Tag: 2018 FIFA World Cup

World Cup: Brazil Defeats Serbia 2:0
Sports, World Cup

World Cup: Brazil Defeats Serbia 2:0

The Brazilian team moved on to the second round with a 2:0 defeat of Serbia. Brazil came into the match with 4 points having won one and lost one of their previous matches. Serbia on the other hand came into the match with 3 points and need at least a win to secure a second round place. https://youtu.be/_dusyi-4pMs The Brazilians started scoring in the 36th minute through Paulinho while Thiago Silva got their second in the 68th minute. Brazil now heads to the second round topping the group with 7 point while Serbia heads home having placed third with 3 points.
World Cup: Sweden Win Mexico 3:0
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World Cup: Sweden Win Mexico 3:0

Sweden this afternoon won Mexico 3:0. Mexico was almost sure of qualification baring huge winning margins in the German match while Sweden needed a win to have a chance of qualifying. Sweden started scoring in the 50th minute through Ludwin Augustinsson. In the 62nd minute, Sweden got a second from the penalty spot, converted by Andreas Granqvist. Sweden's third goal was an own goal by Edson Alvarez. This win by Sweden and Germany's loss puts Sweden at the top of the group with Mexico qualifying as the group's runners up. Mexican fans who were grateful to Korea for winning Germany or they might have been on their way home, were chanting "Korea" "Korea" as they left the stadium. https://youtu.be/BHT6V1SpmNA Speaking after the match, Juan Carlos Osorio the Mexican coach said "...
World Cup: Defender Champions, Germany Crash Out, Lose 2:0 to Korea Republic
Sports, World Cup

World Cup: Defender Champions, Germany Crash Out, Lose 2:0 to Korea Republic

Germany, who are the defending champions of the World Cup have been eliminated in the first round by Korea Republic. The Koreans who had nothing at stake except their pride held the Germans who needed a win to a goal-less draw until the additional time of the match. In the 3rd minute of additional time, Kim Younggwon scored the first goal for the Koreans and 3 minutes later, Son Heungmin scored the second Korean, putting the final nail on the German coffin. A shocked German coach said "I’m shocked. Shocked because we didn’t manage to pull it off and beat Korea Republic and we lost this game. It wasn’t my impression when I spoke to the team before that they were under pressure before the match because the Sweden game was on at the same time and we really had the feeling that our team ...
World Cup: France and Denmark Play a Goal-less Draw
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World Cup: France and Denmark Play a Goal-less Draw

France and Denmark today played a goal-less draw in the on-going 2018 FIFA World Cup. The French had already qualified while Denmark needed a draw to ensure their qualification. https://youtu.be/UvFP1ITZ7To According to Didier Deschamps, the French coach "We have reached our goal and the most important thing for us was to top the group. It has not ended up a very exciting match because the Danish team were satisfied with a draw as it meant they would qualify. But all the same, while their defence was very good, we had a number of scoring opportunities. We didn't need to take risks in the match though as this result was ok for everyone. We tried to get a win but the last 15 minutes was, shall we say, a 'neutral' kind of match. It was a choice on Denmark's part and you can understand i...
World Cup: Peru Defeats Australia 2:0
Sports, World Cup

World Cup: Peru Defeats Australia 2:0

In a match between two home bound teams, Peru defeated Australia 2:0. Peru opened scoring in the 18th minute through Carrillo and then doubled their lead in the 50th minute through Guerrero. Though the two teams are already out of the tournament, the Peru side left with some dignity. https://youtu.be/fR-txBJG-B4 After the match Ricardo Gareca, Peru's Coach said "Often times you look at situations and you look at what needs to be done. We had all of this great support from our fans in the stadiums, so we took the defeats really hard. I’m really proud of my players. Along the whole journey they always got back up when they were knocked down. Over time, they have learned how to rise to the challenge." The Australian Coach, Bert van Marwijk on his part has nothing but praise for hi...
World Cup: Croatia Wins Iceland 2:1
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World Cup: Croatia Wins Iceland 2:1

