Halfway into the first round of games in the 2020 Draft World Cup, and with the exception of Group C, everything is running to expectation:
Today we cover Groups E & F. France and England are in action, but it is the other two games that promise to be the most interesting, as the groups' 2nd and 3rd seeds take each other on.
Group E: France vs UAE
UAE's first match in DWC finals comes against last year's finalists France. At minimum they will want to avoid losing as heavily as neighbours Saudi Arabia did to the same opponents in 2018, when they lost by a record 7-0. France have a fairly rocky record in the group stages of the DWC, losing one match each year. Dropped points here would leave them in danger as Argentina and Canada are no pushovers.
France field a team that isn't entirely made up of PSG players, as Nice's Youcef Atal and Monaco's Aleksandr Golovin break up the party. UAE, possibly naively, also go with a positive 4-2-3-1 set-up.
Group E: France vs UAE
UAE's first match in DWC finals comes against last year's finalists France. At minimum they will want to avoid losing as heavily as neighbours Saudi Arabia did to the same opponents in 2018, when they lost by a record 7-0. France have a fairly rocky record in the group stages of the DWC, losing one match each year. Dropped points here would leave them in danger as Argentina and Canada are no pushovers.
France field a team that isn't entirely made up of PSG players, as Nice's Youcef Atal and Monaco's Aleksandr Golovin break up the party. UAE, possibly naively, also go with a positive 4-2-3-1 set-up.
A minute into the game, UAE build an attack. Christian Trasch dallies on the ball and is dispossessed by Neymar. He runs upfield, but he suddenly pulls up holding his leg. But France continue upfield, and Ander Herrera takes over. He plays it to Kylian Mbappé, who rushes through and places it home for a 2nd-minute goal!
France are given another boost when Neymar is deemed okay to continue. Herrera nearly doubles the lead when the rebound from Golovin's shot lands to him, but he fires wide with Majed Nasser out of position. There's an even bigger chance when Mbappé is tackled and the ball falls to Neymar. He runs through right in front of goal but Nasser makes the block.
Continuous French pressure finally reaps a second goal in the 22nd minute when Juan Bernat pulls the ball back to the edge of the box and Marco Verratti side-footed it home!
UAE calm the game down for a bit. France's best moments come on the counter when UAE attacks break down, but they can't convert any. In the 39th minute Mbappé finds some space down the right, and his cross is calmly headed home by Herrera for France's third! That's the way the game stays up to the break. France already have the game sewn up halfway in.
France are given another boost when Neymar is deemed okay to continue. Herrera nearly doubles the lead when the rebound from Golovin's shot lands to him, but he fires wide with Majed Nasser out of position. There's an even bigger chance when Mbappé is tackled and the ball falls to Neymar. He runs through right in front of goal but Nasser makes the block.
Continuous French pressure finally reaps a second goal in the 22nd minute when Juan Bernat pulls the ball back to the edge of the box and Marco Verratti side-footed it home!
UAE calm the game down for a bit. France's best moments come on the counter when UAE attacks break down, but they can't convert any. In the 39th minute Mbappé finds some space down the right, and his cross is calmly headed home by Herrera for France's third! That's the way the game stays up to the break. France already have the game sewn up halfway in.
UAE replace Keno with Thulani Serero as they go into damage limitation mode, whilst France protect Neymar by replacing him with Memphis Depay. In the 60th minute both teams are forced into changes as Juan Bernat and Omar Abdulrahman collide, Layvin Kurzawa and Balázs Dzsudzsák coming on.
The on-pitch action is pretty dull this half. Mbappé nearly adds another when he pounced on a loose pass, but Nasser just about prevented the shot from going over the goal line. In the 90th minute Verratti crashes a shot against the crossbar, but otherwise UAE's damage limitation works and they keep a second half clean sheet.
The on-pitch action is pretty dull this half. Mbappé nearly adds another when he pounced on a loose pass, but Nasser just about prevented the shot from going over the goal line. In the 90th minute Verratti crashes a shot against the crossbar, but otherwise UAE's damage limitation works and they keep a second half clean sheet.
Final score: France 3-0 UAE
Player of the match: Marco Verratti
Group E: Argentina vs Canada
Both sides here had fairly underwhelming qualifications, nearly losing out to teams ranked significantly below them in the rankings. Argentina showed their potential when they made the South American Championship final, before losing out to rivals Brazil. Canada, meanwhile, lost to Mexico in the semi final of the North American Championship.
Argentina field the 4-2-3-1 formation with defensive midfielders that didn't exactly work well for Algeria or Mexico, but maybe it'll be third time lucky? Canada will look to control the midfield with their narrow diamond formation.
