What a day it was. What an amazing day. All the three games were successful to keep every football fan on the edge of their seats till the final whistle.
Match 1- Egypt vs Uruguay
Before the match only one question lingered in the minds of every football fan- Will the Egyptian king play?
But sadly when the line-up was revealed, Mo Salah was benched. He did not play, and Egypt watched a workmanlike performance go to waste when Uruguay’s defender José Giménez scored on a dramatic 89th-minute header to propel his team to a 1-0 victory.
Even in the second half, when the game was still scoreless, Cuper pushed his players forward, hoping to score a single goal that might give them the upper hand. The defense did its job at stopping the Uruguayan giants Suarez and Cavani but the game was still tied at nil.
Egypt’s Coach Héctor Cuper was not the only one visibly frustrated; Luis Suarez, had anguish written on his face all game. He shot off target early on and missed his shot from six yards, unmarked. Twice denied by the Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Even after having world-class forwards like Cavani and Suarez, it was but a defender, an unlikely hero who made the difference.
A draw against Uruguay would have validated Cuper’s plan, giving Egypt a point against the group’s best team with two games against inferior teams to play. Now they will lean even more heavily on Salah and his still questionable shoulder.
Man of the Match: Suarez’s Teeth for not appearing.
Match 2- Iran vs Morocco
This has been a very disappointing week for Moroccan football. First, they lost the bid to host the next FIFA World Cup to a country that calls Football Soccer and now today they lost to a team that last won a World Cup game in 1998 against *Drum Rolls* The United States of America.
Conspiracy? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.
Also FINALLY an Own Goal. I waited 24 hours for this.
Perhaps it was no surprise that defenses dominated the entire game, given that the two teams had been so impressive in that aspect of the game during qualification.
Morocco only conceded one goal in their eight games, while Iran let in just five in their 18 Asian qualifiers. This game one will join that political and footballing upset, for the unexpected nature of the Iranian triumph. Floored, twice in three days.
It was a good game though. Iran on the top of the group.
Man of the Match: Own Goal.
Match 3- Spain vs Portugal
OH BOY, This match was a textbook emotional rollercoaster. With 6 goals in total, all the players could do after it was over was applaud. Spain had victory snatched away at the last moment and yet there was no bitterness, no sorrow: only admiration, and awe.
Twice, Portugal led. Twice, Spain recovered, before Nacho Fernández scored the goal that is supposed to be beyond a keeper’s wildest imaginations to put Fernando Hierro, the Spanish coach, on course for a win only one game, and two days, into his job.
But then Cristiano Ronaldo happened.
His third goal rescued Portugal. Three Goals for Ronaldo. That’s one goal for every 6.26 million euro fined.
A suggestion for De Gea: There is a reason Neuer doesn’t have a man-bun. It is CURSED.
Don’t believe me? Ask Karius!
The reason why Ronaldo was able to equalize with the star-studded team of Spain and beat the defense they so boast about was because Spain after getting the lead over Portugal were more concerned with keeping the possession. They underestimated Portugal’s midfield a lot. And in those final 8 minutes, Portugal fought back with all its might and stuck to their game plan- Pass to Ronaldo. And it bloody worked.
Spain and Portugal are tied for second place in Group B after one game. Spain will play group leader Iran, and Portugal will take on Morocco on Wednesday.
It’s safe to say this game lived up to the hype. Spain played better overall. Better possession, better shots, better communication. Ronaldo dragged his team the rest of the way.
Man of the match : *Siiiiuuuuuu*
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