Just as in the real World Cup, yesterday saw late drama as a big team secured a 2-1 win over a minnow - in our case it was Italy breaking Kuwaiti hearts. Elsewhere, Ukraine and USA recorded routine 3-1 wins.
Today we finish the first set of group games, as Group H gets underway with Argentina against Saudi Arabia and France against Poland. We then see the second round of group fixtures begin, as holders Germany look to follow up their excellent opening-day victory with a win over Ghana.
Today we finish the first set of group games, as Group H gets underway with Argentina against Saudi Arabia and France against Poland. We then see the second round of group fixtures begin, as holders Germany look to follow up their excellent opening-day victory with a win over Ghana.
Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia
Argentina fell limply out of last year's DWC at the group stage, and will expect to do better this time round. But Saudi Arabia have impressed during Asian qualifying, with very few homegrown players (a relief given events in Russia).
There is no place in the starting XI for veterans Carlos Tevez and Lisandro Lopez. It will be interesting to see how Argentina’s flat midfield three works well together, up against a talented midfield of Melesi and Claudemir for Saudi Arabia.
Argentina fell limply out of last year's DWC at the group stage, and will expect to do better this time round. But Saudi Arabia have impressed during Asian qualifying, with very few homegrown players (a relief given events in Russia).
There is no place in the starting XI for veterans Carlos Tevez and Lisandro Lopez. It will be interesting to see how Argentina’s flat midfield three works well together, up against a talented midfield of Melesi and Claudemir for Saudi Arabia.
We’ve certainly seen some early goals this year, but Argentina are the fastest of the lot as they get it out wide, Martinez swings in a cross and Lucas Pratto rises highest to head it beyond Ali Al-Habsi. Now, when you’ve seen as many FM18 Touch goals as I have (feel free to count how many there’s been in this series so far – I’ve seen them all), you see types of goals that crop up more than once, and sometimes they are a bit buggy. One such one is where a defender stops a ball going out of play, leaving it nicely positions on his own byline for a winger to cross to an unmarked striker. Anyway, exactly that happens, as Uvini’s mistake allows Martinez to cross for another Pratto header. 2-0. Uvini fails to make amends as his free header from a corner goes over, and that’s half time.
In the 51st minute Pratto has earned the match ball, as a delicious pass from Enzo Perez plays him through, and his first-time volley flies in. A minute later and Gonzalo Rodriguez heads in a corner (an identical chance to Uvini’s) and this is threatening to turn very ugly for the Saudis. Rodriguez hits the bar with another (identical) chance from a corner, this time it hits the bar but Jonathan Maidana is there to knock in the rebound. A loose ball falls to sub Al-Soma following a free kick, but his vicious effort hits the upright and goes wide. One more goal for Argentina would see them eclipse Germany's 6-1 over Croatia, but they cannot find it and have to settle for a paltry 5-0 victory.
We wondered how the Argentinean midfield would get on, and the answer was emphatic. In particular, Gago and Belluschi had a great understanding with each other, with a tenth of all passes being made by Argentina going from one of those two to the other.
France vs. Poland
It's arguably the biggest grudge-match of the group stage! In qualifying events panned out such that France played Poland in their final round of fixtures needing just a draw to automatically qualify, whilst Poland needed a win to avoid elimination - which would also force France into the play-offs. And that's exactly what happened as a single penalty was the difference. Surely lightning won't strike twice?
All eyes will be on Neymar, after the world’s most expensive-ever footballer failed to ignite during the qualifying stages, picking up injuries at inopportune moments. With Mpabbe and Lemar behind Cavani, France look ready for revenge. Poland go with the 4-2-3-1 that led to that unexpected triumph in qualifying, with former Leicester man Wasilewski expected to be key in keeping France out.
It's arguably the biggest grudge-match of the group stage! In qualifying events panned out such that France played Poland in their final round of fixtures needing just a draw to automatically qualify, whilst Poland needed a win to avoid elimination - which would also force France into the play-offs. And that's exactly what happened as a single penalty was the difference. Surely lightning won't strike twice?
