After Brazil’s victory against Serbia (2-0), Thursday, November 24, the 32 nations of the World Cup in Qatar played their first match. And after five days of competition, there are already the first lessons to be learned, between exploits, disappointments, revelations and confirmations. Overview.
THEY ARE IN SHAPE
Spain at its most perfect
It is an understatement to say that La Roja has started its World Cup on its feet. Four years after their elimination in the round of 16 in Russia, against the host country, the Spanish selection set the tone in their first match in Qatar. In Group E, Costa Rica were swept 7-0 by Luis Enrique’s men. With a young workforce and talent everywhere including on the bench (six different scorers), Spain impresses and can shake Germany, their next opponent on November 27th.
England off to a good start
The vice-champions of Europe of the nations did not tremble against Iran, their first opponent in group B. The Three Lions made short work of the Iranians with a clear victory 6-2. Nuggets Bukayo Saka (doubled) and Jude Bellingham scored, along with the slightly more experienced Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling. England are now hoping that striker Harry Kane, injured in the ankle, will be fit for the match against the United States on November 25.
Richarlison sublimates Brazil
He does not shine in the Premier League with his new club Tottenham (only two goals since the start of the season, only in the Champions League). On the other hand, with the Brazil jersey on his back, Richarlison is on fire. The striker continued his good run of goals for the national team against Serbia in Group G (2-0). It was he who concretized the domination of the Auriverdes by opening the scoring after the break. And it was also he who scored the goal of the break with a nice scissor. The only shadow on the Brazilian table: the exit of Neymar, injured in the right ankle.
Giroud in the history of the France team
With Karim Benzema’s package, Olivier Giroud has once again become the permanent striker of the Blues, with Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann to accompany him, as in 2018, as well as Ousmane Dembélé. And the Milanese was quick to return the confidence that Didier Deschamps granted him. If he had not scored in Russia, Giroud scored twice in the victory of the Blues against Australia in Group D (4-1), after a complicated first few minutes. He is now the co-top scorer in the history of the France team, tied with Thierry Henry with 51 goals. Will he ascend the throne alone in the next match against Denmark on November 26?
THEY NEED TO DO BETTER
Belgium thanks Courtois and Batshuayi
Third in the last World Cup, the Belgians struggled to beat Canada (1-0, group F), back in the World Cup after only one participation in 1986. It almost started very badly with a penalty conceded in the first minutes. Fortunately, Thibaut Courtois, the best goalkeeper of the 2018 World Cup, released the shot from Alphonso Davies. Then, Michy Batshuayi found the opening before the break. The Red Devils won, of course, but the Canada Reds deserved better with more success on their many chances.
Denmark is stalling
Given favorite of group D, perhaps even ahead of France, Denmark did not live up to their last good results. Against Tunisia, Christian Eriksen and his family could not do better than one scoreless draw (0-0). The Carthage Eagles caused problems for the Danish Dynamite, unable to develop their game. This result will force Denmark to fight to the end to reach the knockout stages.
Voiceless Uruguay
We can line up veteran Luis Suarez and great hopes Darwin Nunez and Facundo Pellistri from the start, then throw Edinson Cavani into the arena and keep Federico Valverde and his cannon shots on the field, and remain silent in front of the opposing cage. Against South Korea (group H), Uruguay did not find the fault despite their offensive arguments. Not the best way to prepare to face Portugal.
Portugal in pain
The most optimistic will remember the victory (3-2, group H) and the record of Cristiano Ronaldo, scorer in five editions of the World Cup (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022). But it was a sluggish first match against Ghana for the Portuguese. Defensive shortcomings allowed the Black Stars to come back to 1-1 and then believe in it until the end. It does not reassure for the future.
THEY STARTED VERY BADLY
Argentina falls from very high
The happiness of the “little one” is the unhappiness of the “big one”. Saudi Arabia succeeded one of the greatest feats in its history by reversing the steam and triumphing over Lionel Messi’s Argentina (2-1, group C), in what will remain as the first thunderclap of this World Cup. While the Saudi King Salman ben Abdelaziz al-Saud decreed a public holiday the day after the exploit, the Albiceleste, she was brooding. Unable to react, the Argentinians, reigning South American champions, now fear a very premature elimination.
Germany trapped
A copy-paste of the Argentine misadventure would also go well to describe the snub experienced by the Nationalmannschaft against Japan. The Germans were leading 1-0 and failed to take cover. And on arrival, it was the Samurai Blue who were able to exult thanks to their last quarter of an hour of madness which allowed them to win 2-1 (group E). Are Germany headed for yet another first-round elimination? Beware of the shock against Spain now.
African teams on hold
Five matches, two draws (Denmark-Tunisia, Morocco-Croatia), three defeats (Senegal-Netherlands, Switzerland-Cameroon, Portugal-Ghana), only two goals scored by the Ghanaians: the first day was not really a great success for the five African nations. They will have to raise their heads if the continent does not want to relive the zero points of 2018 (no qualified for the round of 16).
Lewandowski still silent
Hard hard to be Polish. International since 2008, captain and top scorer of the selection with 76 goals, Robert Lewandowski is still angry with the World Cup. Poland did not qualify in 2010 and 2014. And in 2018 the forward did not score (elimination in the first round). In this 2022 World Cup, he could have unlocked his counter against Mexico. But Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa pushed back his penalty. Lewandowski therefore remains in search of a goal in the World Cup.
Qatar is disillusioned
With its status as host country and 2019 Asian champion, Qatar did not expect to experience such a complicated opening match. Ecuador were not impressed and cooled the Bordeaux (2-0). In the stands, the supporters had little taste of the spectacle and many of them left before the final whistle, leaving a very sparse Al Bayt stadium. The Qatari selection hopes to regain its footing against the Senegalese African champions now.