The matches keep coming thick and fast in Qatar, Fifa's first 28-day World Cup since Spain 1982. After the inaugural game last Sunday, followed by three matches the next day, day three and four had four games each, which saw eight and 11 goals respectively. Here are the talking points from dramatic Group C, D, E and F action in the first ever Arab World Cup:
World Cup unforgiving as Canada find out against Belgium
Canada, making only their second World Cup appearance, will have themselves to blame as they fought bravely before eventually conceding a 1-0 loss against the world's second best team, Belgium. The Belgian midfield was overrun and overwhelmed in the first half in the face of relentless attacks by the disciples of English coach John Herdman, who was formerly a part-time university lecturer. In total, the Canadians had 22 shots at goal, only six less than they had accumulated throughout three games on World Cup debut in 1986. The ageing backline of the Red Devils contained the two stalwarts, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld - who had a combined age of 68 and 168 international outings - and the pacey Canadians ran rings around them. The Belgians – second team after Brazil with eight consecutive group stage wins - gave away an early penalty after Yannick Ferreira Carrasco handled inside his box. Canadian star footballer Alphonso Davies missed the penalty as Thibaut Courtois became the first Belgian goalkeeper to save a spot-kick since 1966. A moment of brilliance by Michy Batshuayi at the other end gave Belgium an underserved victory, but their over dependence on Courtois' heroics, and Kevin De Bruyne's lightening quick counters was laid bare. On the other hand, despite the defeat, Herdman, the first coach to guide both the men's and women's team in the World Cup, expressed optimism ahead of their next game against Croatia.
Spanish armada sink Ticos
Alongside England and France, Spain also announced their title ambitions in grand style, hitting seven past helpless Costa Rica to get the campaign off to a rollicking start. To put things into perspective, in their first and only World Cup triumph in 2010, the Spaniards had managed a grand total of eight goals in seven games. This was the first occasion Spain had won their opening game in four editions. The Ticos were hapless as La Roja left a trail of devastation in their wake, becoming only the sixth nation to score 100 goals or more in the competition, after Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and France. Gavi, 18, created a slice of history along the way, becoming the youngest goal-scorer in the tournament since 17-year old Pele in 1958, and his nation's youngest scorer since Cesc Fabregas (19) in 2006. The 22-year old Ferran Torres also impressed with a brace in front of his namesake, Fernando Torres, Luis Enrique's assistant. All told, Spain passed Costa Rica to the ground, and had nine shots to the opposition's nought. Enrique's team simply dominated possession by 82-18%, highest in a World Cup match since 1966. It was total and utter domination.
Also Read: Talking points from Group A and B action
Germany slip up against Japan in WC of upsets
A day after unfancied Saudi Arabia captured the imagination of the football world with their inspiring victory over two-time champions Argentina, Japan wrote another unforgettable chapter in the history of the World Cup by stunning four-time winners Germany. With seven-star Spain awaiting in their do-or-die clash this Sunday, Hansi Flick and his team are in serious danger of being ousted in the first hurdle for the second edition in a row. Morning did not show the day in this case as Germany started the game on the front foot, and led through Ilkay Gundogan's penalty, while the experienced Manuel Neuer was his usual dependable self at goal. If the Germans - who only lost once in 15 games under Flick before the World Cup - were living dangerously in the first half with their fluffed goalscoring opportunities, including a glaring miss by wonderkid Jamal Musiala, they fell apart after resumption. Coach Hajime Moriyasu made five substitutions, and two of those went on to make history; Ritsu Doan of SC Freiburg bringing parity before Takuma Asano of VfL Bochum grabbed the sensational winner. The build-up to the game in the Japan quarters was dominated by talks of an unofficial Bundesliga derby, with eight of their squad members plying their trade in the German league. With the exception of Stuttgart's Hiroki Ito, all seven were involved in the game.
Abject Argentina, scintillating Saudis
The world's third best side, Argentina will have to take inspiration from Spain's 2010 triumph as the Albiceleste look to breath life into their campaign. The Spaniards had lost to Switzerland in the opening game before lifting the title, and the Sky Blues will be yearning for something similar after their 2-1 loss to Herve Renard's Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi put his side ahead from the penalty spot before three of their goals were disallowed – one from him and two others from Lautaro Martinez. The 51st ranked Saudis came flying out of their blocks after the interval as fine goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari, who both play their club football at home for Al Hilal, and a rearguard action from goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais (also from Al Hilal) made the impossible possible. As revealed now in a viral video, the intervention of manager Renard, who guided Zambia and Ivory Coast to glory at the Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2015, in the first half break worked wonders as the Green Falcons scripted one of the greatest shocks in the history of the competition. The only coach to win the Afcon with two different countries, Renard, already the Saudis' most successful foreign manager, can now realistically hunt down a last 16 berth. Lionel Scaloni's charges meanwhile, having licked their wounds, would want to come back strong as they bid to make the final – the stage Italy (1994), Argentina (1990) and Germany (1982) also reached after losing their respective opening matches against Republic Of Ireland, Cameroon and Algeria.
No blues after all for Les Bleus
If Les Bleus were suffering the blues due to their long injury list, they certainly didn't show it against Australia as the reigning champions strolled to a 4-1 win, showcasing vast depth in strength. The two-time champions received a setback on the eve of the tournament with the withdrawal of Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema to thigh injury, while left-back Lucas Hernandez tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Socceroos, and was subsequently ruled out. The casualty list already had first choice midfield duo Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, defender Presnel Kimpembe, attacker Christopher Nkunku and No 2 goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Among those in the squad, center backs Raphael Varane and Jules Kounde have just recovered from injury, prompting some to nickname them “walking wounded”. France went behind to an early Craig Goodwin goal, but Didier Deschamps' charges responded like a top, world-class team would. Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe put gloss on their impressive victory, but it was the veteran Olivier Giroud who stole the show with a double. Giroud in the process joined the most prolific French scorer, Thierry Henry, on 51 goals, but the AC Milan striker reached the landmark in eight fewer appearances.
