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A breathtaking start to the World Cup in Russia! VAR, penalties, free kicks and wonder strikes have already assured this World Cup a place in the football history books. This was the first time that there was no goalless draw in the opening round of games since the 2002 WC.
The traditional favourites have struggled to impress in their first showing. The defending champions Germany were outrun and outwitted by the energetic Mexicans. Spain and Portugal promised to be a football spectacle and it delivered. Brazil and Argentina were denied victory by tactically compact and experienced European sides. France were unspectacular in their late victory against the brave Australians.
Let's see how the favourites and the other teams have fared in their first chance to make an impression in Russia.
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#32 Saudi Arabia
The Middle East giants competed in their first match in the World cup since 2006 and were extremely disappointing. The players looked out of place and were no match for the hosts Russia. The Saudi players will reportedly be fined for their disastrous performance.
Saudi Arabia suffered the ignominy of an 8-0 thrashing by Germany in the '02 WC and there were no expectations that the Saudis would put in a worse performance. While the 5-0 loss could not numerically match that '02 performance, the Saudis will be bitterly disappointed in the manner of the loss to Russia. While the host nation were favourites for the match, this Russian team is considered to be one of the least exciting teams in the Sbornaya's history.
To improve their performance, the Saudis would need to stop playing from the back. The central defenders were in no way comfortable on the ball and played some hapless passes which were easily intercepted by the Russian midfield.
#31 Nigeria
The Super Eagles boasted the youngest squad in this World Cup but their performance was anything but vibrant, energetic and youthful. Nigeria were one of the best-attacking units in the African qualifiers but their attack was hardly synergic and largely unexciting. The typical African fearlessness was absent in a rather dim affair vs the Croats.
The midfielders were unable to control the game against an experienced and composed Croatian midfield. While the midfielders were overshadowed, a lot was expected of the Nigerian wide players featuring the likes of Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi. While Iwobi struggled to portray his usual flair, Moses and his crosses were disappointing. John Obi Mikel was unable to find spaces with his passes behind the Croatian fullbacks and was largely a spectator. Oghenakaro Etebo might have scored an own goal but he was by far the best Nigerian player.
However, the Nigerians have some hope as Ahmed Musa, who was phenomenal in the 2014 World Cup, will be fit in the next group game.
#30 - Poland
The Poles entered the tournament thanks to 16 goals scored by their captain Robert Lewandowski. Kamil Glik was already a fitness doubt before kickoff and was not picked for the starting team in their Group H opener against Senegal. Glik and Pazdan were a very impressive central defence partnership in the European partnerships. The chemistry between those two was a huge miss as Poland lost their world cup opener against Senegal
Glik's replacement Thiago Cionek started nervously against a very quick Senegal attack. He was unfortunate to deflect a shot from Senegal's Gueye into his own net. An injury to Jakub Błaszczykowski forced the Polish to shift their formation from a 4-4-2 to a 3-4-3. The wing-backs got more license to go forward to provide service to Lewandowski and Milik.
A string of dreadful judgement errors saw Senegal take a 2-0 lead. Krychowiak played a meaningless and wayward back pass. Bednarek was slow to turn and was perhaps unaware of Niang who had just entered the pitch after receiving treatment. Wojciech Szczęsny made a disastrous judgement to come springing forward against a freshly treated and fast Niang. Niang took his first touch away and scored into an open net. The Polish got a consolation goal from a Krychowiak header but they did nothing in the game to gain a point.
The Polish midfielders let their front two down in this game. Zielinski and Krychowiak were wasteful in their passing. There was no service for Lewandowski and Milik to do anything about. Poland's first shot on target from open play came in the 75th minute and they were simply not good enough. They now have to majorly improve in their 'do or die' clash against Colombia who also lost their first game.
#29 Panama
It was a historic moment for Panama as they played in their first ever World Cup game. But there was no doubt that they were inferior to Belgium as they suffered a 3-0 loss.
They did well in the first half by preventing Belgium from carving out any clear-cut chances. Their attackers were always looking to run wide which was part of the problem for Panama. It took a special strike from Mertens to break their resistance. Their defence struggled to play the offside trap and paid for that with both of Lukaku's goals.
All in all, Panama will take away a very good experience of playing against world class players and holding their own for one half at least.
#28 - Tunisia
The North Africans came into this tournament as the top-ranked African side and were close to escaping with a point against a young and vibrant England side.
The Tunisians started in the worst possible manner. Their defence could not cope with the dynamic movement of the England attackers and were carved open multiple times in the first half. Their set-piece defending was appalling throughout the game as they struggled to cope with the aerial prowess of Harry Maguire and co. The Tunisians conceded both their goals from set pieces and due to the fact that they were unable to intercept any follow-up balls from set pieces. They were lucky to go into halftime on level terms after the Kyle Walker gave away a penalty which seeped through Jermaine Pickford's outstretched arms.