Player of the match: Marco Verratti
Group E: Argentina vs Canada
Both sides here had fairly underwhelming qualifications, nearly losing out to teams ranked significantly below them in the rankings. Argentina showed their potential when they made the South American Championship final, before losing out to rivals Brazil. Canada, meanwhile, lost to Mexico in the semi final of the North American Championship.
Argentina field the 4-2-3-1 formation with defensive midfielders that didn't exactly work well for Algeria or Mexico, but maybe it'll be third time lucky? Canada will look to control the midfield with their narrow diamond formation.
The start to the game is quiet, with both teams just having pot-shots from range. In the 18th minute Leonardo Godoy gives the ball away with a lax pass, straight to Alejandro Pozuelo. He plays it through towards Jozy Altidore, but Javier Pinola gets in first. He tries to play it back to his keeper Franco Armani but underhits it, allowing Altidore in. Armani reads the danger well and smothers the ball, but the ball excruciatingly trickles over the line! It's given as a Pinola own goal, which means neither Altidore or Armani touched the ball as they collided - the fact the ball went in potentially stopped a penalty and a red for Armani. Anyway, the upshot is that Canada lead!
Argentina try to respond quickly. Enzo Pérez's shot from the edge of the box forces Maxime Crépeau to tip the ball over the bar. But they can't keep Canada under any real pressure, and at the other end Altidore nearly scores from his own rebound, but Armani pushes it behind. He later tests the Argentine goalkeeper with a flicked header from Michael Bradley's cross. We reach half time with Canada looking very comfortable.
Argentina try to respond quickly. Enzo Pérez's shot from the edge of the box forces Maxime Crépeau to tip the ball over the bar. But they can't keep Canada under any real pressure, and at the other end Altidore nearly scores from his own rebound, but Armani pushes it behind. He later tests the Argentine goalkeeper with a flicked header from Michael Bradley's cross. We reach half time with Canada looking very comfortable.
As foreshadowed at the start, Argentina need more midfield control, and so Iván Marcone replaces Juan Fernando Quintero and they change to a 4-3-3 formation. Canada don't make any changes at half time, but after forced into a change 5 minutes into the second half when Pozuelo damages his knee. Bojan is his replacement. He has a brief sight of goal in the 58th minute from Bradley's flick-on, but it's charged down by Pinola.
Rod Fanni clips the top of the bar with a header as Canada look far more likely to score the next goal, despite Argentine efforts to push up. In the 65th minute Canada get into the box down the left through Ali Adnan. Godoy makes the challenge, Canada appeal for a penalty but the referee waves play on. Adnan and Godoy continue to tussle and the Argentine goes down holding his knee. The referee comes over... and sends Godoy off! He had hurt his knee lunging in on Adnan. Is that Argentina's hopes over?
They actually improve, as their makeshift 3-4-1-1 formation seems to give them some midfield presence. In the 78th minute Michael Bradley clatters into a challenge, and picks up his second yellow! We're one-all in terms of red cards, can Argentina make it so in terms of goals?
From the resulting free kick Argentina work the ball around the pitch. Pérez suddenly switches the play, finding Eduardo Salvio in space. He shoots from a tight angle, and beats Crépeau at the near post! We are all-square, and there's still 10 minutes to go!
Those final 10 minutes are an anticlimax as both teams seem happy to settle for a point after a chaotic game, and that's exactly what they get.
Rod Fanni clips the top of the bar with a header as Canada look far more likely to score the next goal, despite Argentine efforts to push up. In the 65th minute Canada get into the box down the left through Ali Adnan. Godoy makes the challenge, Canada appeal for a penalty but the referee waves play on. Adnan and Godoy continue to tussle and the Argentine goes down holding his knee. The referee comes over... and sends Godoy off! He had hurt his knee lunging in on Adnan. Is that Argentina's hopes over?
They actually improve, as their makeshift 3-4-1-1 formation seems to give them some midfield presence. In the 78th minute Michael Bradley clatters into a challenge, and picks up his second yellow! We're one-all in terms of red cards, can Argentina make it so in terms of goals?
From the resulting free kick Argentina work the ball around the pitch. Pérez suddenly switches the play, finding Eduardo Salvio in space. He shoots from a tight angle, and beats Crépeau at the near post! We are all-square, and there's still 10 minutes to go!
Those final 10 minutes are an anticlimax as both teams seem happy to settle for a point after a chaotic game, and that's exactly what they get.
