On Monday, November 28, 2022 at 6:12:13 p.m. UTC-5, Real Mardin wrote:
It's already the end of the second round of group stage matches.
Congratulations to France, Brazil and Portugal, who have all guaranteed their places in the second round.
Hosts Qatar and Canada were mathematically eliminated from the tournament and will only have pride to play for in their final group games. Despite a lively second half performance Qatar collapsed to defeat to Senegal and became the first host nation to
be eliminated after just two games. It seems despite winning the Asian Cup and playing 30 something friendly matches the doubters were right and competing in a World Cup really was too much to ask of a nation who had never qualified on merit before.
For their part Canada continued the high energy approach they showed against Belgium by taking a 1-0 lead against Croatia but the World Cup 2018 finalists made their class tell and ran out 4-1 winners. Canada now have three and a half years to prepare
their team for the 2026 World Cup, which they're co-hosting.
Wales' Wayne Hennessey became only the third goalkeeper to be sent off at a World Cup after he took out Iran's Mehdi Taremi with a reckless high challenge. Perhaps the greater story was Iran, who had been demolished by England 6-2 in match day 1,
actually looked a good side and even if their goals did come in the 98th and 111th minutes, thoroughly deserved their win.
Talking of England, it was coming home last match day when they beat Iran, but this match day they only drew 0-0 with the USA, so it's not coming home anymore. However, it might be coming home again next match day if they beat Wales.
Argentina and Mexico played a match where the incredible atmosphere was much better than the football on display. Argentina won 2-0 due to two brilliant moments from Messi and Fernandez.
Argentina's match day 1 conquerors Saudi Arabia played Poland off the park but somehow ended up on the receiving end of a very undeserved 2-0 defeat. Notwithstanding the scoreline Poland looked like something of a Eurocrotto team, offering little
quality.
It was a good match day for CAF, as well as Senegal's aforementioned win, Morocco beat 2nd ranked Belgium 2-0 and Ghana beat South Korea 3-2. Cameroon took the lead against Serbia only to go 3-1 down but then fought back for a 3-3 draw in the most
entertaining game of the tournament so far. It really was one of those games that gets you believing in football again.
Despite the entertaining matches on offer, this still feels like a strange time of year to host the World Cup. Today where I live the fog was thick enough to cut through with a knife yet on the tv were bright blue skies and fans watching games in t-
shirts and shorts. I feel juxtaposed!
Keep up the good work: Ecuador, Senegal, Iran, Saudi Arabia (even in defeat), Morocco, Croatia, Cameroon, Portugal
Must do better: Australia (even in victory not a great team to watch), Tunisia, Argentina, Germany.
Are you even capable of doing any better or are you not really good enough to be at a World Cup: Poland, Wales.
RM
You know , every one is going on about how good this WM is and i am going on about if I should watch 1899.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)