Russia 2018

[Galfon]

HK flukes one..6 - 0 after 62 min....then gets the crook for a rest..Vardy on

[Galfon]

Sloppy..6 - 1 after 78 min.

[Galfon]

FT: Eng 6 - 1 Pan
Ran out of puff in the heat 2nd half and subs. affected the flow a bit, but fair do's.
Same g/d as Bel.going into final round.

[rowan]

Panama really were crap. Worst CONCACAF team I've ever seen at the tournament. Even El Salvador rebounded from their heavy loss to Hungary in 1982 to run defending champions Argentina and subsequent semifinalist Belgium close. Just confirms for me that the US made no real attempt to get to Russia, for the obvious reasons. Anyway, you can't ask more of England than to go out and thrash the opposition that's in front of them. It will be a shame if they and/or Belgium do rest players for their final game, but it's not going to make an awful lot of difference who they get in the next round - Senegal or Japan, possibly Colombia or Poland.

Here's the likely playoffs picture as it stands at present:

Russia v Portugal (provided Russia don't lose to Uruguay)
Spain v Uruguay (Unless Portugal blitz Iran - or Iran beat them)

France v Nigeria (provided France don't lose to Denmark)
Croatia v Denmark (unless Denmark lose & Aussie win)

Mexico v Switzerland (unless Sweden beat Mexico)
Brazil v Germany (unless Brazil lose to Serbia)

England v Japan (Japan currently a goal down to Senegal)
Senegal v Belgium (unless Belgium beat England)

Those are just some of the variables, of course. Many other things could happen, especially in group H)...

[rowan]

Slow reactions by the Senegalese defense allows Japan to equalize with just over half an hour gone. 1-1 is a pretty fair reflection of the game so far. Japan are a well-drilled side who do the basics right. Senegal are a little less structured but have real pace on attack. Good game so far.

2nd half not so good. Quality of attack has dropped a little. Both teams seem more afraid of losing than anything. But I've said that a couple of times before in this tournament only for one side or the other to break the deadlock in the closing stages. Indeed, Japan just hit the crossbar after a nice little maneuver inside the Senegal box.

2-1 Senegal. Nice shot from an acute angle after some deft skills on attack by the Africans inside the Japanese box. About 20 mins remaining. Plenty of time for Japan to come back, as they appear well capable of...

2-2. That didn't take long. Big mistake by the Senegalese keeper, diving and missing to leave the goal wide open for the follow up shot. & still plenty of time for a winner in this game too, given neither defense looks particularly sound.

4 mins of injury time. Probably not a bad thing if it stays like this. Both teams well-poised to advance with a draw in their final games. Right now Japan looks a little more threatening. Fitness levels higher, perhaps? A loss could really put the loser under pressure in the final round of the group stage. Yellow cards all over the show.

2-2 it ends. I'll take that, and I don't think either team will be too unhappy with the result. Pressure's on Colombia and Poland now...

[rowan]

Final match of the second round of games underway. I'm hoping for a Colombian win (and no red cards). So far this has been perhaps the poorest showing by teams from outside Europe at a World Cup since Italy hosted it in 1934 - when none of the 4 who showed up progressed beyond the first round of games (it was KOs from start to finish). Of the 7 teams who have been eliminated thus far, none are European, and of those who are through already, 5/6 are European (Uruguay being the exception). The North African trio are gone, 2/3 CONCACAF teams are gone, and from Asia only Japan seem likely to progress, with Australia hanging on by a thread and both SKorea and Saudi eliminated. Realistically we should see Senegal, Nigeria and Mexico in the KO rounds as well, but this is by no means certain with all of them needing to avoid defeat in the final round of the group stages against the likes of Colombia, Argentina and Sweden. & then we see who they are likely to face in the round of 16, (France, Switzerland, England and Belgium, for example), and the chances of any of them reaching the Q-finals looks fairly bleak. On top of which, Argentina will obviously struggle to make the KOs, while Brazil could well end up facing their 2014 nemesis Germany. That leaves Uruguay, whose round of 16 opponent will almost certainly be Spain or Portugal. So could we see an all-European Q-finals for the first and only time since 1934? It's certainly on the cards...