The 'Eagles of Carthage' settled in the second half but were really disappointing. There is nothing wrong with having a defensive mindset in football. But the important part of having such a mindset is being in control of your opponent's attackers. Tunisia were far from that and resorted to fouls in order to stop the English front line. The decision to play Wahbi Khazri, a traditional winger, as a centre-forward against a quick and strong England backline, never paid off. He was isolated and was at least 20-25 yards ahead of the rest of his teammates.
The Tunisians will need to show more threat going forward against the Belgians in their next game. The manager will need to think of an alternative plan against the likes of Hazard and De Bruyne who will be more lethal and effective than their English counterparts if given similar chances.
#27 Costa Rica
World Cup 2014's biggest surprise package were expected to put in another dogged performance against the Serbians. Playing with a five-man defence, it was clear that Costa Rica were trying to play the same pragmatic system which helped them remain unbeaten against three former World champions in the 2014 edition.
However, the defence was not as solid as expected. Keylor Navas was his usual reliable self but he will be a bit disappointed at his team's performance.
Costa Rica were trying to hold their defensive line and counter through the wings by putting pressure on the Serbian fullbacks who were experienced but a bit slower than their Costa Rican counterparts. The Los Ticos' wing backs were expected to overlap around the Serbian flanks but rarely did so. Too much was expected of Bryan Ruiz who was the only creative outlet available to Oscar Ramirez.
While not a lot is expected of the Costa Ricans in another difficult group, you would expect the fans of the tiny nation to hope for another miracle against a former world champion in their group.
#26 Morocco
The North African team suffered heartbreak in their late defeat to Iran. Morocco started brightly with Nordin Amrabat, in particular, causing a lot of problems for the Iranians. However, as the game went by, they were unable to turn their good start into anything meaningful.
While the Moroccans did not deserve to lose their game, their attack promised so much in the game and did not really deliver. An exciting midfield with the likes of Ziyech, Belhanda and Harit had little influence on the game. It was the Moroccan fullbacks who were a lot more dangerous.
#25 Korea Republic
The Asian giants have had better and more balanced sides in the World Cup. They weren't very convincing in their qualifying campaign. They started brightly in both halves in their world cup opener but faded away as the game went on. They lost 1-0 against Sweden in their World Cup opener and deservedly so.
They were a bit fortunate to not go behind in the first half as they were split open a few times by the Swedish. A tackle from Kim Min-Woo on Victor Claeson in the box was adjudged as a foul by the referee with help from the VAR system. The Koreans had no reply to the goal as their attackers rarely threatened Sweden.
Heung Min Son was a bit disappointing and never got into dangerous areas like he usually does for Spurs in the Premier League. Kim Shin Wook's height and aerial prowess never really came into play as the Koreans struggled to bring their wide players into the game.
The Koreans rarely showed the determination that their Asian counterparts Australia and Iran have shown thus far. In doing so, they missed a golden opportunity to put themselves in a strong position after Germany's loss.
#24 Germany
The famed efficiency and organization of the Germans was nowhere to be seen in their World cup opener against Mexico. The pressure of being World champions was too much for Germany against a hugely impressive Mexican side.
Joachim Loew did not set up the German team as they usually do. Playing with attacking full backs without a holding midfielder was a shocking tactic. This decision from Loew proved costly time and again as Hector Herrera and Carlos Vela broke through the German midfield.
Germany's most attacking player was Joshua Kimmich and he left acres of space behind him. He usually has a defensive midfielder covering for him but Khedira is naturally a box to box midfielder and never helped him out. This space was exploited by Hirving Lozano who scored the deciding goal.
Mexico can argue that they could have scored more goals if not for the profligacy of Miguel Layun and Javier Hernandez. The Germans must surely get better as the tournament progresses or face the same fate as Spain in the 2014 World Cup.
#23 Colombia
José Pékerman's men kicked off in Saransk against Japan in the closest group in the World Cup. The teams in this group are very evenly matched and it is difficult to say who can top the group. Colombia's preparations took a severe hit when James Rodriguez was not fit enough to start this crucial first match.
The game started off evenly with neither team settling in well. In the first possible breakthrough, Yuya Osako was put clean through one on one against Ospina. This opening would have been very surprising for the Colombian fans given the quickness and solidity of the central defenders Davinson Sanchez and Oscar Murillo. While Ospina saved his attempt, Kagawa had an open net to beat. Carlos Sanchez's hand blocked the shot from Shinji Kagawa and the referee awarded the penalty and a red card for Carlos Sanchez. It was the first red card in the World Cup and the worst possible start for the Colombians.
