The FIFA World Cup kicked off last Thursday and we have had five days of football action. 14 matches from seven groups have played and we have been served football at its highest level.
What is your view on the newly introduced Video Assistant Referee (VAR)? Has it been helpful? Is it taking away the momentum of the game with several stop and start because center referee have to take time off to view on highlighted decision?
Host Russia surprised the entire world including their fans and President – Vladimir Putin at the Luzhniki stadium during the opening game. The host nation blew away Saudi Arabia in the first game five nil. Egypt was the first African team to play at the World Cup and in spite of Hector Cuper’s pre-match conference comment where he confirmed Mohamed Salah’s availability for the Pharaohs, the Liverpool man did not see a single minute of action in a losing effort to Uruguay. The South Americans found a way thanks to a goal from set piece which has proven to be an albatross for all the African teams that have played till date.
Iran and Morocco opened Group B at Saint Petersburg stadium. A match between two evenly matched sides ended with a 95th minute own goal against Morocco. Once again, this goal came via a set piece and Iran won their first match at the FIFA World Cup since 1998. Portugal and Spain served us a spectacle on Friday night at the Fisht Olympic stadium in Sochi. The Iberian Peninsula derby was a high scoring draw (3-3); Cometh the hour, cometh the man – Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t need introduction but on the night, he shone more than a million stars by scoring the World Cup’s first hat-trick.
Group C was not so glamorous but provided excitement. VAR and goal line technology were in full swing at Kazan Arena when France and Australia square off. Two penalties and an own goal settled it in favor of the French. At the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, VAR was in action again but Peru who were returning to the Mundial for the first time in 36 years missed a glorious chance from the penalty spot. Denmark found a way in a smash and grab win with a solitary goal.
Group D opened at Spartak stadium in Moscow. The David and Goliath story ended in a stalemate; debutant Iceland got off to a good start with a deserved draw. Lionel Messi couldn’t match the heights of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo even missing a penalty against a film director. The moment the entire continent of Africa was waiting for came at the Kaliningrad stadium. Croatia and Nigeria locked horns in the second Group D game but it was an anti-climax for the West African nation. Nigeria’s display was average at best, winning team Croatia did not break too much sweat in the game and it was the same set piece situation that reared its ugly head in both goals.
At the Cosmos Arena in Samara, Serbia skipper Aleksandar Kolarov scored an impeccable free-kick which turned out to be the winner against Costa Rica. Rostov Arena hosted the much awaited Brazil Switzerland game. The Samba boys were expected to dazzle but the Europeans had other ideas. Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho scored a wonder goal to open scoring with Steven Zuber restoring parity with a bullet header from a corner kick. Switzerland held firm and kept wonder boy Neymar quiet.
Luzhniki stadium is earning a reputation for surprises. If Russia’s five star performance against Saudi Arabia did not raise your eyebrow, Mexico performance in their one nil victory against defending champions Germany did not just raise the roofs in Moscow, it caused an earthquake in Mexico City and environs. Hirving Lozano finished off an excellent counter attack move to score the solitary goa. El Tri overall performance was almost perfect bar some poor finishing which could have exposed Jogi Loew’s team some more. Nizhny Novgorod stadium was the venue for the other Group F game between Sweden and Korea Republic with VAR making the difference; Andreas Granqvist scored from the spot to earn the Swedes all three points.
It was an emotional afternoon when Panama national anthem was played the first time at the FIFA World Cup inside the Fisht Olympic stadium; Panama captain Roman Torres was in tears during the rendition. The Central American nation executed a perfect game plan in the first half which ended goalless but Belgium turned on the style with three goals from Dries Merten and Romelu Lukaku in the second stanza. Tunisia made a game of it at the Volgograd Arena but lost at the death; two goals from Captain Harry Kane including a late goal earned the Three Lions in an opening win at the World Cup. The North Africans conceded twice from set piece play which is beginning to look like the main outlet against African teams.
In Group H, Poland take on Senegal who are African’s last representative at the World Cup at the Spartak stadium. Colombia take on Japan in their opening game at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.
Egypt are in a win or bust game tonight against host Russia at Saint Petersburg stadium. A win sees host Russia book their place in the Round of 16. Mohamed Salah will undergo a late fitness for this crucial game.
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