[rowan]

Colombia have looked more dangerous so far but lack the finishing touch. Trying to be a little too clever at times. So no score midway first half. The loser here is out, if there is one. A draw will require both teams to win their final games by a couple of goals if they are to progress.

1-0 Colombia. It had to come. They've been increasingly dominant in the first half and finally get it right just before the break, with a precision cross and header. If it stays like this, Poland will become the first European team eliminated. & Senegal v Colombia is going to be a cracker. But there's another half to play yet.

HT 1-0. Colombia totally dominant. But we've seen games turned completely around in the second half, such as Switzerland v Serbia and Germany v Sweden. So anything could happen.

Poland have certainly upped the tempo in the second half as you would expect, but no addition to the scoring as yet. Colombia getting their chances too, though the finishing has been diabolical.

Chances at both ends, half an hour remaining, you'd have to think another goal will come. A Polish equalizer seems more likely at this stage, as the Colombians have really been pretty awful this half.

& seconds after I write that Colombia go downfield and score a sweet goal, nice pass and cool finish. 2-0. Is that it for Poland? I think the key to that goal was they beat the offside trap, surprising the Polish defense.

Action replay a few minutes later!!! Cuadrago (is that his name?) gets a great pass and finishes off superbly. Now it looks like a hammering. Poland surely out. 3-0 with about 15 mins regulation time remaining. Look out Senegal. 11-man Colombia is a force to be reckoned with. . .

Perhaps the Poles have lost heart, but the Colombians have been very impressive since scoring their second. If they get past Senegal they could well be the team that tears up the script in the knock-out rounds. They just need to avoid any more red cards!

FT 3-0. Dasvidaniya, Poland; 8th team out of the tournament and the first from Europe. & thus concludes the second round of games.

[cashead]

Group A
Russia - already going through
Uruguay - already going through
Egypt - done
Saudi Arabia - done

The Russia v. Uruguay fixture determines who goes through first, and the Egypt v. Saudi game determines who gets the spoon.


Group B
Spain - Likely
Portugal - Likely
Iran - must beat Portugal to sneak through
Morocco - done

Spain or Portugal are definitely going through, and on current form, Spain are unlikely to lose to Morocco.
If Iran beat Portugal, the Iberians go home early.


Group C
France - already going through
Denmark - likely
Australia - Must beat Peru by a large enough margin to overcome a -1 GD (naturally) and compensate for any goals scored by the Danes
Peru - done

France and Denmark will play to determine who goes through at no.1, but if France win, and Australia beats Peru by 4-0 or whatever, the Aussies will get into the KO rounds. If the France v. Denmark game is a draw, the Aussies are done.


Group D
Croatia - already going through
Nigeria - Possible
Iceland - Possible
Argentina - Possible, surprisingly enough

Iceland MUST beat Croatia to get through, and their only hope is to catch a complacent Croat team on the hop, with a big enough goal difference to wipe out -2GD.
Argentina needs Iceland to lose, and to beat Nigeria, a team that beat them the last time they played. GD doesn't matter.


Group E
Brazil - Likely
Switzerland - Possible
Serbia - possible
Costa Rica - done

Brazil just need to win or draw against the Serbs, and they're through.
If Serbia draw, and the darlings of 2014 beat the Swiss, Serbia sneak through. If Serbia v. Brazil and Switzerland v. Costa Rica are both draws, Brazil and Switzerland get through,


Group F through H have 2 game days left, so it's too early to have any idea who's getting through.

