England - Belgium (Group G)

Date and time: 28-06-2018, 11:30 pm
City: Kaliningrad

Both the teams don't want to win! The winner of this match will top Group G and may have to play with Brazil in the quarter final. England has rested 8 of its front line players while Belgium has kept 9 players in the benches. If both the teams are level in all other respects, the number of yellow cards also will be considered. BEL has 3 and ENG 2

First Half:

00: Game begins with England in White-Blue and Belgium in Red-Red
02: First English move reach Belgian box, but deflected by GK
06: Tielemans (BEL)'s powerful shot punched away by GK
10: Batshuayi (BEL)'s ball comes very near to goal line, but kicked away by defenders
11: BEL concedes a corner. 
12: BEL concedes another corner. Cahill (ENG)'s header just goes wide
14: Vardy (ENG)'s header goes wide
15: Possession so far ENG 61%, BEL 39%
19: Tielemans (BEL) gets a yellow card

27: ENG concedes a corner, Fellaini (BEL)'s shot saved by defender
33: Dendoncker (BEL) shown a yellow card. Free kick for ENG from just outside the box. A corner for ENG
34: Loftus-Cheek (ENG)'s header goes wide
35: Januzaj (BEL) shot goes wide, corner for BEL
38: Hazard (BEL)'s shot goes above the bar
43: Tempo has gone down
45: ENG's beautiful cross headed out by defenders
45: First half ends (0-0). No extra minutes were added

Second Half:
45: Stones (ENG) replaced by Maguire

Januzaj scores for Belgium (0-1)

48: Rashford (ENG)'s curling shot goes wide
51: Januzaj (BEL) scores (0-1)
53: Alexander-Arnold (ENG) wastes a free kick by hitting the wall

61: Loftus-Cheek (ENG)'s cross fails to be connected
66: Rashford (ENG)'s shot saved, conceding a corner
67: Delph (ENG)'s goes wide off the mark
74: Vermaelen (BEL) replaced by Kompany

76: ENG's free kick saved by GK
79: Alexander-Arnold (ENG) is replaced by Welbeck
81: Rashford (ENG)'s free kick flies above the bar
82: BEL concedes a corner
83: Welbeck (ENG)'s shot deflected by defender
85: Loftus-Cheek (ENG)'s lobe goes above the bar
86: Januzaj (BEL) is replaced by Mertens
89: Mertens (BEL)'s powerful shot punched away by GK
90+1: Scramble in English box, but free kick for ENG for foul
90+2: Fellaini (BEL)'s shot hits the side of the net
90+3: Game ends after 3 added minutes. Belgium wins 0-1

Nigeria - Argentina (Group D)

Date and time: 26-06-2018, 11:30 pm
City: Saint Petersburg

Argentina needs to win this match in any case if they want to move on to the Round of 16. Not only that, Iceland shall not win the other simultaneous match against Croatia.

First Half:

00: Game begins with Argentina in blue-striped white and Nigeria in green
03: No real moves yet

Messi scores for Argentina (0-1)

06: Game is in a very slow pace. No shots or great moves
07: First Nigerian move, but stopped just short of the box
08: Tagliafico (ARG)'s shot goes wide, the first shot of the match!
09: Musa (NIG)'s shot goes above the bar
11: Threat in Nigerian box cleared successfully
13: NIG fails to capitalize on a wrong pass by ARG. Solo move stopped in the box
14: Messi scores for ARG (0-1)
18: ARG wastes a corner
19: Nigerian corner wasted. Headed back to midfield
26: Possession so far is NIG 37%, ARG 63%
27: Higuain (ARG)'s run to the goal is made futile by a brave block by GK
32: Nigeria is not able to seriously challenge ARG
32: Di Maria's challenging run was foiled by fouling him. Balogun (NIG) gets yellow card. A free kick for ARG from just outside the box
34: Messi's curling kick gets past GK, but hits post
39: Di Maria (ARG)'s shot saved
42: Etebo (NIG)'s wild kick goes way off the goal
45+2: First half ends after 2 added minutes. Nigeria disappoints by not able to threaten ARG. Iceland - Croatia match is still tied (0-0), which means that if this situation continues, ARG and CRO will move to Round of 16

Second Half:
47: Early ARG attack foiled by NIG defenders

48: ARG concedes a corner from a NIG throw-in

Moses (NIG) levels the score from a penalty (1-1)

49: Mascherano (ARG) gets yellow card for pulling down. Penalty for NIG
51: Moses (NIG) scores from the penalty (1-1)
52: Di Maria falls in NIG box, but referee allows to play on
53: Another corner for NIG. Wasted
59: Dangerous move by Musa (NIG), but nobody to support him
61: Perez (ARG) is replaced by Pavon
62: Ekong (NIG) deflects a kick over the bar, conceded a corner

