Wednesday’s World Cup slate started slowly but picked up considerably with Japan’s win over Germany followed by Spain’s record 7-0 win over Costa Rica.
Here’s everything that happened at the World Cup today.
Morocco 0, Croatia 0
Morocco and Croatia held a defensive clinic on Wednesday, but sadly that meant yet another scoreless draw. In the 2018 World Cup, there was only one scoreless draw throughout the tournament. This year there have already been three.
Morocco and Croatia’s place in the group ultimately depends on their results against Belgium, but neither team can afford to take Canada lightly either. The competition in Group F is tough.
Japan 2, Germany 1
It wasn’t Argentina’s upset against Saudi Arabia, but Japan’s win over Germany was twice as dramatic as Monday’s game. After trailing for 75 minutes, Japan scored two late goals from their substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano. Japan’s place in the knockout stage is far from cemented – they have yet to face a hungry Spanish side – but it’s an incredible result nonetheless.
For Germany, Wednesday marked their third consecutive defeat in the opening match of a major tournament, and unlike Argentina, Die Mannschaft is not the highest ranked team in its group — that title belongs to Spain.
Spain 7, Costa Rica 0
Spain set a record for most goals in a World Cup game in their 7-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday. More importantly, he managed to get three points and top Group E in goal differential. If that happened, it’s safe to assume that Spain would win that tiebreaker.
Belgium 1, Canada 0
Canada had every chance to blow away Belgium, but they failed to convert any of their 22 shots on goal. Belgium, on the other hand, converted one of their nine attempts and finished with a lower xG (0.76) than Canada (2.61). In a tournament full of upsets, no one was in the cards for Canada on Wednesday. Maybe that will come against Croatia on Sunday (11 a.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app).
GOAL OF THE DAY
Doan deserves all the praise he receives for his game-winning goal against Germany, not just because of what it meant for Japan, but because of the impossibility of the angle. Seriously, how did that shot get in?
SUPPORT OF THE DAY
Toby Alderweireld’s perfectly placed long ball to Michy Batshuayi broke the tie between Belgium and Canada and earned the Red Devils three points in their World Cup opener. Who says centre-backs can’t be playmakers?
Belgian Michy Batshuayi scores a goal against Canada in 44′
Watch Belgium’s Michy Batshuayi score a goal against Canada in 44′ at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
SAVE OF THE DAY
Thibaut Courtois showed why he is considered the greatest goalkeeper in the world against Canada. With Belgium in danger of losing 1-0 due to a handball in the box, Courtois made a big save on Alphonso Davies.
Thibaut Courtois saves Belgium by blocking a penalty attempt
Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois pulls off an incredible penalty save after Canada drew inside the penalty area at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
There are those who will say Courtois should have saved another penalty in the first half, and they might be right, but in reality he saved the only one he needed and gave Belgium the win.
TIME TO SEE
Before Canada and Belgium kicked off, FOX Sports analyst Stu Holden warmed up Alphonso Davies on set.
Unfortunately for Canada, Holden is tied to the US (and retired).
Swiss versus. Cameroon, 5 a.m. ET on FS1
If we assume Brazil are going to run away with top spot in Group G – which seems silly given the amount of upset in the tournament so far – then Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia are all in the running for it. finish second. Switzerland against Cameroon is the first stage of this race.
Uruguay versus. South Korea, 8 a.m. ET on FS1
Uruguay may not be as starry as Portugal, but he has tons of quality on his roster and can possibly finish top of the group, especially with all the noise surrounding Portugal at the moment. But first, he has to go through Son Heung-min and South Korea.
Portugal versus. Ghana, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
After a disastrous start to the Premier League season with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has the opportunity to turn it all around with a strong performance back on the World Cup stage – anything less would be considered a failure for one of the greatest players of this generation. .
Brazil versus. Serbia, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Brazil saw rivals Argentina lose to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. He hopes to avoid the same fate against a much tougher Serbia side led by attacking duo Aleksandar Mitrović and Dušan Vlahović. Either way, it should be fun.
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