Goals from Aurélien Tchouameni and Olivier Giroud in either side of a Harry Kane penalty sends Didier Deschamps and his minions through to the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup.For the second edition running, defending Champions, France look very determined to defend the title they only won for a second time four and a half years ago in Russia.In a clash predicted to be very even in all respect, they took an early lead through Aurélien Tchouameni, who scored his first ever FIFA World Cup goal with an absolute rocket from yards out with only 17 minutes played.France took…
Author: Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
The Atlas Lions of Morocco are through to the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup after a 1-0 win over Portugal thanks to a first half header by Youssef En-Nesyri.Walid Regragui made it nine games since his appointment as the country’s new manager in August, which has neither produced a defeat nor a goal scored against them by an opposing player.Three minutes before the end of the first 45 minutes, Sevilla striker, En-Nesyri rose highest to beat Diogo Costa to a Yahia Attiat-Allah cross and hand the Africans the only goal of the match.Portugal pushed for an equaliser and…
History awaits Morocco as they can become the first African ever to reach the semi finals of the FIFA World Cup with a win today.The believe is there for Walid Regragui and his minions, who are still yet to concede a goal from an opposing player since the appointment of their record breaking manager, while they’ve only conceded two shots on target so for in Qatar 2022.Many will fancy them to take the initiative in a tournament that has already graced us with thrillers and unbeatable upsets because it is believed that the 22nd edition still has more shockers in…
Argentina surrendered a two goal lead in the later stages of their FIFA World Cup quarter final meeting with The Netherlands but were able to see off their rivals on penalties.Nahuel Molina opened the scoring for Lionel Scaloni’s men five minutes after the half hour mark following an outrageous pass from Lionel Messi, which saw the Atletico Madrid defender convert for his first international goal.Argentina continued to ask much of that questions but it wasn’t until the 73rd minute that they were able to add to their lead as Lionel Messi converts from the spot after a controversial penalty was…
Dominik Livakovic the hero again as he saved a Rodrygo penalty in a shootout as Croatia reached back to back FIFA World Cup semi finals for the first time in the country’s history.The 2018 beaten finalist were tagged the underdog ahead of their meeting with the record winners, who made a statement of intent by thrashing South Korea 4-1 in their round of 16 game.Croatia, who have their Goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic to thank for their shout-out win over Japan in the last round needed their man between the sticks to be at the top of his game again and deny…
PSG Paris Saint-Germain trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar Junior all feature in the team of the round of 16 after their vital contributions ensured their respective country’s passage into the last eight of the competition.Many of the players in the selection had a stellar individual performance, one they will relive for most part of their career while some for others, it would not count as it was not enough to see their nation through to the next round.Croatia goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic deserves a spot as much as Yassine Bonou of Morocco as both were the match-winner for…
Hat-trick hero, Gonçalo Ramos steals the show as Portugal recorded an astonishing 6-1 win over Switzerland to reach the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2006.Fernando Santos picked Benfica striker, Gonçalo Ramos ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as he explained ahead of kickoff that it was a tactical decision and in the end, he must be pleased with himself for making that call.The Benfica striker becomes the first player in the ongoing tournament to score a hat-trick and only the second Portugal player after Eusebio in 1966 to do so.Ramos got Portugal off to a…
For the first time in their history, Morocco are through to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup after emerging winner in the Andalusia derby, thanks to a Yassine Bonou’s heroics between the sticks in the shootout.A fierce clash between the Atlas Lions and Spain ended goalless despite both nations creating decent chances to break the deadlock but unfortunately, neither Goalkeeper was beaten from open play.The game finished in a stalemate, as it was when both sides met in a group game in the last edition of the FIFA World Cup, but this time, a penalty shootout was required…
Neymar made his return from injury to inspire Brazil to an emphatic 4-1 win over Korea Republic as they sealed their passage into the last eight of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.Vinicius Junior opened the scoring from a Raphinha low cross into the box after a beautiful team move down the right. The ball took a slight touch off Neymar, who initially tried to score but failed.Hence, the assist was credited to the PSG man who got on the score sheet from the spot six minutes later after Richarlison draw a foul inside the penalty area.Making his return from…
Croatia goalkeeper, Dominik Livakovic saved a hat-trick of penalties to deny Japan and hand his country a consecutive ticket into the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 shootout win over Japan.Japan will feel hard done but they only have themselves to blame after their penalty takers really made to pay for their poor attempts.Dictated the tempo for most part of the opening, Japan took a deserved lead just before the break as Celtic striker, Daizen Maeda fired home from inside the 12 yards to score his first goal of the tournament.A short corner was worked down…