Qatar is still terrible. FIFA is still corrupt. This tournament should not be held there.
Uruguay vs. South Korea
This match ended 0-0, which is a good result for South Korea but disappointing for Uruguay. They have too much attacking talent to be scoring zero goals against a side like South Korea. All credit to the Koreans though for defending well the whole 90 minutes. Lots of attacking intent on display from both sides, but neither side could make a breakthrough.
Switzerland vs. Cameroon
Many people including myself had this pegged as a draw, but credit to the Swiss for grinding out a 1-0 win. Striker Breel Embolo got the one and only goal in this match just after half time, and it was via some very neat build-up play by the Swiss. Embolo slid home a cross from the right virtually unmarked though, and that cannot happen at a World Cup. Cameroon’s defense was nowhere to be seen. Even though it was a momentary lapse of concentration, even just a momentary lapse can cost you the game. It will be very difficult for Cameroon to get out of this group now.
Portugal vs. Ghana
This was probably the most entertaining match of the day, as it was a 5-goal thriller that ended with Portugal winning 3-2. The first half was a snoozer aside from a disallowed goal by striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Things really kicked off in the second half. Ronaldo, freshly released from Manchester United, became the first man to score at five different World Cups when he pushed Portugal ahead from the penalty spot on 66 minutes. The foul on him that led to the goal was dubious at best, but Ronaldo converted when called upon. Ghana found an equalizer on 73 minutes via Andre Ayew, but Portugal were back in front just 5 minutes later thanks to wunderkind Joao Felix. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes found his run with a lovely weighted pass down the right channel, and Felix hit the ball first time past the Ghanaian keeper.
Portugal got a third via another exciting young talent in winger Rafael Leao, who played in his first ever World Cup match today. Ghana gave the ball away in midfield and Portugal sprang into instant attack, with Bruno bringing the ball forward in space. He found Leao off to his left, who opened his hips and re-directed the ball into the far corner with one touch. A very quick and well-executed goal.
Portugal thought they were home and dry being up 3-1 on 80 minutes, but Ghana showed some backbone and got their second goal via winger Osman Bukari on 89 minutes. A long ball was played down the left wing and run onto by a Ghanaian winger, and after shaking off his marker the ball was crossed into the center. Bukari was mysteriously mostly unmarked, and he made no mistake with his header past keeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal almost conceded a third extremely late on. Costa had the ball in his hands in his own penalty area and put it down to kick it out, but failed to see Ghanaian striker Iñaki Williams standing behind him just inside the goal. Williams sprinted out and took the ball from Costa legally, but he slipped at the vital moment and could not get a shot away before the ball was cleared by the Portuguese defense. Costa very nearly cost his team the game with his lack of awareness, and Williams will be ruing that missed opportunity for years to come.
Portugal are good in attack but their defense is suspect, and it’s the same for Ghana. It will be interesting to see how these teams do against the potent attack of the two other teams in the group.
Brazil vs. Serbia
This was the last match of the day, and while the action was somewhat tepid for awhile things eventually got going for the Brazilians, who won 2-0.
Serbia defended really well in the first half and while it was clear that Brazil looked to be the more dangerous team, they couldn’t find a way through. Star forward Neymar was being fouled and harassed every time he was on the ball, and the Brazilians looked very disjointed in attack overall. It just wasn’t quite coming off for them, and the longer it stayed at 0-0 the more it felt like Serbia might get a result from the match.
But striker Richarlison was on-hand to make sure that didn’t happen on 62 minutes, when he scored from close range off a rebounded save. Winger Vinicius Jr. powered a shot towards goal from the left hand side of the box, which keeper Vanja Milinković-Savić could only parry. Richarlison reacted quickest to the rebound and prodded it home for 1-0, sparking wild celebrations in the crowd and on the bench. It’s always a heart-stopping moment when the ball is loose off a rebound, and unluckily for the Serbs it fell almost straight to the opposition.
Richarlison was just getting warmed up though. He got Brazil’s second through a spectacular effort on 73 minutes that sealed the points. He received a cross from the left hand side along the ground, and used his left foot to hit the ball into the air. He turned on a dime with his right leg rising into the air, and he hit the ball on a very sweet volley low and away from Vanja. It was a beautiful display of athleticism from Richarlison and it’s probably the goal of the tournament so far.
Serbia did not really create many chances in response, and by the end it was Brazil more likely to get a 3rd goal than for Serbia to get their first. It was frustrating for Brazil for about an hour, but if Richarlison is going to play like this for the rest of the tournament, Brazil have to be among the favorites to win the tournament. Their team is incredibly deep and also hungry. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, but paradoxically have not won it for 20 years. This team has the depth and talent to end that dry spell.
4-4-2 