THE cracks are showing in the Belgium team as they head home in shame.
Probably a case of washing dirty linen in public?
The first scary signs were there when several members of Belgium’sWorld Cup squad reportedly paid for their own flights home from Qatar, rather than travelling back with the rest of the team as planned.
The Red Devils (Belgium’s nickname) crashed out of the World Cup in the group stages for the first time since 1998 after scoring just one goal in three matches.
POOR FORM
After labouring to a 1-0 victory over Canada in their opening match, things got worse for the Belgians with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco.
What prompted the gossips? In the build-up to that loss, the squad was rocked by a bizarre interview conducted by Kevin De Bruyne, in which he claimed that Roberto Martinez’s squad were ‘too old’ to win the World Cup.
The team tried to play down De Bruyne’s comments in his post-match interview, but it was quickly clear that all was not well in the Belgium camp.
ATTACK BADLY
Jan Vertonghen took a swipe at his captain when speaking to the media after the match, mockingly suggesting: “We probably also attack badly because we are too old, that must be it now, surely?”
So here goes the blaming game…but whatever, washing dirty linen in public is a very poor form of gamesmanship.
Now, what do you think of this drama post-field?
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor
Few ever believe that four-time champion Germany is on their way home after shocking exits from the first round. No excuses.The bottom line is that throughout this tournament, Germany displayed none of their familiar solidity in defence and was complacent whenever they went ahead.
Germany’s air of global invincibility has long since gone and these past couple of weeks were perhaps the final confirmation of that fact.They fly out of Qatar as a fallen giant of world football.
Germany, once regarded as nailed-on certainties to go deep into major tournaments and even in Qatar, despite a chaotic 4-2 win against Costa Rica. Japan’s 2-1 win over Spain proved terminal to their hopes.
PAINFUL EXIT
Painful for die-hard global fans since this is the second World Cup in succession that Germany has failed to get out of their group, suffering the same fate in Russia in 2018.
Watching over television, the sight of Germany’s players gazing at a bank of empty red seats was the grim conclusion to a very sorry campaign.
Germany head coach Hansi Flick looked devastated at the final whistle. But he admitted later that “we didn’t play at the right way and deserve to be booted out”.
Now there is no more Germany’s air of football invincibility and they must buck up from square one to redeem themselves.
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
The round of 16 at the Qatar World Cup 2022 is turning into a pandemonium for small nations and it is possible to believe that it will take more than some beautiful football for a bigger shock in these finals.
Now that the hope for small nations rests on Morocco and Switzerland, the question is which one can make it into the last 8 and what price they will have to pay in facing the likes of Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
At this moment, Morocco remains unbeaten. Winning in its group and winning a chance to fight it out against Spain. For Spain, this is another historically charged tie given the tragedy of the religious wars between them.
On the other hand, Spain had some difficulties in their group after trashing Costa Rica 7-0, held by Germany 1-1 they lost to Japan 2-1 with a Japanese goal that is still disputed by football fans.
But to be truthful, Spain has the experience – as a former World Cup winner when Shakira and Waka Waka was rocking the airwaves (2010) – and the players that can make the difference, but don’t discount the Morocco side which is a valiant team led by the very talented Hakim Zyech.
If Morocco beats Spain, it will be a major shocker, an even bigger shock than a win by Switzerland versus Portugal with Ronaldo upfront. (Editor’s Note: Morocco has beaten Spain on 3-0 on penalties)
Neverttheless, countries like Saudi Arabia, Cameron, Japan and even Ghana or the USA played such vibrant football that it is a pity that they failed to progress into the last eight.
Perhaps the World Cup is not made for smaller nations with big ambitions and it is now so commercialised that it has to be the tournament of big guns that escape elimination through penalties- South Korea lost to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16 – or because they go for the suicidal tactics running a-mock against their mighty adversary hoping they could strike a win while the experienced teams plays counter attack – England versus Senegal.
Beautiful Football
Focusing on the beautiful football games at the World Cup, we saw how Saudi Arabia defeated the unsuspected Argentina with King Lionel in their ranks. But that was not enough. Instead of pressing more on the brakes and maybe parking the bus against their two other opponents as opposed to attacking them to score and win, the Saudis could have promulgated their stay in the cup and offer fans another bit of stylish football?
It is all about tactics and even King Pele, before he fell further Ill last week, advised the Brazilian team to sacrifice beauty and style for tactics that would help the country lift the trophy on December 18.
ASIAN teams bowed out before reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
But hats out to Japan, South Korea, and Australia for putting up one of the best-ever shows ever in the history of the tournament with sizzling upsets that shocked the world.
Japan was perhaps the most unfortunate in the ‘Round of 16’ as they held Croatia to a 1-1 draw after extra time but lost out 3-1 on mandatory penalty kicks.
Australia was edged out by Argentina 2-1 while Brazil overwhelmed South Korea 4-1.
SHOCK WINS
Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu masterminded shock victories over Germany and Spain to top their group and they pushed the finalists from four years ago to penalties. But, having captured the adoration of those watching with likable fans who chant and bang their drums all game, it was another tournament that ended in heartbreak.
In 2018, they led 2-0 in the last 16 against Belgium and lost to a 94th-minute winner from Nacer Chadli. This time, they suffered agony in the shootout.
