After each matchday of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Sportsnet.ca’s World Cup Daily blog will recap the day’s events, and look ahead to the next day’s slate of games.
Here’s what happened on Sunday, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
England 6, Panama 1 in Nizhny: Match report || match stats
Japan 2, Senegal 2 in Yekaterinburg: Match report || match stats
Poland 0, Colombia 3 in Kazan: Match report || match stats
MAIN TALKING POINTS
England through to the next round
With two wins from two matches, the Three Lions are off to their best start at a World Cup since 2006, and have booked their spot in the knockout round with one game to spare. Harry Kane now leads the tournament in scoring, his hat trick against Panama taking his overall tally to five. A victory against Belgium on Thursday would see England finish first place in Group G.
England has looked dominant in its two wins, often playing composed and assured. There is genuine unity amongst these group of English players, and a respectful belief that they could go far in this competition. The unmitigated arrogance of previous English squads is long gone. No big egos. No “Golden Generation” of players. No WAGS. No Hollywood culture enveloping the locker room. No David Beckham sideshow. Just a humble team that plays with humility, and that has made all the difference for the Three Lions thus far in Russia.
Manager Gareth Southgate has done a magnificent job of putting this young team together, and instilling his players with a sense of belief. The Three Lions have been professional in their management of games, and have also displayed resilience, fighting until the very end to get a late goal that allowed them to beat a defensively-resolute Tunisia in their opener.
All of this, however, does come with an asterisk. Consider the quality of the opposition England has faced. Tunisia and Panama are hardly world beaters, with the Panamanians finishing third in its qualifying campaign in CONCACAF, one of the weakest regions in world soccer. Stiffer challenges are ahead, namely a Belgian side that is absolutely flying at the moment and which, on paper at least, is better than England.
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Japan, Senegal top the ‘Group of Death’
Japan and Senegal head into the final round of group stage games with the advantage in Group H, sitting in a tie for first place with four points apiece, ahead of Poland and Colombia. The Japanese are off to their joint-best start to a World Cup through the opening two games, and you have to say they’ve looked solid at this tournament.
Japan came from behind on two occasions on Sunday, and has illuminated this competition with its attacking play. And how great was it to see veteran Keisuke Honda score against Senegal, becoming the first Japanese player to score in three World Cups?
As for Senegal, it’s also been a bright spot in Russia with its exuberant and fearless style of play. Coach Aliou Cissé, one of the heroes of the Senegalese side that reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, has been rewarded for showing faith in an exciting group of young players, including teenager Moussa Wagué, who scored a fabulous goal that capped off a fluid and flowing attacking movement.
Japan and Senegal don’t have the best pedigree or history in the international game. But this World Cup has undoubtedly benefited from their presence.
Falcao completes his comeback
Radamel Falcao was one of the top scorers in the world four years ago. On the back of two sensational seasons with Atletico Madrid, he made the move to France and joined AS Monaco where he continued his torrid scoring pace. He finished as Colombia’s top scorer during the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup with nine goals, and appeared to be ready to take that summer’s tournament in Brazil by storm. But then he suffered a severe knee injury in the months ahead of the World Cup that ruled him out of the competition.
It’s been a long road back for the Colombia striker, which has included two less than stellar loan spells, at Chelsea and Manchester United. He’s had to work very hard and fight to get back to top form. We’ve seen him return to his old scoring ways over the last two campaigns for AS Monaco. The real test was this World Cup. Would the veteran be able to do it on the biggest stage, after heartbreakingly miss out in Brazil?
Falcao erased all doubt on Sunday with a wonderful performance in a must-win game for Colombia, scoring a marvellous goal to give his country a two-goal lead. He also distinguished himself with his selfishness, displaying brilliant holdup skills at times to bring his teammates into the play. When he scored with an exquisite finish in the 70th minute, the smile on his face could have lit up Kazan skyline, as he was mobbed by joyous teammates. They knew what Falcao had gone through to get this point. It was his moment after years of hardship. He earned the spotlight.
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BEST GAME
Although sloppy at times and marred by a pair of horrendous goalkeeping gaffes, the 2-2 draw between Japan and Senegal was one of the best matches of the tournament. End-to-end action, plenty of goals, and two teams attacking with intention. Brilliant stuff.
BEST GOAL
In the 36th minute, Jesse Lingard took a pass from John Stones at the edge of Panama’s box and curled a gorgeous shot that tucked just under the crossbar and into the top right corner, leaving goalkeeper Jaime Penedo with no chance of a save.
