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.