WHAT a surprise flying start for England as they hit the proverbial six with an unexpected6-2 win in their opening World Cup match against Iran.
Six goals look super on paper. But conceding twice against 20th-ranked Iran doesn’t reflect well with England coach Darren Southgate who rightly urged his team to buck up.
Even former award-winning Singapore coach Jita, who saw the match in Qatar, said: “Iran lost their plot after the two goals they conceded. Perhaps they stumbled after the unfortunate circumstance of them having to replace the first-choice goalkeeperthrough injury may have contributed to the thrashing.”
BACKLINE CRACKED
He added that Iran’s backline also looked suspicious as they were “caught off guard on a number of times…the victory now puts England on a good platform but let’s see how they continue their journey”.
England, World Cup semi-finalists in 2018 and European Championship runners-up last year, came to Qatar on the back of a six-game winless run. But they quickly found their feet at the Khalifa International Stadium, totally dominating the match.
“By England’s standards and the players they’ve got, we know it hasn’t been good enough. But it’s a World Cup stage, you can see there was real fire in their stomachs to go out there and prove a lot of people wrong,” added Jita.
RISE OF TWO YOUNGSTERS
He commended two youngsters in 19-year-old Jude Belingham (Germany’s Borussia Dortmund) and 21-year-old Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) for their rise-to-the-occasion form which made the major difference in this rout. Both are now, not surprisingly, eyed by Liverpool!
And now for Iran, it begs the biggest talking point: Is there still an Asian-class football gap at the highest World Cup level? Pray you tell me please.
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
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.
YOU watched Sunday midnight’s opening World Cup between host Qatar and Ecuador?
The 2-0 scoreline in favour of the South Americans showed an element of competitiveness but the truth of the matter, is that there’s still a yawning gap especially in terms of top-class experience.
Not to worry, Asian teams are slowly but surely closing on this gap without any lop-sided results.
Agreed, it wasn’t the result that many in Qatar would have hoped for. The host looked nervous and struggled against an opposition possessing hardcore experience and quality. In truth, the game was all but over at halftime, with Ecuador comfortably 2-0 up thanks to two goals by Enner Valencia.
PHYSICALLY COMPETITIVE
In my opinion, Asian teams should simply give their 100 per cent in every match, chase for every ball and be as physically competitive over 90 minutes.
I was happy that the opening ceremony itself focused heavily, not only on football, but also on unity, with performances giving a nod to all the countries playing in this year’s rare-in-the-desert tournament.
No doubt, Qatar were second-best. Ecuador overwhelmed them from the first minute of the game. Every set piece they had, they just dropped it in the box, and they were just better. They were winning first balls, they were winning second balls.
To be honest, physically, they bossed the game in the second half. They started passing around them, they were playing in their half. They bossed the game. That’s all it was.
FIRST HOST TO LOSE
Freezing in the desert is not easy but Qatar managed it on Sunday night in becoming the first host nation to lose an opening game at a World Cup. No other host country in the competition’s 92-year history had ever lost the opening game.
I must put on record that Qatar were so monumentally bad before the break that thousands of their fans that had packed out the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Doha never bothered returning after the break, the traditional white thobes and black abayas replaced by empty red seats.
But hold your heads high, Qatar, there’s still a yawning gap especially in terms of top-class experience. But mark my words: Asian teams are slowly but surely closing on this gap without any lop-sided results.
The writer is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
England went through humiliations in the Nations League, getting relegated after poor performances under the leadership of Gareth Southgate.
England and Germany shared the spoils at Wembley in a 3-3 draw but the results left both sides frustrated with their runs ahead of the World Cup.
Nevertheless, some in the UK are not shocked with the ‘Nation’s League’ performances, saying the England squad is one of the favourites to win the biggest global football tournament in Qatar.
While that is comforting, that is people still see the England squad as the best in the world ahead of the World Cup, there are concerns about the team.
The England squad had to fight against racist remarks online after it failed to win the EURO 2020, with three of its players missing the penalties at the end, giving Italy victory.
