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Did you get some errands done yesterday? Take that call you have been pushing off since the World Cup started? Catch up on your sleep? Good, because today we have three great games after what was a somewhat dreary set of matchups on Wednesday that saw Portugal beat Morocco 1-0 on Cristiano Ronaldo’s fourth goal of the tournament, Uruguay put in a workmanlike effort in eliminating Saudi Arabia 1-0, and Spain being made to try much harder than expected against what looked like a 6-3-1 from Iran, but in the end bank three points with a 1-0 victory. Uruguay and Russia officially advanced to the Round of 16 while Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco have been eliminated.
Denmark vs. Australia
Time: 5:00 AM
Location: Samara Arena, Samara
TV: Fox Sports 1 (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
Announcing team: Mark Followill and Warren Barton (English)
Streaming: Fox Sports Go and Telemundo Deportes
Denmark are in a good position to advance after beating Peru 1-0 in a tight match to open their tournament. Denmark got a 59th minute opener and made it hold up despite Peru creating 18 chances to Denmark’s 10 (via FIFA stats) including a 6-3 advantage for Peru in shots on goal.
Australia put up a spirited defense against the heavily favored France team in their opener, conceding first via an Antoine Griezmann penalty kick in the 58th minute before Australia equalized with their own 62nd minute penalty kick from Mile Jedinak. Then tournament leading scorer Own Goal took charge as Australia put one in their own net in the 81st minute that France made stand up.
Denmark are the betting favorite but an Australia win here would not be out of the question and set up a wide open finish in matchday 3 for Group C. The way this tournament is going so far, chaos is winning. Don’t count out the Socceroos.
France vs. Peru
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg
TV: FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
Announcing team: Derek Rae and Aly Wagner (English)
Streaming: Fox Sports Go and Telemundo Deportes
France started a front three of Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in front of a midfield featuring Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante and Corentin Tolisso but still needed the notorious OG (Own Goal) to beat Australia in their opener.
Peru were unlucky to not get at least a draw against Denmark in the opener (they badly missed a penalty kick) and rumored Seattle Sounders signing Raul Ruidiaz only made an 85th minute appearance in the opener. Since we established above that we are “Team Chaos” a win here by Peru coupled with that Australia win would really set up an intriguing matchday 3 for Group C with all three teams on three points, let’s hope Ruidiaz subs in earlier and nets the winning goal.
Argentina vs. Croatia
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
TV: FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish)
Announcing team: John Strong and Stu Holden (English)
Streaming: Fox Sports Go and Telemundo Deportes
Argentina were only able to earn an opening game draw against mighty Iceland when their unheralded striker, Lionel Messi, missed a penalty kick. All kidding aside, Argentina really need to get a win today if they are going to extend their streak of making major tournament finals and losing in four after finishing runners up in the 2016 and 2015 Copa America’s and the 2014 World Cup.
Croatia cruised to an easy 2-0 win over Nigeria where it never looked like they got out of second gear but were in control all match. Luka Modric dominated the center of the park for Croatia and converted the penalty kick that made it 2-0 after Own Goal yet again got on the scoresheet for Nigeria, er for Croatia or against Nigeria. However you put it, Oghenekaro Etebo scored into his own net. Argentina have the aforementioned Messi, but if Croatia dominates the midfield and forces Messi to come deeper and deeper to get on the ball, this could go down as the tournament where the Ronaldo truthers in the Ronaldo v Messi debate point to as their magnum opus. Big stakes for a second group stage game in Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.