REVIEWING GAMES 9 TO 12: THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

 WC 2022 REVIEW: PART THREE

OVERVIEW OF GAMES 9 TO 12

-Mitansh Kagalwala

Day Four of the World Cup came with its fair share of shocks and surprises. Morocco continued the African Nations’ excellent record, holding Croatia, Japan arrived late to upset Germany, Spain absolutely demolished Costa Rica, and Belgium scraped past Canada. Here’s what we made of it:

Morocco 0-0 Croatia

Croatia’s golden generation might finally be past it. In 2018, the Croatians, led by Luka Modric, made their way to the finals, exceeding all expectations. This time around, it doesn’t the Croatians are upto matching that same level. The Croatian spine is ageing, and they looked their age, looking shaky against Morocco’s intense high pressing. Mario Mandzukic, who scored the winner for Croatia in the semi-finals last time around, is now on their coaching staff, and Ante Rebic and Ivan Rakitic are also gone. Indeed, only Josko Gvardiol was particularly impressive, cool and calm on the ball, and one of the few who could match their opponent’s intensity. Neither teams’ attacking engines really got going, with both sides finishing with low xG’s. Morocco, on the other end, defended well; Achraf Hakimi in particular reaching his usual excellent standards. At the end, the 0-0 draw leaves Group F wide open, with who goes forward being anyone’s guess.

Germany 1-2 Japan

Ilkay Gundogan 33’ (P); Ritsu Doan 75’, Takuma Asano 83’

Day number Four, upset Number Two; a game of two halves if there ever was one. Germany went into the break up 1-0, thanks to an Ilkay Gundogan penalty, leading the xG charts 1.68-0.11, with Japan only having 19% possession. Germany continued their attacking dominance in the second half, but were unable to double their lead. Then Japan equalized, Ritsu Doan slotting home after Manuel Neuer parried Takumi Minamino’s shot, and the Germans were suddenly pressure. Germany continued to press forward, looking to go ahead. A long ball was flung forward, Takuma Asano took it down brilliantly, and then thundered it into the roof of the net past Neuer at the near post. Could Neuer have done better? Ironically, if Neuer had been faster off his line, he probably could have closed down Asano much more effectively. Germany’s loss will be giving them nightmares of 2018, and, suddenly, one of the favourites are at risk of going out in the group stage.

Spain 7-0 Costa Rica

Dani Olmo 11’, Marco Asensio 21’, Ferran Torres 31’ (P), 54’, Gavi 74’, Carlos Soler 90’, Alvaro Morata 90+2’

Spain rocked up to their opener with two defensive midfielders, three wingers, no central striker, and decided to lay carnage to Costa Rica. Dani Olmo opened the floodgates, pivoting brilliantly to slot home, Asensio finished tidily, Ferran Torres silenced his critics with a brace, Gavi became the youngest Spanish player ever to score at a World Cup, Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata came off the bench to add to Costa Rica’s misery. The Spanish were at their fluid, brilliant best, finishing with 1045 (!) passes and 82% possession, literally passing the Costa Ricans to death. 18-year old Gavi was the star of the show, hustling up and down the field, and continuing his tradition of getting into a fight with someone twice his age and twice his size. With the Gavi-Pedri duo, the Spanish have the potential to dominate anyone and everyone in the middle of the park, and are living up to their favourites tag.

Photo Via: NDTV Sports


Belgium 1-0 Canada

Michy Batshuayi 44’

A much closer game than the majority expected, given that Belgium had the likes of Kevin De Bruyne to call upon. In the opening 45, it was actually Canada who threatened more, opening up Belgian time and time again, only lacking the final pass and finish. They did win a penalty after Yannick Carrasco was adjudged to have handled Tajon Buchanan’s volley. Canada’s talisman Alphonso Davies stepped up, only for Thibaut Courtois to save from 12 yards. A minute before the break, Belgium broke forward, and Michy Batshuayi scored the only goal of the game. The game showed clearly that Belgium’s golden generation is no longer so golden, and that Canada have an extremely talented side led by Davies and Jonathan David, and have a genuine chance to make it out of the group.


CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR WORLD CUP SERIES

FIFA WORLD CUP DAY ONE REVIEW

FIFA WORLD CUP REVIEW PART TWO

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