I raced through playing/writing this tournament initially, with the semi finals completed in July (!). But suddenly my drive disappeared and I've not been able to pick it up for months now. I think the fatigue from having a second kid has overwhelmed me, and this is a bit too much like work during my spare time.
But anyway, I am back and ready to finish this year's DWC off!
As I mentioned after the semi finals, we have a final between the same teams that contested the final of this year's main event, the Women's European Championship:
But anyway, I am back and ready to finish this year's DWC off!
As I mentioned after the semi finals, we have a final between the same teams that contested the final of this year's main event, the Women's European Championship:
So it's England and Germany. For the former, it's a second final in a row, after last year's penalty defeat to France. Germany also faced France the last time they were in the final - in 2019 - but that time they were victorious, in a 4-3 epic. That was the second triumph after 2017, and now they have the chance to be the first team to lift the trophy three times.
Route to the final
It is apt that these two meet in the final, as they were the only two teams to qualify from the group stage with a game to spare, and indeed the only two teams to take a maximum of 9 points from the group stage.
They have kept up their form with three further impressive wins in the knockout stages. Germany dethroned two-time defending champions France after another titanic tussle - 3-2 this time. It was followed by two smooth wins - 3-1 over Portugal and 4-1 over Argentina. England's knockout path has been easier - with Thailand, USA and Brazil in their path - but they still impressive with an aggregate scoreline of 13-1 from the three matches.
Despite England's record, it's Germany who have to be considered favourites, as their players dominate the list of highest average rating, and their front two of Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski has been practically unstoppable. With both players moving away from Germany in real life, this is the perfect chance for the two to provide the perfect final hurrah.
Team news
Thomas Muller is finally dropped by Germany after an underwhelming tournament, with Serge Gnabry coming in. Leon Goretzka also returns from suspension in place of Emre Can. Similarly, Joao Cancelo returns for England in place of Andy Robertson, their only change. Seven of the starting XI are the same as that which played in last year's final.
Route to the final
It is apt that these two meet in the final, as they were the only two teams to qualify from the group stage with a game to spare, and indeed the only two teams to take a maximum of 9 points from the group stage.
They have kept up their form with three further impressive wins in the knockout stages. Germany dethroned two-time defending champions France after another titanic tussle - 3-2 this time. It was followed by two smooth wins - 3-1 over Portugal and 4-1 over Argentina. England's knockout path has been easier - with Thailand, USA and Brazil in their path - but they still impressive with an aggregate scoreline of 13-1 from the three matches.
Despite England's record, it's Germany who have to be considered favourites, as their players dominate the list of highest average rating, and their front two of Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski has been practically unstoppable. With both players moving away from Germany in real life, this is the perfect chance for the two to provide the perfect final hurrah.
Team news
Thomas Muller is finally dropped by Germany after an underwhelming tournament, with Serge Gnabry coming in. Leon Goretzka also returns from suspension in place of Emre Can. Similarly, Joao Cancelo returns for England in place of Andy Robertson, their only change. Seven of the starting XI are the same as that which played in last year's final.
Our come the teams, the national anthems are skipped (it's my tournament, after all) and Harry Kane kicks off the 2022 Draft World Cup final!
England start with intent, winning two corners in succession. The second is headed over by Virgil van Dijk, the final's first shot. Each side picks up an early yellow card, for Lucas Hernández and Rúben Dias.
In the 10th minute the first real chance arrives. Mo Salah is caught in possession by Ilkay Gundogan, who immediately clips the ball over Dias and into the path of Haaland, clean through on goal. This all-Man City affair is ended by Alisson, who reacts quickly to smother the shot - a big escape for England!
England start with intent, winning two corners in succession. The second is headed over by Virgil van Dijk, the final's first shot. Each side picks up an early yellow card, for Lucas Hernández and Rúben Dias.
In the 10th minute the first real chance arrives. Mo Salah is caught in possession by Ilkay Gundogan, who immediately clips the ball over Dias and into the path of Haaland, clean through on goal. This all-Man City affair is ended by Alisson, who reacts quickly to smother the shot - a big escape for England!
England respond with a big chance of their own - when Hernández is sucked into closing Kane down, Fabinho picks out Salah with a pass into the gap. He elects to go around Manuel Neuer, but it makes the angle too tight and he can only hit the outside of the woodwork!
From the resulting goal kick Germany give it straight away, but it only results in a long Kane shot over the bar. It's a good little spell for England, but suddenly they start misplacing their passes, and Germany begin to stretch their opponents. They, however, cannot turn it into any real chances. And when England's passes do connect, they are able to fashion half-chances for N'Golo Kanté and Fabinho, although neither trouble Neuer.