63: Possession so far is NIG 37%, ARG 63%
64: Banega (ARG) shown the yellow card
68: NIG concedes a corner, immediately taken but no results
71: Ndidi (NIG)'s powerful shot goes inches above the bar
73: Corner for ARG. Wasted
75: Another corner for ARG. Couldn't convert
76: Ighalo (NIG) shot goes wide. Mascherano (ARG)'s hand ball suspected in the box. Video check goes on. Penalty not allowed

Rojo puts Argentina ahead again (1-2)

79: Clever Argentine move, but fails to use in the confusion
80: Tagliafico (ARG) replaced by Aguero
80: Higuain (ARG) misses a good chance by kicking much above the bar
82: Another attack by ARG, gets a corner, nothing happens
83: Ighalo (NIG)'s kick deflected by GK, Free kick for NIG from just outside the box
85: Free kick hits side of the net
86: Rojo (ARG) scores from a splendid cross (1-2)
90: In the other match, Croatia takes lead (2-1). ARG seems to be all set to move on
90+1: Mikel (NIG) gets yellow card
90+3: Musa (NIG) replaced by Nwankwo
90+4: Yellow card for Messi for time wasting
90+4: Game ends after 4 added minutes. ARG beat NIG to go in to the Round of 16

Germany - Sweden (Group F)

Date and time: 23-06-2018, 11.30 pm
City: Sochi

Having been defeated in their first game against Mexico, Germany desperately needs to win

First Half:

00: Game begins with Germany in White-Black and Sweden in Blue-Yellow
03: Mayhem in Swedish box. 2 or 3 shots at goal, but SWE somehow stops all of them, concedes a corner
06: Forsberg (SWE) moves dangerously to German goal, but ball is taken by defenders
08: Draxler(GER)'s pass across the goal goes wasted as nobody is able to connect
09: Another close call in Swedish box. Concedes a corner

Toivonen (SWE) scores

13: Berg (SWE) charges single handed to German goal, but stopped in the box by GK even though Berg protested a foul
18: Berg (SWE) tries a shot in box, but misses
19: Rudy (GER)'s ground shot goes wide
22: Mueller (GER) loses ball inside the box. Swedish defence stands tough
28: Forsberg's (SWE) header goes wide, GER concedes a corner
31: Rudy (GER) is replaced with Gundogan due to injury
32: Toivonen (SWE) lobes the ball gently above GK to score for Sweden (0-1)
39: Mueller (GER)'s kick grazes past the left post
44: Claesson (SWE)'s excellent attempt is wasted

Reus equalizes for Germany (1-1)

45+2: First half ends after 2 added minutes with Germany trailing 0-1

Second Half:
 

46: Second half begins. Drexler (GER) is replaced by Gomez
48: Reus (GER) scores the equalizer by connecting a cross from Werner (1-1)
51: Mueller (GER)'s header off a free kick goes wide
52: Ekdal (SWE) gets a yellow card
56: Hector (GER)'s ground shot stopped by GK
61: Reus (GER) couldn't connect a cross from Kimmich. Ball goes wide
65: Kroos (GER)'s shot gets deflected and goes over the bar. SWE concedes a corner
68: Gomez (GER)'s shot goes high, but he was offside
71: Boateng(GER) gets a yellow card
74: Claesson (SWE) replaced by Durmaz
76: Two consecutive saves by German GK
77: Toivonen (SWE) is replaced by Guidetti
81: Werner (GER)'s shot just goes the horizontal bar

Kroos' curling free kick puts Germany ahead 2-1

82: Boateng (GER) gets second yellow card and so gets automatic red.
83: Neuer (GER GK) punches away a powerful free kick
83: Neuer falters in dealing a ball, but it goes out
87: Hector (GER) is replaced by Brandt
88: Gomez (GER)'s terrific header deflected by Swedish GK
89: Berg (SWE) is replaced by Thelin
90+2: Brandt (GER)'s powerful shot hits post
90+5: Kroos (GER)'s curling shot from a free kick just outside the box lands in the net (2-1)
90+8: Game ends after 7 added minutes with Germany beating Sweden 2-1

Argentina - Croatia (Group D)

Time and Date: 21-06-2018, 11.30 pm
City: Nizhny Novgorod

Much, much pressure on Messi to perform, to live up to his name!

