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 si 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.

World Cup Day Twenty-Seven

The last of the co-hosts, USA played BELGIUM. The USA had beaten Bosnia 2-0 to play in the last 16, and there was a lot ridding on them to go all the way. Belgium won against Senegal 3-2 to reach the next stage. Net being able to watch the match, Belgium went in front in just 9th minutes from C. Deketelaere. The USA equalised in the 31st minute with a goal from Tillman. Belgium scored again, and another goal for C. DeKetelaere in the 33rd minute. Belgium scored their third goal in the 57th minute by H. Vanaken. Belgium’s last and final goal was scored by R. Lukaku in 90+3 minutes, his third of the tournament. Belgium win 4-1 and have taken their goals tally to 13 goals. The USA finished their World Cup with a total of 11 goals. 

World Champions, ARGENTINA had to play EGYPT in this round. Argentina had beaten Cape Verde 3-2 in the Second Round while Egypt beat Australia 4-2 on penalties. I did not see the first half so I was shocked to see that Egypt went a goal up in the first half through Y. Ibrahim in the 15th minute. Argentina’s Messi missed a penalty in that half.

The second half saw Argentina keep Egypt in their own half of the pitch, but on a quick break away, Egypt scored, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a foul before the attack. Egypt had another quick attack and caught Argentina off guard and by M. Zico in the 67th minute. Argentina could not break down the Egypt defence, but they finally got through and score by C. Romero in the 79th minute. Argentina went for blood and Messi scored his 8th goal in the 83rd minute. 2-2 and only 6 minutes on the clock and I did think that this would go into extra time. Argentina kept up the pressure, 7 minutes of added time and the killer goal came from Argentina’s Fernandez in the 90+2 minutes. What a come back from the World champions as the game ends 3-2. Argentina are on a total of 14 goals while Egypt go home with a total of 8 goals. 

SWITZERLAND had won 2-0 against Algeria in the Second Round, and faced Colombia. The first half was all Colombia’s but they lacked that finishing touch. Switzerland had their moments but the Colombia’s goalkeeper kept them in the game. In the second half, the tables turned and it was Switzerland that made all the noise. After the hour mark Colombia’s turn to attack, but still no goals. Then it started to get just that little bit silly, with tackle’s flying in with both team starting to get a bit desperate. 0-0 and into extra time. Colombia came close as the Argentina’s goalkeeper pushes it over the bar in the 98th minute. Although both teams looked a little bit sharper in the second half of extra time, both teams missed their opportunities to win the game. In the penalty shoot-out that followed, Switzerland win 4-3 and are through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.        

Season 44

 

We have 7 days left before we launch Season 44 of Golden Goals and we have once again kept the entry fee at just £8 (UK).

The Competition first started way back in 1983 and has built up a regular fan base on average 90 players per season. Last season became our 9th highest number of entries with a grand total of 111, but our record stands at 149 in the 2017/18 Season so we looking at 150+ for this season.

As we have said before, that’s it’s not an easy task to pick three teams that could make you our 44^th Champion but that is how football goes. As always it’s first come, first served so it’s important to get your teams in as quick as you can. The entry forms will be available from Tuesday 14th July 2026. 

You can e-mail me here at goldengoals1983@gmail.com to find out more about the competition rules. 

World Cup Day Twenty-Six

ENGLAND have struggled to win their last couple of games, but boy what a game we had against MEXICO. Mexico came into the Last 16 the strongest team, after they had won all of their four games.

From Kick off it was all end to end, as the two teams try to make their mark on this match. The brack came for England with two quick goals from Jude Bellingham, first one in the 36th and then again in the 38th minute. Both were well constructed moves from England. England seemed to be on top until J. Quinones scored a cracking goal in the 42nd minute. Pickford kept England in the game with some great saves. England lead 2-1 at half-time.

In the second half, England were still on top until Quansah did a bad foul in the 54th minute and was sent off. England now down to 10 men and this did not look good for them. They played well with 10 men and then England got a penalty in the 60th minute and that was scored by Harry Kane, his 7th of the tournament. England then kept up the pressure from Mexico and they held out till the 69th minute as Mexico get a penalty. The goal was scored by R. Jimenez, but was it really a penalty? As time rolled on, the Mexicans tried to intimidate the referee trying to get England players sent off. England held on even with 11 minutes of injury time under much pressure. England win 3-2. This is the best performance that England have done in this World Cup and it was a very exciting game. England are on a total of 11 goals. Mexico are out after playing at home in front of a big crowd. Mexico finished on a total of 10 goals. 

PORTUGAL played SPAIN in the other day’s fixtures. For the first half hour Spain were well on top of Portugal but the finishing was poor. It finished 0-0 at half-time. Unable to watch the second half, Spain scored the only goal of the game in the 90+1 minute from Mikel Merino. Spain are on a total of 9 goals. Portugal go home with Ronaldo’s very last game for Portugal in a World Cup. Ronaldo makes history by scoring all in of his 6 World Cups that he has been in. Portugal finished with a total of 8 goals.

Top goal scorer for the Golden Boot at the moment are now Argentina’s Lionel Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland all on 7 goals, In second place we have Harry Kane with 6 goals. In third place with 4 goals each we have France’s O. Dembélé, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, England’s J. BELLINGHAM and Mexico’s J. Ouinones.

The fastest goal has still been scored by Matías Galarza for the 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) 

World Cup Day Twenty-Five

It was always going to be a low scoring match between NORWAY and BRAZIL, and all the drama came in the beginning of the first half. Norway had a goal disallowed for offside within the first 4 minutes. Brazil  got a penalty after 14 minutes of play. Bruno Guimaraes does a silly dance before taking the penalty and Orjan Nyland palms the ball wide. Why do player’s do this? Brazil seem to be just that better than Norway but the first half ends 0-0. In the Second half, it was end to end stuff but Brazil could have taken the lead by Endrck, but the shot was off target. Norway broke the deadlock with a goal in the 79th minute by that man again, Erling Haaland, heading in his 6th goal of the tournament. He scored again in the 90th minute, with a fantastic shot standing all alone out side the box, goal number 7. But more drama right at the end, as Brazil get another penalty in the 90+10 but this time Brazil score by Neymar. Norway win 2-1 and for the very first time they are in the quarter-finals. Norway are on a total of 12 goals and they have a total of 3 votes. Brazil go home with a total of 10 goals and they had a total of 23 votes.