Iceland's run in the World Cup was brought to an end in their 1:2 loss to Croatia. The Croatian team had already qualified prior to the match while Iceland needed to win the match to stand any chance of qualifying. Milan Badelj opened scoring for the Croatians in the 53rd minute and Iceland equalized from the penalty spot in the 76th minute. The match was laid to rest in the 90th minute when Perisic scored Croatia's second goal. https://youtu.be/wfy1ojdPyzA Croatia ends the group stage with 9 full points while Iceland leave with just a point. Croatia will now take on Denmark in the first knockout stage. Zlatko Dalic, the Croatian Coach was full of confidence in his post match conference. He said "We have three wins, nine points, with a goal difference of 7-1. That only goal we ...
World Cup: Nigeria Loses 1:2 to Argentina, Crashes Out of the World Cup
Africa, Nigeria, Sports, World Cup

World Cup: Nigeria Loses 1:2 to Argentina, Crashes Out of the World Cup

The Nigerian Super Eagles this evening lost 1:2 to the Argentinians. In a match which promised to be highly competitive, Argentina came needing a win to qualify while Nigeria needed a draw. Messi scored his first goal and Argentina's first of the night in the 14th minute. That was however all that was seen of Messi as he was always surrounded by Nigerian defenders. In the second half, Nigeria equalized from the penalty spot after Leon Balogun was pulled down by Mascherano. The scores stayed at 1:1 till the 86th minute when Marcos Rojo shot in Argentina's second goal. https://youtu.be/RmlkAOwJ1gI After the match, the Nigerian Coach Gernot Rhor said "We have a very young team who lack some experience, but in four years we’ll be very strong. I want to thank our supporters who have...
World Cup: Iran Gives Portugal a Scare, Plays a 1:1 Draw
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World Cup: Iran Gives Portugal a Scare, Plays a 1:1 Draw

The Portugal team was nearly eliminated by Iran in a match which finally ended 1:1. Portugal had taken the lead in the 45th minute through Quaresma which saw the first half ending 1:0. In the 53rd minute, Ronaldo had his penalty saved by the goalkeeper, missing an opportunity to double their lead and take his goal tally to 5. He was to rue that miss as Iran equalized from the penalty spot in the 3rd minute of additional time after a penalty was awarded following a VAR verdict. Things went hairy for Portugal as Iran came close to taking the lead before the end of the match. They also made appeals for a second penalty after they claimed their player was pushed down in the 18 yard box. According to Carlos Queiroz, Iran's coach "It was a football game that we honoured and we brought p...
World Cup: Morocco Holds Spain to a 2:2 Draw
Africa, Morocco, Sports, World Cup

World Cup: Morocco Holds Spain to a 2:2 Draw

Morocco ended their World Cup campaign with a fiery performance which saw them holding Spain to a 2:2 draw. Morocco opened scoring in the 14th minute through Boutaib and Isco leveled things up for Spain 5 minutes later. The match continued in a stalemate until the 81st minute when En-Nesyri scored Morocco's second. Knowing that a loss to Morocco who were already out of the tournament could see them joining them on their way out, Spain threw everything at the Moroccans and were rewarded in the first minute of the additional time through Iago Aspas, a goal which was seriously contended by Morocco. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzuo2YhzZQU Spain now heads into the second round top of their group with 5 points.
World Cup: Russia Loses 0:3 to Uruguay
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World Cup: Russia Loses 0:3 to Uruguay

The Russian team experienced their first loss of the tournament, losing 0:3 to Uruguay. Luis Suarez opened scoring for Uruguay in the 10th minute and in the 23rd minute, Uruguay got a second off an own goal. Russia was reduced to 10 men when Igor Smolnikov was shown a second yellow and matched off in the 36th minute. Following the sending off, the score remained the same until the 90th minute when Cavani scored Uruguay's 3rd. After the match, the Russian coach, Stanislav Cherchesov said "Even when we had ten people on the pitch, they were running hard and they wanted to attack more that’s why I brought on a substitute. Psychologically we are well prepared for the next games. I believe that we should come to some conclusions, during the training sessions: this is one thing and when yo...