Final score: Argentina 1-1 Canada
Player of the match: Ali Adnan
Player of the match: Ali Adnan
Group F: England vs Ivory Coast
The tournament's lowest-ranked side have to face behemoth England in their DWC debut. Despite a good qualification ahead of Africa's top seeds South Africa, this is a very daunting prospect for Ivory Coast. England have their eyes solely on the final stages of this tournament, and will expect to coast this group.
England's team selection has been very consistent this season, with the only real question mark over who starts up front. This time it's Sergio Aguero who is chosen ahead of Harry Kane and Roberto Firmino. The obvious star in the Ivory Coast team, Yaya Touré, starts on the right of a midfield trio. Whether he can influence the game from there remains to be seen.
The tournament's lowest-ranked side have to face behemoth England in their DWC debut. Despite a good qualification ahead of Africa's top seeds South Africa, this is a very daunting prospect for Ivory Coast. England have their eyes solely on the final stages of this tournament, and will expect to coast this group.
England's team selection has been very consistent this season, with the only real question mark over who starts up front. This time it's Sergio Aguero who is chosen ahead of Harry Kane and Roberto Firmino. The obvious star in the Ivory Coast team, Yaya Touré, starts on the right of a midfield trio. Whether he can influence the game from there remains to be seen.
Touré picks up a yellow card within 4 minutes, a slightly worrying start given his importance to Ivory Coast. However, his team do well, denying England any chances in the opening spell of the game and even matching them for possession. England do eventually begin to assert themselves, and Kevin De Bruyne draws two fine reaction saves from Abdoul Karim Cissé from successive attacks.
Ivory Coast get through a fairly tough spell intact, and even occasionally get the ball into dangerous positions at the other end. It nearly backfires when an Ivorian free kick is cleared to De Bruyne, who is given space to run the length of the pitch, but he again is denied by Cissé. Another Ivory Coast free kick leads to another England counter. This time it's Mo Salah who gets the shot away, and again Cissé is equal to it.
In the 40th minute Ivory Coast's defence breaks through England's press and Fonsinho wriggles past Andy Robertson on the right. The Liverpool man pulls back Fonsie, and picks up a second yellow! A tricky game for England just got a whole lot tougher! The game is even at the break, with a very interesting second half promised.
Ivory Coast get through a fairly tough spell intact, and even occasionally get the ball into dangerous positions at the other end. It nearly backfires when an Ivorian free kick is cleared to De Bruyne, who is given space to run the length of the pitch, but he again is denied by Cissé. Another Ivory Coast free kick leads to another England counter. This time it's Mo Salah who gets the shot away, and again Cissé is equal to it.
In the 40th minute Ivory Coast's defence breaks through England's press and Fonsinho wriggles past Andy Robertson on the right. The Liverpool man pulls back Fonsie, and picks up a second yellow! A tricky game for England just got a whole lot tougher! The game is even at the break, with a very interesting second half promised.
Neither team choose to make changes. Aymeric Laporte has been moved to replace Robertson, with Fabinho dropping in to partner Virgil van Dijk. And Laporte sets up England's first chance of the half, cutting in from the left and playing it across to Salah, but his shot is blocked. From the rebound Salah collides with Constant Djakpa and both pick up a knock. However, it's only the Ivorian left back (an unlucky position) who needs substituting.
In the 55th minute England Alexander-Arnold plays it in to Salah, who has found a pocket of space inside the box, and he has no hesitation in turning and lashing a shot into the bottom corner! A big relief for England, who have continued to control the game despite the red card.
Ivory Coast try and figure out a way to exploit England's gaps at the back, but they are struck by a swift second, as Alexander-Arnold's wonderful curling pass finds Sadio Mané who beats his man and fires in at the near post!
Salah is taken off, given his earlier knock, replaced by Bernardo Silva. And his first meaningful contribution is to head in De Bruyne's corner to put England three up! And in the 79th minute he grabs another when fellow sub Kane's knock-down finds him 8 yards out.
The misery continued for Ivory Coast. 7 minutes later England's final sub, Joao Cancelo, chipped in a cross for Mané to head in his second. And that's it. Salah's goal opened the floodgates, and England's gameplan eventually worked brilliantly, with chances created from the full backs and finished by the inside forwards.
In the 55th minute England Alexander-Arnold plays it in to Salah, who has found a pocket of space inside the box, and he has no hesitation in turning and lashing a shot into the bottom corner! A big relief for England, who have continued to control the game despite the red card.
Ivory Coast try and figure out a way to exploit England's gaps at the back, but they are struck by a swift second, as Alexander-Arnold's wonderful curling pass finds Sadio Mané who beats his man and fires in at the near post!
