Spain: 0, Cape Verde: 0
Mike Stewart/AP
One of the all time great results in recent World Cup history. Cape Verde is playing at the world’s stage for the first time in their country’s history, but had to play the reigning European champions, and one of the favorites for this tournament, Spain.
Spain was going to dominate possession in the game, and they did, controlling the ball for 74% of the game, and took a total of 27 shots in the game, with 7 of them being on target. All of this resulted in 0 goals.
The Spanish were consistently denied by the Cape Verde defense, and goalkeeper Vozinha in his first World Cup game at 40 years of age, making 7 saves. Spain subbed in superstar wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, two players that were nursing injuries suffered prior to the tournament, in desperation searching for the opening goal, but it never came, and it was a historic result for Cape Verde.
Group H has been turned upside down with this result. Spain now may not top the group, and will likely have to beat Uruguay in order to win it. Cape Verde is also in decent position to make it out of the group stage, but will have to win a game in the final 2 chances.
Player of the Match: Vozinha (Chaves)
Belgium: 1, Egypt: 1
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo teams that are evenly matched in the attack, but Belgium are much stronger throughout the rest of the teams, and would have definitely wanted to win this one.
Egypt got on the board first, a pass from attacking midfielder Mohamed Salah, the nation’s all time best player to left winger Emam Ashour, who scored from outside of the box.
Belgium, now trailing, had to make a strong push to level the score. In the 53rd minute, attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne hit the post on a free kick just outside the box, coming close to the equalizer, but Belgium stayed down by a goal.
In the 66th minute, substitute Romelu Lukaku, the all time top goal scorer in Belgian history, was brought on, and in the same minute, he created a goal. It will go down as an own goal, but it was Lukaku who made the run, and he would have scored anyways. It had an instant impact for Belgium in a time it was desperately needed.
The final whistle blew at 1-1 in what will likely end up being the most important game in Group G.
Player of the Match: Emam Ashour (Al Ahly)
Saudi Arabia: 1, Uruguay: 1
Embed from Getty ImagesIn Saudi Arabia’s first World Cup game in 2022, they defeated Argentina in one of the greatest upsets of the tournament history. They had another chance against another South American giant in 2026.
The Green Falcons scored first, something they didn’t do against Argentina in 2022, centre back Abdulelah Al Amri found space deep in the Uruguay box and put it just past the goalkeeper.
Now, it was Uruguay who had to play against what would be a very defensive Saudi Arabia team. They had all of the chances in the second half, and it took until the 80th minute to find the equalizer from left midfielder Maxi Araujo.
The full time whistle blew at 1-1, marking another big result in Group H. Spain are right back in it as favorites to win the group, but it is anyone’s group to win.
Player of the Match: Abdulelah Al Amri (Al Nassr)
Iran: 2, New Zealand: 2
Embed from Getty ImagesNew Zealand was the lowest ranked team according to FIFA at the tournament, but they would end up scoring first on a strike from left winger Elijah Wood.
It would be Iran who would even the score in the 32nd minute, right back Ramin Rezaeian buried a great team goal. Iran scored the lead taking goal deep into first half stoppage time, but the play was ruled offsides
Just scored his second goal of the match in the 54th minute on another great team goal, and Iran once again needed to come from behind. They would get their equalizer in the 64th minute, a great cross in Rezaeian found the head of right midfielder Mohammad Mohebi, who buried his chance.
These two teams would be considered some of the weaker teams in the tournament, but they played to an exciting 2-2 draw, ensuring that all four games of the day would end in leveled scores.
Player of the Match: Elijah Just (Motherwell)