The Colombians did well to respond. Arias and Cuadrado on the right flank were the main threats to the Japanese. Jose Pekerman was uncomfortable with Quintero partnering Jefferson Lerma in midfield. He sacrificed Cuadrado for the holding midfielder, Wilmar Barrios. Quintero equalized with a smart free-kick under the wall and the game was back on.
While the substitution made sense for Pekerman, it took away a large threat to Japan. Quintero was not as explosive as Cuadrado. Nagatoma and Inui on the left flank of Japan had more freedom. In the second half, Japan played a more patient game and took control. Japan scored through a corner via a Yuya Osano header. David Ospina and the Colombian defenders will be extremely disappointed with the space that Osano had in the box.
Colombia never really looked threatening again in the game after scoring the equalizer. They were down to 10 men after 3 minutes of playing time and they had nothing to offer after going behind. Radamel Falcao was extremely disappointing in his hold up play. James Rodriguez came on for Quintero but he was rarely afforded the chance to operate in dangerous areas.
It was a bad start for the Colombians against arguably the weakest team in Group H on paper. However, a fit James Rodriguez available for the whole game will be a game changer for Colombia. All hope is not lost.
#22 Egypt
The Pharaohs opened their World Cup campaign against arguably their most difficult opponents, Uruguay. A late goal from Jose Gimenez was gut-wrenching for the Egyptians.
The Egyptian defence was solid against a fearful front two of Suarez and Cavani. But they were let down by their attackers who were hardworking but failed to put pressure on the Uruguayan defence. The absence of Salah was a huge factor in this game. While the Uruguayan backline was experienced, there were a lot of instances when Godin had to cover for the space left behind by Martin Caceres in this game. Salah thrives on this space between the centre back and the fullback and could have made a huge difference. His replacement Amr Wada could not capitalize on this.
Egypt will hope Salah will be fit against Russia, which is surely the "crunch" match of Group A.
#21 Brazil
Tite's Brazil were probably the most in-form country coming into the World Cup. However, it has been a difficult World Cup for the bigger teams and the trend continued in Rostov.
The five-time champions started brilliantly with good interplay between their attackers. However, after Coutinho's goal, Brazil took their foot off their gear and the Swiss responded brilliantly to earn a well-deserved point.
Brazil had some real issues in this game. Their central midfielders, Paulinho and Casemiro, struggled to dictate the tempo of the game. Tite's frustration was apparent with both of them who were taken off by the 70th-minute mark. Danilo also was a bit disappointing in providing support to Willian. Neymar will get better as the tournament progresses but he tried to over-complicate a lot of simple things. Behrami and Lichtsteiner used their experience to restrict him to tight spaces.
Serbia's victory over Costa Rica and Brazil's draw has resulted in this group being very open. Brazil will hope they can replicate their pre World Cup flair and excitement as the tournament progresses.
#20 Argentina
Two-time world champions Argentina took on Euro 2016's surprise package Iceland in their World cup opener. The Iceland defensive system was a difficult puzzle to crack, even for one of the greatest players to ever step on a football pitch. A frustrating draw for the Argentines against a dogged Iceland team who will be delighted with their display.
Argentina had the start they would have desired. Sergio Aguero has been criticized for his displays in major tournaments for Argentina before but he rose to the occasion and blasted home a superb strike beating the excellent Halldorsson. However, the Argentines, in a moment of lapse of concentration, let Iceland equalize four minutes later. Lionel Messi missed a penalty won by the impressive Maximiliano Meza. Another disappointing moment for the little magician in the famous Blue and White shirt.
The Argentina defenders were all over the place for the goal and will certainly face more difficult moments as the tournament progresses. But they were largely undisturbed in a match that saw Argentina have more than 3/4ths of the possession. The key area of improvement for Argentina will be their ability to carve out clear-cut chances. Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria were responsible for this aspect of the game. Messi, in particular, was crowded out by the brilliant defensive midfielders of Iceland. Di Maria, on the other hand, was unable to impact the game with either his crossing or his flair. Maximiliano Meza and Eduardo Salvio were threatening but they too were stifled by their adaptive opponents.
Sampaoli and his Argentina team will need to find creativity from the likes of Ever Banega as well. Every opponent will see that Argentina relies on Messi for breaking through defensive lines and crowd him out.
All in all, an average performance from Argentina but a disappointing result for sure.
#19 Iran
Carlos Queiroz's team earned a dramatic last-minute own goal victory against Morocco in their first game in the World Cup. It was a 'smash and grab' victory for Team Melli and gives them a huge boost ahead of their next two difficult fixtures. This was the first victory for an Asian side in the World Cup since Japan beat Denmark in 2010.
Iran started shakily and struggled to assert themselves in the first twenty minutes. Carlos Queiroz typically set up a compact system with a counter-attacking threat. Sardar Azmoun almost executed this plan to perfection with his piercing run in the first half but was denied by an excellent save from the Moroccan keeper. Iran will be pleased with their suffocation of Morocco's attacking midfielders. It was a good dry run for Iran against three attacking midfielders who play more centrally ahead of their game against Spain. While the Spanish have higher quality players, Iran will have a similar plan against the Iberian side.
