Yesterday we saw Spain kick off World Cup life - both in real-life and in our Draft World Cup! Needless to say, their 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago wasn't as dramatic as their real-life draw with Portugal. But we did have a great game between South Africa and Colombia, whilst Brazil started in fine fashion.
Today is super Saturday! Four games for you, with the opening matches of Group C (Netherlands, Mexico, Tunisia, Thailand) and Group D (Greece, Venezuela, Morocco, Turkey).
Netherlands vs. Mexico
In last year's DWC both sides were eliminated in the round of 16. Had they both won, they'd have met in the quarter-finals. So this is a taste of what we could have seen.
The Netherlands are playing a classic fluid Dutch system, with a lot of faith placed in each player’s positional acumen. Mexico’s unorthodox 3-2-3-2 formation will feature Alejandro Chumacero with a big role in midfield, trying to hold the side together. How will Hirving Lozano do against the side he starred for last year?
Today is super Saturday! Four games for you, with the opening matches of Group C (Netherlands, Mexico, Tunisia, Thailand) and Group D (Greece, Venezuela, Morocco, Turkey).
Netherlands vs. Mexico
In last year's DWC both sides were eliminated in the round of 16. Had they both won, they'd have met in the quarter-finals. So this is a taste of what we could have seen.
The Netherlands are playing a classic fluid Dutch system, with a lot of faith placed in each player’s positional acumen. Mexico’s unorthodox 3-2-3-2 formation will feature Alejandro Chumacero with a big role in midfield, trying to hold the side together. How will Hirving Lozano do against the side he starred for last year?
The answer is very well, as he scores in the 6th minute! Neres’ low cross finds him in plenty of space to fire home. The Dutch continue to look strong, but they are punished for a lapse when Gignac’s fine pass carves them open, allowing Aquino to run through and pass to Raul Ruidiaz to prod in. Both sides have shots go wide before Hakim Ziyech places Netherlands back into the lead after a good pass from Vilhena. Another exemplary pass from Gignac tees up Aquino, but this time Zoet keeps Netherlands in the lead with a good stop. Just before the break both sides suffer injury blows as Neres and Chumacero are forced off.
Mexico continue to push and Ruidiaz’s shot clips the crossbar. Gignac has a big chance as Ruidiaz’s cross finds him 6 yards out, but his header is pushed over by Zoet. But the Frenchman isn’t done yet, and he finally levels it for Mexico when another great pass by Ruidiaz finds his strike partner. Netherlands were just about to bring Berghuis on for Lozano, but the equaliser changed that plan and Berghuis replaces midfielder El Ahmadi instead. It proves a perfect switch as the sub’s cross is nodded in by none other than Lozano. With 10 minutes left, that could be decisive. A few minutes later Berghuis crosses in another one and it’s an even easier chance for Lozano, but he duffs his shot straight at Marchesin. However, it goes unpunished as Mexico fail to create anything more, and a pulsating match finishes 3-2 to the Dutch!
Below is the heatmap for Netherland’s fullbacks. Bearing in mind they are shooting to the left on the graphic, this suggests Mexico should have put more energy into exploiting the huge gaps left by Arias and Tagliafico.
Greece vs. Venezuela
It's a tournament debut for Venezuela, whilst Greece will be hoping to at least match last year's quarter-final appearance. On paper, Group D does appear to be one of the closer groups.
Greece’s attacking full-backs need to provide width to their narrow Christmas tree formation, whilst Emenike up front should be presented with a good number of chances via the creative players around him. Venezuela are well set-up to exploit Greece out wide, as Pena and Lugo are quality wingers who should get a good supply into Falcon.
It's a tournament debut for Venezuela, whilst Greece will be hoping to at least match last year's quarter-final appearance. On paper, Group D does appear to be one of the closer groups.
Greece’s attacking full-backs need to provide width to their narrow Christmas tree formation, whilst Emenike up front should be presented with a good number of chances via the creative players around him. Venezuela are well set-up to exploit Greece out wide, as Pena and Lugo are quality wingers who should get a good supply into Falcon.
In the 10th minute Greece score with notable ease, Odjidja-Ofoe’s cross being nodded in by Kostas Fortounis. Figuera has a sight of goal after a corner is cleared to him, but his half-volley flies narrowly wide. But it is from another corner that Venezuela equalise, as Edwin Peraza is left totally unmarked to head in with 5 minutes to go before half time. Three minutes later and Peraza has another header from another corner, but this time his shot clips the bar and goes over. Half time, and this is a very even game.
