Day eight of the World Cup in Qatar has delivered one other shock to the footballing world with Morocco scoring a shocking victory over Belgium, beating the Belgians 2-0 at Al Thumama Stadium and placing the Atlas Lions a step nearer to qualifying for the Spherical of 16.
Germany has earned an important 1-1 draw of their thrilling and energetic match in opposition to Spain after the Germans had teetered getting ready to elimination within the group stage for his or her second World Cup in a row. Their draw with Spain mixed with Japan’s shock loss to Costa Rica now strikes the Germans into extra optimistic territory for qualification.
And it was a shock 1-0 win by Costa Rica over Japan in a sport the place Los Ticos had been totally on the defensive till placing away a aim within the 81st minute that now retains their qualification hopes alive.
Canada weren’t so fortunate, as their 4-1 defeat to Croatia means they’re out of the World Cup.
Here’s a fast information recapping all it’s essential know from day eight — Sunday, November 27 — of the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Going into their sport in opposition to Costa Rica on Sunday, Japan knew they might have sealed their spot within the Spherical of 16 in the event that they defeated the Costa Ricans, who had suffered a 7-0 thrashing by Spain of their first sport of the event.
The four-time Asian champions, who surprised Germany with a 2-1 win of their Group E opener, squandered an ideal likelihood to advance to the event’s subsequent section.
Japan regarded sluggish, static and out of concepts on how one can beat a Costa Rica facet that went for a inflexible back-five defence to stop objectives getting previous. The Samurai Blue had managed the ball 57 p.c of the match, had 5 nook kick alternatives and put three photographs on aim, however they only couldn’t make the most of their domination of the pitch and play.
Then got here Costa Rica’s Keysher Fuller with a shock aim within the 81st minute that gave Los Ticos their 1-0 victory over the a lot favoured Japan at Al Rayyan, Qatar. Fuller’s aim was the primary shot on track by Costa Rica within the match.
The loss has denied Japan an opportunity to maneuver straight to the group of 16 knockout stage of the event.
Nonetheless bruised by their 7-0 defeat to Spain, Costa Rica now has an inconceivable likelihood to advance out of the group stage. With two matches down, Costa Rica and Japan now have three factors every.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu stated after the match that he believes his crew nonetheless have a shot on the Spherical of 16 regardless of their dismal 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica.
The Samurai Blue can nonetheless qualify for the following spherical, however might want to pull off one other feat of large slaying after they meet Spain on Thursday, a situation made far much less doubtless by Sunday’s tepid displaying in Al Rayyan.
“In opposition to Spain we’re going for the win and that’s what we have to concentrate on,” Moriyasu informed a information convention.
“The subsequent match in opposition to Spain can be a really intense sport. We have to enhance the chances for Japan,” Moriyasu added.
Japan have been a everlasting fixture on the World Cup since debuting in 1998 and have reached the final 16 3 times, greater than every other Asian facet.
Moriyasu stated he would method the Spain sport in a different way and analyse how they carried out in opposition to Germany in Sunday’s later Group E match.
“We’ve got respect for them. Spain are a younger crew however I consider there’s a superb likelihood we are able to win; with confidence, we’ll go for the following match.”
Morocco pulled off one other World Cup shock on Sunday by defeating Belgium 2-0.
Sunday’s win by Morocco was the second large upset involving an Arabic nation on the first World Cup within the Center East. It follows Saudi Arabia’s beautiful defeat of Argentina within the opening set of group video games.
Morocco, roared on by thunderous noise from its followers at Al Thumama Stadium, went into the sport on Sunday figuring out they’d began in Qatar with a promising 0-0 draw with Croatia.
However, the Atlas Lions needed to make a change proper earlier than kickoff when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou felt unwell. The North Africans have been unaffected and went on to clinch their first win at a World Cup since 1998 and solely their third ever.
Morocco captain Romain Saiss gave his crew the lead with a barely noticeable deflection off his hip after a free kick from Abdelhamid Sabiri within the 73rd minute that bought underneath the physique of the Belgian goalkeeper. Sabiri was initially credited with the aim from his free kick, however FIFA later amended the official match report to offer it to Saiss.
Morocco’s Zakaria Aboukhlal guided a shot into the roof of the web off a cross from Hakim Ziyech in stoppage time to make it 2-0 as Belgium’s defence was overwhelmed by a speedy 22-year-old ahead enjoying at his first World Cup.
“We’re delighted with that after Croatia and Belgium,” Morocco coach Walid Regragui stated after the match.
“That’s completely excellent for Morocco.”
Morocco has moved to 4 factors and Croatia can also be on 4 factors after beating Canada in a while Sunday. Belgium has three factors, and Canada has been eradicated.
