We've had 12 games so far, and already plenty of drama in this year's Draft World Cup.
24 of the 32 teams have been in action, and now it's time to see the remaining 8 as we play out the opening matches in Groups G & H. In terms of distance from top seed to bottom seed, these are the two closest groups, so we could be in store for some tight matches here.
Group G: Brazil vs Kazakhstan
Brazil have reached the final and semi final in the two DWCs they've qualified for, a fantastic record for the the tournament's 8th-ranked team. They here on the back of a flying performance in South American qualifying and victory in the South American Championship. In contract, Kazakhstan lost all their games in their only DWC, last year, and could only make the second round in the Asian Championship.
Brazil field their familiar 4-2-3-1, although only 6 of the players to start the South American Championship final start, 4 of whom are the defence. Kazakhstan go with a 4-3-3, the formation of the moment, with a focus more on defence than attack.
Group G: Brazil vs Kazakhstan
Brazil have reached the final and semi final in the two DWCs they've qualified for, a fantastic record for the the tournament's 8th-ranked team. They here on the back of a flying performance in South American qualifying and victory in the South American Championship. In contract, Kazakhstan lost all their games in their only DWC, last year, and could only make the second round in the Asian Championship.
Brazil field their familiar 4-2-3-1, although only 6 of the players to start the South American Championship final start, 4 of whom are the defence. Kazakhstan go with a 4-3-3, the formation of the moment, with a focus more on defence than attack.
It's a fairly quiet start. Brazil look best when star full backs Dani Alves and Filipe Luís find space, but with Kazakhstan's wingers tightly marking them those moments are rare. In the 20th minute Kazakhstan get a throw in high up the pitch. Brazil defend the cross but it's cleared only as far as May Mahlangu, and the South African is given plenty of time and space to get his shot away. It hits the crossbar, bounces on the line and falls over the line! Kazakhstan lead!
It's nearly a quick second as Rotariu forces Fábio into a save, and Kazakhstan look generally comfortable. Brazil can't fashion any chances, and they go in behind at the break.
It's nearly a quick second as Rotariu forces Fábio into a save, and Kazakhstan look generally comfortable. Brazil can't fashion any chances, and they go in behind at the break.
Brazil get a corner in the 53rd minute. Gabriel Barbosa heads Dani Alves' cross at goal, but Dmitrii Shomko clears it off the line! Kazakhstan get up the other end and nearly take advantage of slightly disorganised Brazilian defending. And Brazil have to rely on Fábio to deny Marin Tomasov when he breaks away and gets one-on-one.
In the 64th minute Kazakhstan again look to break as it's played up to Aderinsola Eseola, but he plays a horrible pass backwards and it plays in Brazilian sub Luiz Adriano. He shoots quite early, and Nenad Eric gets a hand to it and pushes it behind! Kazakhstan can't get it clear, and Hernanes floats a beautiful cross in for Luiz Adriano to head in! Brazil have, despite not really getting their act togther, got level... but the flag is up! It's actually comfortably offside, and Kazakhstan continue to lead.
Brazil keep it up, finally building a spell of pressure. Dani Alves finds a bit of space on the right, but Tomasov is quite to close him down, as he has been all game. But this time it backfires, as the winger makes a clumsy challenge and gives away a penalty! Brazil have been given a huge lifeline, can Gabriel Barbosa take advantage? He certainly can, lashing the ball into the bottom corner!
Tomasov tries to make quick amends, going on a solo run and slipping in Dan Rotariu, but the Romanian can't beat Fábio from an impossible angle. Soon after, Tomasov's free kick is headed just over by Pablo Fontanello.
Brazil protect Filipe Luís by replacing him with Víctor Cuesta, with Walter Kannemann moving to left back. And after a good passing move Kannemann delicately slips it through to Everton. The wide man hasn't had a good game by his standards, but he keeps his cool to slide it across Eric and put Brazil ahead!
