Then France take on Peru at the Central Stadium with the South Americans needing a result after their opening defeat to the Danes.
The plum game of the day in Nizhny Novgorod sees Argentina clash with Croatia with the latter able to book their place in the next phase with a victory.
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Recovering from here looks a step too far for Peru at the moment. A pity because their fans are fantastic, but a defeat sees them eliminated.
How and why their captain Guerreiro is playing at the World Cup after testing positive for cocaine consumption is also a great tale, especially if you are a fan of forensic science.
All thanks to the discovery of 3 bodies of frozen children, ritually sacrificed 500 years ago – discovered atop a 6,000-m volcano 20 years ago.
Well worth a read, with amazing video also:
Cocaine, the captain & the frozen mummies: Paolo Guerrero's World Cup journey
I'm gutted Peru have gone out. Their fans seemed to be amazing. The atmosphere in both games was one that England can only dream of (get rid of that damn band). People selling cars, quitting jobs, flying as far as they could afford and hitchhiking across Europe, the stories are endless. Despite having seemingly spent their life savings, the Russians have reported how generous the Peruvians are. I'm very sad to see them go home early. I just hope they go home with great memories and they win their final game (but with a record equaling goal for TC).
https://twitter.com/evertonacademy/status/1009806587186343936?s=21
Amazing stories from a calculated 30,000 Peruvian supporters and their incredible journeys.
Now they are out, I've got to root for Australia against them in the final game. With a win for the Socceroos and a defeat for Denmark against France - both very plausible results - the Aussies would go through.
The added bonus is, it would give Tim Cahill more time to make a wee bit of history.
Yeah class from the Blues about the Chernobyl kids. Even more that they have quietly been getting on with it for 14 years without making too big a fuss of it.
Not sure on this, though - "Each visit to England adds a full year onto their life expectancy". How can they predict that? Based on what?
And if they came every year, would they live forever?!
The lady interviewed is from a charity that is not Everton based.
Brent, I think it's one month away from the conditions in Belarus each year adds on one year to their life expectancy. I note it seems to be a charity that originated in Lancashire, and probably why Everton ae involved. No doubt the kids all go home with their Everton kit and spread the good word about the blues.
I would imagine it's something to do with the fact that they are in a not so strangled environment but in a relaxed atmosphere...same as you going on holiday each year
I think it is such a beautiful gesture by the club, so beautiful, keeping it to themselves, which makes me so proud - can you imagine the publicity some clubs would push to get?
"Each visit to England adds a full year onto their life expectancy".
I think for many Blues the inverse is true: "Every year they support Everton, it takes a full year off their lives."
Maybe these kids are pinching a few sly swigs of Chang, to extend life expectancy?
Jay #13 It certainly feels like that, Jay!
Could this be the first goalless game of WC 2018?
I love the full-blooded tackles in this game and the ref is not the squeamish type to whistle for every one. Well done him.
Cracking game!
There is absolutely no quarter being meekly surrendered by either team, or any of the players.
Croatia's attitude and commitment is bang on the money. They are showing Argentina no respect whatsover and, more importantly, no time or space...
As just demonstrated by Modric as I type!
I did say before the WC unless Messi was inspired, I didn't expect much from his team.
Brilliant from Luka Modric...
I thought he was personna non grata?
Both teams went toe to toe, like two equally matched heavyweights, but the longer it went on Croatia were simply meaner, keener, mentally and physically stronger and technically superior all over the park.
Top top game. And Croatia has just announced themselves as a real dark horse in this competition. Any team that wants to eliminate them has to be prepared to win every battle in every corner of the pitch, because that's what they displayed tonight.
Impressive.
Who'll win the race to post a doctored video of the tearful Maradona to 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina'...?
Tackle them harder than steel, and they'll wilt away.
Well done Croatia! Hard football, beautiful football (the 20 minutes I got to see between work and raging storms in Florida), and a great result!
Hope this team goes far. Really enjoy watching them play.
It was first and foremost a physical battle. The ref deserves huge credit for letting that be the case. And in the first half neither team blinked.
But as the game wore on, whereas Argentina's intensity wavered, Croatia's did not. Dunno if you have ever played football personally against Latin Americas Steve - not at the top level! - but I have, as I have in other geo locations: Europe, Africa, Asia.
The most bruising footballers I ever played against were Latin Americans. Fairly when they could, by any means if needs must. There were examples of sly foot treads and follow throughs by Argentina all game, which escalated even more in the latter stages, out of frustration when two then three down.
