World Cup Semi-Final

 

The first game of the semi-finals was between FRANCE and SPAIN, and I thought that we were going to see a fantastic game between these two top teams.

The match started off with a lot of pushing and shoving and even the odd stamp on the opponent foot. Spain started off well and managed to get a free kick just outside the French Box, but it all came to nothing. Then we had a spell of both teams just pushing the ball around with the odd attack which broke down. Spain then got a penalty in the 22nd minute and although the French goalkeeper dived the right way, Mikel Oyarzabal scored his 5th goal of the tournament. Soon after the dreaded hydration/commercial break. Not a great start from both teams. Both side struggled to get any shots on target although Spain nearly got a second goal in the 35th minute. Spain started to look like the strongest side before half time. A very Disappointing display by the French. Spain nearer to the finals 1-0.

In the second half Spain started off well once again and really had the French on the ropes. It did not take them long to score again from a lovely build up, from a very bad defence. The goal came from Pedro Porro in the 58th minute, his second of the tournament. France could not respond to the goal. Spain scored again but was ruled off side in the 61st minute. The French had the odd attack but most shots at goal went well over the bar. Mabbe had a good chance to pull one back in the 67th minute but went wide. That was the nearest to a goal that France got to. Spain started to take the shine off France with some lovely play. Mabbe again had a free kick just out side the Spanish box, but that also went over the bar in the 88th minute. The game ends 2-0 to Spain and they are in the final after a well deserved win. Spain are on a total of 13 goals. France have picked up their first blank of the tournament and are on a total of 16 goals. This is the worst game that I have seen France play in.

Update on Season 44

We have not had a bad start for our first day for the New Entry Forms for the Golden Goals Season 44. We had a total of 49 entries back to date. Last season we had 54 and the previous season 51 entries back on the first day. So we could be looking at the same numbers as last season, but we still have a long way to go before we close the books on midnight 27 July.  

So how is how the team selection are looking so far 

We have just 29 English teams with once again, Manchester City picking up the most votes with 20. In second place we have West Ham United with 17 votes. Third place we have Arsenal with 11 votes, while in fourth place we have Liverpool with 10 votes. We have 8 teams at the moment from our Scottish leagues with Celtic leading the votes again this season with a total of just 17. Rangers are currently in second place with just 3 votes.  

Although we have a long way to go yet, we still need more players to beat our biggest season’s total of 149 players although we still have a lot of our regulars waiting for their teams. Please note that it will be very hard to have Manchester City and West Ham with another team now.

Well if you would like to know more or to receive your free entry form to join in, then you can email me, Steve at goldengoals1983@gmail.com

Sheet Six

After a bit of hic-up on my part here is the latest positions for the top wiinning frame. The winner will win £46.

QUARTER   LAST                                                        GOALS    

          FINALS        16         NAME                                       TOTAL   

               1                 2         RICH WILLIAMS (A/F/SP)          58 

               2                 1         B. BURROUGHS (A/E/F)             57 

               3                 6         D. HARRINGTON (A/E/F/SP)     57 

               4                 3         A. STUBBS (A/F/SP)                    57 

               5                 -         R. WOOD (A/E/F)                         56 

               6                 8        I. SMITH (A/F/SP)                         55 

               7               10        M. GREGORY (A/F/SP)                54 

               8                 7        M. LIDDLE (A/E)                          54 

               9               11        P. REEVE (A/F/SP)                        54 

             10                 4        S. THOMSON (A/F)                       54 

             11               16        K. RATTLE (A/F/SP)                     52 

             12               17        B. SOPER (A/E/SP)                       52 

             13                9         D. BARRETT (A)                           51

             14              20         B. MORAN (A/E/SP)                     51 

             15                -         A. NEWMAN (E/F/SP)                   51 

As you can see from the table above, that we have Richie Williams out in front with 58 goals. Richie has Argentina, Belgium, France and Spain.

We had just one player who picked up the highest score after the quarter-final games, with a total of 9 goals. They were Danny Harrington, who still has all of his teams in action.

Here is how the table stands after all of our teams that were left after the Quarter-Finals. Their scores have been added to your totals. You will see that I have printed a red BOLD letters, against your name. This letter indicates the teams that you have left in the World Cup 2026. Please note to re-cap on our rules, that extra time goals DO count, but penalty shoot-outs DON’T!

               The letters are for (A) Argentina (B) (E) England (F) France  (Sp) Spain

So who are the best teams that we have in the 2026 World Cup after the quarter-final games. 

ARGENTINA (17) FRANCE (16) BELGIUM (14) ENGLAND (13) total of 60 goals

All but one of our teams have scored in the quarter-final games, and they have collected a total of 12 goals. The team that did not score were MOROCCO.

GERMANY still holds the current record for the highest score, with that 7-1 win over Curacao in Group E in their opening game.

SCOTLAND from Group C are our worst team, as they have only picked up one goal in all of their first round games.

We have all of our 4 teams that have made it through to the Semi-Finals. The teams that have gone home are BELGIUM, NORWAY, MOROCCO and SWITZERLAND. 

The fastest goal has been scored by Matías Galarza for Paraguay in Group C after they won 1-0 against Turkey in their second game in the first round. It took just 64 seconds (1 minute and 4 seconds)

Top goal scorers in the World Cup 2026 “Golden Boot” are at the moment France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, both with 8 goals. In Second place we have Norway’s Erling Haaland on 7 goals, In third place we have England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane both with 6 goals each. In fourth place with 5 goals we have France’s O. Dembélé. 