Morocco has solely ever been previous the group stage as soon as at a World Cup, in 1986.
Their 2-0 win now leaves Belgium in peril of a group-stage exit at what is probably going the ultimate World Cup for a highly-talented group of Belgian gamers referred to as the ageing “Golden Era”.
Belgium may have turn out to be the second crew behind defending champion France to advance to the final 16 if it had overwhelmed Morocco. Belgium now drops from first to 3rd in Group F and can subsequent play in opposition to 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia and attempt to keep away from its earliest elimination from a World Cup since 1998.
The ultimate group video games are on Thursday, when Morocco will come again to Al Thumama Stadium to play Canada. Belgium will face Croatia on the similar time.
Croatia scored a 4-1 victory on Sunday over Canada, who’ve now been eradicated after two matches on the World Cup in Qatar.
Croatia’s hackles have been up going into the match after Canada coach John Herdman had stated forward of the sport that his facet have been going to “eff” them, a pithy remark that undoubtedly equipped the script for his counterpart Zlatko Dalic’s crew speak forward of the match.
However the early levels of the competition advised Canada have been those who had been given the pre-match rocket and the sport opened with Canada placing away the primary rating when Alphonso Davies headed in a aim a bit greater than a minute into play.
Davies, who performs for Bayern Munich, headed a cross from Tajon Buchanan simply out of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s attain 1 minute and eight seconds into the sport. The aim had the swath of red-shirted Canadian followers chanting “Can-a-da! Can-a-da!” at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.
But it was a primary half in two components, as Croatia — completely outplayed within the early levels — finally shifted into gear. Croatia’s Andrej Kramaric appeared to attain the equaliser for Croatia within the twenty sixth minute, however he was dominated offside. His second likelihood counted about 10 minutes later, making it 1-1.
Marko Livaja put Croatia in entrance with a blast from outdoors the penalty field within the forty fourth minute, Kramaric added his second within the seventieth, and Lovro Majer scored in stoppage time.
The victory moved Croatia to the highest of Group F on 4 factors. They now want solely a draw of their ultimate sport on Thursday in opposition to third-placed Belgium, who’re a degree behind, to be assured a spot within the Spherical of 16.
“We made a small step right here however we’re removed from our final aim,” stated Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. “Croatia demonstrated energy, power and high quality and no person is happier than me about that.”
The defeat means Canada can’t advance out of the group stage.
Canada coach Herdman stated the expertise of Qatar had set his crew in the proper path for 2026, when Canada co-hosts the World Cup with america and Mexico.
“I’m happy with what they achieved tonight, which was to make some historical past for our nation,” Herdman stated.
Germany’s substitute Niclas Fullkrug’s close-range aim on Sunday was described as rescuing Germany, who took away a 1-1 draw in opposition to Spain of their World Cup Group E showdown.
The match was one of the vital anticipated of this 12 months’s World Cup event and a loss wouldn’t have eradicated Germany instantly, however it will have left the crew in a way more troublesome place to advance.
Spain had the higher of the primary half and regarded extra prone to break by way of with the aptitude and elegance of their youthful gamers. The Spanish have been rewarded for his or her efforts early within the second half when substitute Álvaro Morata put the crew within the lead within the 62nd minute with a pleasant one-touch from shut vary after a well-placed low cross from teammate Jordi Alba.
Germany solely threatened sporadically with a number of breakaways and set items, however the crew improved steadily and finally, Füllkrug scored within the 83rd minute to offer Germany a 1-1 draw at Al Bayt Stadium.
Germany’s destiny can be selected Thursday in opposition to Costa Rica, who defeated Japan 1-0 earlier on Sunday. However even a win is probably not sufficient for Germany, who misplaced to Japan of their opener and are in final place in Group E. They want the opposite outcomes to go their manner.
“I hope this can give us a lift,” German coach Hansi Flick stated, including that he was glad with the end result and his crew’s perspective. “We all know that this was step one and we need to see in opposition to Costa Rica if we are able to craft the situations to undergo to the Spherical of 16.”
Spain coach Luis Enrique stated the draw was not a foul end result for Spain.
“We’re nonetheless leaders of the group of demise,” Luis Enrique stated. “We nonetheless rely on ourselves and a draw can be sufficient in opposition to Japan, however we’ll attempt to go and win that match.”
Germany’s draw leaves Spain high of the group and needing only a single level in opposition to Japan to ensure a spot within the ultimate 16 of the event.
Germany, who misplaced 2-1 of their opener in opposition to Japan, are on the backside of the desk on one level.
The Germans now must win in opposition to Costa Rica on Thursday, and their hopes then rely on Japan dropping in opposition to Spain. If Japan draw with Spain on Thursday, it should all come all the way down to aim distinction.