The high line adopted by both sides is proving risky, and Germany in particular are missing the protection from midfield that England have from Fabinho. But it's in attack the Liverpool man contributes, as in the 26th minute he fires a ball behind the German defence for (former) club teammate Sadio Mané to run onto. Like Salah, he side-steps when Neuer comes out, but unlike Salah he's still central enough to easily tuck the ball away and put England ahead! But there's a VAR check, Mané looked roughly level with Joshua Kimmich... and VAR agrees! It stands!
The high line adopted by both sides is proving risky, and Germany in particular are missing the protection from midfield that England have from Fabinho. But it's in attack the Liverpool man contributes, as in the 26th minute he fires a ball behind the German defence for (former) club teammate Sadio Mané to run onto. Like Salah, he side-steps when Neuer comes out, but unlike Salah he's still central enough to easily tuck the ball away and put England ahead! But there's a VAR check, Mané looked roughly level with Joshua Kimmich... and VAR agrees! It stands!
England look very confident now, stroking the ball about and keeping Germany pinned back. But their opponents eventually break free with some good passing. Lewandowski picks out Alfonso Davies overlapping on the left, and gets in the box to meet the cross. It's a good connection and too powerful for Alisson, but it only hits the top of the bar and bounces over!
Lewandowski has just as good a chance soon after, when van Dijk's concentration lapses and allows Gnabry to play the ball in behind. Lewandowski continues the theme by trying to round the keeper, but Alisson's fine game continues as he produces a superb full-length dive to stop the shot!
Lewandowski has just as good a chance soon after, when van Dijk's concentration lapses and allows Gnabry to play the ball in behind. Lewandowski continues the theme by trying to round the keeper, but Alisson's fine game continues as he produces a superb full-length dive to stop the shot!
The end of the first half is quiet, with just a Mané header sailing well wide to note. So it's England who lead, but in a very even match. Lewandowski and Haaland have both had clear one-on-ones but failed to beat Alisson.
If Germany are to get back into the match, it may well be through Leroy Sané. His three dribbles completed, all in the final third (see below), is the most by anyone on the pitch, and his crossing has tested England. With two outstanding targets to aim for, surely he'll pick one out sooner or later?
If Germany are to get back into the match, it may well be through Leroy Sané. His three dribbles completed, all in the final third (see below), is the most by anyone on the pitch, and his crossing has tested England. With two outstanding targets to aim for, surely he'll pick one out sooner or later?
In fact, it takes Sané less than two minutes of the second half to pick out Lewandowski. Ilkay Gundogan's crossfield pass finds Sané in space on the left, and he quickly fires in a low cross that finds the big Pole five yards out. It's a massive chance, but somehow he fires it straight at Alisson! Germany waste yet another major chance! Actually, the flag was up, but none of the protagonists knew at the time.
It's been a quiet game for Kane, but he has been good at receiving and holding up the ball, and a good pass sends Mané down the left. His cut-back finds Kane, but his shot it blocked. Germany struggle to get it away, and England come again. Fabinho receives the ball from Trent Alexander-Arnold and quickly fires it up into the path of Salah, running between the centre backs. Salah's first touch gets him into the box, and he blasts it into the bottom corner! It's 2-0 now, and England can almost touch the trophy!
Despite his involvement in the goal, Alexander-Arnold is the first player to make way, as he is replaced by the more defensive Kyle Walker. The idea is that there'll be fewer chances for Germany to play the ball in for Sané, but that is what they manage. He finds Lewandowski with the cross, but his header is tamely wide. At the other end Cancelo fires over after a one-two with Mané.
It's now Germany who are completely failing to pick out their passes, and England look much more likely to add the next goal. Kevin de Bruyne waltzes past a weak challenge from Hernández - who perhaps is wary after his yellow card - but can't beat Neuer with his powerful shot.
With their next attack it is almost as if England are toying with their opponents. Cancelo's pass finds Kanté in the box, who passes it to Kane with his back to goal. He lays it sideways to Cancelo coming in, whose powerful shot clatters the crossbar and flies clear!
It's now Germany who are completely failing to pick out their passes, and England look much more likely to add the next goal. Kevin de Bruyne waltzes past a weak challenge from Hernández - who perhaps is wary after his yellow card - but can't beat Neuer with his powerful shot.