All eyes will be on Neymar, after the world’s most expensive-ever footballer failed to ignite during the qualifying stages, picking up injuries at inopportune moments. With Mpabbe and Lemar behind Cavani, France look ready for revenge. Poland go with the 4-2-3-1 that led to that unexpected triumph in qualifying, with former Leicester man Wasilewski expected to be key in keeping France out.
So, I said how quickly Argentina scored last time – 25 seconds... well... er... Poland score after 24 seconds! Terrible positioning by Dani Alves and lethargic cover from Thiago Silva allows Peszko to run through and pull it back towards Gytkjar. Kurzawa makes a great interception, but it goes to Wolski, whose shot is parried by Subasic straight to Miroslav Radovic to power it home for a Polish lead. What on earth were France doing? At least they get back off the canvas quickly, as Neymar’s low cross is turned in by Edinson Cavani six minutes later. The trick is repeated soon after, Neymar slipping his PSG teammate through, but the shot is poor and parried by Kuciak. France are looking assured again when a free kick is played to the totally unmarked Damian Dabrowski, his shot takes a wicked deflection off Fabinho and it goes in for another Polish lead! France get level again, Mbappe sliding in Cavani for a low finish, and just before half time Kuciak has to produce a fine save to deny the Uruguayan his hat-trick.
France finally get into the lead for the first time when Kurzawa’s pinpoint cross is met by a smart Kylian Mbappe header, and shortly after Neymar is tripped by Vesovic in the box. Surprisingly, Cavani doesn’t step up to try and get his third, but instead Fabinho has a go, and his tame effort is pushed away. France are made to immediately regret it as Poland break upfield and substitute Carlitos plays Radovic through to slide in his second goal for 3-3 in a remarkable game. Even more remarkably, nothing happens in the remaining 34 minutes and that is the final score. A great result for Poland, and France continue to struggle along.
Before the match Marcin Wasilewski was highlighted as key for Poland, and his 4 key tackles was the most of anyone in the match.
Group H standings
Germany vs. Ghana
Contrasting fortunes in the opening round of fixtures for these teams, as Germany hammered Croatia whilst Ghana suffered a similarly heavy defeat to Brazil. Dependent on tomorrow's match in this group, Germany could secure qualification here. This is how the group stands after one match each:
Contrasting fortunes in the opening round of fixtures for these teams, as Germany hammered Croatia whilst Ghana suffered a similarly heavy defeat to Brazil. Dependent on tomorrow's match in this group, Germany could secure qualification here. This is how the group stands after one match each:
Germany unsurprisingly name an unchanged line-up. Much more surprisingly, so do Ghana despite a number of poor individual performances against Brazil.
Five minutes in, and Gotze (missing of course, in Russia) picks up a knock and is replaced by Naby Keita, with Thiago moving into the hole. A couple of minutes later and a high cross is missed by Daudu, falling to an unmarked Robben. The Dutchman somehow contrives to hit the post, but the whistle had gone anyway for a German foul. Germany apply plenty of pressure, but Ghana hold firm until the 33rd minute when a glorious pass from the halfway line by Vidal is through to Robert Lewandowski, who makes no mistake in firing powerfully into the goal. A few minutes later and Vidal has a second assist, playing to Keita to fire a lot shot home. However, soon after Asamoah plays it through to the overlapping Emmanuel Clottey, who draws Neuer and fires in for 2-1. But the comeback is short-lived, as Thiago’s cross allows Lewandowski an easy header for a half-time score of 3-1.
Ghana take Bekoe off for Sekyere to give their defence more cover. It works, as the next 23 minutes are very dull. This is ended spectacularly by Ghana captain Sulley Muntari’s wild two-footed lunge on Reus, and off he goes. However, Ghana continue to hold out – albeit with little hope of getting back into a match they need something from – and a 3-1 final score is both decent and disappointing for both sides.
Ghana’s main positive has to come from their defensive fortitude with 10 men – Ghana were restricted to two long-range Alaba shots.
Tomorrow's schedule
Spain vs. South Africa
Brazil vs. Croatia
Colombia vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Spain vs. South Africa
Brazil vs. Croatia
Colombia vs. Trinidad & Tobago