The FIFA World Cup is officially one week underway and will be running until July 15. Each week we will have an update of the tournament in action. This includes the top performances, goals, underdog stories and next weekB次元官网网址檚 canB次元官网网址檛-miss games.
Matches of the week:
Argentina vs. Nigeria (2-1): Facing elimination, Argentina needed a win to advance through the group stage. After a sensational effort from Lionel Messi, Argentina took an early lead. Nigeria capitalized with Victor Moses on a penalty shortly after half to tie. With tensions rising, defender Marcos Rojo sealed the South American nationB次元官网网址檚 fate to send Argentina through with a goal in the 86th minute.
"I said to and I felt a goal was comingB次元官网网址"
B次元官网网址 FIFA World Cup 馃弳 (@FIFAWorldCup)
Marco Rojo saw his goal coming for and boy did it come at the right time for their hopes.
We spoke to him after the final whistle
READ 馃憠
England vs. Panama (6-1): England showed their might in this match against a weak Panama side. Captain Harry Kane finished with a hat trick to take sole lead of the Golden Boot with five goals. Defender John Stones tallied two goals himself.
Belgium vs. Tunisia (5-2): Belgium is having no trouble scoring in their group stage matches. They bombarded Tunisia with 23 shots and 12 on target. Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku tallied two fantastic goals. Captain Eden Hazard slotted two goals of his own.
Top goals:
Heung-Min Son (South Korea):
El golazo de Heung Min Son para el descuento sobre la hora vs M茅xico, GOLAZO馃敟!
B次元官网网址 El Deporte (@Eldeporte9_)
Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal):
Quaresma Trivela for Portugal - One of the Goals of the tournament 馃敟馃敟馃敟
B次元官网网址 InterYaSkriniar 馃嚙馃嚪馃彺鬆仹鬆仮鬆仴鬆伄鬆仹鬆伩 (@InterYaSkriniar)
Andre Carrillo (Peru):
GOAL for !
B次元官网网址 FIFA World Cup 馃弳 LIVE (@FIFA_Rus2018)
Carrillo with the strike!
Underdog stories:
South Korea beat Germany (2-0): For the third straight World Cup, the defending champion has been eliminated from the group stage. GermanyB次元官网网址檚 last first-round elimination dates back to 1938. Not only did Germany fail to advance, they placed last in their group. Germany scored two goals in three matches and deservedly is eliminated as their starters failed to perform.
As much as it hurts to bow out this early, congratulations to and . We wish you good luck in the knockouts 馃憦
B次元官网网址 Germany (@DFB_Team_EN)
Iran drew Portugal (1-1): Iran performed well in the group stage, failing to advance by one point to Portugal and Spain. Iran was able to squeeze out a draw against the favourites in Portugal. Alireza Beiranvand, IranB次元官网网址檚 25-year-old goalkeeper, helped solidify the draw by saving a penalty taken by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Switzerland beat Serbia (2-1): SwitzerlandB次元官网网址檚 victory was the first game of the tournament to see a nation win after trailing in a match. Serbia got out to an early lead only to see ArsenalB次元官网网址檚 Granit Xhaka tie the match in the 52nd minute. Xherdan Shaqiri slid the game winner underneath Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic to win the match in the 90th minute.
Players of the week:
James Rodriguez (Colombia): Rodriguez was able to find his 2014 World Cup form in ColombiaB次元官网网址檚 3-0 win over Poland, with two assists. ColombiaB次元官网网址檚 third goal saw Rodriguez play a brilliant curving through ball to Juan Cuadrado, who ended up capitalizing.
James Rodriguez's assist for Cuadrado's goal was out of this world. The vision to spot that pass a master at work.
B次元官网网址 InterYaSkriniar 馃嚙馃嚪馃彺鬆仹鬆仮鬆仴鬆伄鬆仹鬆伩 (@InterYaSkriniar)
Ahmed Musa (Nigeria): Musa scored both of NigeriaB次元官网网址檚 goals against Iceland, using his tremendous pace to get past Iceland defenders.
John Stones (England): Stones scored EnglandB次元官网网址檚 first and fourth goals in a 6-1 ousting of Panama. He was able to convert twice from close range on headers.
Next WeekB次元官网网址檚 CanB次元官网网址檛 Miss Games in the Round of 16:
Saturday, June 30 - 7 a.m. : France vs. Argentina
A brilliant matchup between two of the worldB次元官网网址檚 best football nations. Will a young French side be able to get past Messi?
Monday, July 2 - 11 a.m. : Belgium vs. Japan
Few would have envisoned Japan to be in the knockout stages but they have played well to make it here. Facing a strong Belgium side they likely wonB次元官网网址檛 make it any further, but it sure will be entertaining.
Tuesday, July 3 - 11 a.m. : Colombia vs. England
Both nations had a fantastic group stage and are looking fit to enter the knockout stages. This should be a close match where either team could come out on top.
kieran.oconnor@bpdigital.ca
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