Iran will be slightly disappointed with the performance and their use of Alireza Jahanbakhsh. He made history this season by becoming the first Asian player to achieve the top scorer award in a European League(i.e the Dutch Eredivisie). He never really got the opportunity to showcase his goal-scoring ability. The Iranians will hope he comes good against tougher opponents like Spain and Portugal.
#18 Denmark
The Nordic giants were fortunate to escape with a victory against Peru in the Mordovia Arena in their Group C encounter. They struggled to match the quickness and flair of their South American opponents but held on for a victory nonetheless.
The Danish side depends on Christian Eriksen for both goals and creativity. He was largely underwhelming in this game but delivered when it mattered. Pione Sisto found Eriksen in a huge pocket of space in between the Peruvian midfield and defence. The Tottenham midfielder then found Yussuf Poulsen with a typical perfectly weighted pass. Poulsen slotted home the winner against the run of play and the Danish fans were delighted with this slick counter.
The Danish full backs really struggled to contain the wide players of Peru. The loss of William Kvist to a rib injury was costly as well because his experience would have helped a lot in the later stages of the game for Denmark. Instead, the Danish midfielders were ball watchers throughout the game as the Peruvians time and again were able to find their way around the flanks.
There were some positives for Denmark in this fortunate victory. The central defence partnership of Kjaer and Christensen was new but very solid. Kasper Schmeichel was his usual brilliant self after a jittery end to his season with Leicester City. Yussuf Poulsen was impressive in both his defensive and attacking duties. Denmark will certainly feel that they won this game despite being far from their best. There is much more to come from Denmark and Eriksen, in particular, for sure.
#17 Serbia
Aleksandr Kolarov's excellent free-kick gave Serbia a well-deserved victory against Costa Rica. The Serbian captain will be proud of his strike against one of the best keepers in the world, Keylor Navas
The Serbians entered the tournament with the tallest squad in the tournament. They tried to take advantage of this, especially during set pieces. But the set-piece delivery on many occasions was not very good. The Serbians relied on their talented midfielders, featuring one of Europe's brightest talents Sergej Milinkovic Savic, to find a way past the Costa Rican wall of defenders. They were left frustrated by the compactness of the Costa Ricans and struggled to create any open chances
A free kick in the second half changed the game. Aleksandr Kolarov unleashed a precise free kick into the net beyond the flailing arms of Keylor Navas. That was the only noteworthy moment for Serbia but it was all that mattered. Costa Rica did not threaten as the Serbian defence closed shop and were very aware of their positioning.
Serbia will need more from their attackers. Dusan Tadic and Adem Ljajic are not players who like to play wide. Tadic, in particular, likes to be a playmaker outside the area. This puts pressure on an ageing Ivanovic to charge forward and provide the width for Serbia. He did well in this game but he will need to be careful against the left sided players of both Brazil and Switzerland in their remaining fixtures. Aleksandr Mitrovic is a very "hot and cold" striker. He was "cold" today and needs to be a bit more assured in his first touch and finishing.
#16 Sweden
Sweden had a chance to showcase their talents in the World Cup for the first time since 2006. Sweden chose not to select Zlatan Ibrahimovic and rightly so as he did not play a part in their qualification campaign. The Swedish beat four-time champions Italy in their World Cup playoff but faced a less distinguished opponent in South Korea.
Germany's loss made this Group F encounter a must-win for both sides. Sweden looked like the more dangerous team from the onset but were frustrated by their lack of decisiveness in the final third. Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonen were charged with bearing the burden of goal scoring for Sweden which was previously held by distinguished footballers such as Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, It was Berg who got a golden opportunity to write his name into Swedish football history in the first half. However, he could not find the back of the net when he was face to face with the Korean goalkeeper.
The Swedish continued to press forward as the Koreans barely threatened the Swedish defence which was missing Manchester United's Victor Lindelof. It was VAR which came to the Nordic nation's rescue in the second half. Swedish midfielder Claesson was brought down in the box and the referee needed VAR to award a penalty to Sweden. The veteran centre-back Andreas Granqvist dispatched the penalty easily.
Sweden will need their defence to be as solid as they were against Italy against the Germans who will be desperate for a victory. Only time will tell if the Swedish can emulate Chile who knocked out the defending champions Spain in the 2014 World Cup in similar circumstances.
#15 Australia
Technology played a vital part in Australia's defeat against one of the best teams in the tournament (on paper at least). A penalty and an unfortunate deflection were the only negatives for the Socceroos in a gritty display.
