Record and surprise in Group A

Tournaments are often notably hard to predict, and Group A in this World Cup was notably difficult. After the opening match between Mexico and South Africa it was impossible to predict the strength of those two sides: Mexico won 2-0 against a very poor South Africa, and the home side only started showing their true strength when they defeated South Corea 1-0. Today Mexico were fantastic: 3-0 over a Czechia side that only played decent football during the first half hour, on goals by the Alkmaar defender Mateo Chavez, Julian Quiñones and Alvaro Fidalgo. 

Czechia proved to be one of the poorest side in the tournament, but that does not take away the fact that Mexico, for the first time in their World Cup history, won three matches in the group stages and progresses with a score of 6-0. The Mexican side, managed by the experienced Javier Aguirre, have shown that the doubts about the side were baseless, and that they are a side that aims to get far in the tournament. 

Any team that will face Mexico will struggle, not only against a great team, but also with an incredible local support.

We will see who they will play in the next match soon! 

In the meantime, everyone underestimated South Africa (including myself), most notably the South Coreans, whom everyone was expecting to go through on second place after Mexico. All the Asians had to do was tie South Africa. Instead, the South Africans won 0-1 on a goal by Thapelo Maseko, and they take second place in the group (and will be facing Canada next). It is a huge surprise, given how they played in the first match, and the fact that they only managed to tie Czechia (again: perhaps the poorest sides in the tournament). 

South Corea, who looked so good in their first match, and played a good match against Mexico, can only be disappointed as they are now on the verge of being eliminated. They can still hope to go through as one of the best third-placed teams, but with only three points and a score of -1, this would be incredibly lucky indeed!

The best tournament teams do not underestimate anyone, and pace their tournament. Mexico and South Africa perhaps paced themselves after the opening match, but now they are both deservedly celebrating that they are through to the last-32.

Why so surprised?

England were great in their first match winning 4-2 over Croatia, so they were obviously favourites against Ghana today. But Ghana managed to hold the favourites to a 0-0 draw that is probably a small disappointment for the English, who nevertheless appear to have the best odds of winning the group in their last match against Panama.

That said, I find it somewhat baffling that Mexican TV commentators called it one of the big surprises of the tournament: Ghana are in my view a solid side, with technically skilled, disciplined and athletic players, who can match all European sides, and defeat many of them, something they have proven before. Besides the fact that they are managed by the experienced manager Carlos Queiroz, they count players in top clubs in England, Spain, France, with wide experience at all levels.

Anyone who did not know that Ghana would not be a walkover for England, does not watch enough football.

Ghana have four points for two matches, and nobody has yet scored against them. They will face Croatia in their last match in what will surely be one of the matches to watch. Croatia fought hard to defeat a solid Panamanian side 1-0 (more surprising than Ghana is in fact how good Thomas Christiansen's side is), so they need a victory to pass Ghana in the group, and at least a tie to ensure a best third place.

I put my money on my dear old Black Stars. 

Koulibaly and I

If I had been a professional football player, Kalidou Koulibaly is whom I would have liked to emulate. I have admired the great Senegalese footballer since his times in Napoli (my favourite Italian side), when he was undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the Serie A and in the world. His strength, defensive vision, uncompromising style, and hard work, are qualities that I also try to have in my own working life. 

In 2022, before the World Cup, I was driving through Senegal, where I purchased a Koulibaly shirt, and proclaimed myself as his greatest fan amid the laughs of Senegalese and foreigners alike. I was wearing that very shirt when I celebrated his fantastic goal against Ecuador in the 2022 World Cup, and I have always kept admiring him, although not following his career as he moved to Saudi Arabia.

As Senegal faced Norway I was happy to see him on the pitch in what was surely to be a great match, and indeed it was, but not for myself or Koulibaly. In the 43rd minute, after a good match by the West Africans, Koulibaly gave the ball away to Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who resolutely shot and scored Norway's first goal. Soon into the second half, Koulibaly was late on an interception on a pass by Ødegaard to Erling Haaland, allowing the Manchester City striker a shot that he seldomly misses. Again in the third Norwegian goal (after Ismaila Sarr had pulled one up for Senegal), Koulibaly seemed slow as Haaland scored again, and in the end the great Koulibaly was substituted.

Senegal scored a second almost at the end, and was close to equalising, but in the end Norway prevailed, and Senegal are likely out after two great matches (defeats nonetheless) against France and Norway.

I like Norway, but found myself disappointed about Senegal's defeat. most of all I was saddened because of Koulibaly, whom I identified with more than ever: a great youth behind us, but having reached the age where we reluctantly must accept we are no longer as sharp or good at things as before. That not much is ahead but the memories…

 

The Legend Leo Messi

Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup goal at the 2006 World Cup, at the age of 18, in a 6-0 against Serbia-Montenegro. It was the only goal he scored in that tournament, but today, 20 years and one week later, Messi has made history by scoring both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria. 

With 18 goals, he is now the most scoring player in World Cup history, two goals ahead of Miroslav Klose and Ronaldo Nazarinho. And we will probably see more goals from the Argentinean magician/legend, as Argentina is looking to win the group with one match to go against Jordan. 

We all witnessed history today.

The German machine

When I was a kid (West) Germany were a side that were impossible to like. A  machine of admittedly great players who nevertheless played a type of football that lacked soul and would use any means to win, and in general it always worked to their advantage. Germany always won.

Since 2006 it has been different, and crowned by their fantastic 2014 World Champions. But Germany seems to have been struggling with its footballing identity since then. Germans expect to win, and poor results are generally seen as a deep crisis. Expectations to this tournament appear to have been limited, but the team has started with two victories; firstly destroying Curacao 7-1, and now defeating Cote d'Ivoire 2-1 in a match where I found myself supporting the West Africans more and more as the match advanced.

First half the Ivorians were much better and they were leading 0-1 on a goal by the veteran Franck Kessie, who after his long career in Europe is now at Al Ahli. The match flowed well nevertheless, as Germany had a couple of goals cancelled for fouls on the determined Ivorian defenders. In the second half Germany pushed forward and were open for counterattacks where Cote d'Ivoire made some terrible misses that in the end proved fatal. 

The big change for Germany was a triple substitution by Nagelmann: Musiala, Sane and Pavlovic were substituted for Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling and Nadiem Amiri. These three players changed the team entirely, and it was only eight minutes later that the Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav equalised on a set up by Nadiem Amiri. Pressure continued, and in the 94th minute Germany did what Germany always used to do: a ball into the area was controlled by Undav, who turned quickly and scored Germany's winner with a hard shot. 

Undav has six matches on the national team and six goals, and perhaps should be considered the starter for next matches.

Germany always wins in football, and with this goal we must start thinking of them as candidates for the title, since this is the German machine that we all know from before. It is likely that they will defeat a terribly disappointing and playing Ecuador side in the last group match.