Salah is taken off, given his earlier knock, replaced by Bernardo Silva. And his first meaningful contribution is to head in De Bruyne's corner to put England three up! And in the 79th minute he grabs another when fellow sub Kane's knock-down finds him 8 yards out.
The misery continued for Ivory Coast. 7 minutes later England's final sub, Joao Cancelo, chipped in a cross for Mané to head in his second. And that's it. Salah's goal opened the floodgates, and England's gameplan eventually worked brilliantly, with chances created from the full backs and finished by the inside forwards.
Group F: Chile vs Ukraine
This looks to be the battle for 2nd place. Chile, always so reliable in qualifying, are shaky in group games. Last year was the first time they made the knockout rounds, and to do so again they'll have to beat a Ukraine team on a high after a brilliant qualification campaign. The two sides took each other on in their opening game in the 2018 DWC, with Ukraine emerging as 3-1 victors then.
With a strong front three, Ukraine's set-up is to get it to that trio quickly. And with Chile playing in their trademark high-intensity 3-4-3 formation, this could be an end-to-end game.
This looks to be the battle for 2nd place. Chile, always so reliable in qualifying, are shaky in group games. Last year was the first time they made the knockout rounds, and to do so again they'll have to beat a Ukraine team on a high after a brilliant qualification campaign. The two sides took each other on in their opening game in the 2018 DWC, with Ukraine emerging as 3-1 victors then.
With a strong front three, Ukraine's set-up is to get it to that trio quickly. And with Chile playing in their trademark high-intensity 3-4-3 formation, this could be an end-to-end game.
This swift play was evident as Chile somehow turned a goal kick into a quick break down the left. Cristian Cuevas' cross found Nicolás Blandi but he fired over. At the other end Taison went on a mesmeric run only to be denied by Alexis Martín Arias from 10 yards out.
A foul by Dodo (a key part of my dominant Torino team in FIFA 19) gave Chile a chance with a free kick on the left of the box. It was whipped in by Matí Fernández to Juan Manuel Insaurralde but his header was saved by Andriy Pyatov. Dodo was involved at the other end, finding Taison with an excellent cross, but again his shot was parried by Arias.
Overall, Chile are second-best, not being able to put together moves and struggling to cope with Taison. The inside forward again forces Arias into action with a powerful effort from 25 yards out. But we reach the break goalless.
A foul by Dodo (a key part of my dominant Torino team in FIFA 19) gave Chile a chance with a free kick on the left of the box. It was whipped in by Matí Fernández to Juan Manuel Insaurralde but his header was saved by Andriy Pyatov. Dodo was involved at the other end, finding Taison with an excellent cross, but again his shot was parried by Arias.
Overall, Chile are second-best, not being able to put together moves and struggling to cope with Taison. The inside forward again forces Arias into action with a powerful effort from 25 yards out. But we reach the break goalless.
In the 53rd minute a great pass by Luciano Aued finds Matías Rodríguez on the right wing. He cuts it inside to Edson Puch, who quickly chips it in for Blandi to volley Chile into the lead!
Blandi nearly adds a quick second as he hares onto Rodríguez's early pass, but Pyatov pushes the shot over the bar. The goal seems to have dented Ukraine's confidence. Their next decent chance comes in the 71st minute as Taison heads a corner over the bar.
Ukraine's efforts to push up fall flat, and it's Chile who go close to scoring late on, as Rodríguez stings Pyatov's gloves. Ukraine cannot mount any serious attacks of their own, and Chile hold on to claim a potentially massive win!
Blandi nearly adds a quick second as he hares onto Rodríguez's early pass, but Pyatov pushes the shot over the bar. The goal seems to have dented Ukraine's confidence. Their next decent chance comes in the 71st minute as Taison heads a corner over the bar.
Ukraine's efforts to push up fall flat, and it's Chile who go close to scoring late on, as Rodríguez stings Pyatov's gloves. Ukraine cannot mount any serious attacks of their own, and Chile hold on to claim a potentially massive win!
Final score: Chile 1-0 Ukraine
Player of the match: Victor Kovalenko
Player of the match: Victor Kovalenko
So, France and England pick up their expected wins, even if England's was far less routine than expected. Chile have also taken a big step towards qualification, whilst Argentina and Canada remain tied.
Next time we see our final two groups. With these groups featuring the two lowest-ranked top seeds (if that's not paradoxical...), they may be more even than the ones we've seen so far.
Next time we see our final two groups. With these groups featuring the two lowest-ranked top seeds (if that's not paradoxical...), they may be more even than the ones we've seen so far.