What was impressive about Australia was their mental strength and fortitude. They matched their illustrious opponent stride for stride throughout the match. It was not a game where Australia sat back and invited the pressure. Aaron Mooy and Mile Jedinak were hugely impressive against a star-studded French midfield. Their pressing game was on point and the Australian defence was able to suffocate and deal with the movement of the dynamic front three of France. Trent Sainsbury was a rock at the back for the Aussies.
A very spirited performance from a side managed by a World cup finalist in Bert Van Marwijk. They will take a lot of positives from this game despite the loss and will be confident against Denmark and Peru.
#14 France
Les Bleus approached the World Cup with arguably the best squad on paper. The strength of the French squad was well known but the question was whether their individual talents would synchronize together and play as a team. The French team did not make their own headlines. VAR and goal-line technology took the plaudits in a close tie.
France started with a front three who would take up different roles throughout the game. They started exceptionally well with Kylian Mbappe causing some problems with his movement. But as the game went on, the French struggled to dominate the Australians who stood toe to toe with their opponents. The French midfield lacked creativity throughout the game. The full-backs were inexperienced and never really threatened going forward. Djibril Sidibe was a big miss and the young Benjamin Pavard will need to be better with his overlapping runs in the coming games.
The positives for the French were few. They will be relieved to know that Paul Pogba was decisive when called upon. Pogba played a very good through ball which earned France their penalty kick. Pogba split through the Australian backline with a good one-two and his deflected effort was enough to force an own goal to secure the points. N'golo Kante' was excellent again and he covered a lot of distance.
A very average display from a very talented squad. The French will only be happy that they secured the three points and will hope that there are a lot more positives to come.
#13 Japan
The Samurai Blue faced Colombia in their first competitive game under new head coach Akira Nishino. The Japanese manager was unemployed in the last three years and was hired after the surprising dismissal of Vahid Halilhodzic.
Japan got off to the best possible start. Yuya Osako found himself behind the Colombian defence. His attempt was saved by Ospina but Shinji Kagawa had an open net to place his shot. Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez blocked Kagawa's attempt but a penalty was awarded. Sanchez had used his hand to block the shot and was sent off after 3 minutes of play. Shinji Kagawa scored the penalty.
Instead of settling into the game and taking advantage of their numerical advantage, the Japanese adopted a safety-first approach. They surrendered possession cheaply to the Colombians and allowed them to build momentum. Quintero scored brilliantly from a contentiously awarded free kick. The Japanese will surely feel aggrieved at the call from the referee to award the free kick to Colombia in the first place.
The Japanese really struggled to take control of the game against the 10 men of Colombia who themselves failed to use their equalizer as inspiration. The second half started with both the teams struggling for possession. However, after the hour mark, the Japanese midfield finally took command. Kagawa, Shigasaki and Maketo started keeping the ball between themselves and tiring the Colombians out. This would have been a good tactic after the Japanese scored the first goal but it is better late than never.
Without Cuadrado, Inui and Nagatamo were able to use the left flank with more purpose. The goal arrived after minutes of probing by the Japanese defense. Yuya Osako found himself free in the box from a corner. He directed the corner exquisitely into the net using his head. After the goal, Japan were able to use effective game management and close out the game for the victory.
Japan were arguably the weakest team in an evenly balanced group and will be happy to come away with the three points. Japan also became the first Asian team to defeat a South American team in the World Cup.
#12 Uruguay
The La Celeste faced off against a Salah less Egypt side with a fearful frontline of Suarez and Cavani. However, it was Jose Gimenez who stole the headlines with a late headed goal which broke the Egyptian resistance.
Oscar 'El Maestro' Tabarez opted with a traditional 4-4-2 system with Suarez and Cavani alternating between the finisher and support striker roles as the game progressed. Suarez was far from his best and missed some very good opportunities. Cavani, on the other hand, was good and was denied on a couple of occasions by the excellent Al Shenawy.
The Uruguay midfield was inexperienced and were not at their best. Bentancur was good in retaining the ball back but was not a threat in the final third. The wide midfielders, Nandez and Arrasceata, were struggling to make an impact in the game. The biggest strength of this Uruguay side is its defence which features the right mix of youth and experience. Diego Godin was excellent in the game and made all the right decisions expected of him.
Uruguay would be slightly disappointed with their attacking display but their defence was extremely tight. Oscar Tabarez will have some thinking to do before the next game. He will need to make some decisions regarding player selection, especially with respect to the wide midfielders.
#11 Senegal
Senegal emulated the achievements from the 2002 WC and got off to a winning start against Poland in their Group H opener. Senegal head coach Aliou Cissé was a part of that 2002 Senegal side who shocked France. His side is expected to be one of the most exciting teams in this competition.