“We could not break through the round of 16 and could not see a new landscape,” Moriyasu told the media.
“We won against Germany and Spain who have been champions. The players showed a new era of Japanese football and they should use this feeling of being upset to try to win next time.”
BEST TIE
Now the England-France quarterfinal tie looks especially mouth-watering: France is ranked fourth in the world, one place above England. Didier Deschamps’ side has gone one better than they did at the last major tournament – the delayed 2020 European Championship – where they lost to Switzerland on penalties in the last 16.
A special plus-point is France having Kylian Mbappe in their attack, who leads the race for the ‘Golden Boot’ with five goals so far, two more than any other player.
Interestingly, England and France have not met in the knockout rounds of a men’s major tournament before. They have played each other 31 times, with England winning 17 to France’s nine victories. The last time they met was in a friendly in June 2017, when France was 3-2 winners.
RISING TEAM
The rising team appears to be Brazil, and as a nation, they do not lack confidence when it comes to football fortunes. For this World Cup, those form levels are sky-high, and it is clear to see why, especially after the latest rousing 4-1 win over South Korea.
Brazil is probably most Singaporeans’ favorite, too. They have progressed from each of their last seven round-of-16 matches at the World Cup, only failing to win in normal time once during this run, progressing via penalties against Chile in 2014. They were last eliminated at this stage in 1990 against Argentina.
Look at their track record: Thirteen clean sheets in 17 qualifying games this time around with an average of 2.5 goals scored per game, all against the backdrop of severe loss of life in the country resulting from a global pandemic.
Now there is unity and belief. There is harmony to the samba beat. Let’s hope they carry Brazil to the final.
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
Morocco’s match against Spain in the World Cup round of 16 in Qatar could be the game of the century for the Atlas Lions, as the Moroccan team is known after defeating Belgium in the group stage.
It will now compete against the former world champions Spain in a match that could become as contentious as their previous interactions.
Morocco would like to imitate Tunisia’s victory over France against a sloppy Spanish team, just as Tunisia did when it defeated France in a sort of retaliation for their long-standing political history.
Following Spain’s 7-0 rout of Costa Rica in their opening group match, everything appeared to be going well for them.
But this was followed by a draw against lacklustre Germany. Spain needed a win to secure the first place, an important place, in the group but Japan had to spoil the broth for the Spaniards, beating them 2-1.
Spain clinched the second place behind Japan thanks to its goal difference of plus 6 against the German’s plus 1.
Can the Morocco side beat the Spanish side in the upcoming World Cup match? A tough one for the Maghribi team as Spain would want to rekindle with the joy of winning and would probably play their best game to avoid defeat,
Morocco may have defeated the Canadians with chance on their side. Youssef En-Nesyri scored the game-winning goal after Hakim Ziyech had scored the opening goal in the 4th minute. As soon as the game began, Ziyech scored for the Moroccans, giving them the perfect start. Poor defending by Canadian centre back Steven Vitoria and goalkeeper Milan Borjan led to the goal.
Morocco will head into the game in high spirit but Spain has the experience to deal with small teams.
It will depend on the tactics employed by both managers in the Dec 5th match at the Education City Stadium. This is where we will know whether the ‘giants’ from Europe will teach the ‘small team’ from Africa a lesson or two in football or we will see another shock that will get the football world raging.
Remember the Morocco win against Belgium brought two cities in Europe in chaos.
GETTING the early boot should not discourage host Qatar.
Even before their third preliminary match, they’re out, in a rare first in the tournament’s 92-year history.
But the premature exit should not be called a “failure and disappointment” from the World Cup, says Qatar manager Felix Sanchez.
The Middle Eastern side battled valiantly before Senegal condemned them to a second straight defeat – and subsequently became the first country knocked out of the competition after the Netherlands drew 1-1 against Ecuador.
Qatar made history by becoming the first country from this desert-region to host the World Cup. And now have the unwanted record of becoming just the second home team to exit the competition at the group stage, after South Africa in 2010.
‘SMALL COUNTRY’
Spaniard coach Sanchez said: “Qatar is a small country, not a very large population. The local league is not a very competitive one. It’s our first time at the World Cup. If we can take part again, that would be great. It’s always useful to get more international experience.”
He reiterated that “our “goal was to be competitive…we have been working for so many months to be able to give a good performance”. Clinically, he added: “But sometimes the match does not play out as you expect. It also depends on the opponents’ performance. I must admit that we didn’t play at our top level.”
Poor Qatar: Ever since the host-choice was made in 2010, it also sparked instant criticism – over the logistics of holding a sporting event in a country where summer-time temperatures regularly top 100 degrees; over allegations of bribery and corruption among FIFA officials who voted for Qatar; and over concerns about human rights abuses that have persisted in the years since.
HOLD HEAD HIGH
Rather amazingly, off the field, Qatar is the smallest nation to ever host the World Cup, a complex international sporting event that draws huge numbers of visitors and requires the infrastructure to accommodate them.
They controversially edged out USA, mind you, and you can imagine the significance to this extraordinary selection.
Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, has insisted his nation can hold its head in hosting the games.
“Qatar 2022 is finally here and we’ve so far celebrated with a mesmerising opening ceremony, passion in the stands and exciting football on the pitch,” he said.
“Our nation is gripped by football fever and the party will last all the way to the final on December 18.”
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