The Italians made it to the final stage of the Nations League in what can be seen as a performance filled with consistency, unlike the England squad. They should be one of the favourites to lift the World Cup coming November.
Russia and Qatar
Now, what is the difference between the England team that was fielded in Russia and the one that will defend their chances in Qatar?
England meets the USA, Wales and Iran in what can be said is an easy qualifying group that should see both the English side and the Americans go through the first stage.
Gregg Berhalter, the American coach, praised Gareth Southgate and backed the Three Lions to win the World Cup.
He says Southgate transformed the English players into a squad of superheroes.
He also says the performances of the England’s Women squad in the recent Women’s World Cup will also boost the morale of the English side in Qatar.
In Russia, England blew a chance to end their memorable World Cup adventure on a high note and become the best team to leave English shores when they were defeated 2-0 by Belgium in the third-place play-off.
This time around, they have a relatively easy (on paper) run in the first round of the W. Cup. WIll they disappoint the supporters?
England’s performance in Russia was one of their best showing in a World Cup after their 1966 controversial win against Germany by 4-2.
It was a Harry Maguire header that sent England on its way to the semi-finals after they beat Sweden 2-0.
Kieran Trippier’s superb fifth-minute free-kick put England ahead in the Luzhniki Stadium.
With this goal, they were on course for only their second World Cup final appearance. But Ivan Perisic’s second-half equaliser was well deserved as Croatia began to show their worth as the game progressed.
Another period of extra-time stood in the way of the Three Lions reaching the final against France, only for Mario Mandzukic to tuck away the winning goal after some static England defending allowed him to beat Pickford.
England and USA
In Qatar, England has to face the Americans and with the World Cup history between these two nations, it is hard to say whether the English side will come out the winner this time.
England has played the USA twice in the World Cup. The first time was way back in history when the USA team surprised the entire world by beating England 1-0 in 1950 and a terrible 1-1 draw in Rustenburg (South Africa) in 2010.
While the USA seems to be the bigger thorn in England’s side in this tournament, it still has to end up first in the group to face a lesser performing side in the next round. That is if England qualifies.
Nevertheless, in this year’s edition of the FIFA World Cup, Brazil is the 9/2 favourite to win, followed by France at 6/1 and England and Argentina at 7/1. This is based on the Bet365 predictions.
Poor results lately means England has drifted from the hot favourites to a lesser one but it is still among the countries that could end up as the top four in the competition.
Gareth Southgate’s England are 7/1 third favourites to win the World Cup in Qatar this winter, according to the bookies, after their poor run continued during the recent international break.
Southgate’s team was defeated 1-0 at the San Siro on Friday before drawing 3-3 with Germany at Wembley on Monday. These results bring their winless streak to six games.
For Behalter, the number of Premier League players (the best league in the world says many) means England is a hot favourite.
‘I don’t know if the expectations have always been in line with the quality of the squad. So back in 2010, realistically, I didn’t think they had the squad that could win the World Cup, right? But now it’s different. Now I think we all agree they have a squad that can win the World Cup.
‘And Gareth, in my opinion, has done a great job of helping the players cope with that pressure and actually using the jersey as a cape rather than a straitjacket and really giving them the freedom to play on the field, giving them the idea that they can represent their country in a positive way and make the country proud,’ he adds from an MLS event in Minneapolis last month.
The US begin their campaign against Wales, with the sides meeting in October 2020 for a 0-0 draw in Cardiff.
‘They were a good team, a very hard team to score on, a physical team, a lot of Premier League players, some real high quality in the attack, quality defenders,’ Behalter says.
Southgate’s squad
While the controversial and error-prone Harry Maguire is getting the backing of coach Southgate, it is undoubted that Harry Kane remains the top English player on the list of selected players or those who will be on the plane for the World Cup.
Harry Kane remains at the top of the table, with Declan Rice (2nd), Jordan Pickford (3rd), and Raheem Sterling (4th), but there is a change below that, with Jude Bellingham climbing four places to fifth after strong performances against Italy and Germany.