Kazakhstan, so effective on the break, are not set up for breaking down defences, and as Brazil hold back Kazakhstan can't fashion any clear chances. The group favourites see out the remaining 10 minutes fairly easily and - with some degree of relief - get underway with a win! Poor Kazakhstan.
In the 64th minute Kazakhstan again look to break as it's played up to Aderinsola Eseola, but he plays a horrible pass backwards and it plays in Brazilian sub Luiz Adriano. He shoots quite early, and Nenad Eric gets a hand to it and pushes it behind! Kazakhstan can't get it clear, and Hernanes floats a beautiful cross in for Luiz Adriano to head in! Brazil have, despite not really getting their act togther, got level... but the flag is up! It's actually comfortably offside, and Kazakhstan continue to lead.
Brazil keep it up, finally building a spell of pressure. Dani Alves finds a bit of space on the right, but Tomasov is quite to close him down, as he has been all game. But this time it backfires, as the winger makes a clumsy challenge and gives away a penalty! Brazil have been given a huge lifeline, can Gabriel Barbosa take advantage? He certainly can, lashing the ball into the bottom corner!
Tomasov tries to make quick amends, going on a solo run and slipping in Dan Rotariu, but the Romanian can't beat Fábio from an impossible angle. Soon after, Tomasov's free kick is headed just over by Pablo Fontanello.
Brazil protect Filipe Luís by replacing him with Víctor Cuesta, with Walter Kannemann moving to left back. And after a good passing move Kannemann delicately slips it through to Everton. The wide man hasn't had a good game by his standards, but he keeps his cool to slide it across Eric and put Brazil ahead!
Kazakhstan, so effective on the break, are not set up for breaking down defences, and as Brazil hold back Kazakhstan can't fashion any clear chances. The group favourites see out the remaining 10 minutes fairly easily and - with some degree of relief - get underway with a win! Poor Kazakhstan.
Final score: Brazil 2-1 Kazakhstan
Player of the match: Walter Kannemann
Group G: Tunisia vs Greece
Both teams are back after missing last year's event. Since falling short in last year's African play-offs, Tunisia have lost just one game. However, it was a damaging one, a loss to Angola in the second round of the African Championship. Like Tunisia, Greece were unbeaten in qualifying, and they too fell short in the second round of their continental championship, losing to Ukraine.
Tunisia mix things up, playing a 5-2-2-1 formation, something Chile have used in the past. This allows them to compromise and pick both of their star attacking midfielders, Oussama Darragi and Yassine Chikhaoui. Greece field the Christmas tree formation that has become their trademark in DWC football, with Kostas Fortounis and Mathieu Valbuena starting behind Youssef El Arabi.
Player of the match: Walter Kannemann
Group G: Tunisia vs Greece
Both teams are back after missing last year's event. Since falling short in last year's African play-offs, Tunisia have lost just one game. However, it was a damaging one, a loss to Angola in the second round of the African Championship. Like Tunisia, Greece were unbeaten in qualifying, and they too fell short in the second round of their continental championship, losing to Ukraine.
Tunisia mix things up, playing a 5-2-2-1 formation, something Chile have used in the past. This allows them to compromise and pick both of their star attacking midfielders, Oussama Darragi and Yassine Chikhaoui. Greece field the Christmas tree formation that has become their trademark in DWC football, with Kostas Fortounis and Mathieu Valbuena starting behind Youssef El Arabi.
Tunisia are well-equipped to defend the middle, which is a problem for Greece who are set up to attack the middle. It leads to an opening period of blocked shots and lots of turnovers.
With this in mind, set pieces represent as good a chance as any for Greece to fashion clear chances. Their best effort comes on the half hour mark when Valbuena crosses and El Arabi heads just over. Mohamed Konaté does the same at the other end, also from a free kick. And that's about it. We get to half time with the game in the deadest of deadlocks.
