The opening 20 minutes of Mexico versus Brazil couldn’t have gone any better from an El Tri perspective. Carlos Vela and Andres Guardado were finding joy on the left with Fagner looking set for a nightmare. Chucky looked dangerous. But more importantly, Philippe Coutinho and Neymar hardly got a sniff of the ball with Rafa Marquez, Edson Alvarez and Hugo Ayala all taking turns putting the Brazilians on their backs.
Miguel Layún came on at halftime for Mexico and immediately set about making life difficult for Neymar. After a handful of physical challenges between the two, the El Tri defender stepped on the Brazilian No. 10 on the sidelines. Should red have been shown for the Layun stomp on Neymar? Or did the latter deserve red for flopping around like a dead fish?
Brazilian soccer players have often gone by one name for more than a century. In the 2018 World Cup, 15 of Brazil's 23 players typically are referred to by a single name. For most players, it means simply going by their first name, like Neymar, or a derivative of their first name, like Marquinhos (Marcos). The practice makes Brazil stand out from most national teams, and there are a few explanations for why Brazil soccer players have just one name.
Who is Chucky Lozano? Mexico’s Hirving "Chucky" Lozano is, like France’s Kyllian Mbappé, one of this World Cup’s rising stars.
But where did he come from and where is he headed?
Hirving Lozano came out of Club Pachuca’s football academy. The institution has been a cradle for young Mexican talent, forging the likes of Héctor Herrera, Jürgen Damm, Rodolfo Pizarro and Erick Gutiérrez.
If you thought watching Javier Mascherano hurry and hassle France’s trio of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante was a fascinating but doomed exercise pitting a warrior of yesteryear against the game’s brightest talents, boy, do we have another cracker for you: it’s 39-year-old RAFA MARQUEZ shielding Mexico’s back four against Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho. Let’s get it on!
Spain, the side many elevated to the status of favorites after landing Russia in the Round of 16 followed by a quarterfinal against either Croatia or Denmark, is out. We said it before, and we’ll say it again: if you look ahead at the 2018 World Cup then you’re already dead.
Also, if you complete 1,006 passes in one match you’re dead as well. That’s another thing we learned today.
The first four minutes of Croatia versus Denmark was the most lit beginning to any knockout stage match ever. I can factually say that because it was the first match in knockout history to feature two goals in the opening four minutes of play.
Denmark’s opener in the first minute was due to an error by Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subasic (remember the name). That was the last error he'd ever make. It was a dream start for the underdogs.
Following Argentina’s elimination to France at the 2018 World Cup, one question immediately began to trend around the planet: would Messi retire from international soccer? What we now know for certain is that there’ll be no repeat of 2016’s events, when Argentina lost the Copa America final and Messi announced his premature retirement in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
Spain controlled nearly 80 percent of possession, out-passed Russia 1,005 to 191 and attempted 24 shots compared to Russia’s seven, but all those stats are so entirely meaningless in the face of what’s transpired today: Russia has stunned Spain on penalties thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.
Russia, with 80,000 countrymen cheering them on in Moscow, were stone cold in the shootout, burying all four kicks form the spot. Spain, on the other hand, saw Rodrigo’s shot saved before Akinfeev denied Iago Aspas with a wonder stop.
You don’t grapple with Sergio Ramos. Unless you want to damage your shoulder ligaments or score a disastrous own goal in front of 80,000 of your countrymen, just stay away from the guy. He’s always a threat on set pieces — especially when the clock reads 92:48 — but he’s also a major threat with his understanding of judo.