Today, Croatia not only gave as much as they took, but gave back even more. In between the physical battle there was some wonderful technique from both sides also. But as I say, Croatia endured whilst Argentina withered. Too many aging players in the side..? Possibly.
Keep that intensity up - harnessed to the good technicians they have in the side - and Croatia will challenge any team left in the competition.
The Uzbekistan ref (I had to look it up!) deserves great credit for allowing it to be the full-blooded game it was. Because up until Croatia's first goal, Argentina were going toe-to-toe with their opponents in an attempt to intimidate and gain ascendancy over them. Only... Croatia were having none of it. They gave it back, and then some.
Perhaps because you were distracted, you – as someone who enjoys analysing tactics – didn't appreciate just how well prepared and set up Croatia were for this game.
I'm guessing the Argentinian manager anticipated the battle it became and bulked up his midfield and wide players with just that – bulk – instead of pace and guile, as offered by Di Maria.
He had Mascherano – one of the standout players at the last World Cup – at the base of that midfield, the link and everyone's go-to man between defence and the forwards.
He didn't have a bad game, but he is 34 now and he – and every Argentinian player – had a pack of Croatians snapping at his (their) heels all game long. That is one of the key reasons Argentina failed to get the ball forward more often into dangerous areas.
At half-time, I wondered aloud if this was going to be the first 0-0 game of the tournament as each side largely negated the other. That was until Caballero's incredible gaff. Even then, Rebic's focus, technique and application to fire first time a dropping ball was no easy feat. It was a fine finish.
The seed of doubt was planted. There are a number of 'senior' players in the Argentinian side. By the game's end, they were swamped by Croatia, resorting to any number of sly plays.
As the Argentinian coach himself acknowledged: "We didn't react well after the first goal. We worked to give Messi the ball, but the opponent also worked hard to prevent him from getting the ball. We lost that battle."
The clause in bold is key here. Being a keen student of tactics, Steve, you should be one of the first to acknowledge that poor performances and defeats can result, not because your team had an off-day, but because the opposition manager better prepared his team to better counter whatever your team attempted.
The Croatian coach certainly thinks so: "We have to be happy because we have beaten a strong Argentinian side with the best player in the world. Argentina were not confused; we were excellent.
"Over the last few days, we haven't looked at tactics because I wanted to relieve my players of the stress. We had good scouts and we analysed the opposition well. We adapted our style to them.
"In the first half we were compact and created three sitters but we failed to score. That's why I told the players in the second half that we will create more chances but we had to press higher."
The victory and the style of it was planned, not something that happened by chance or because Argentina 'just didn't get going.' It wasn't for lack of trying, Steve. They simply weren't allowed to by Croatia's superior tactics and game plan that wore them down.
Five of the 14 players used played for their national club champions last season at City, Juventus or Barcelona. The others are also a bit useful.
Caballero – Chelsea (ex Man City)
Mercado – Seville
Otamendi - Man City
Tagliafico - Ajax
Salvio – Benfica (Sub - Pavon – Boca Juniors)
Perez - River Plate (ex-Benfice, Valencia) (Sub Dybala - Juventus)
Macherano (playing in China, ex L'pool & Barcelona)
Acuna - Sporting Lisbon
Messi - Barcelona
Meza – Independiente Arg
Aguero – Man City (Sub Higuain – Juventus, ex Real Madrid)
There is plenty of talent and experience in that side at the very highest level.
It's a tad simplistic to say "with players like Aguero and Messi in the team, you just need to get the ball somewhere in their post code and let them do the rest."
If we as supporters know that, doncha think international class managers and players know that also and plan accordingly to negate that as much as possible?
Give credit where it is due - to the opposition's manager and players who had, and effectively applied, a game plan to negate Argentina whilst maximising to the full their own attributes.
If you want to apportion blame, look at the Argentinian manager and his coaching staff for not coming up with a single, or various, game plans to get the best out of the many talents at his disposal. And the players themselves for not having the stomach for the fight or taking individual and collective responsibility to reverse their fortunes in-game.
Don't think we need to over egg the pudding... utter pants they woz.
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[BRZ]
1 Posted 21/06/2018 at 15:04:04
I know the prize is big, but I hope the Aussie manager has a heart and gives Tim Cahill even just a few minutes in the final game against Peru so he can 1) say he played at 4 World Cup Finals, 2) give him a shot at joining Pele, Seeler, Klose and Ronaldo as a select group who scored goals at 4 different World Cup Finals.