World Cup Daily: Brazil, Portugal secure their spots in knockout round

Football

Published 28.11.2022

World Cup Daily: Brazil, Portugal secure their spots in knockout round

After every matchday of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily weblog will recap the day’s occasions and look forward to the following day’s slate of video games.

Here’s what occurred on Monday in Qatar, in case you missed it…

THE RESULTS

Cameroon 3, Serbia 3 in Al Wakrah: Match Report || Match stats
South Korea 2, Ghana 3 in Al Rayyan: Match Report || Match stats
Brazil 1, Switzerland 0 in Doha: Match Report || Match stats
Portugal 2, Uruguay 0 in Lusail: Match Report || Match stats

MAIN TALKING POINTS

World Cup isn’t simply in regards to the top-tier nations

Most of the hype forward of Monday’s slate of video games centred on Brazil and Uruguay, however it was the opposite two matches that had all people speaking on the finish of the day. Cameroon and Serbia didn’t do their hopes of advancing to the knockout spherical a lot good as they performed to a 3-3 draw that leaves them tied for final place in Group G with a single level. But the 2 nations mixed to placed on a present that followers received’t quickly neglect.

In what has been probably the most entertaining match on the World Cup to this point, substitute Vincent Aboubakar scored one aim and created one other as Cameroon got here from 3-1 all the way down to earn a draw with Serbia. In the sixty fourth minute, Aboubakar brilliantly timed his run to perfection, beating the offside entice and latching onto a cross earlier than breaking in on aim and chipping goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Two minutes later, Aboubakar turned playmaker when he arrange striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s equalizing aim for the African aspect. It was the primary time in Qatar that each groups in a sport coughed up their lead.

The different early sport of the day noticed South Korea erase a two-goal deficit in its Group H contest towards Ghana, solely to return up brief 3-2. The Koreans carried many of the play within the opening 45 minutes however trailed 2-0 going into the halftime break. The sport instantly turned when Cho Geu-sung scored two objectives roughly three minutes aside early within the second half to attract stage.

South Korea had the momentum, however the match turned once more when Mohammed Kudus scored his second of the match within the 68th minute. South Korea furiously pressed for an equalizer over the past 20 minutes because it pinned the Black Stars deep inside their half of the sphere. No extra objectives had been forthcoming, although, and Ghana held on for the win to keep away from being eradicated.

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Both matches had been breathless affairs stuffed with drama. All 4 nations won’t qualify for the knockout stage, however their performances on Monday served as a reminder that the World Cup isn’t simply in regards to the marquee groups. It’s additionally about nations resembling Serbia, Cameroon, Ghana and South Korea, nations which might play some scintillating soccer and supply memorable moments.

Brazil, Portugal off to the spherical of 16

It ought to come as little shock that each Brazil and Portugal are by means of to the knockout stage in Qatar, becoming a member of reigning World Cup champions France as the one groups within the 32-nation subject to have punched their ticket to date. Brazil, in spite of everything, is a five-time winner of this competitors and was extensively considered the pre-tournament favorite. Portugal hasn’t received soccer’s greatest prize, however it’s not precisely a slouch within the worldwide sport, having claimed the European Championship in 2016 – to say nothing of the actual fact it boasts Cristiano Ronaldo.

But each Brazil and Portugal had been made to work for it on Monday, and solely managed to tug out victories after labouring for fairly a while. Neither nation secured their spots in a walkover; as a substitute, they needed to earn it towards resolute groups that pushed them to the very finish of their respective contests.

In Brazil’s case, it took the South Americans 83 minutes to breach a staunch Swiss resistance of their Group G contest. While the Swiss didn’t register a single shot on the right track, they defended brilliantly and pissed off their South American foes for lengthy stretches. Finally, defensive midfielder Casemiro displayed a real goal-scorer’s contact along with his peach of a strike being the distinction for Brazil, who struggled to interrupt down Switzerland within the absence of Neymar (dominated out on account of an ankle damage).

