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Qatar – hosts for the 2022 edition of the Fifa World Cup – have been beset by issues of human rights and the like with questions also being asked about the awarding of the hosting of the tournament. But the Qatar team made history on the opening night on Sunday when they became the first host nation to lose the opening match!
No host nation, since the inception way back in 1930 in Uruguay, has lost the opening game but Ecuador ran out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from Emer Valencia.
But the biggest statement came on Monday when England trounced Iran 6-2 where Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka grabbed a brace. Based on this performance, England are now favourites to end Group B on top, especially after the USA and Wales played out to a 1-1 draw in the late kick-off on Monday evening.
The surprise of the day came when Senegal played the Netherlands where it was expected for the Dutch side to breeze past the Africans but Senegal – as I stated in Sunday’s #1BallZAWorldCupCorner – pushed the Dutch to the limit and it was only two late goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaasen that handed the Netherlands a 2-0 win which flattered the men in orange.
Woody, who normally gives up after the first game, and stated so yesterday, suddenly is interested again after having a decent run, picking up 11 points from the opening four games. Woody picked up points in each of the games!
Today sees action from Groups C and D with Argentina taking on Newcastle – I mean Saudi Arabia – followed by Denmark against Tunisia. Mexico and Poland go head-to-head with France and Australia finishing off the action in the late kick-off.
Most of the predictions for today’s games is pretty much on par except for the Mexico vs Poland encounter. Chippy says that Mexico will win, while Paddy says Poland will triumph. Both Woody and I say that the match will end in a draw.
Tomorrow sees Morocco and Croatia battle it out in Group F while the former Axis powers of Germany and Japan tackle each other. Spain take on Costa Rica while Belgium finish off the evening with their opening match against Canada.
Belgium should win Group F with Morocco and Croatia fighting it out for second spot. By all intents, Germany and Spain should battle for Group E supremacy but do not discount Costa Rica, who have lost just once in their last 10 outings.
Japan, with wins over the USA, Ghana and South Korea, were beaten by Canada in a World Cup warm-up game last week. Can Costa Rica cause an upset by upstaging either Germany or Spain?
Wednesday’s games sees most of us picking the same winners except for the Moroccan game where Chippy says it will end in a draw while I am picking Costa Rica to snatch a 2-2 draw against Spain.