Senegal are the dark horses for this tournament. They feature a host of quick players and are led by Liverpool winger Sadio Mane. Their pace and athleticism were apparent as they threatened the Polish defenders early in this game. It was luck however that played a huge role in both of Senegal's goals against Poland.
The first Senegalese goal was an own goal from Polish defender Thiago Cionek. The second was an easy tap-in from M'Baye Niang who took advantage of some calamitous judgement from the Polish goalkeeper among others. They conceded a goal late on but were solid enough in the later stages to secure the first African victory in this tournament.
Senegal's midfielders were good and prevented the Polish midfield from providing service to their lethal front two - Lewandowski and Milik. But there were some very sloppy passing from the midfielders when going forward. This prevented the quick wingers and forwards to take advantage of any space to run into. Koulibaly and Sane were very good in the aerial duels against Lewandowski and Milik. Sane, in particular, was excellent in his reading of the game.
Senegal's performance was not as exciting as promised. They have a golden opportunity in the next round of games to book their place in the Round of 16. Perhaps, the dark horses will prove their worth in gold against Japan. A continent places its burden on Senegal as they now have the best chance for an African team to progress.
#10 Peru
The Peruvians might have lost their world cup opener against Denmark but will come away with a lot of positives. They will be wondering how they did not come away with a point at least. That was the least that Peru deserved in a fast-paced and exciting game in Saransk.
The Peruvians played with a typical Latin American style of fearlessness and flair. Andre Carrillo was lethal with his direct dribbling and drilled crosses. He was the best player on the pitch and almost every meaningful Peru attack came through him. Yotun and Tapia were excellent in ball retention and distribution and kept Eriksen quiet throughout the game.
Christian Cueva was gifted with the biggest opportunity in the first half. Another VAR influenced decision saw the referee award Peru a penalty. Cueva blasted the penalty high into the stands and many questioned whether he would have the mentality to carry on in the game.
The Peruvians and Cueva were not affected by the penalty miss. They continued pressing and creating chances. But they were dealt a fierce blow when Denmark scored the only goal of the game against the run of play. The Danish barely held on against the Peruvian onslaught.
While Peru may have lost, there is no doubt that they were the better side on that day. But goals decide games and Peru had no goals to show for a brilliant and exuberant performance.
#9 England
The Three Lions entered Russia with a very young team. England were extremely disappointing in the World Cup of 2014 and the recent European championship. After the Hodgson-Allardyce fiasco, Gareth Southgate took the England job with a lot of negativity in the English camp. The English were hoping to exorcise the demons of the previous so-called 'Golden Generation' and build a new exciting team.
England beat Tunisia with a late goal from captain and Tottenham's goal machine, Harry Kane. Gareth Southgate fielded an attacking 3-5-2 formation. Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling switched positions incessantly and caused the Tunisians innumerable problems in the first half. The English were very good with their ball movement but relied on a set piece anyways. Harry Kane was there in the right place and scored after a superb save from the Tunisian goalkeeper.
However, in typical fashion, Kyle Walker gifted a penalty to Tunisia and the English shot themselves in the foot. They had to come back in the second half and earn their lead all over again. The main threat of England came from set pieces. In the end, Harry Kane was in the right place at the right time again
There were lots of positives for the English. Harry Maguire was excellent and won all the aerial battles. Kieran Trippier was very good at right wing back and his set-piece delivery was on point. Jordan Henderson's passing was exquisite and he showed once again why he is England's best midfielder. Ruben Loftus Cheek was Gareth Southgate's trump card and he made a huge impact on the game.
A very good performance from the English. They might have depended on a late goal but it does look like the new generation is ready for the bigger occasions.
#8 Portugal
The European champions started their campaign with a blockbuster of a tie against their Iberian rivals, Spain. The match lived up to all the expectations and ended in a 3-3 draw. Cristiano Ronaldo delivered when it mattered. The numbers say it all really. That was Ronaldo's 51st career hattrick and he stunned the Spanish in a superb overall display.
The Portuguese started brightly against a Spanish side hit by off the field events. Ronaldo went down rather easily to Nacho's challenge in the box and dispatched the penalty with ease. His second goal was more of a goalkeeping error. But his third goal was a gift from the heavens for the Portuguese. A stunning free-kick that left a world-class goalkeeper rooted to his spot. Ronaldo is a man made for the big and special occasions.
Jose Mourinho's quote on Ronaldo summed up his performance -
"There are players for some matches, there are players for every matches and there are players for special matches. And the players for special matches are the ones. "
Portugal relied on their talismanic captain and No.7. Fernando Santos was looking to hit Spain on the counter with his game plan. It worked wonders in the first half but Goncalo Guedes, among others, were unable to capitalize when it mattered. Portugal played with a fluid front two with Ronaldo looking to start breaks with his link-up play and his teammates trying to deliver a pass to him in the box where he comes into his own.
