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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
Lots of drama in the FIFA World Cup round-of-32, but the stars were out on Tuesday and made the difference for Norway and France.
● Norway 2, Ivory Coast 1 ● This match, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, saw Ivory Coast the aggressor from the start, but the Norwegian defense was tight. It was scoreless at the hydration break, with the Norwegians at 57% possession, but just three total shots in the game, and only one for Norway.
The Norwegian offense was more focused after the break and in the 39th, and midfielder Martin Odegaard forwarded the ball to Antonio Nusa on the left side, just above the box. He had time and set up for a right-footed, curling shot that found the far side of the Ivory Coast net for the 1-0 lead.
The Vikings were suddenly all over the Ivory Coast net, with close misses for scoring star Erling Haaland in the 43rd, and striker Alexander Sorloth in the 45th. But there as no more scoring and the half ended 1-0, with Norway at 56% of the ball and a 6-5 shots edge.
But the Elephants were vigorous in the second half and Norway keeper Orjan Nyland had to make a strong save on a blast by striker Nicolas Pepe in the 55th. Norway also had chances and defender Torbjorn Heggem almost scored off a corner in the 67th, but it was amazingly saved by Elephants striker Amad Diallo on the goal line. At the second hydro break, it was still 1-0, with possession even now and Ivory Coast with a 10-8 shots edge.
Norway was more defensive now and it cost them, as Diallo came forward took a give and go with Pepe from the right side, rolled into the middle of the box and left-footed the shot and scored in the 74th for the 1-1 tie.
But the Norwegians knew what they had to do: get the ball to Haaland. It finally happened in the 86th, with a perfect cross from the right side of the goal from midfielder Patrick Berg, which drew the defense to him and found Haaland standing in the middle of the box. Haaland just kicked it in and scored his 60th goal for country in just 53 appearances. 2-1.
It got more and more physical in stoppage time, with pushing and shoving during a dead ball at 90+5, leading to an Diallo free kick above the box, which was saved only with a full-stretch, left-handed slap by Nyland! That was the end, with Norway’s first-ever knock-out round win.
Norway had 53% of possession, but Ivory Coast had the most shots, 14-9. Norway is on to face Brazil next.
● France 3, Sweden 0 ● The script was clear for this match in East Rutherford, as tournament co-favorites France were going to be on offense and the Swedes were going hold on as long as possible.
The French had 65% possession at the first hydration break and a 3-1 lead on shots, but no goals. But the pressure continued, with star striker Kylian Mbappe hitting the post in the 34th, then an acrobatic, bicycle-style shot from midfielder Michael Olise in the 34th that hit the far post.
Sweden was playing six men across the back line now, but in the 45th, off a short pass from a corner, striker Ousmane Dembele popped the ball into the box for Mbappe at the left side. He dribbled and created his own shot that sailed into the goal for the 1-0 lead in a moment of individual brilliance.
Swedish midfielder Elliott Stroud shot the ball over the bar on a good chance at 45+2, one of best attempts of the half. The French walked off the field holding 71% of possession and a 15-3 advantage on shots.
France was even more dominant in the second half. Striker Bradley Barcola received a cross into the box from Olise and did the rest, finding the net for a 2-0 lead in the 53rd and creating what looked like an insurmountable advantage for Les Bleus.
At the second hydro break, French possession was a little less at 66% and 20-4 on shots (5-1 in the “third period”).
Olise had shots saved in the 61st and 65th, but Mbappe sealed it with a 3-0 advantage in the 74th, taking a pass from Olise behind the defense and then scoring by sending the ball into the far corner. It’s another multi-goal game for the star and he now has 18 career World Cup goals!
The game ended with the French ay 61% possession and 25-8 on shots and looking very much like a tournament favorite, with an unstoppable scorer.
● Mexico 2, Ecuador 0 ● The start of the match in Mexico City was delayed for an hour due to a rainstorm at the Azteca, but the home team was in full flight from the start. A brilliant exchange in the 6th almost scored, with a glorious cross from the right side of the field by midfielder Luis Romo all the way to the far post for a header by striker Raul Jimenez, but it went wide!
Ecuador’s John Yeboah got through the box for a shot that missed in the 17th, but in the 22nd, a lone run down the left side turned into a 1-0 lead for Mexico, off a right-foot rocket from striker Julian Quinones after he rolled into the box and curled a shot to the left, just inside the post.
Mexico had 60% of the ball by the first break and 7-1 on shots. Ecuador didn’t help itself with a turnover, and Quinones forward the ball to Jimenez for a right-footed shot just inside the box that flew into the far side of the net in the 31st for the 2-0 lead.
Ecuador found some offense in the final 10 minutes, as Yeboah sent a blistering shot in the 40th that Mexican keeper Raul Rangel was able to push away. But the half ended 2-0, with Mexico at 56% of the ball and 10-2 on shots.
The pace slowed in the second half, but Mexico also scored in the 67th, on a Cesar Montes header off a corner was barely saved by Ecuadorian keeper Hernan Galindez. At the second break, Mexico was cruising with 14 shots to three, but Ecuador now had 54% of possession.
In the 74th, Ecuador striker Kevin Rodriguez barely missed a goal off a long pass ahead, and despite several more tries, could not find the net and it ended 2-0. A red card was handed out to Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie at 90+5 for covering his mouth while talking to forward Santiago Gimenez.
Mexico won an elimination game for the first time since 1986, and ended 15-7 on shots, but Ecuador had 57% of possession. The Azteca crowd was elated.
¶
Mexican “fans” did their best to disturb the Ecuadorian team during the early hours of Tuesday morning, as The Associated Press reported:
“From midnight until the early hours of the morning, dozens of fans gathered outside the Westin Hotel in Santa Fe, an upscale area on the outskirts of the capital, using loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles to disturb the visiting team’s rest.”
The Ecuadorian federation filed a protest, stating “Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody.
“The FEF respectfully calls upon the competent authorities to pay greater attention to these events and to adopt the necessary measures to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff, and fans.”
≡ PANORAMA ≡
The round-of-32 matches will continue through Friday:
Wednesday, 1 July:
● England vs. Dem. Rep. Congo ● In Atlanta (12 p.m. Eastern)
● Belgium vs. Senegal ● In Seattle (4 p.m. Eastern)
● U.S. vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina ● In Santa Clara (8 p.m. Eastern)
Thursday, 2 July:
● Spain vs. Austria ● In Inglewood (3 p.m. Eastern)
● Portugal vs. Croatia ● In Toronto (7 p.m. Eastern)
● Switzerland vs. Algeria ● In Vancouver (11 p.m. Eastern)
Friday, 3 July:
● Australia vs. Egypt ● In Arlington (2 p.m. Eastern)
● Argentina vs. Cape Verde ● In Miami Gardens (6 p.m. Eastern)
● Colombia vs. Ghana ● In Kansas City (9:30 p.m. Eastern)
¶
It wasn’t all misery for teams which did not advance out of the group stage. Jordan’s King Abdullah II, posted a message praising the team’s performance in their first World Cup appearance, despite an 0-3 record in Group J:
“Our national team heroes, you have represented a noble face for Jordan and laid the foundation for future successes that we look forward to. The nation awaits you and is proud of you, for you are in the hearts of all Jordanians.
“And to the loyal Jordanian fans: you have reflected the most beautiful image of our nation, embodying true belonging. Jordan is stronger with its unity, more beautiful with its people, and greater with the love that unites its sons.”
¶
Japanese fans came with a plan to the World Cup, bringing with them more than 15,000 blue plastic trash bags to cheer on the Samurai Blue in the stands and then for use in cleaning the stadium later.
The traveling bags idea apparently started at the 1998 World Cup in France, and for 2026, the APA Hotel Company – a sponsor of the Japan federation – produced the bags.
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