First Half:

00: Game begins. Argentina in traditional striped blue, Croatia in black
05: Perisic's (CRO) shot deflected by Caballero (ARG GK) to concede a corner. Play was limited to midfield so far
09: Match is still low-key with no real moves
10: Tense moments in Argentine box, but nothing happens
12: Messi (ARG) narrowly misses to connect a lobe in front of the goal
13: Meza's (ARG) shot blocked by Croatian defence to concede a corner
19: Play again retreated to the midfield for some time
21: Acuna's (ARG) cross glides across the goal and grazes the cross bar
27: Aguera (ARG)'s shot deflected out by Strinic (CRO), conceding a corner, which is wasted
29: Possession so far ARG 57%, CRO 43%
30: Chaos in Croatian box. Perez (ARG)'s shot misses the goal
33: Mandzukic (CRO)'s header narrowly misses the goal
37: Mercado (ARG) injured in a collision
39: Rebic (CRO) gets yellow card. Play gets rough for a few minutes

Rebic scores from Argentine goalkeeper's mistake

45+2: Croatia wastes a good chance by hitting out
45+2: A lackluster first half ends after 2 added minutes (0-0)


Second Half:

50: Ball yet to reach the penalty box of either team in the second half!
51: Mercado (ARG) shown yellow card for bringing down the charging Croatian player
53: Big mistake by Caballero (ARG GK). Rebic (CRO) shoots the reflected ball into Argentine net (0-1)

Modric scores Croatia's second goal

55: Aguero (ARG) replaced by Higuain
56: Another Croatian attack. ARG concedes a corner. 
56: Salvio (ARG) replaced by Pavon

57: Rebic (CRO) is replaced by Kramaric
58: Mandzukic (CRO) shown the yellow card
63: Chaos in CRO box, nothing happens
64: Another anxious moment for CRO, this time by Messi. They concede a corner
67: Vrsaljko (CRO) shown yellow card for another needless foul
71: Pavon (ARG)'s shot flies over the cross bar
73: Croatian attack again. Fails to capitalize
78: CRO concedes another corner
80: Modric (CRO)'s blistering shot reaches Argentine net (0-2)
83: Pericic (CRO) replaced by Kovacic

Rakitic making it 0-3

85: Spar between players. Otamendi (ARG) yellow carded for kicking fallen down CRO player
86: Rakitic (CRO)'s powerful free kick hits cross bar
87: Acuna (ARG) shown yellow card
90: Meza (ARG)'s shot blocked by CRO defender
90+1: Rakitic (CRO) scores from a break on a defenseless goal (0-3)
90+4: Brozovic (CRO) shown yellow card
90+4: Argentina beaten (0-3) by Croatia after 4 added minutes

Tunisia - England (Group G)

Date and time: 18-06-2018, 11.30 pm
Venue: Volgograd

Red crescent against the red cross! The flags are unfurled on the ground.

First Half:

00: England kicks off. England is in red and Tunisia in white
03: Two golden opportunities for England in quick succession, narrowly missed
04: Sterling (ENG) wastes a perfect chance in the box

11: Kane (ENG) earns a corner and he scores from it (0-1)
12: Ball reaches England's box for the first time in the match

Kane scores the goal

14: Hassen (TUN) goalkeeper is replaced by Ben Mustapha
18: Henderson (ENG)'s powerful shot is stopped by TUN goalkeeper
22: First real attack by Tunisia is inconclusive, earns a corner

24: Lingard (ENG) couldn't connect a cross inside the box
26: Possession so far ENG 61%, TUN 39%
27: F.Sassi (TUN)'s shot wide off the mark, earns a corner but wasted
31: Maguire (ENG)'s header off a free kick is stopped by TUN GK
33: Walker (ENG) fouls Ben Youssef (TUN) in box and concedes a penalty.Walker gets yellow card

Sassi scores from a penalty

35: F. Sassi (TUN) scores from penalty (1-1). Tunisia could've scored only from a penalty and it's unfortunate that England gave them an opportunity through a totally unnecessary foul
39: Free kick for ENG from near corner point. Couldn't convert in the melee in front of the goal
43: Lingard (ENG) shoots above the bar, earns a corner
44: Trippier (ENG)'s cross caught by TUN GK
44: Lingard (ENG)'s kick gets past GK, but gets deflected outside by post
45+3: First half ends after 3 added minutes (1-1)

Second Half:

46: Second half begins with an early attack by TUN
51: England's first attack in the second half, earns a corner. Header is caught by GK
55: Not enough English players are in the box for any meaningful connection of passes
56: ENG slowly regaining dominance of the match after a subdued 10 minutes
59: Kane (ENG) is closely marked. He is not able to retain ball in the box
60: Trippier (ENG)'s shot hits the side net, earns a corner but to no effect
65: No worthwhile move in the last 5 minutes by both teams
66: Maguire's (ENG) lobe into the box wasted as nobody is able to connect it
68: Possession so far ENG 58%, TUN 42%
68: Sterling (ENG) is replaced with Rashford
69: Trippier's (ENG) free kick from 25 yards goes off the mark
71: Delle Alli (ENG) makes a good move, but ends as offside
72: Sliti's (TUN) shot goes wide off the left side of the post
73: Sliti (TUN) is replaced with Ben Amor
78: Delle Alli (ENG) is fouled just outside the box. A free kick for ENG.
79: Young's (ENG) free kick goes over the bar

Kane scores again in injury time

80: Alli (ENG) is replaced with Loftus-Cheek
83: Rashford's (ENG) move earns a corner, but wasted
84: TUN's GK Ben Mustapha is hurt in the corner clearance
85: Khazri (TUN) is replaced with Khalifa
87: ENG controls all aspects of play, but they are not able to score
88: No body is able to connect, ENG loses another chance in the box
90+1: Kane (ENG) scores (1-2). Must've been heart-breaking for Tunisia!
90+4: England wins after 4 added minutes (1-2)

Brazil - Switzerland (Group E)

It's been a long while since anything was written in this blog. I was more focused on the review blogs I maintain. Now that the world cup competitions are here, let me reproduce my diary of the matches I've seen (on TV, of course. It's the economy, stupid!)

Date and time: 17 Jun 2018, 11.30 pm IST
Venue: Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don

First Half:
 
00: The game begins with Brazil in yellow and Switzerland in red
04: The first four minutes see some bold action from SWI
06: First Brazil attack only in the 6th minute!
09: Game heats up. Both teams make energetic moves
11: Brazil narrowly misses
13: After the initial aggression, SWI is back in defence

Coutinho celebrates after scoring 1-0

15: Neymar is fouled. A free kick for BRA from 25 yards, but hits the wall
16: Possession so far BRA 64%, SWI 36%
20: P. Coutinho's (BRA) powerful curving shot lands the ball in SWI net after hitting the right post (1-0)
25: SWI attacks after conceding goal. A corner for them. Wasted
30: Swiss attacks are many but all of them fizzles out before the penalty box is reached
31: Yellow card for Lichtsteiner (SWI) for deliberately pulling down Neymar
33: Brazil's corner wasted as nobody is able to collect the ball
35: Possession so far BRA 54%, SWI 46%
40: Thiago Silva (BRA) gets a strong hit on his cheek in the box
43: Another Swiss attack ends in Brazilian box
45+2: Thiago Silva's header from a corner goes over the bar
45+2: First half ends after 2 added minutes. BRA-SWI 1-0

Second Half:
47: Casemiro (BRA) gets yellow card for foul
50: S. Zuber (SWI) dramatically heads a corner on to the centre of the net (1-1). Brazil is stunned

Zuber scores from a header

55: Slight ruckus between Neymar and Dzemaili (SWI)
57: Coutinho's shot blocked, Neymar's kick hits the sidenet
58: Brazil's corner is wasted. Second corner from the other side also in vain
60: Casemiro (BRA) replaced with Fernandinho
62: Brazil not able to collect themselves back after conceding the equalizing goal
65: Schar (SWI) gets yellow card for pulling Neymar on his shirt
67: Busy activity in SWI box.
67: Paulinho (BRA) is replaced with Renato Augusto
68: Behrami (SWI) gets yellow card for stamping on Neymar's ankle
70: Coutinho's shot goes wide off the goal
71: Behrami (SWI) replaced with Zakaria
73: Dzemaili's (SWI) weak drive stopped by Brazilian goalkeeper
74: G. Jesus (BRA) falls in box, but no penalty given
78: Neymar's beautiful strike ends safely in Swiss goalkeeper's hands
79: G. Jesus (BRA) replaced with Firmino
80: Seferovic (SWI) replaced with Embolo
82: Firmino's (BRA) shot goes above the bar
84: Brazilian goalkeeper breaks a red balloon which floated on to ground by stamping on it
87: Lichtsteiner (SWI) is replaced with Lang
88: Neymar's powerful header stopped by goalkeeper
90: Raminio's header deflected by goalkeeper
90+5: Neymar gets a free kick at the last minute and it couldn't be utilized
90+6: Brazil's corner is wasted
90+7: Match ends after 7 added minutes. Brazil is tied with Switzerland (1-1). Looked like a repeat of Iceland getting level with Argentina yesterday