Portugal were outplayed by Spain during many moments in the game. If it wasn't for Ronaldo, this game could have been very different. The fullbacks Cedric Soares and Raphael Guerrero were always double flanked by the stunning interplay between the Spanish midfield and the wing backs. Pepe will be a bit disappointed in the way he dealt with Diego Costa.
Fernando Santos will be a relieved man and will thank Ronaldo for this important point. He would expect his midfield to be more comfortable in the remaining games and the likes of Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes would be expected to provide Ronaldo with the support he needs.
#7 Switzerland
Buoyed by a fantastic qualification campaign which saw them win 9 out of 10 games in their group, the Swiss arrive in Russia with supreme confidence. Even though they required playoffs to enter the World Cup, they should be very satisfied with the manner of their qualification campaign. Only goal difference separated them from Portugal and the automatic qualifying spot. Their pre-tournament credentials were justified as they stood toe to toe with Brazil and came away with a deserved point.
The Swiss shook off a poor start and fought their way back into the game. Steven Zuber scored the equalizer and the Swiss started the second half in the best possible way. After that, it was all about restricting Brazil and trying to counter-attack by exploiting the space behind the Brazilian full backs.
Swiss manager Vladimir Petkovic has inherited a very experienced Swiss squad. The backline featuring Lichtsteiner, Schar, Sommer and Rodriguez have played a lot of games together for the national team. Their chemistry was obvious as they prevented Brazil's dangerous attackers from causing major damage. Even the young Manuel Akanji looked mature and dealt with Gabriel Jesus very well. Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka and Blerim Džemaili controlled the game very well for the Swiss.
The main issue for the Swiss will be their striking options. Haris Seferovic was hardworking but never really threatened Miranda. Breel Embolo is a good option but he's not the type of striker who likes to play alone up front. Josip Drmic will perhaps be a good option for Petkovic in the next game but he has barely played for a sub-par Borussia Monchengladbach team.
#6 Belgium
'The Golden Generation' from Belgium featuring the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were heavy favorites against underdogs and debutants Panama. After a frustrating first half, Belgium came through with a convincing 3-0 win.
Belgium scored 40+ goals in their qualification campaign. Romelu Lukaku scored more goals (11) than Panama managed in their qualification campaign (9). But the Red Devils put on a dim display in the first half against a determined and aggressive Panama team.
The second half was different. Roberto Martinez pushed Yannick Carrasco even further forward in his wing-back role. The Panama side featured a lot of centurions in their side but were unable to cope with the double flanking attacking of the Belgians. A superb Dries Mertens strike broke the deadlock. Romelu Lukaku, who was a spectator in the first half, burst into life with a couple of goals and took home the Man of the Match Award.
Dries Mertens is one of the most interesting players in this World Cup. His role in the Belgium side can be likened to Thomas Muller's role for Germany and Bayern. He has been in very good goalscoring form for Napoli this season and has a good positional awareness. Mertens role is less glamorous than Hazard's role but is very effective. Belgium will be happy with the second half display from their prime creators in Hazard and De Bruyne. They both assisted one goal each. Romelu Lukaku was lethal in front of goal and took his second goal especially well
Belgium will have to iron out some issues though. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's positional awareness seemed suspect as Panama created some chances on his side. He was a bit too narrow. Better teams will exploit the space that Carrasco was leaving in the game. Martinez may regret not calling up Jordan Lukaku as an option for left back. The first half display was tepid and uninspiring.
The Red Devils will be satisfied with this convincing victory against Panama as goal difference could prove crucial in determining the top two spots from this group.
#5 Croatia
Croatia had some rather unfortunate off the field events before the World Cup. Modric and Lovren were heavily involved in the controversial Zdravko Mamic court case in Croatia.
The Croats dispelled all the negativity with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria. Modric and Rakitic are among the best central midfielders in the world. They were well and truly in control of the game from start to finish against a disappointing Nigerian side. No Croatian player was a liability.
Croatia lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Mario Mandzukic leading the line. Ante Rebic and Ivan Perisic were lively and caused problems to the inexperienced Nigerian fullbacks. Mario Mandzukic was his usual self. He worked hard to get the wide players into the game with his hold up play.
A solid and professional performance from the Croats. The best part of this performance was that the Croats never really had to raise their intensity and switch gears to a higher tempo. They will be delighted with this comfortable victory ahead of their crunch match against Argentina.
#4 Spain
Crisis? What crisis?
The Spanish football federation relieved Julian Lopetegui of his duties just days before Spain's opening game against Portugal and this decision was expected to ruin their chances. Fernando Hierro took over and there was an air of negativity surrounding the Spanish camp.
Sergio Ramos, the Spanish captain, stressed on the unity of the Spanish team and said that the squad was capable of surviving this ordeal. He was right. The Spanish played some very good football and could have come away with a good victory against Portugal if not for Ronaldo's exploits.
