REVIEWING GAMES 29 TO 32: THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

November 28, 2022

WC 2022 REVIEW: PART SEVEN

OVERVIEW OF GAMES 29 TO 32

Goals, we finally got goals! Day Nine brought two goalfests, heartbreak, jubilation, joy, and disappointment. Cameroon and Serbia went toe-to-toe in a six-goal thriller, South Korea’s comeback was spoilt by Ghana, Brazil just about beat Switzerland, and Portugal dominated Uruguay. Here’s what we made of it:

Cameroon 3-3 Serbia

Jean-Charles Castelletto 29’, Vincent Aboubakar 63’, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 66’ ; Strahinja Pavlovic 45+1’, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 45+3’, Aleksandar Mitrovic 53’

Pause. Take a moment. Get your breath back. We’ve just witnessed the game of the group stage so far, and boy, can we not get enough of it. In a must win game for both sides, it was Cameroon who had a disadvantage before the game even began, with first-choice keeper Andre Onana going home after a disagreement with head coach Rigobert Song. Once the game did start, it was all Serbia in the opening, Aleksandar Mitrovic hitting the post, and then somehow missing from eight-yards out with only the keeper to beat. Cameroon then took the lead against the run of play, a flick on from a corner finding Jean-Charles Castelletto at the back post. The game flipped again in injury time, Strahinja Pavlovic heading home a free kick, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic finished brilliantly with his left. Mitrovic finally got his goal in the second-half, following a flowing Serbian team-move. As the game progressed however, the Serbian defence started to open up, and Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting took advantage, finishing tidily to complete a stunning comeback. The result leaves both teams on 1 point each, and helps neither side, with Serbia facing Switzerland in a virtual knockout, and Cameroon all but mathematically eliminated.

Ghana 3-2 South Korea

Mohammed Salisu 24’, Mohammed Kudus 34’, 68’ ; Cho Gue-sung 58’, 61’

Pause again. Take another moment. Get your breath back a second time. Another thrilling contest, another stunning comeback, but heartbreak and tears at the end of it. It was South Korea who started brighter and looked more likely to score, but it was Ghana who took the lead, Mohammed Salisu firing home after the ball ran loose inside the box. Mohammed Kudus doubled their lead ten minutes later with a glancing header, continuing his excellent start to the tournament. Back onto the pitch after the break, and South Korea pushed forward with intensity, and eventually equalized, courtesy of two excellent Cho Gue-sung headers. It wasn’t to be, however, with Mohammed Kudus stroking home with his left after his compatriots failed to connect with a low ball, to spoil the party. Korea pushed relentlessly, mounting waves of pressure as the minutes ticked down, but the Ghanian defence held fast, leaving Son Heung-Min in tears at the final whistle. Ghana now require only a draw to confirm their place in the last 16, while South Korea need a miracle against Portugal and Uruguay to avoid defeat in order to qualify on goal difference.

Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Casemiro 83’

Brazil were far from their best against Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland side, with Neymar’s absence clearly felt. However, it is these types of games that truly forge a Champion, and Brazil came out of it with flying colours. The Brazilian goal was completely untroubled, the Europeans in red finishing without a shot on target. At the other end, Vinicius Jr. had a goal disallowed for an offside in the build-up. The Swiss defence was compact and disciplined for much of the game, keeping the Brazilians at bay with blocks, tackles, and interceptions of the highest order. When the breakthrough finally came, it was Casemiro, of all people, who lashed home after the ball bounced to him. The biggest takeaway from the game would be how Switzerland set-up, perhaps providing a blueprint for other nations on how to counter this excellent Brazil side. Brazil are now through, with first place virtually secured, while the Swiss are favourites for 2^nd place, needing only a draw against Serbia to see them safely through.

Portugal 2-0 Uruguay

Bruno Fernandes 54’, 90+3’ (P)

Cristiano Ronaldo started up top for Portugal, but the surprise came from Uruguay’s 11, where Luis Suarez was left on the bench in favour of Edinson Cavani. Portugal went closest in the early exchanges, William Carvalho narrowly volleying over after some excellent work from Cristiano Ronaldo. Rodrigo Bentancur then waltzed through the Portugal defence as if the ball was glued to his foot, but his shot was weak and straight at Portugal goalie Diogo Costa. Portugal eventually took the lead soon into the second half, Bruno Fernandes’s cross soaring over Ronaldo’s head and finding its way into the far corner. Maxi Gomez nearly equalized, his excellent effort bending around Costa, but hitting the post. Into extra time, and Portugal were awarded a penalty for handball inside Uruguay’s area, which Bruno Fernandes duly converted. The result sees Portugal confirm their place in the knockout rounds, with first place firmly in their hands. Uruguay, on the other hand, disappointed once again, their place in the last 16 now under dire threat.