With this in mind, set pieces represent as good a chance as any for Greece to fashion clear chances. Their best effort comes on the half hour mark when Valbuena crosses and El Arabi heads just over. Mohamed Konaté does the same at the other end, also from a free kick. And that's about it. We get to half time with the game in the deadest of deadlocks.
Greece address their lack of width, replacing Pontus Wernbloom with Miraslav Stoch and changing to a 4-2-3-1. It does little to change the flow of the game. Again, Greece need set pieces to threaten, and they go even closer when Fortounis hits the bar from a corner. Tunisia have their first decent attack in open play in the 62nd minute, Breno finding space overlapping on the left and forcing a good save from José Sá.
Greece wind up completely reversing their gameplan, and focusing on the wings, with full backs Kostas Tsimikas and sub Vieirinha given full license to join the attack. In the 73rd minute Guilherme finds Tsimikas in space on the left. He gets past Sameh Derbali and brilliantly finds the far corner with a powerful shot!
Tunisia now find themselves, like Kazakhstan, having to go from a fairly defensive mindset to finding a way to attack, so far they have only had 4 shots. Derbali does his best, drilling a low cross that Chikhaoui can only turn wide. It's as good as they can manage, as they draw a blank and Greece claim a fairly underwhelming win.
Greece wind up completely reversing their gameplan, and focusing on the wings, with full backs Kostas Tsimikas and sub Vieirinha given full license to join the attack. In the 73rd minute Guilherme finds Tsimikas in space on the left. He gets past Sameh Derbali and brilliantly finds the far corner with a powerful shot!
Tunisia now find themselves, like Kazakhstan, having to go from a fairly defensive mindset to finding a way to attack, so far they have only had 4 shots. Derbali does his best, drilling a low cross that Chikhaoui can only turn wide. It's as good as they can manage, as they draw a blank and Greece claim a fairly underwhelming win.
Final score: Tunisia 0-1 Greece
Player of the match: Kostas Tsimikas
Player of the match: Kostas Tsimikas
Group H: Netherlands vs USA
This is Netherlands' first chance to bounce back from the embarrassing failure to qualify for the European Championships. It won't be easy, as they take on the North American Championship winners. The two sides shared a qualification group in the 2017 DWC. They won one game each, and 15 goals were scored across both games, which bodes well for today.
After years of the Dutch striker's role being taken by Kasper Dolberg or Nicolai Jorgensen, Dusan Tadic now takes the slot. USA are now without star names Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, and will hope that the two Martínezes, Gonzalo and Josef, can replicate their qualify in the North American Championship.
This is Netherlands' first chance to bounce back from the embarrassing failure to qualify for the European Championships. It won't be easy, as they take on the North American Championship winners. The two sides shared a qualification group in the 2017 DWC. They won one game each, and 15 goals were scored across both games, which bodes well for today.
After years of the Dutch striker's role being taken by Kasper Dolberg or Nicolai Jorgensen, Dusan Tadic now takes the slot. USA are now without star names Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, and will hope that the two Martínezes, Gonzalo and Josef, can replicate their qualify in the North American Championship.
Netherlands start with intent, Quincy Promes getting a shot away 24 seconds in, albeit easily held by Andre Blake. In the 20th minute Promes glides past Jorge Moreira to open up some space, and slips in Hakim Ziyech. He's through on goal, but Blake is able to parry his shot behind.
It's a very strong start from Netherlands, and in the 26th minute they pull USA apart with a passing move around the pitch. They capitalise on the space created as Fredrik Mitsjo fires a pass through to David Neres, who has ghosted behind Emiliano Insúa. He has no hesitation in sprinting through on goal and belting the ball through Blake to give his side a deserved lead!
