After each matchday of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events, and look ahead to the next day’s slate of games.
Here’s what happened on Monday, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
Uruguay 3, Russia 0 in Samara: Match report || match stats
Saudi Arabia 2, Egypt 1 in Volgograd: Match report || match stats
Spain 2, Morocco 2 in Kaliningrad: Match report || match stats
Iran 1, Portugal 1 in Saransk: Match report || match stats
MAIN TALKING POINTS
A reality check for the hosts
It wasn’t so much a matter of the chickens coming home to roost for Russia on Monday, but rather an entire hen house. The host nation breezed through its opening two games of the competition, winning both contests to book their spot in the knockout round and build a little momentum. Of course, those wins came against what can charitably described as modest opponents: A Saudi Arabia side that is arguably the worst team in this tournament, and a one-dimensional Egypt that relies entirely on Mohammed Salah for goals. Russia came crashing down to Earth on Monday.
Against Uruguay and its rock-solid defence, the Russians found the going considerably tougher. The hosts conceded twice in the opening 23 minutes and were reduced to 10 men before halftime. Russia’s attack, so fluent against the Egyptians and Saudis, never got going and didn’t register a single shot on target until late in the second half. Russia didn’t start its two best players – Aleksandr Golovin and Mario Fernandes – out of fear of losing them to suspension, but the drop-off was still pretty big. If Russia thought Uruguay was a stiff challenge, wait until they face Spain in the next round. On can only wonder how the Russians would have fared had they faced Uruguay in their opening game, and how things would have played out for them the rest of the group stage.
Beware of Uruguay
Uruguay’s credentials as a legitimate World Cup contender haven’t been talked up much in the international press. That’s a shame because La Celeste have quietly been the tournament’s most consist team. Manager Oscar Tabarez’s side has been resolute in its defending, while the magnificent Diego Godin is starring for a Uruguay team that has yet to give up a goal. Uruguay is the first team to win all three of its group games without conceding since Argentina in 1998.
Granted, the quality of opposition has to be taken into account. Hosts Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are hardly world beaters. Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, Uruguay’s lethal 1-2 scoring punch up front, haven’t set the tournament on fire, despite combining for three goals. All of Uruguay’s goals have come off set pieces, none from open play. Still, there is something about this Uruguayan team, so organized and professional and balanced, that makes them a threat to go far in the knockout round.
Iran, Morocco valiant as they exit
As expected, Spain and Portugal are through to the knockout round after topping Group B at the conclusion of the group stage. But the European heavyweights were made to work for it, right up until the very end of their final games, as both sides just managed to eke out draws against Morocco and Iran.
Morocco played fabulous soccer at this World Cup, unimpressed with the big reputations of the Spanish and Portuguese. They gave both teams all they could handle, and won universal plaudits for their fearlessness and bright attacking play. As for the Iranians, their defensive commitment and ability to retain their shape was amazing, thwarting players the calibre of Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa for long stretches. Instead of running roughshod over Iran, Portugal and Spain struggled to break them down.
Spain and Portugal, of course, will be relieved about moving on, and look ahead to their next matches. But you have to wonder if their confidence took a major hit after labouring through a difficult group stage against supposedly weaker opponents.
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BEST GAME
Iran vs. Portugal was an interesting tactical battle, as the Iranians tried to shut down Ronaldo and the Portuguese attack. They did well to keep the Real Madrid star quiet on the night, and nearly pulled off the upset win thanks to a late, fortuitous penalty decision and a spurned scoring chance in injury time.
BEST GOAL
In the 45th minute, Adrien Silva played a lovely back-heel pass for Ricardo Quaresma who unleashed a shot from just outside the box with the outside of his foot that curled into top right corner beyond the reach of the diving Iranian goalkeeper.
BEST SAVE
In the 41st minute, goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary dove to his right and brilliantly swiped away Fahad Al-Muwallad’s penalty attempt for Saudi Arabia to preserve Egypt’s lead.
BEST MOMENT
The oldest player in #WorldCup history makes an incredible save to deny a #KSA equaliser from the penalty spot!
Take a bow, @ElHadary! #KSAEGY 0-1 pic.twitter.com/hXb2ngcQ40
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 25, 2018
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Not for the first time at this tournament – and likely not for the last – Atletico Madrid star Diego Godin was immense in the centre of defence, helping to provide Uruguay a solid defensive foundation.
