Good Saturday mid-morning / afternoon, TSFers! I hope you’ve got a relaxing day planned with plenty of time to watch the World Cup. Yesterday, the USMNT clinched top spot in their group and Turkiye were eliminated. It’s almost all to play for in Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti), the Haitians are eliminated.
Today’s fixtures, point totals in parenthesis: Netherlands (1) – Sweden (3), 1 pm ET, FOX Germany (3) – Ivory Coast (3), 4 pm ET, FOX Ecuador (0) – Curacao (0), 8 pm ET, FS1 Tunisia (0) – Japan
(1) – 12 am ET, FS1
Morocco 1 – Scotland 0
Ismael Saibari scored a cracking goal in the 2nd minute, blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the near side — he learned that one from Bukayo Saka, I think. The Scots did well to rebound from conceding early, had some decent chances, and pushed for the equalizer fairly well down the stretch, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
USA 2 – Australia 0
First half goals from Owen Goal (created by a fantastic run by Folarin Balogun to cut back towards Ricardo Pepi, who would have scored himself if an Australian defender hadn’t steered it in) and Alex Freeman were all the U.S. needed to take the points. Freeman has been excellent so far, I’d name him the surprise player of the tournament for the USMNT. The second half substitutions didn’t really work out and they didn’t maintain as much control over the match as you’d like. Australia got pretty physical in the second half, but the referee did just enough to keep things under control.
Paraguay’s win over Turkiye clinched first in the group for the USMNT, which means they don’t have to rush Christian Pulisic back from his calf problem and they can rotate all the players in yellow card jeopardy.
Brazil 3 – Haiti 0
Matheus Cunha scored a first half brace and Vini Jr. scored just before halftime to put the match well out of reach. Raphinha looks to have injured his hamstring, which will weaken the Brazilians. Gabriel Martinelli looked lively in his second half substitute appearance. He was unlucky not to get himself an assist.
Paraguay 1 – Turkiye 0
Matias Galarza scored in the 2nd minute, and Paraguay held onto the lead despite Miguel Almiron being sent off for covering his mouth to speak to an opponent. Not Miggy’s finest hour at the World Cup — he was the first player to have VAR reverse a yellow card he’d “earned” for an opponent to a caution to him for simulation and was the first player red carded for covering his mouth. Turkiye crash out despite being a popular dark horse pick and firing more than 60 shots over two matches without finding the back of the net.
