19, June 2018
World Cup 2018: Senegal beat Poland 2-1 0
Senegal has beaten Poland in a dramatic game that saw the African team take the lead in the first half and win 2-1.
Poland struggled to put passes together and get their shots on goal but they were rewarded at the end of the second half, while down two goals, with a late header to take the game to 2-1.
Robert Lewandowski had a relatively quiet game and much like Euro 2016, was unable to make his way onto the score sheet and begin the tournament with a goal.
Here are five key takeaways from the match:
Both sides attack
Throughout the game, both sides were very attacking, trying to play a high ball into their forwards. This could be either as a cross or as a long pass but both sides failed to optimise on their chances.
Senegal is the only African team to win so far
Senegal is the only team from Africa to have won a game in World Cup so far.
They are also the only team to score in open play. With this win and what is happening in their group, they may make it to the last 16.
Lewandowski struggles to score in big tournaments
It is Robert Lewandowski’s first World Cup and this was his first game of the tournament, but the striker failed to score and struggled to get his shots off.
This is not the first time that he has struggled to make an impact at the beginning of a major tournament as he was unable to score during Euro 2016 until late in the competition.
The official ranking is not important in the World Cup
Poland is ranked 8th in the FIFA rankings but that did not guarantee them the win. When it comes to the World Cup anything is possible and this game shows the magic of the tournament.
Both Poland and Colombia may struggle to get out of the group stages
The two teams that were set to win the group may struggle to get out of the group stages.
After Colombia lost to Japan earlier today, Senegal will be going into their next game with confidence, hoping to build upon their win.
Poland, meanwhile, will need to win their next game in order to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
Source: Euronews
19, June 2018
Salah’s return fails to inspire Egypt who lose 1-3 to World Cup hosts Russia 0
World Cup hosts Russia virtually booked their place in the second round with a 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday that moved them to top of Group A with six points from two games.
Three goals in the space of 15 minutes early in the second half put the Russians firmly in command before Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, who had a subdued game on his return from injury, struck from a penalty, awarded after a video review.
Should Uruguay (3 points) beat Saudi Arabia (0 points) on Wednesday it will ensure the South Americans and the Russians go through to the round of 16 with a game to spare.
Russia’s 15 minutes of glory
After a tight first half Russia’s breakthrough came just two minutes after the restart.
Aleksandr Golovin’s cross was punched out by Egyptian keeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, only as far as Roman Zobnin whose low drive was heading wide until Ahmed Fathi’s outstretched leg turned the ball into his own net.
Remarkably, it was the fifth own goal of the tournament so far. The record amount for a tournament is six in 1998.
If there was some good fortune to the opener, the Russians’ second was pure quality.
Alexander Samedov pushed the ball out wide to Mario Fernandes, the Brazilian born right back who had powered forward from deep to deliver a perfect pull-back into the path of Denis Cheryshev who slotted home his third goal of the tournament.
Two minutes later it was 3-0 via a route one play, as target man Artem Dzyuba chested down a long ball, bustled past Ali Gabr and drove home.
Salah’s return too little, too late
Salah, who had not played since going off injured in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid last month, managed some consolation when he converted from the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) ruling that he had been brought down by Zobnin inside the area.
REUTERS