BEST SAVE
In the 39th minute, Senegal went on a quick counterattack and Mbaye Niang broke in alone on goal after latching onto a through ball. Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima stood firm and made himself big to palm away the Senegalese forward’s attempt on goal.
BEST MOMENT
Down 6-0, Felipe Baloy poked the ball home off a free kick to score Panama’s first-ever goal at the World Cup. You’d have thought Panama, making its tournament debut, had won the World Cup by the wild and passionate celebrations from their supporters in the stands.
Tears of joy were shed by #PAN fans across the globe after Los Canaleros scored their first ever #WorldCup goal. This is what is all about! pic.twitter.com/hPUy3IURtV
— COPA90 US (@COPA90US) June 24, 2018
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Even while sitting on a five-goal lead, England showed great clam and patience in its buildup play. The English avoided the temptation to rush a shot, and instead worked the ball and waited for an opportunity to present itself.
BEST TWEET
Panama trying to score a goal while England players are celebrating. #ENGPAN pic.twitter.com/I32acjyWXl
— Mayes (@MayesTouabi) June 24, 2018
BEST QUOTE
“We are virgins, we have been born before the due date, we are debutants. We have to celebrate what we have done here.” – Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez on his team’s tactical naivety versus England.
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Kane is only the third England player to score three or more goals in the group stage of a World Cup, joining Roger Hunt in 1966 and Gary Lineker in 1986.
• England has scored four goals in a World Cup match for the first time since the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany.
• Japan’s Honda is the top-scoring Asian player in World Cup history, scoring four goals in nine games.
• At 19 years and eight months, Senegal’s Wagué is the youngest African goalscorer in World Cup history.
• Over the course of the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, no player has scored more goals (six) or provided more assists (four) than James Rodriguez.
• There were 14 goals today, the most on a single day of World Cup action (maximum three games) since June 10, 1990 (also 14 goals).
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Harry Kane, England: The Tottenham striker became the third England player to score a hat trick at the World Cup. Both of his penalties were textbook attempts, leaving the Panama’s goalkeeper with no chance of a save.
2) Moussa Wagué, Senegal: The teenager not only scored his country’s second goal; he also created four scoring chances, delivered seven crosses, and made one defensive clearance.
3) Juan Cuadrado, Colombia: The Juventus man was one of the key figures in his team’s attack, scoring one goal and causing Poland all kinds of issues with his speed and movement off the ball.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MONDAY
Group A: Uruguay versus Russia in Samara (10 a.m. ET) – Both teams are through to the knockout round, but first place in the group is up for grabs in this one. A draw by the Russians would allow them clinch first place. Uruguay needs a win. Group A crosses over with Group B in the next round, so it’s more than likely these teams will face Spain and Portugal.
Group A: Saudi Arabia versus Egypt in Volgograd (10 a.m. ET) – Both teams have been eliminated from the tournament after losing their opening two games. There’s nothing left to play for but pride. Egypt, at least, has scored a goal, while Saudi Arabia has failed to find the back of the net.
Group B: Spain versus Morocco in Kaliningrad (2 p.m. ET) – Sitting on four points and in a tie with Portugal for first place, Spain only needs a draw in order to clinch a spot in the knockout round. It can even move on with a loss, provided Portugal loses to Iran by a bigger margin. And if Spain manages to gain more points than Portugal on the final matchday, it’ll win the group. Morocco has already been eliminated.
Group B: Iran versus Portugal in Saransk (2 p.m. ET) – Portugal can qualify for the knockout round with a draw against Iran. It can also qualify with a loss provided Spain loses its game by a wider margin. If both Portugal and Spain win, the team with the biggest victory would finish top of the group. Iran must beat Portugal to qualify for the knockout round. It can win the group with a win provided Spain also loses to Morocco.
ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB
Sid Lowe of The Guardian writes about the brutal murder of former midfielder Amílcar Henríquez and how his death affected Panama coming into this World Cup:
Hernán Darío ‘Bolillo’ Gómez is the coach who, as Colombia’s assistant, lived through the assassination of Andrés Escobar in 1994 and led Panama to this World Cup. “I took Amílcar to Independiente Medellín. I’ve known him a long time and he was the one saying: ‘Profe, come to Panama, help us.’ The affection was mutual. He was a good man, a leader …” Gómez’s voice trails off. “… and they killed him.” What happened? “Nah, I don’t even want to be involved. I don’t ask. He died. And the pain is there.