                                               The Semi-Final games are as follows

FRANCE v SPAIN 

ARGENTINA v ENGLAND

Entry Forms For Season 44 Out Today

 

Today we launch Season 44 which means that the New Entry Forms are now available as from today. Last season we managed to have a total of 111 players but we hope to beat that total this season.

So what about you who are looking at this blog today, for just £8 (English pounds) you could be part of our history and become our 44th Champion of Golden Goals. To receive your free copy of the rules and entry form send email to Steve at goldengoals1983@gmail.com

World Cup Day Thirty Quarter-Finals

ENGLAND just about beat Congo DR in the Second Round and then they managed to beat Mexico in the Last 16. This game was going to be tough against NORWAY. Norway had beaten the Ivory Coast in the Second Round and won 2-1 against World Champions Brazil in the Last 16.

In the first half, England played well by keeping Norway in their own half for most of  the first 23 minutes. After the Hydration/Commercial break, it was Norway’s turn to attack. But in the 28th minute, Kane took a free-kick and watched it fly over the bar. 30 minutes into the game and Norway had a couple of good set pieces, then after 36 minutes, Norway scored as the ball hit the post and went in. Goals scored by Norway’s Schjelderup. England came back at them and in the 45+2 Bellingham scored the equaliser, which was his 5th of the tournament. Just before half time, Kane scored but he was ruled off-side by VAR. 1-1 at half time.

In the second half Norway kept up the pressure and scored in the 55th minute but again disallowed by VAR. In the 76th minute Norway hit the cross-bar. England had their moments but it ended 1-1 after the full 90 minutes.

In extra time it did not take long before England went in front with a goal from Bellingham in the 92nd minute. That is goal number six for him. England claimed for a penalty in the but once again disallowed by VAR. In the second half of extra time, Haaland did not come back on, and was substituted. Norway kept up the pressure on England but they held their line. England seem to be getting better and better in this tournament, all of the players played well. England are on a total of 13 goals. Norway go home with a total of 13 goals and this is their best that they have ever done in any World Cup’s that they have been in. Their best previous was in the French 1998 Last 16. 

ARGENTINA played SWITZERLAND in the last of the Quarter-Finals. Argentina had beaten Cape Verde in the Second Round and in the Last 16, they did that fantastic comeback against Egypt. Switzerland beat Algeria in the Second Round and won 4-3 on penalties against Colombia in the Last 16.

In the first half it was Argentina that hit the net first in 10 minutes with a goal from Mac Allister. It took Switzerland 67 minutes to equalise through Ndoye. Switzerland had player sent off (Embolo) in the 72nd minute. At the end of 90 minutes, the score remained 1-1 and into extra time.

Argentina scored two goals in the second half of extra time. They came from Alvarez in the 112nd minute and Martinez in the 120+1 to win the match 3-1. Argentina are now on a total of 17 goals and will play England in the Semi-Finals. Switzerland go home with a total of 10 goals.

Top goal scorer for the Golden Boot at the moment are now France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, both with 8 goals. In Second place we have Norway’s Erling Haaland on 7 goals, In third place we have England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane both with 6 goals each. In fourth place with 5 goals we have France’s O. Dembélé. 

World Cup Day Twenty-Nine Quarter-Finals

 

SPAIN had knocked-out Portugal in the Last 16 to reach the quarter-finals. They had to play BELGIUM who beat co-hosts USA in their last game. I only managed to watch the first half, but both teams came out fighting, and it was great to see that. Spain scored their first goal from Fabian Ruiz in the 30th minute after a shot was saved by the Belgium goalkeeper only to go straight to Ruiz. A well taken goal. It was not long before Belgium equalised from De Ketelaere, his third goal of the tournament, in the 41st minute from a lovely set piece. That was the first goal scored against Spain in this tournament. The score stayed at 1-1 at the end of the first half.

Spain scored again in the second half as Mikel Merino makes it 2-1 in the 88th minute. The score finished 2-1 to Spain. Spain will play France in the Semi-Finals and they are on a total of 11 goals. Belgium go home with 14 goals.

World Cup Day Twenty-Eight Quarter-Finals

 

After a days rest we are now into the Quarter-Finals, and to start them off we had FRANCE playing against MOROCCO. France started off well with the dominating the first half. In the 29th minute, France got a penalty and with all of his international experience, Mbappe did one of those silly dances before taking it and missed the chance of getting nearer to the golden boot and, putting France in the lead. How many times have we seen this in penalty shoot-outs? France had over 12 attempts on goal but nothing to show for it. Morocco holding out on the French attacks., but they did have the odd attack. Half-time 0-0.

In the second half, Morocco showed more of what they could do but it was France who took the lead from Mbappe in the 60th minute his 8th of the tournament. The tempo of the game was starting to be very quick and after another French attack, their second goal from Dembele 66th minute, his 5th goal of the tournament. After a couple of substitutions, Morocco started to find their feet again and made some good moves, testing the French goalkeeper. Final result 2-0 to France and they are our first team that go in to the quarter-finals. They are on a total of 16 goals and they have now scored in all of their 6 World Cup games. Morocco go home with a total of 10 goals.