Diego Godín for #URU in the World Cup group stages:
• Most clearances (12)
• Most tackles won (8)
• =Most aerial duels won (8)God-like defending. pic.twitter.com/cPwhd62Ceo
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 25, 2018
BEST TWEET
BEST QUOTE
“What a waste of time. Next question please.” — Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, when asked in the post-match press conference why he only smiles after scoring a goal.
SIX PACK OF STATS
• At 45 years and 161 days, Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary is the oldest player ever to play in a World Cup match, beating the previous record held by Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon (43 years and three days) set in 2014.
• Russia’s Igor Smolnikov is the first outfield player to be sent off for the host nation of a World Cup since Marcel Desailly for France in 1998 (vs. Brazil).
• Edinson Cavani is the second player to score in three separate World Cups for Uruguay (2010, 2014 and 2018), alongside his strike partner Luis Suárez.
• Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma is the oldest player to score in his first World Cup start (34 years, 272 days) since Iran’s Yahya Golmohammadi (35 years, 84 days) in 2006 vs. Mexico.
• Before Monday, Spain won its final group stage game in each of the last eight World Cup tournaments.
• There have been 20 penalties awarded at this World Cup, a new tournament record.
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Isco, Spain: Scored a fabulous goal following a typical flowing Spanish move, and was a constant attacking threat down the left side, linking up effectively with Andres Iniesta.
2) Diego Godin, Uruguay: Another masterclass effort from the central defender who quarterbacked a stingy back line that has yet be breached at this tournament.
3) Khalid Boutaib, Morocco: Gave the Africans the lead with a composed finish, beating David de Gea through the legs after breaking in alone on goal following a Spanish giveaway.
LOOKING AHEAD TO TUESDAY
Group C: Denmark vs. France in Moscow (10:00 a.m. ET) – France (six points) has already qualified for the knockout round and can clinch first place with a draw. Denmark (four points) needs a draw in order to advance. Denmark would also move on if they lose, provided Australia doesn’t beat Peru. A victory would see the Danes win the group.
Group C: Australia vs. Peru in Sochi (10:00 a.m. ET) – Australia (one point) must beat Peru on Tuesday, hope Denmark loses, and they must also beat the Danes on goal difference, the first tie-breaker. Denmark has a plus-1 goal difference; Australia is at minus-1. A loss or draw eliminates Australia. Peru (zero points) has already been eliminated.
Group D: Nigeria vs. Argentina in Saint Petersburg (2:00 p.m. ET) – Nigeria (three points) must beat Argentina in order to qualify for the knockout round. They can also qualify with a draw, provided Iceland does not beat Croatia. Argentina (one point) must beat Nigeria and hope Iceland does not win in order to qualify for the knockout round. If Argentina and Iceland both win, then Argentina’s victory must be by a greater margin, as its goal difference is worse than Iceland’s (minus-3 compared to minus-2). If the two teams finish with identical records, then fair play points and possibly drawing of lots come into place to determine who finishes second. A draw or loss eliminates Argentina.
Group D: Iceland vs. Croatia in Rostov (2:00 p.m. ET) – Croatia (six points) has already qualified for the knockout round. They need a draw in order to win the group. But chances are very good they’ll still win the group even with a loss thanks to a plus-5 goal difference. Iceland (one point) must beat Croatia, and hope Nigeria does not beat Argentina. If Nigeria draws, then Iceland must win by at least three goals to beat the Africans on goal difference. If Argentina wins, then Iceland must also win by the same margin or greater to ensure finishing second. A loss or draw eliminates Iceland.
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB
Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria penned this great piece in the The Players’ Tribune about the pressures players face, while also sharing details about his childhood:
The walls of our house were supposed to be white. But I never remember them being white. At first they were grey. Then they turned black from all the coal dust. My father was a coal worker, but not the kind in a mine. He actually made charcoal in the back of our house. Have you ever seen charcoal being made? The little bags you buy in the store for your barbeque, they come from somewhere, and honestly it’s a very dirty business. He used to work under this tin roof on our patio, bagging up all the pieces of charcoal to sell at the market. Well, it wasn’t just him. He had his little helpers, too. Before school, me and my little sister would wake up to help him. We were only like nine or 10 years old, which is the perfect age for bagging charcoal, because you can turn it into a little game. When the coal truck would come, we had to carry the bags through the living room and then out the front door, so our house basically turned black over time. But that was the way that we put food on the table, and the way that my father had saved our house from being taken away.
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