Cristiano Ronaldo has finally arrived at a World Cup. Sure, he’s scored at the last three tournaments, but the goals came against inferior competition. The Ronaldo hat trick vs Spain was one of the Portugal striker’s greatest moments for his country, as the Iberian derby finished in a 3-3 draw on Friday in Russia.
Anyone else hungry for nachos? I mean, I’m always hungry for nachos, but something about that Nacho goal vs Portugal has me even hungrier that usual.
The first half of the Portugal-Spain matchup was absolutely bonkers. But the second half didn’t peter out like the first season of Westworld (I haven’t watched Season 2, so no spoilers).
THE WORLD CUP IS BACK, PEOPLE!
The most anticipated matchup in the group stage didn’t waste any time getting the people going. It has lived up to the hype. We’ve gotten:
Vintage Cristiano step overs. Cristiano earning a PK with said stepovers. Two VAR instances. Diego Costa giving Pepe a forearm shiver. Diego Costa playing the Portuguese defense like a fiddle. An Isco shot off the bar that needed goal-line technology. And a shocking howler from David de Gea
At halftime, it was 2-1 Portugal.
Let’s get to the Spain vs Portugal goals footage:
Months after the USMNT failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, a new wave of headlines confirming "US Not In World Cup 2018" has dampened the mood of America's casual soccer fans who tune into three or four games every four years.
News of the U.S. joint bid with Mexico and Canada winning the rights to host the 2026 World Cup has given those fans something to be excited about, but the USMNT's absence from this year's World Cup is nonetheless disappointing.
Iran versus Morocco was awful. The return of the vuvuzela. The vintage Carlos Queiroz approach. The feeling that I really misguided folks by praising Moroccan attackers Amine Harit and Hakim Ziyech before the match.
John Green, author of “The Fault in Our Stars,” delightful YouTube talent and shameless Liverpool supporter, may want to be careful about what he wishes for — vuvuzelas are back.
During the Uruguay-Egypt match to start Friday’s World Cup action, during which there were a lot of empty seats in the middle of the park, likely where wealthy Russians should be sitting, Green lamented about the atmosphere.
No player appeared more devastated by Jose Gimenez’s 89th minute winner for Uruguay than Mohamed Salah on the Egypt bench; no player could’ve been more elated than Luis Suarez. The Barcelona striker had a nightmare match for La Celeste, spurning three glorious chances while also getting globally ridiculed for an atrocious dive/feigned injury combo.
Everyone wanted to see Mohamed Salah, the lovable Liverpool winger. Héctor Cúper was just focused on trying to earn a point against the group favorite. Sadly, the Uruguay vs Egypt match really could’ve used the influx of speed, guile and grace Salah would have provided. Instead we got the first a late winner in a 1-0 victory for the group favorite.
Modesty is for the meek. At least, that’s what the president of the United States must think. On Friday morning, two days after the U.S. won the right to host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, Donald Trump tweeted about how hard he worked to bring the greatest sporting event in the world back to the U.S.
Day 2 of the World Cup has some tasty matchups and questions. How will Mohamed Salah fair in his first match back since Sergio Ramos put a hit on him in the Champions League final? Will Iran and Morocco live up to the hype as the most offensive match of the World Cup? Will Sergio Ramos continue his bad-boy mentality when he soars for headers against Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo?