Rob Smyth's Blog, page 66
November 27, 2022
Belgium 0-2 Morocco: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
The substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal scored as Morocco stunned Belgium with a deserved victory
“My wife, who is from Morocco and happens to be working in Marrakesh this week, will be hanging out with the bar staff at her 5-star hotel to watch the match,” writes Alistair Connor. “Quite possibly nipping out to the pool at half time, it’s a sunny 28° there. I should have gone with her, I’ve got nothing better to do than sit at home in France watching the football on TV...
“Götterdämmerung is an emerging theme at this WC. Ronaldo, Bale, Neymar, even Messi, add your own favourites, use-by date. Belgium won’t be taken by surprise by this zippy Moroccan crew, but they may be overrun? Inshallah.”
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November 26, 2022
Argentina 2-0 Mexico: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez scored brilliant second-half goals to settle a desperate game and get Argentina back on track
A reminder of the teams
Argentina (possible 4-4-2) E Martinez; Montiel, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Acuna; Di Maria, De Paul, Rodriguez, Mac Allister; Messi, Lisandro Lautaro Martinez.
Substitutes: Armani, Rulli, Foyth, Tagliafico, Paredes, Pezzella, Alvarez, Romero, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Gomez, Dybala, Fernandez, Molina.
November 25, 2022
Wales 0-2 Iran: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Iran scored twice in added time to shatter Wales, whose keeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off for a violent foul on Mehdi Taremi
A bit more pre-match reading
It’s a sweltering afternoon in Al-Rayyan. As Gabby Logan has just said on the BBC coverage, bucket hats will come in very handy.
Continue reading...Football Daily | Just when you thought it was safe to step out of the digital bunker
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Your super, soaraway Football Daily always looks forward to Black Friday. Unashamed dopamine fiend that we are, we’ll never tire of watching viral videos of adults (sic) brawling doggedly over an immersive multi-room speaker system they don’t need or particularly want, and which was 50 notes cheaper when they walked straight past it a week earlier. Today, that entertainment will be supplemented by Fifa’s new post-Thanksgiving celebration: Bloke Friday, in which a load of men play a load of football in front of crowds made up of a load of men.
Continue reading...Wales v Iran: World Cup 2022 – live
In other news, Rob Page and Carlos Queiroz
Essential pre-match reading
Continue reading...November 24, 2022
Brazil 2-0 Serbia: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Richarlison scored twice, the second a spectacular volley, as Brazil started their campaign with an emphatic victory
Serbia’s manager is Dragan Stojkovic, the man who produced one of the more delicious first touches in World Cup history. It’s after 2m22s, but you might as well watch the whole video.
Twenty minutes to kick off
Continue reading...November 23, 2022
Spain 7-0 Costa Rica: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Ferran Torres scored twice, 18-year-old Gavi made history – and so did Spain, who scored seven for the first time in a World Cup match
“First time emailer long time reader,” writes Aaron in Nashville. “You’re the funny Beatle of all the MBMers, so you’re my subtitler as I watch the game in Spanish. Because let’s face it, football is just more exciting in Spanish.”
I think that’s a compliment, my first of the decade, so thank you! Wait, what?
Continue reading...November 21, 2022
USA 1-1 Wales: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Gareth Bale’s ferocious penalty cancelled out Tim Weah’s fine goal and earned Wales a point in their first World Cup game in 64 years
Meet Gareth, a 33-year-old veteran who loves his country and golf
The thoughts of Wales manager Rob Page
It was a really, really hard decision [to pick Wayne Hennessey ahead of Danny Ward] – it gave me a few sleepless nights. Wayne’s got the shirt at the moment and his performance against Ukraine to get us here was probably the best I’ve seen from a goalkeeper in a Welsh jersey. Wardy understands; the keepers are a tight group.
[On leaving out Kieffer Moore] I want pace up front, and DJ [Dan James] certainly falls into that category.
Continue reading...November 20, 2022
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: World Cup 2022 kicks off after opening ceremony – as it happened
Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored twice as a dismal Qatar became the first host team to lose their opening World Cup game
Say cheese
Steven Bloor has selected some of the most eye-catching player portraits, including a smouldering Jack Grealish and a man with a nickname you’ll never be able to forget.
Continue reading...November 19, 2022
Australia win series after 72-run defeat of England: second ODI – as it happened
Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa took four wickets apiece as Australia clinched the series with a comfortable victory at the SCG
Out come the sides onto the SCG oval. England in their 50-over uniform of navy blue with sky blue accents. Australia clavicle to toe in canary yellow, a monochrome palate offset only by green helmets.
Smith is currently being interviewed on the host broadcaster about that cover drive. It is excellent #content but the chumminess of it all is hard to connect with. I think I’m a little dead inside. Maybe more than a little.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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