The Martínezes spring into life, Gonzalo skinning Denzel Dumfries and crossing for Josef, who heads over. But generally USA are struggling badly with Netherlands' beautiful passing. In the 40th minute they put together a particularly intricate move which leads to Neres switching the play to Promes. Moreira is in to make the challenge, but he bowls over Promes and the ref points to the spot! Already on a yellow, at least it's only a penalty. Tadic takes... and tucks it away!
The former Southampton man makes it double whammy two minutes later, as Winston Reid messes up a backpass following a swift Dutch counter-attack, and Tadic forces the ball past Blake! It's 3-0 at the break, and it's been an outstanding display of totaalvoetbal.
It's a very strong start from Netherlands, and in the 26th minute they pull USA apart with a passing move around the pitch. They capitalise on the space created as Fredrik Mitsjo fires a pass through to David Neres, who has ghosted behind Emiliano Insúa. He has no hesitation in sprinting through on goal and belting the ball through Blake to give his side a deserved lead!
The Martínezes spring into life, Gonzalo skinning Denzel Dumfries and crossing for Josef, who heads over. But generally USA are struggling badly with Netherlands' beautiful passing. In the 40th minute they put together a particularly intricate move which leads to Neres switching the play to Promes. Moreira is in to make the challenge, but he bowls over Promes and the ref points to the spot! Already on a yellow, at least it's only a penalty. Tadic takes... and tucks it away!
The former Southampton man makes it double whammy two minutes later, as Winston Reid messes up a backpass following a swift Dutch counter-attack, and Tadic forces the ball past Blake! It's 3-0 at the break, and it's been an outstanding display of totaalvoetbal.
USA replace Moreira and Rodolfo Pizarro with Graham Zusi and Thiago Santos, as they change to a 4-3-3 shape and at least stem the flow of Dutch chances. They nearly do more than that, as Carlos Vela heads narrowly over the bar from a corner. This is followed by a corner at the other end. Ziyech plays it to the near post, where Neres is waiting to head it in! Oh dear, USA.
The only competition left in this game is whether Tadic or Neres can complete their hat tricks. Neres goes close with a shot from the edge of the box that Blake unconvincingly keeps out. From the resulting corner Gonzalo Martínez goes on a thrilling run the length of the pitch, and crosses for Vela, but he can't beat André Onana. From that corner Gonzalo's cross finds Josef. His initial shot is blocked by Donny van de Beek, and his follow-up blocked by Joel Veltman, but at the third attempt he puts it away!
The game enters a bit of a lull, livened up in the 75th minute when a risky pass from Zusi is cut out by Neres, who dribbles into the box but fires wide. The remainder of the game is played out with little drama, as Netherlands continue their excellent form in DWC group games.
The only competition left in this game is whether Tadic or Neres can complete their hat tricks. Neres goes close with a shot from the edge of the box that Blake unconvincingly keeps out. From the resulting corner Gonzalo Martínez goes on a thrilling run the length of the pitch, and crosses for Vela, but he can't beat André Onana. From that corner Gonzalo's cross finds Josef. His initial shot is blocked by Donny van de Beek, and his follow-up blocked by Joel Veltman, but at the third attempt he puts it away!
The game enters a bit of a lull, livened up in the 75th minute when a risky pass from Zusi is cut out by Neres, who dribbles into the box but fires wide. The remainder of the game is played out with little drama, as Netherlands continue their excellent form in DWC group games.
Final score: Netherlands 4-1 USA
Player of the match: David Neres
Group H: Egypt vs Saudi Arabia
Neighbours, if not quite next-door neighbours, this will be an interesting battle between the group's lower-ranked two sides. Egypt qualified despite a couple of big scares, whilst Saudi Arabia are having a really strong year, including triumph over China in the Asian Championship final.
Saudi Arabia stick with the diamond formation that lead them to that success, with the front pairing of Sebastian Giovinco and Bafétimbi Gomis key. Egypt's 4-2-3-1 features two defensive midfielders, a recipe for disaster so far this tournament.
