We are six days into the Fifa World Cup and we already have our first eliminated nation and unsurprisingly it is the hosts Qatar. Looking back on the day’s action and looking ahead to Saturday’s hot topics, here is your World Cup daily wrap.
Iran make Robbie Savage eat his words
Wales were left speechless as they were beaten 2-0 late on by Iran in their crunch Group B battle on Friday after goalkeeper Wayne Hennesey was sent off for a reckless challenge. This led to Iran scoring twice in the final stages of the game to give them a great chance of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history. It was a victory they fully merited for how they played. Many at full-time were quick to tease former Wales midfielder and pundit Robbie Savage for saying before the game ‘it’s only Iran.’ It really is things like that that makes football the most beautiful game.
Qatar the worst hosts in World Cup history
The host nation are officially out of the World Cup. Although it wasn’t confirmed until the Netherlands and Ecuador drew, their 3-1 defeat to Senegal all but sealed their fate. The one positive they can take from the tournament is they managed to score a goal. Mohammad Muntari’s goal was nothing more than a consolation and it was surprising they were even able to grab a goal because the football they displayed in just two matches was nowhere near the quality that this prestigious tournament demands.
Cody Gakpo was on the scoresheet again for the Netherlands as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Ecuador. The Eredivisie top goalscorer has been touted with a huge move to one of Europe’s elite in the next year and his price tag is only going to go up with more impressive performances on the world’s grandest stage. The versatile forward has been involved in 34 goals for club and country this term.
England were left frustrated with their performance against the USA but the Stars and Stripes played tremendously to suppress the attacking talent filled in Gareth Southgate’s side. USA will be bitterly disappointed they didn’t win the game with some of the chances they had which would’ve put them in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages. Gregg Berhalter’s team have certainly been one of the most impressive to watch so far because of their organisation and discipline.
Argentina need to shake-off Saudi Arabia loss
We are still trying to process those scenes from Tuesday as Saudi Arabia came from a goal down to stun Argentina, with Salem Al-Dawsari scoring one of the goals of the tournament to win the game. Lionel Messi and co were stunned but they must regroup ahead of their battle with Mexico as a second straight loss will send them crashing out of the World Cup and end Messi’s final shot at becoming a world champion and matching the late Diego Maradona.
Giroud gearing up to become a record-breaker
Olivier Giroud is the most underrated, rated striker of this generation, we know that. The 36-year-old Frenchman has already made history in Qatar as his brace against Australia saw him equal the great Thierry Henry as Les Blues’ all-time record goalscorer with 51. Giroud now just needs one goal to take the record for himself and further cement his status as a great of this generation in the history books. France face Denmark on Saturday evening, and with the form that he is in at the moment he looks destined to get on the scoresheet.
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