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.

The Fantastic Orange

The official FIFA fan zones are absolutely horrible. In Guadalajara and in Mexico City they have placed them in front of the Cathedral, in the central parts of the city, and they totally get in the way of the  architecture and views of these beautiful places. It is tasteless and without charm, and also lack the local cultural flavour, that is only added by the fans. 

But without FIFAs commercial interests, some places set up local fans zones, as the one I found myself in yesterday, in Coyoacan; it included a decoration of skeletons playing and local foodstalls and a more relaxed atmosphere. 

It was here I was fortunate to watch a fantastic Netherlands side destroy a hapless Sweden side that went on the pitch without any direction. A three-line defense was immediately overwhelmed by an orange machine, who within 17 minutes was ahead 2-0 on two goals by the Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, who could become one of the great players of the tournament. 

The unnecessary hydration break never came better for any team as it did for Sweden, who clearly returned to the game both hydrated and better organized, and a 4-man defense. Sweden had a couple of shots and more control, but it was clear that the Netherlands were a far better team, and they sealed a nearly-perfect first half with a 2-0 lead.

Second half almost started the same way: ten minutes into it, Cody Gakpo had scored twice, and with a 4-0 lead, the Netherlands relaxed a bit, and the match in fact became quite entertaining as the West Ham striker Anthony Elanga came on for Sweden, and the match opened with chances on both sides. Anthony Elanga indeed scored a consolation for Sweden, but in the end Crysencio Summerville, who had come on in the second half to set up Cody Gakpo, scored an excellent closing goal for the Netherlands.

Crysencio Summerville appeared to get a head injury at the end of the match, but hope that he is ready for the next match, as the West Ham player is surely one of the ones to watch in the tournament.

5-1 cancelled all of Sweden's goal difference from their victory over Tunisia in the first match, and they are looking at a difficult last group match against Japan (who defeated Tunisia 4-0). But the best thing was the Netherlands; a fantastic side that must be one of the candidates for the title for any neutral fan who loves good football.

The fight for best third

Scotland is in a difficult group and yesterday they lost to Africa's second team (after the champions of Senegal) 0-1 on an early goal by the PSV striker Ismael Saibari. Scotland now have to face mighty Brazil, who will be pushing for a victory to take first place on goal difference, assuming that Morocco will defeat Haiti.

But in a tournament where the best 8 third placed teams go through, it would appear that Scotland has good chances of going through with three points (unless they get hammered by Brazil). Paraguay, who yesterday defeated Turkey, is also in a good position, and with a game left against Australia, they could even take second place. Other sides that are not so attractive even have a chance: Czechia, who tied the South Africans, could in theory pull through with a tie against Mexico, while Bosnia-Hercegovina would appear to have excellent chances by winning against the hapless Qataris in their last match.

I hope Scotland will pull through, even losing to Brazil. They will be fun to watch, not because they play good football, but because of their beer-drinking fans.

Mexico celebrates

I watched the Mexico-South Corea match in my local bar, which was dressed up in Mexican colours as the rest of Mexico City had been for the entire day in expectation of a match that would likely show Mexico´s true strength in this World Cup. 

Mexico certainly lived up to the expectations: a high pressure that limited South Corea´s control of the midfield gave them some good chances in the first half of the first half, until the Coreans managed to get more control. But open chances were few in a tight but entertaining match, and first half ended 0-0. 

Second half started similarly, and it was hard to see a clear winner. It was indeed a fortuitous situation  that gave Mexico their goal: an apparently harmless high ball into the Corean area was going to be grabbed by the Kim Seung-gyu, but he fell over a defender and lost the ball which fell to Chivas' Luis Romo, who could easily score in his home ground. 

The bar I was at exploded into celebrations, as surely all of Mexico did. 

South Corea had to get forward and did, but the Mexicans fought well and with discipline. That said, South Corea did get some chances to equalize, in particular a very close effort by the line, which was incredibly saves by the Chivas´ goalkeeper Raul Rangel. 

 The Chivas players were crucial in winning for Mexico at their home ground in Guadalajara! 

A good victory for Mexico and thousands crowded to the Angel de la Independencia to celebrate almost as if Mexico had won the World Cup. 

While Mexico are not World Champions yet, they have nevertheless shown that they are a team to be respected in this World Cup, particularly when playing at home with their spectacular support. 

Czechia disappointed massively by tying 1-1 with South Africa, and it is hard to see the Europeans having a chance in Mexico City next week, while South Corea is set to be runner-ups in the group, as they are expected to defeat South Africa, although of course, nothing is written in stone. 

¡Viva México!

Unnecesary Colombian suffering

I was quite excited yesterday, first time in a long time: I would be able to leave work early and go to the legendary Azteca Stadium to see Colombia versus Uzbekistan in the World Cup!

After a lengthy and crowded ride in public transport arrived at the immense and sold-out stadium: a vast crowd of Colombians that surely made it a home-match for the South Americans.

I had no expectations of the Uzbekis: I only know their Manchester City player, Abdukodir Khusanov, and their manager, the legendary Fabio Cannavaro. And I was disappointed: perhaps it was the nerve of the World Cup debut, but it was a team that entered the pitch not to win, but rather not to lose. A five-man defense, with Khusanov in the right, in order to stop the quick Luis Diaz.

Khusanov did not have an easy first half: he was soon booked for a foul on Luis Diaz, who was a constant threat, while James was constantly moving to confuse the defense. Colombia had basically all possession and even a Luis Diaz shot on the post, but relief only came in the 40th minute when a deep high-ball into the area by Luis Diaz was caught with a high leg by the Crystal Palace defender Daniel Muñoz. 1-0 was deserved.

Uzbekistan did not change much their second half despite them being behind. Colombia had possession, but it seemed nerves started hitting the Colombians - at least the fans were calling for a second goal as the Colombians passed the ball around facing the closed Uzbeki defense. 

Then what happened was unnecessary as well as historical (at least for Uzbeksitan). The first real Uzbeki attack and a high ball that appeared to go out landed with an Uzbeki striker who first timed a precise but weak shot straight at the Colombian goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas, at the near post. The ball hit Vargas in a way that it went straight up behind him, and straight to Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who could easily score Uzbekistan's first ever World Cup goal.

1-1 was so against the match!

But soon after Luis Diaz himself made it 2-1 on a shot towards the far Uzbeki post, in a ball that the Uzbeki goalkeeper Utkir Yusopov should probably have saved.

Thus we see that there is indeed some poor goalkeeping in the World Cup.

2-1 was well-deserved, and Colombia should be in control. Both Luis Diaz and James were substituted as Colombia pulled back to defend the lead, and the Uzbekis pushed forward. The end was unnecessarily nerve-wrecking for the Colombians, who had seen the Uzbekis score, and in the dying minutes they were suddenly in control.

But two of the substitutes saved the day: Cucho Hernandez had come on earlier and fought hard winning a ball during a counterattack, and made a perfect pass into the Uzbeki area where Jaminton Campaz (who had come on for James) could easily head the ball into the Uzbeki goal and make it to a deserved 3-1.

Still, - and this was the most admirable part about the Uzbekis -, Uzbekistan had an incredible shot on the  crossbar in the dying seconds (would surely have been the goal of the tournament!), but it was never enough to deny the Colombians, who despite all the suffering, deserved the victory.

Intense and great match, and most of all, happy to cheer on the Colombian team with all other Colombian fans!