With their next attack it is almost as if England are toying with their opponents. Cancelo's pass finds Kanté in the box, who passes it to Kane with his back to goal. He lays it sideways to Cancelo coming in, whose powerful shot clatters the crossbar and flies clear!
Walker shows his value with a challenge on Sané, which concedes a corner. Germany have been deadly from set pieces this tournament but again England deal with it. However, the loose ball falls to Gnabry. He launches a vicious volley but Alisson is able to tip it over! The resulting corner is met by Haaland, but again Alisson is equal... but this time the rebound falls to Dayot Upamecano and he rolls into the unguarded net! Germany are back in it!
Fabinho has assisted both England goals, but his passing gets them into trouble with a daft pass straight to Haaland. He plays it to Sané who feeds Lewandowski, but yet again the shot is off target. It is not the best time for Germany's two feted strikers to both have a bad game. The game's second sub is England's other full back, with Robertson coming on for Cancelo.
Germany have the momentum, but England nearly sucker-punch their opponents, as van Dijk narrowly misses with a header from a corner. Germany make their first change, and it's the end of the game for the lively Sané, who is replaced by Kingsley Coman. England, meanwhile, bring on Bernado Silva for the very tired Salah.
England are able to contain Germany, and we head into the final 10 minutes. Germany bring on the more creative Dani Olmo for Gundogan, whilst Raphael Guerrero replaces the tired Davies.
Germany threaten, but their attack is broken up when Kanté intercepts and plays the ball up to Kane. He is able to wriggle away from Hernández and surges all the way to the byline. He cuts it across for Mané, but his shot is straight at Neuer. At 2-0 down, Upamecano wasn't the most likely player to drag Germany to parity, but he nearly completes his double with a glancing header from a corner, as we build to a tense finale.
As we hit the final minute of normal time, England have a corner but Germany clear and break rapidly. Gnabry floats a cross over, it's met by Lewandowski but the header sails just over!
Germany have the momentum, but England nearly sucker-punch their opponents, as van Dijk narrowly misses with a header from a corner. Germany make their first change, and it's the end of the game for the lively Sané, who is replaced by Kingsley Coman. England, meanwhile, bring on Bernado Silva for the very tired Salah.
England are able to contain Germany, and we head into the final 10 minutes. Germany bring on the more creative Dani Olmo for Gundogan, whilst Raphael Guerrero replaces the tired Davies.
Germany threaten, but their attack is broken up when Kanté intercepts and plays the ball up to Kane. He is able to wriggle away from Hernández and surges all the way to the byline. He cuts it across for Mané, but his shot is straight at Neuer. At 2-0 down, Upamecano wasn't the most likely player to drag Germany to parity, but he nearly completes his double with a glancing header from a corner, as we build to a tense finale.
As we hit the final minute of normal time, England have a corner but Germany clear and break rapidly. Gnabry floats a cross over, it's met by Lewandowski but the header sails just over!
A minute later, and Walker nearly throws it all away with a risky pass in to Alisson with Lewandowski nearby. The keeper reaches it first but is forced into a weak clearance, straight to Goretzka. He passes first-time to Haaland in the box, and he passes to Lewandowski, who this time makes no mistake and buries it in the corner! But he looked clearly offside, and indeed the referee immediately blows his whistle. VAR has a little look, and the goal is indeed disallowed! An escape for England, can they see out the rest of added time?
We go into the fourth of four minutes of added time, and Olmo launches a huge long pass that catches Dias off-guard and lands to Haaland. Walker is quick to get back and hassle his future City teammate, and the Norwegian can only blast over the bar! England take their time, and then Walker buys a free kick and we go into the 95th minute... and the referee blows the final whistle, and ENGLAND ARE DRAFT WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!!!
Final score: England 2-1 Germany
Player of the match: Fabinho (ENG)
A wonderful final, with chances galore (37 shots in total) very evenly-split. Germany really could have won that with better finishing from their front two, who had eight shots between them. But whilst England marginally had less xG, they did manage the game pretty well given their opponents' potency.
Player of the match: Fabinho (ENG)
A wonderful final, with chances galore (37 shots in total) very evenly-split. Germany really could have won that with better finishing from their front two, who had eight shots between them. But whilst England marginally had less xG, they did manage the game pretty well given their opponents' potency.
So here is how the 2022 DWC panned out:
England finally lift the DWC, at the fifth time of asking. They have been favourites, or almost-favourites virtually every year, and it did feel like an inevitability that they would eventually lift the trophy.
And so we're all done! There'll be one more episode to hand out the gongs.
And so we're all done! There'll be one more episode to hand out the gongs.