As for Portugal, it discovered the going equally robust towards Uruguay, earlier than pulling out a 2-0 win in Group H, a rating line that fairly flattered Ronaldo and his cohorts. Bruno Fernandes did his candidacy for the Golden Ball (award to the match MVP) no hurt with one other masterful show in main his nation to victory. But there was a contact of excellent fortune along with his opening aim, whereas his second got here from a contentious penalty in second-half damage time.

These two matches served as a staunch reminder that there are not any free lunches on the World Cup and that even the mightiest of countries should earn what they get. Results have to be earned by means of arduous work and graft, irrespective of who you’re and in case your popularity precedes you.

GOAL OF THE DAY

You’ll discover few higher examples of a ‘tic-tac-toe’ aim than Casemiro’s winner for Brazil within the 83rd minute vs Switzerland. Vinicius Junior peeled off the left wing with the ball glued to his ft earlier than feeding a cross to the highest of the field to Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo. Rather than controlling the ball, Rodrygo performed a gorgeous one-touch cross into the field for Casemiro, who hit a curling first-time shot with the surface of his foot, nestled into the far nook of the web.

MOMENT OF THE DAY

In the thirty second minute, Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur went on a probing run from inside his half down the center of the park, ghosting previous a number of Portuguese gamers. By the time he was within the penalty space, he appeared sure to attain. Still, goalkeeper Diogo Costa got here out and made himself huge to make an important save, denying Bentancur what would have been a memorable aim after a sensational solo effort.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“In a squad, you need to see discipline. If you can’t fit in with that discipline, with what’s required to be part of a squad, then I do think that you need to accept responsibility because the squad is more important than the interests of any individual. For the time being, we have to deal with the players who do want to be part of the squad and are proud to pull on the shirt. I am like a father to these boys, and I am responsible.” – Cameroon coach Rigobert Song on why he dropped goalkeeper Andre Onana and began backup Devis Epassy.

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SIX PACK OF STATS

• Serbia is the primary workforce to attain twice in first-half stoppage time on the World Cup since 1966.

• Mohammed Kudus (22 years and 118 days) is the second youngest African participant to attain two objectives in a World Cup match, after Ahmed Musa (21 years, 254 days) for Nigeria towards Argentina in 2014.

• The Brazilian males’s workforce is now unbeaten in its final 17 group-stage video games on the World Cup, setting a brand new file.

• Casemiro’s aim within the 83rd minute is the second-latest opener scored by Brazil in a World Cup match, behind solely Coutinho towards Costa Rica in 2018 (ninetieth minute).

• Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a yellow card after 5:43 vs. Portugal, the earliest warning of this World Cup.

• Bruno Fernandes has been immediately concerned in eight objectives in his final 5 appearances for Portugal, scoring 5 and helping three.

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Stats courtesy of Opta

SPORTSNET IN QATAR

Sportsnet.ca contributor Peter Galindo is in Qatar protecting the World Cup. He was at at the moment’s Portugal-Uruguay match:

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THREE STARS OF THE DAY

1) Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) and Cho Gue-sung (South Korea): Both gamers bagged unbelievable braces for his or her groups in Ghana’s thrilling win over South Korea.

2) Bruno Fernandes (Portugal): He scored the opener after which drew the handball foul that led to an injury-time penalty, which he duly transformed to seal the win.

3) Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon): The veteran striker got here off the bench within the fifty fifth minute and made historical past by changing into the primary substitute to each rating and help in a World Cup sport for an African workforce.

LOOKING AHEAD TO TUESDAY

There are 4 video games on faucet tomorrow with Wales vs. England (2:00 p.m.) being the choose of the bunch. England tops Group B with 4 factors, whereas Wales (one level) sits in final place. The Welsh must win, hope Iran and the U.S. (2:00 p.m. ET) play to a draw and overturn a minus-2 aim distinction with the intention to have a shot at advancing out of the group. The English, alternatively, solely want a draw to clinch a berth within the spherical of 16. In Group A, the Netherlands takes on Qatar and Ecuador clashes with Senegal (each at 10:00 a.m. ET). The Dutch and South Americans are tied for first place with 4 factors and might each transfer on to the knockout spherical with attracts of their respective matches.

John Molinaro is likely one of the main soccer journalists in Canada, having lined the sport for over 20 years for a number of media retailers, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, an internet site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic could be discovered right here.