In the absence of Kalvin Phillips, who was already struggling for playing time at Manchester City before his injury, Bellingham appeared set to partner Rice. In the rankings, the Borussia Dortmund teenager leapfrogs Reece James (6th), Phil Foden (7th), Mason Mount (8th), Bukayo Saka (9th), and John Stones (10th).
The biggest movers, however, are Eric Dier (11th) and Luke Shaw (12th), who have risen 10 and 16 places respectively after returning to the squad and seizing their opportunity.
They suddenly look like sure bets for Qatar, and possibly Southgate’s starting lineup as well.
Despite a chorus of supporters and pundits criticising England manager Gareth Southgate for not playing Liverpool defender Kieran Tripper, Southgate believes Tripper is ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the England pecking order.
Alexander-Arnold, who was on the substitutes bench but did not play against Italy, was left out of the squad that drew 3-3 with Germany at Wembley on Monday night in the Nations League.
Reece James, England’s standout right-sided defender, played the entire match and is set to play in the World Cup in Qatar.
The Three Lions (England’s nickname) finished top of Group ‘B’ after recording a draw with the USA and two thumping wins over Iran and Wales.
For the Monday 3.00am clash, certainly all eyes will be on Manchester United ace striker Marcus Rashford, who bagged a brace in the 3-0 win over Wales to add to the goal he scored against Iran. This makes him the current World Cup’s joint-top scorer.
NO FAVOURITES
“At this knockout stage, anything can happen, there are no distinct favourites,” said Southgate. “If the match ends in a draw, it goes to mandatory penalty-kicks to decide the winner.”
Should England get over Senegal, a quarter-final date with reigning world champion France or Poland awaits.
Southgate warned: “This has been a tournament full of unexpected results, even the underdogs are making their mark with gutsy performances. I know Senegal never gives up easily anddefinitely cannot be under-estimated.”
If I’ve to stick my neck out, I will go for a very close-call win for England.
Now the ball is in your court: What’s your pick for this England-Senegal match?
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor.
JAPAN’S smartest strategy not to start with their European-based players against Germany significantly contributed to the sensational 2-1 win over four-time champions Germany, says Jita Singh.
The award-winning Singapore coach was surprised that Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Takuma Asano (Bochum), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) and Ritsu Daon ( Freiburg) were missing from the starting line-up.
“They only came in the second half when Japan was at 1-1. This could be the coach’s sharp strategy,” said Jita, who watched the match with his family at the Khalifa Stadium. “The game changed and Japan matched the highly-fancied Germans. In fact, Daon scored the equaliser and Asano clinched the winner.”
TEAMWORK TRIUMPH
To add to the ironical storyline, both Doan and Asano play in the German Bundesliga (Germany’s professional league).
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu praised:“The players came together as one team, we prepared well and we stuck in there, and that’s what led to the win.”
Now Germany’s World Cup future is once again on the line, with games to come in Group ‘E’ against Spain and Costa Rica. And they may be booted out!
“We made it too easy for Japan. I don’t know if an easier goal has ever been scored at a World Cup,” Germany coach Hansi Flick told Germany’s ARD TV network. “This must not happen to us.”
EMBARRASSING PRICE
The blunt truth is Germany never took their overwhelming dominance after they dominated the first half, says former Home United coach Robert Albert, now coaching in Indonesia’s Persib Bandung. “They paid the most embarrassing price,” he added.
The German team, rather cheekily, even covered their mouths for the team photo before the match in a powerful protest against Fifa’s decision to ban rainbow-themed armbands.
Flick’s side took the lead through a first-half penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and should have been out of sight after creating a host of chances.
But the gutsy Japan comeback was simply out of this world in the clearest signal that Asia is waking up (after Saudi Arabia’s startling 2-1 win over Argentina earlier in the week).
* Suresh Nair is an award-winning sports journalist who is also a qualified international coach and international referee instructor
