals in this
match. Sweden were very unlucky to not even get a point from their match
against Germany, wand will be under pressure here. They will need to be
positive once again and play much like they did in the first half against
Germany. I think both teams will cancel each other out, with goals for them
both.
Prediction: Mexico
1 – 1 Sweden
Match 6: South
Korea vs Germany
The defending champions came back from the brink against
Sweden and now find themselves in a match they will expect to win. Having said
that, they were expecting to ease through this group but that hasn’t happened.
South Korea, despite two losses are still out of the tournament. If they win
here and Mexico beat Sweden, with goal differences in their favour, the Asian
nation can still qualify. It looks unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
Germany looked to have found their groove in the second half against Sweden.
They created a lot of chances, and got away with their wastefulness. The defense
frailties also came back and they would need to be wary not to repeat the same.
South Korea have not played well so far, but they have enough to trouble the
German defense. I do believe the world champions should have enough quality to
win this easily and qualify from the group, but maybe only in second place.
Prediction: South
Korea 0 – 3 Germany
Group F
Match 5: Serbia
vs Brazil
Brazil will have a task on their hands when they take on the
solid Serbian team. The latter will be utterly disappointed to have let their
lead slip and eventually lose against Switzerland. Still, they have 3 points on
the board and are very in with a chance to qualify. Only way to do that though
is by beating the formidable Brazil. The South Americans relied on two very
late goals to overcome Costa Rica and will be hoping for a simpler passage in
this match. That might be difficult as the Serbian midfield has been very good
in both their matches. This game will probably come down to whether Brazil can
break down their opponents’ structured team, with the latter likely to rely on
counters to break through Brazil’s sometimes shaky defense. I expect another
cracker of a match, akin to what we saw in the Argentina vs Nigeria game last
night. I will go with a shock and predict a narrow win for Serbia in this game.
Prediction: Serbia
2 – 1 Brazil
Match 6: Switzerland
vs Costa Rica
Switzerland need just a point to qualify while Costa Rica
have been eliminated. The Swiss showed considerable resolve to come back from a
deficit against Serbia and are now favourites to qualify from the group. Whether
they finish first or second is not entirely in their own hands. Costa Rica did
well to keep Brazil out for 90 minutes but haven’t looked like a scoring in the
tournament. I’d be very surprised if they get anything from this game and will predict
a comfortable Swiss victory.
Prediction: Switzerland
2 – 0 Costa Rica
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