Group F
Mexico - Pretty much going through
Germany - Possible
Sweden - Possible
South Korea - 안녕

This is pretty much dependent on two factors. Sweden has to beat Mexico, and either by a bigger margin than what Germany will likely defeat South Korea by. Both Germany and Sweden need each other to lose, so you'll probably find a lot of German fans cheering on the Mexicans, and a lot of Swedes cheering on the Koreans.


Group G
England - Good to go
Belgium - Yep.
Tunisia - Nope.
Panama - Nope.

England v. Belgium pretty much determines who goes through in first place. Currently the two teams are pretty much on par, so FIFA will have to use their tie-breakers in the case of a draw.
There's also Tunisia v. Panama, but they're just playing for pride, and to see who gets the wooden spoon.


Group H
Japan - Probable
Senegal - Probable
Colombia - Possible
Poland - Nope

A win or a draw against Poland will see Japan through, and on current form, it's quite likely. The same goes for Senegal, while Colombia need to win to get through.

[rowan]

Bummer. Now they start synchronizing the games so that you can't watch them both. I only hope local TV gives us Russia-Uruguay at 5pm (Turkey time) and not Saudi-Egypt, which is a dead rubber. In the late game, at 9pm, it's gotta be Portugal-Iran, not Spain-Morocco which is basically a dead rubber except that Spain could still dip out with a freakish 2 or 3-goal loss.

[rowan]

Group F
Mexico - Pretty much going through
Germany - Possible
Sweden - Possible
South Korea - 안녕

This is pretty much dependent on two factors. Sweden has to beat Mexico, and either by a bigger margin than what Germany will likely defeat South Korea by. Both Germany and Sweden need each other to lose, so you'll probably find a lot of German fans cheering on the Mexicans, and a lot of Swedes cheering on the Koreans.



I don't think it's quite so comfortable for Mexico. A simple loss to Sweden by any margin is going to see them out of the tournament if Germany beats Korea by a margin of 2 goals or more. That's a fairly plausible scenario.

Senegal, as you correctly mention, are in the same position. A simple loss to Colombia by any margin is going to see them out of the tournament - unless Poland hammers Japan.

[rowan]

Who needs what...

A
Russia: win or draw v Uruguay to top the group. Lose they finish 2nd.
Uruguay: Win v Russia to top the gorup. Lose or draw they finish 2nd.

B
Spain: win or draw v Morocco to progress. Win by more than Portugal or Iran to finish 1st
Portugal: win or draw v Iran to progress. Win by more than Spain to finish 1st
Iran: must beat Portugal to finish 2nd

C
France: win or draw v Denmark to finish 1st
Denmark: win v France to finish 1st, draw to finish 2nd
Australia: win v Peru, and Denmark to lose to France, to finish 2nd

D
Croatia: Win or draw v Iceland to secure 1st place. Lose they could finish 2nd if Nigeria win big
Nigeria: Win or draw v Argentina to finish 2nd.
Argentina: Win v Nigeria, and Croatia not to lose, to finish 2nd
Iceland: Win v Croatia, and Nigeria not to win, to finish 2nd

E
Brazil: Win v Serbia by as much or more as Swiss to finish 1st, win or draw to progress (unless Swiss draw or lose)
Swiss: Win v Costa Rica by more than Brazil to finish 1st, win or draw to progress (unless Brazil lose)
Serbia: Win v Brazil, and Swiss to lose, to finish 1st. Win v Brazil to progress

F
Mexico: Win or draw v Sweden to finish 1st. Draw v Sweden to progress
Germany: Win v Korea, and Mexico to lose, to finish 1st. Win v Korea to progress, or draw (and Sweden not to win)
Sweden: Win v Mexico to progress. Draw will be enough only if Germany lose

G
England: Win or draw v Belgium to top the group. Lose they finish 2nd
Belgium: Win v England to top the group. Win or draw they finish 2nd.