Spain played very fluid football which was pleasing to the eye. Isco, Iniesta and Silva played some intricate football and always found Alba and Nacho who were pushing forward as full backs. Busquets and Koke provided stability through the middle.
Diego Costa was his aggressive and troubling self. The Spanish striker has improved leaps and bounds for his national team. He is now able to join in the link up play and make space on his own. Spain like pressing and closing down spaces and Costa's aggressive style suits them well.
The Spanish defence, however, will need to improve. Nacho redeemed himself by scoring a wonder goal after conceding a penalty. Alba was average going forward. Pique and De Gea will both be expected to do better.
Spain will surely be a team to be reckoned with in the World Cup if they continue to play the level of football they displayed against Portugal. The individual errors can be cut out since they have an experienced defence.
#3 Russia
A stunning 5-0 win for the host nation against Saudi Arabia. Russia picked up their first win since defeating another Asian side, South Korea, way back in October 2017. This team was considered the worst Russian team in twenty years. They were dismal and uninspiring in the pre World Cup friendlies.
The Sbornaya started really well. The Saudi centre-backs were forced into giving away the ball and the sudden interceptions helped the likes of Golovin and Dzagoev to get into attacking third and look for Fedor Smolov. The first goal was extremely critical and the Russians grew in confidence.
The loss of Dzagoev was bad news for Russia but it actually helped them in this game. Aleksandr Golovin, who initially started on the left, was moved to a more comfortable central role. With Cheyshev's introduction, the Russians had an outlet to stretch the Saudi defence. Cheryshev scored two brilliant goals and his impact will soften Dzagoev's loss.
Aleksandr Golovin, a reported target for Italian giants Turin ,showed exactly why he was so highly coveted. He was on a different plane compared to the Saudi Arabian players.
The Saudi Arabians looked nervous on the ball and the defending was dreadful at times. However, no credit can be taken away from a confident and dominating performance from the Russians. They forced and took advantage of the errors and bad passes.
The Russians face the Egyptians next. One game has turned the nervousness in the Russians' minds into cautious optimism. A victory against Egypt will help them achieve qualifications for the knockouts. Since the splitting of the Soviet Union, no Russian team has ever gone past the group stages of the World Cup. This would not be a bad achievement for the "worst" Russian team in 20 years. Not bad indeed.
#2 Iceland
One of football's greatest underdog achievements from little known Iceland. Some of the Icelandic players are part-time players who stood tall against the rich and famous footballers from Portugal and England in the latest edition of European championships. It was now Argentina's turn to play a role in this stunning football fairytale. Iceland secured a 1-1 draw against the two-time champions led by the magician Lionel Messi.
When asked about Iceland's performance against Argentina, Jose Mourinho used the word "compact" a lot. The defense and midfield were a cohesive unit. Any attempt to break through the defensive line was swatted away by the tall and passionate Icelandic players.
Special praise is reserved here for the Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson. He was able to prevent Ronaldo from scoring in the European championships. He now stood face to face against the "Immortal" Lionel Messi who was about to take a penalty. Halldorsson saved the penalty and now has his place in Viking folklore alongside his namesake Thor. Messi, perhaps burdened by a poor penalty record and a nation's hopes, failed to beat Halddorsson just like this arch-rival Ronaldo.
No matter how far the Icelandic squad goes in this World Cup, they will remain etched in the memory of football fans. They are the neutrals' favorites and possibly the second team for many fans around the world.
#1 Mexico
Mexico have come close before to causing an upset in the World Cup. In the last edition, they drew to Brazil and lost narrowly to the Dutch.
North America's ever-present representatives Mexico turned in a performance of the highest quality against the reigning and defending World Champions Germany. The Germans decided to gamble by playing a system of attacking full backs without a holding midfielder. Mexico repeatedly exploited these weaknesses. Hector Herrera and Carlos Vela were running the German midfield to the ground. Toni Kroos was reduced to a player who was only chasing the Mexican midfielders who found a way behind him time and again.
The Mexicans pressed very well and used their wide players on the counter to devastating effect. The Germans had no answer to the Mexican counters and could not unlock the Mexican defence.
The 1-0 victory could and should have been more. Javier Hernandez played his part in Hirving Lozano's goal. But he was inefficient and his first touch and passing failed him many times. He could not take advantage of the Mexican counter attacks. Another player who was profligate was Miguel Layun. His decision making could have been better in many instances.
The fact that Mexico could have won by a bigger margin is a testament and tribute to the team and the manager Juan Carlos Osorio. The Mexican manager has been criticized for his tactics and his player rotation before. But he will have no criticism after this game. The manager had the following to say when asked about his team talk for the game against Germany which perhaps summed up their brilliant performance.
"I told them to play for the love of winning and not the fear of losing."
