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…
Author: Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
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…
Gareth Southgate’s England are through to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup following an impressive 3-0 win over Senegal to seal their passage to the lady eight, where defending Champions, France lies in wait.The clash famously known as the battle between three Lions and the Lions of Teranga had one favourite heading into it and it can be no other than a side that has reached at least the semi final of their last two major international tournaments.Albeit Senegal are the champions in Africa, they still come short when up against an England side, who have always come…
France are through into the last eight of the FIFA World Cup thanks to goals from Oliver Giroud and Kylian Mbappé, which ensured a 3-1 victory over Robert Lewandowski’s Poland.The defending champions take a first half lead one minute before the end of normal time as Olivier Giroud makes history by overtaking Theirry Henry and becomes France’s all-time international leading Goalscorer.The Milan striker gets on the end of a Kylian Mbappé through pass and fire past Wojciech Szczesny for his 52nd international goal, as well as his third in the ongoing FIFA World Cup tournament.Kylian Mbappé gets his goal in…
Forget the loss to Tunisia because that was not a match they took seriously but one saw as an avenue to rest players with knockout rounds ticket already sealed, so this article is much more about the happenings before their final group game.Ten FIFA World Cup games now, the 23year old Kylian Mbappé has an astonishing seven goals and one assist to his name and is already a world champion, not forgetting he was named the young best player of the last edition in Russia.Then, only a 19 year old teenager, now, Mbappé has developed into one of the best…
Argentina are through to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 win over Australia thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.Playing in his 1000th career game, Lionel Messi opened the scoring five minutes after the half hour mark. The PSG forward whipped in a free-kick from the right but the ball was returned to him after a clearance.Messi returned the ball to Alexis McAllister in the midfield and the later feeds Nicolas Otamendi, who touches it into Messi’s path for a cool and calm finish, which skipped past two defenders before beating the Goalkeeper,…