Jonathan Liew's Blog, page 59
November 29, 2022
World Cup 2022: countdown to Wales v England, plus Iran v USA – as it happened
Here is how each of the four teams in Group B can still reach the last 16 of the World Cup:
England: A win against Wales will see England top the group. A draw will qualify them. In fact, England will progress with any result except for a heavy defeat to Wales by more than three goals.
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World Cup 2022: countdown to Wales v England, plus Iran v USA – live
Here is how each of the four teams in Group B can still reach the last 16 of the World Cup:
England: A win against Wales will see England top the group. A draw will qualify them. In fact, England will progress with any result except for a heavy defeat to Wales by more than three goals.
Continue reading...November 28, 2022
Familiar faces and vibes: tournament life is a better fit for Harry Maguire | Jonathan Liew
After the bomb threat and loss of form at Manchester United, the England defender seems at ease on the international stage
Harry Maguire was just finishing a training session this year when he received an anonymous email, sent via his agent. The email explained that three bombs had been planted at his house in Wilmslow and that he was being given 72 hours to leave Manchester United before they would be detonated.
Naturally the police were called immediately, a sniffer dog was dispatched to conduct a thorough search of Maguire’s house and garden, and no explosives were found. Maguire rushed home from Carrington to be with his family, and while his fiancée and children were moved to a safehouse, Maguire moved in with a teammate for a few days. Nobody was arrested.
November 27, 2022
At Qatar 2022 even when the game begins, the virtual world still seeps in | Jonathan Liew
Semi-automated offside, augmented reality and CGI replays are all part of the match-day experience at this World Cup
The camera slowly zooms in on Lionel Messi’s face. And keeps zooming. And keeps zooming. The lens is steady, the focus deep and dramatic, blurring everything but the sole object of its attention. The camera keeps zooming.
Soon Messi’s shoulders are no longer visible. Then his neck disappears, then his chin. The camera keeps zooming. It is moments before Argentina and Mexico are about to step out in Lusail and the greatest player in the world is being subjected to the photographic equivalent of a nasal swab.
Continue reading...November 26, 2022
Kylian Mbappé double fires France into last 16 with victory over Denmark
The following sentences are all true. Denmark played a very good game. They attacked France bravely and intelligently. They controlled long periods. They defended their lines brilliantly at times. Kylian Mbappé had a curiously wayward night. France beat Denmark 2-1 with two scruffy second-half goals from Mbappé.
A show of strength from France, then, even if it also brooked a glimmer of weakness. They became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages, and even if they are yet to dominate they have already shown more than enough to serve notice on the rest of the competition. You can match their effort. You can thwart their tactics. But they’ll still always have Kylian.
Continue reading...November 25, 2022
Blandest of displays proves England still far from top of the food chain | Jonathan Liew
On a night of stalemate with the USA Gareth Southgate’s limp team seemed content simply to stay out of trouble
One point gained, or two hours lost? Certainly as England and the United States trundled their way to a fey and forgettable goalless draw, it was only natural to wonder how we might all have been spending this time more productively. Perhaps when the end finally comes, when we are lying on our deathbeds preparing to gasp our final breath, we will think back to that night we spent watching John Stones and Harry Maguire mesmerically passing the ball to each other, and quietly mourn the passing of time.
It was scarcely more enthralling in the flesh than it will have been on television. Al Bayt stadium rumbled and murmured. A lone drummer in the US end pounded out a menacing rhythm. Stones and Maguire carried on passing the ball to each other, with Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier occasionally chipping in. There was some more passing. Some more drumming. Empires rose and fell. The seas parted and unparted again. Everyone got a little older.
Continue reading...November 24, 2022
Brazil’s Tite calms fears after emotional Neymar limps off with ankle injury
The Brazil coach, Tite, has insisted that Neymar will play again in this World Cup despite suffering a suspected sprained ankle in their 2-0 Group G win over Serbia. The forward came off with 11 minutes remaining and television footage appeared to show him hobbling and his ankle badly swollen.
He looked closed to tears as he sat on the bench during the closing minutes of the game, before slowly limping back to the dressing room.
Continue reading...Richarlison’s stunning double sinks Serbia to get Brazil up and running
Yes, Brazil: that’s pretty much how we remembered you. This is a new generation of Brazilian players, a new era and a new World Cup challenge. And yet by the same token this was a classic Brazilian tournament performance: the sort that feels as if it is being put on for our benefit. On a still night in the giant golden ark of the Lusail Stadium, the tournament favourites played the game you expect from tournament favourites: solid, expansive and embellished with the sort of effortless brilliance that makes other countries furrow their brow a little.
The match had three distinct periods. In period one Brazil started pretty tamely, perhaps even uncertainly, picking away at Serbia with tempo but not a great deal of poise. As the second half progressed they began to warm to the task, cathartically breaking the deadlock with a goal from Richarlison. In the final half hour they simply cut loose: riotous skills, relentless waves of attack and an early goal of the tournament contender from Richarlison, who scored his second with an outrageous bicycle kick.
Continue reading...November 23, 2022
Japan defeat Germany and Spain hit seven – Football Daily podcast
Max Rushden, Mark Langdon, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Jonathan Liew, and Sid Lowe discuss the opening games in Groups E and F.
Today; the panel discusses all the action from the first round of games in Groups E and F of the World Cup. Archie Rhind-Tutt shares the German perspective as Japan come from behind to defeat Germany 2-1. Sid Lowe reports live from the Al Thumama Stadium as Spain hit seven against a hapless Costa Rica.
Also, were Canada unlucky as they failed to score their first-ever World Cup goal in their 1-0 loss to Belgium? And there was a 0-0 between the last World Cup’s runners-up, Croatia and Morocco.
Continue reading...Tite dances on the high-wire of expectation as Brazil grapple with destiny | Jonathan Liew
On eve of their opening game against Serbia, the head coach has urged his side to have fun while seeking to win a sixth World Cup
The question about dancing came about 35 minutes in and, in fairness, it wasn’t as random as it sounds. Earlier in the week Raphinha announced that Brazil’s squad had prepared and rehearsed 10 different dance routines to be unveiled each time they score at this World Cup. So, a Brazilian journalist asked Tite: “What is the importance of this cultural phenomenon? How important is it to dance? What is the message we can convey to the world by dancing?”
“Naturality,” the Brazil coach responded immediately. “Respect for the culture, respect for who we are. It is happiness, it is joy. Yes, it is a moment for us to be focused and serious. But there are moments when we can have fun, when we can vibrate. Everyone has their own way. Our way is dancing.” Perhaps this offers a small idea of why Brazil’s wise and wizened head coach can be such fascinating company. There is a lightly worn intellect there, a love of words, an attention to detail, a dignity and a levity, as well as the basic decency to give a sincere question a sincere answer.
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