H
Japan: Win v Poland, by more than Senegal v Colombia, to top the group. Win or draw to progress (or Colombia not to win)
Senegal: Win v Colombia, by more than Japan v Poland, to top the group. Win or draw to progress (unless Japan lose by more)
Colombia: Win v Senegal, and Japan not to win, to finish 1st. Must win to progress at all

[rowan]

A & B will be answered today

[rowan]

I'll pick a Russia-Uruguay draw, hosts top the group. Spanish and Portuguese wins, Spanish top group with superior margin.

Suarez opens the scoring against Russia from a freekick after just 10 mins. 0-1.
Saudi - Egypt scoreless at this point (though I'm not seeing that game)

0-2 Uruguay! Strange goal, seemed to happen in slow motion, took a deflection and the keeper was very slow to react - undoubtedly unsighted. Shocker for the hosts, who have gone very close a couple of times for no return.

Salah has scored for Egypt, meanwhile, as they lead the Saudis 1-0. midway first half.

Suarez very nearly made it 0-3. What a wake-up call for Russia this is. Doesn't matter too much if they finish first or second in the group, given they'll almost certainly be stuck with Spain or Portugal either way, but Uruguay are really exposing some serious weaknesses in their game.

& Russia get a red card just before halftime. The defense cannot deal with the Uruguayan pace and keep bringing them down from behind. Looks like they'll have to settle for second place in this group.

HT Uruguay lead 0-2
Saudis have pulled 1 back in first half injury-time to make it 1-1 at the break.

Just saw Kim Jong-un in the crowd, dancing around and exchanging high-fives with other fans. Amazing!

Russia simply cannot break down the Uruguayan defense and are starting to look a little nonplussed. There's no real sting in their attack anymore. Uruguay are simply too organized and skillful - and will pose as serious threat to whoever they face in the round of 16.

Uruguay with a late goal. 0-3. This is a huge reality check for the home fans, who appear very demoralized, obviously; as do their players. At least their expectations won't be too high for the round of 16, because I don't see them winning there.

Still 1-1 in the other game. Appears headed for an honorable draw...
Nope, Saudis got a winner about 5 mins into injury time! 2-1. North Africans go 0-7 at this tournament so far...

[rowan]

Amazing football nations, Uruguay - 3 million people, and two World Cup titles. Those were way back (1930 & 50), but they also managed to cheat their way into the semis 8 years ago.

[cashead]

If the current scores hold, Portugal goes through top of group B, Spain in second.

[Galfon]

The '30 finals were on home turf with very few European teams participating due to travel & cost issues.
The '50 finals in Brazil was notable for one of the favourites England going down 1-0 to minnows USA, as well as losing 1-0 to Spain.
That being said, Uru were reigning Olympic champs from 1928 and also 1924.
Certainly their purple patch.
As Sir Robert Ch. reputedly once said ' they're all built like brick sh!thouses!..'

[Galfon]

Morocco nudging Spain..bravo.

[cashead]

Morocco nudging Spain..bravo.

Are you sure about that?

[cashead]

Spain qualify top of Group B, Portugal in second.

Iran needed a win, but could only get a draw.

[Galfon]

Morocco nudging Spain..bravo.

Are you sure about that?

they nudged them into a late equaliser.(var gratis).top spot it is, at the death.

[Galfon]

Great finish by Messi on his wrong foot without even looking up.
Nga 0 - 1 Arg, 14 mins gone.
Nigeria pacy and will get chances.

[Galfon]

HT Nga 0 - 1 Arg
Nga getting forward at end of half but Arg largely in control.
'1 goal never enough' (unless the refs. blown.)

[Galfon]

Mascherano has been shoite all match..foolish even though harsh..cool penalty by Moses, the oldest player ever.
1 - 1 after 51 min.

[Galfon]

A proper ref..ball-to-arm aint hand ball.
still 1 - 1, anyone's game. 10 mins. left.
Aguerro on.

[Galfon]

2 - 1 Arg after 86 min..Rojo up from back !
Smart finish.