The second half is very scrappy, and neither team looks capable of opening up the opposition. Fortounis has a long shot graze the crossbar, before Greece change their gameplan by bringing on their two wingers Vieirinha and Marin. And it’s that change which brings about a crucial second goal for Greece, as Vierinha finds a pocket of space and drills a low shot into the near corner, with just 10 minutes to go! And Greece’s other winger wraps up the victory as Marko Marin taps in after Luciano (Greece’s third sub) has his shot parried by Buenanos. In the 90th minute Venezuela pull one back, yet again a corner is met by Peraza – this time his header is across to Giovanny Romero to nod in. However, Greece are sitting back in numbers and prove too difficult to break down – the final score being 3-2.
Juan Falcon is a key element of Venezuela’s side, but his touch map shows how little service he got during the game (R-L) – a very frustrating outing for the forward.
Tunisia vs. Thailand
With Mexico losing out to Netherlands, whoever wins this game will fancy their chances of challenging for qualification for the next round. The loser, meanwhile, will be virtually out.
Tunisia’s side is split very clearly into no-nonsense defenders and fluent midfielders. It seems like a good mix, as long as the midfielders protect the defence well enough. Their wingers will enjoy the fact that Thailand have no full-backs, will that be a mistake? Thai hopes will be firmly pinned on star striker Diogo.
With Mexico losing out to Netherlands, whoever wins this game will fancy their chances of challenging for qualification for the next round. The loser, meanwhile, will be virtually out.
Tunisia’s side is split very clearly into no-nonsense defenders and fluent midfielders. It seems like a good mix, as long as the midfielders protect the defence well enough. Their wingers will enjoy the fact that Thailand have no full-backs, will that be a mistake? Thai hopes will be firmly pinned on star striker Diogo.
Wajdi Bouazzi has the game’s first chance as he does indeed exploit Thailand’s lack of a left back, but his shot is wild and wide. No matter, as he gets a goal just 7 minutes in, again finding space and finishing at the second attempt. Thailand recover and slow the game down, so it’s a cruel blow when Bilal Ben Messaoud’s long shot hits Diogo and flies in for an own goal. Half time, 2-0.
Thailand address their imbalance by moving to a 4-2-3-1, with Bunmathan moving to LB and Sung-Hwan moving to RB, with Seul-Ki replacing Everton. They succeed in reducing Tunisia’s chances, but they have virtually no threat up front, and the half whistles by with a single highlight – a wasted long shot by Khalifa.
The map of the passes received by Diogo show how tough it was for the lone striker, as the players around him largely failed to give him any support.
Group C standings
Morocco vs. Turkey
Turkey indisputably start as favourites here, but Morocco are no pushovers and will be hoping to do better than their real-life counterparts did yesterday.
This will be a big clash of styles. Morocco are set up to play a very positive and attractive passing game, whilst Turkey are playing a reasonably prosaic 4-4-2, although they have the creative players to come on if they need to change strategy to a more free-flowing one.
Turkey indisputably start as favourites here, but Morocco are no pushovers and will be hoping to do better than their real-life counterparts did yesterday.
This will be a big clash of styles. Morocco are set up to play a very positive and attractive passing game, whilst Turkey are playing a reasonably prosaic 4-4-2, although they have the creative players to come on if they need to change strategy to a more free-flowing one.
Morocco take only 59 seconds to carve Turkey open with their pretty passing, Iajour sliding it through for Ounajem, who selflessly passes it across for Yassine Salhi to fire home. However, Turkey are level three minutes later when Negredo rifles a powerful shot in from the edge of the box – although you get the feeling Zniti should have got more on it. And Negredo has a second five minutes later as he volleys home from Burak’s knockdown. Now it’s Morocco’s turn to respond, as they make it 2-2 in only the 14th minute (!) as Iajour runs onto a loose ball to fire beyond Muslera. In the 18th minute Turkey regain the lead, Negredo the provider this time as he nods it down for Juraj Kucka to fire in. It’s been a shining display from the former Man City striker, and he gets a hat-trick with a close-range volley after another knock-down from Burak. Morocco stem the tide, and we reach half time with the score *only* 4-2.
Morocco move to a back 5 for the second half, with Achchakir replacing Hafidi. The switch works in that Turkey stop creating chances at will, but Morocco also look toothless at the other end. This isn’t helped by losing Salhi to injury, and incredibly there are no highlights at all in the second half, as Turkey cruise to a 4-2 victory.
Given how many goals Turkey had that came through a headed assist, the crossing map for both teams tells a stark story of how much more threatening Turkey were from out wide.
Group D standings
Tomorrow's schedule
Denmark vs. DR Congo
Portugal vs. Mali
England vs. China
Denmark vs. DR Congo
Portugal vs. Mali
England vs. China