Player of the match: David Neres
Group H: Egypt vs Saudi Arabia
Neighbours, if not quite next-door neighbours, this will be an interesting battle between the group's lower-ranked two sides. Egypt qualified despite a couple of big scares, whilst Saudi Arabia are having a really strong year, including triumph over China in the Asian Championship final.
Saudi Arabia stick with the diamond formation that lead them to that success, with the front pairing of Sebastian Giovinco and Bafétimbi Gomis key. Egypt's 4-2-3-1 features two defensive midfielders, a recipe for disaster so far this tournament.
In the 5th minute Egypt pin Saudi Arabia's Matías Aguirregaray back, but he get it through to Souza, who whips it upfield for Gomis to run onto. He brings it through, but is denied by Mohamed El Shennawy. Saudi Arabia are pretty dominant, creating a few good chances. Lucas Lima hits the side netting, whilst Giovinco drew a good save from El Shennawy.
The one positive for Egypt was that they were getting men in the way of Saudi shots, but they continually found themselves defending in their own box. Gustavo Cuéllar nearly scores from Giovinco's free kick in the 26th minute, and 9 minutes later Giovinco's cross was met by strike partner Gomis, but cleared off the line by Mohamed Abdel Shafy!
It's the last decent chance of the half, as Egypt survive still level.
The one positive for Egypt was that they were getting men in the way of Saudi shots, but they continually found themselves defending in their own box. Gustavo Cuéllar nearly scores from Giovinco's free kick in the 26th minute, and 9 minutes later Giovinco's cross was met by strike partner Gomis, but cleared off the line by Mohamed Abdel Shafy!
It's the last decent chance of the half, as Egypt survive still level.
Saudi Arabia resume their siege of Egypt's goal straight after the restart. 3 minutes into the half Gomis picks the ball up on the right and plays an early low cross to the near post, where Giovinco deftly turns it into the near post to break the deadlock!
They take their foot off the gas after going ahead. In the 66th minute Amor Layouni whips in a dangerous ball that finds Marwan Mohsen in front of goal, but he heads over. It's a costly miss as a large chunk of the game goes by with no more shots.
As we enter the final 10 minutes both teams are forced into their final subs as Maicon and Ferjani Sassi injure each other in a challenge. In the 90th minute Egypt get a corner, but they can't make anything of it. It comes to Giovinco who runs the length of the pitch, haring away from a tired Egyptian defence. He gets into the box, and slots it home for a wonderful goal of the tournament contender!
Despite a chunky 6 minutes of added time, that's the last of the action. Saudi Arabia looked very assured there, although they needed their brilliant front two to get them the win their performance merited.
They take their foot off the gas after going ahead. In the 66th minute Amor Layouni whips in a dangerous ball that finds Marwan Mohsen in front of goal, but he heads over. It's a costly miss as a large chunk of the game goes by with no more shots.
As we enter the final 10 minutes both teams are forced into their final subs as Maicon and Ferjani Sassi injure each other in a challenge. In the 90th minute Egypt get a corner, but they can't make anything of it. It comes to Giovinco who runs the length of the pitch, haring away from a tired Egyptian defence. He gets into the box, and slots it home for a wonderful goal of the tournament contender!
Despite a chunky 6 minutes of added time, that's the last of the action. Saudi Arabia looked very assured there, although they needed their brilliant front two to get them the win their performance merited.
Final score: Egypt 0-2 Saudi Arabia
Player of the match: Sebastian Giovinco
Player of the match: Sebastian Giovinco
Ultimately the favourites won each game today. There's now a lot of pressure on USA to turn things around in Group H, as goal difference is unlikely to be their friend should it come down to that. Damaging defeats for the two African sides makes it unlikely any teams from the continent will get through to the next round.
Our next update is the second round of matches in Groups A & B, which means we might get our first team(s) qualified for the second round!
Our next update is the second round of matches in Groups A & B, which means we might get our first team(s) qualified for the second round!