WORLD CUP COMES ALIVE WEEKEND
Goalkeepers Dominating Headlines
Where to start with a weekend where so called minnows time and time again rose to the occasion. Curaçao, Cape Verde and Iran dominating the headlines.
Unfamiliar World Cup nations finding themselves in unfamiliar places.
The podium the past few days has to be topped by Curaçao’s Eloy Room and his record equalling Houdini like performance in goal against Ecuador. In doing so earning his nation its very first World Cup point at only the second time of asking.
This coming on the back of Curaçao opening their campaign on the back of a 7-1 thumping from the 4-time World Champion Germans. The 37-years young Room plays in the USL for Miami FC. The very club Brazilian World Cup here Romario used to ply his trade for.
Ecuador, Curaçao & Brotherly Love
Having been watching World Cups since that most legendary one; Mexico1970 I have never watched a more enthralling and exhilarating scoreless draw.
Less than 24hours later Iran and Cape Verde both shocked their respective soccer aristocrat opponents. In doing so securing points in both their matches to date
Uruguay’s mercurial Argentine manager, Marcelo Bielsa got everyone’s attention by dropping Luis Suárez. Who was in a hospitality suite watching down as his fellow countrymen struggled against Cape Verde. Falling behind and then coughing up a lead.
Remarkably Uruguay, a two-time World Cup winner, have not won a World Cup match without world football’s favourite villain Suárez in their side for an extraordinary 36-years.
That is 9 World Cups and counting Marcelo. It doesn’t get any easier for his side as they round out their group stage campaign against the European Champions Spain who made very light work of Saudia Arabia who they thumped 4 goals by.
Cape Verde are now favourites to finish second in Group H.
With all the uncertainty even around if Iran would even be permitted to take their place at the World Cup, then having to base themselves in Mexico and travel into the US for their group stage games Iran are now unbeaten after two matches. Doing so after yet another dominating display in goal by Alireza Beiranvand.
The Red Devils are a pale shadow of themselves from just a World Cup cycle away which ended their 6-year domination as the highest ranked team on planet futbol.
As it stands right now Canada’s Round of 32 opponent is Belgium. A match which would be played on July 2nd in Vancouver.
Other weekend highlights included Germany doing German things after going a goal down to Côte d'Ivoire in Toronto before a very late winner saw the 4-time World Champs home. The Dutch sending a warning across the bows thumping the Swedes.
No nation has lost 3 World Cup Finals, a 4th time lucky for Oranje?
Friday afternoon in Seattle, the Aussie Boys who had been on a bender, got returned to sender. As the US quietly joined their southern neighbour atop their respective groups
That evening Scotland played as if they had been out on the Boston tiles with the Tartan Army sponsored by Tennents Extra all week. Unfortunately for the immense travelling support putting in a far better performance off the pitch than their players on it. Excuse the bagpipes pun - but for all Scotland’s second half huffing and puffing they didn’t come close to blowing Morocco’s house down.
Brazil stepped it up from their opener. Slotting 3 past Haiti as the Samba Boys began to get into their traditional World Cup rhythm.
Japan made very light work of Herve Renard’s Tunisia. Renard only took charge of the North Africans a few days ago. A true World Cup mercenary. Herve the Swerve has now taken charge of three different nations at three different World Cups. Morocco in 2018, Saudi Arabia in 2022, and here now with Tunisia. For good measure Renard took charge of his native France at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
And yes postgame the Japanese players cleaned their locker room as their supporters did likewise in the stands. Wonder when they will begin the more difficult job of cleaning up FIFA once and for all. In doing so the beautiful game returns to the rightful hands of the people and not the bureaucrats and administrators who dominate.
Our wonderful weekend concluded Sunday night when Egypt, after 92-years of World Cup asking, finally won a World Cup match. Now just like a certain co-host who won their first World Cup match when the weekend unofficially started Thursday in Vancouver the Pharaohs atop their group with a win and a draw.
No prizes for guessing who scored Egypt’s winning goal. In doing so putting to bed the lowest ranked nation at this World Cup, New Zealand. Who incredible only have a total of 60 players registered as professional footballers. Scattered right across planet futbol.
Shocks, surprises, twists and turns aplenty.
Weekends were made for World Cups.
Infantino must be losing sleep as the players, teams and supporters alike rightfully grab all the headlines as the football rises to the top
Cheers
@NoelPButler / info@orangesathalftime.net
Comments