This was not the start Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were expecting. However, one thing is for sure: The 4-0 loss to Germany in the first game of Group G will go a long way in helping Ghana or the United States get to the knockout stage.
While Portugal started off well enough, a counter led by Cristiano Ronaldo yielded no results. The Real Madrid man had a rip from a tough angle, which was saved easily. Then disaster struck for Portugal.
With the great ones, the magicians, it only takes a moment. Momentum means nothing - only the moment.
For the first hour of the match, Bosnia-Herzegovina had kept Lionel Messi contained (no shots on goal in the first half). They had shaken off an unimaginably bad start to control play for the better part of the game.
And then, it happened.
Through the first 9 games of the 2014 World Cup, we have yet to see a tie. Switzerland helped contribute to that statistic by netting a dramatic 93rd-minute goal to lift them over Ecuador.
With France expected to win the group, most think Ecuador and Switzerland are the two teams vying for the last ticket to the knock out stage.
Ecuador opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on an Enner Valencia header:
The Azzurri hadn’t won an International fixture since September 2013 before last night’s Group D encounter, failing to despatch such titans of soccer as Luxembourg and Armenia in the build-up to this World Cup. And yet, cometh the hour, Pirlo and Co. produced a display of tactical nous and precision to beat a young, adventurous England side that caused the Italians no shortage of problems.
According to the FIFA rankings, Uruguay are currently the seventh best international team in the world. Not on the strength of their last display.
One-paced, unimaginative in attack, and showing all the security of a Target credit card against set pieces, Uruguay were torn apart by a Costa Rica team widely expected to be the Group D whipping boys. It’s now abundantly clear why Paul Dummett – the man whose tackle left Luis Suarez needing knee surgery – has received so much hate mail from Montevideo.
Missed the action on Match Day 2 of World Cup 2014? Not to worry. The18 has you covered. Here's a recap of the big moments from Friday, June 13th. An unlucky day indeed, if you happen to be a fan of Spain.
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For the Brazilian national team, it was "mission accomplished" - but it certainly did not come as easily as they, or the entire country, might have hoped. A glorious afternoon in São Paulo kicked-off the 2014 FIFA World Cup with J-Lo, walking trees, dissension for the Brazilian President, familiar refereeing controversies and some very nervy moments for the home side.
You asked for it, here it is. Based on the popularity of goal replays from other matches, The18 is launching a collection of the best goals of World Cup 2014. These are the best goals (in our estimation) of the group stage that happened on each match day. So, even if you don't have time to catch every match, you can rest easy that you've got the replays here to join in every conversation that begins, "Did you see that goal...!" Yes. Yes you did. Don't worry we'll have our favorite knock out stage goals as well.
Talk about a wild beginning to World Cup 2014. The opening match between Brazil and Croatia saw ups and downs for both teams – from Marcelo's nightmarish own-goal in the opening minutes, to a questionable (OK, let's be honest, terrible) call that led to a penalty kick that Neymar took full advantage of to score, putting Brazil in the lead.
Well…this might be awkward. Former U.S. Men’s National Team star Landon Donovan joined ESPN’s studio analyst team at the 2014 World Cup, and will contribute from ESPN’s studio in Los Angeles during the month-long tournament. However, it looks like Landon has already moved on and is ready to work during the World Cup: