Brazil dance into the quarter-finals as Croatia break Japanese hearts
World Cup Diaries: Day 16.
World Cup Diaries: Day 16.
Act One — Football is such a cruel Mistress
JAPAN 1 (Maeda 43)
CROATIA 1 (Perisic 55)
Croatia win 3–1 on penalties
Well we’ve had our first penalty shoot-out of this World Cup and the sporting lottery of fate, luck, destiny or simply holding your nerve from 12 yards in front of an audience of hundreds of millions around the world, went against our last “feel good” team, and Japan are heading home heartbroken. Sure Morocco might beat Spain tomorrow (they won’t) and Switzerland may even upset Portugal in what I anticipate to be a niggly, physical affair (they won’t either), so Spain and Portugal will join Japan’s conquerors this evening Croatia together with England, France, Netherlands and Argentina in a quarter-final of pre-tournament favourites and heavy hitters.
I just wanted one last feel good underdog team to cheer for.
Alas.
Japan, and their hordes of singing fans who’ve enlivened every game of theirs I’ve watched at this World Cup, deserved better than the nerve shredding heartbreak of defeat on penalties. Goal scorer Daizen Maeda didn’t deserve to lose this evening. Aside from his poachers goal on the cusp of half-time, Maeda was a pesky thorn running at or between Croatia’s two central defenders Josko Gvardiol and Dejan Lovren all evening long. Junya Ito ran his erstwhile opposite number Ivan Perisic ragged in the first half before fizzing crosses across the Croatian six yard area time and time again. He didn’t deserve to lose either but the same can be said for VFB Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo who’s tireless performance was as exceptional as Hidemasa Morita next to him or the roving runs, energy and endeavour of Ritsu Doan. Japan were quicker and sharper all over the pitch and seemingly grew in confidence as the realisation dawned on them collectively that they had a tired, leggy and stodgy Croatia team on the run.
They should have scored just 3 minutes in when Shogo Taniguchi flashed a header inches wide before slowly and surely taking control of the game as well as the attack to Croatia via the surging runs of Ito and Doan and the “ratting around” for loose balls from Endo and Morita. Celtic’s Maeda would give them a precious half-time lead with his poachers goal and whilst their grip on the game was loosened by a more competitive and adventurous Croatia after the half-time break, they were hit by a stunning sucker punch and lost overall control of the game soon after.
Ivan Perisic’s equaliser on 55 minutes was a thing of beauty and yet came from absolutely nowhere and completely out of the blue and context of the game. Ex Liverpool central defender Dejan Lovren whipped in a fantastic curling cross that Perisic headed majestically and perfectly into the corner of the Japanese goal and aside from one astounding run and shot from their substitute Kaoru Mitoma late into extra-time, they visibly tired to the footballing level of Croatia and the Europeans created enough chances to win the game before the extra-time inevitability of a stalemate before the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
And with every penalty shoot-out you have the named “offenders” who miss and who are now forever remembered as missing a penalty in a World Cup shoot-out. In truth, the trio who missed their penalties (and who shall remain unnamed here) actually had their respective penalties saved by the Croatian goalkeeping hero of the hour, Dominik Livakovic. But it’s also truthful to say that all three penalty misses from Japan were weak, tentative penalties that Livakovic saved with ease and aplomb.
As I noted in these diary entries during the group stages, I see this Croatia team living on the same borrowed time that eventually ran out for Belgium and as you’re about to discover, their opponents in the first of the quarter-finals this Friday will be the tournament favourites, Brazil. Although I was impressed as ever with the “quarterback” type artistry of their talismanic captain Luka Modric, I can’t see Croatia living with a Brazil team who took apart South Korea piece by footballing piece this evening and whilst Croatia are clearly a more experienced and organised national team, they’ll be following Japan out of the World Cup come Friday evening.
Thanks for the memories Japan. Your football time is coming.
Act Two — Football is such a cruel Mistress (Part II)
BRAZIL 4 (Vinicius Junior 7, Neymar 13, Richarlison 29, Paqueta 36)
SOUTH KOREA 1 (Paik Seung-Ho 76)
On 36 minutes, West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta made a lung bursting sprint from well inside his own half of the field before becoming the fifth yellow shirted Brazilian in the South Korea penalty area. Richarlison and Raphinha were already there, so too the juniors of Neymar and Vinicius who’d already exchanged passes in a quick fire Brazilian attack. Paqueta never broke a running stride as he met Vinicius’ impudent flicked pass that defeated all six retreating red shirted South Koreans with a sumptuous volley into the corner of the South Korea net leaving ITV commentator Jon Champion to exclaim “It’s Showtime!” and it most certainly was. Or had been for 36 minutes as Brazil took apart South Korea piece by footballing piece.
7 minutes earlier, Champion’s much loved co-commentator and legendary Scotland striker Ally McCoist unbelievably exclaims “Oh my goodness! That’s ridiculous!” as first Richarlison bounces a loose ball repeatedly atop his head akin to a seal performing for pun intended kicks or larks. Now in control of the ball, Richarlison takes two touches, the second an incisive pass inside to Marquinhos (a central defender!) who in turn passes square to Thiago Silva (a central defender!) and his immediate wall pass is perfectly into the continuing run of Richarlison who’s first touch with his right foot is exquisite before he sweeps the ball home with his left past a presumably bemused and befuddled Kim Seung-Gyu in the South Korea goal. McCoist would further suggest that we won’t see a better team goal in this tournament and 20 minutes earlier, a long, painful, excruciating, somewhat humiliating 20 minutes for South Korea, the beloved co-commentator would describe Brazil’s first goal as “magic” and it was, and for 36 minutes, Brazil demonstrated why they’re the favourites to lift the World Cup in 13 nights time.
Brazil could and should have scored more but rather, and to mix my sporting metaphors, they “declared” on 4 goals and simply enjoyed the adulation of victory with well over half an hour of the game still remaining. They were 4–0 up through four different scorers, two of these goals were contenders for “Goal of the Tournament” and Raphinha, that mercurial ballerina of a footballer looks in ominous, tantalising form ahead of the safety and security blanket of Casemiro in midfield. The boys from Brazil join the Les Bleus of France as THE stand-out teams at this World Cup.
Being the obsessive Liverpool fan that I am, I’m keeping a sharp eye on my world champion chasing heroes and it’s to the greatest goalkeeper in the world that we turn to in conclusion today and despite the final score, Alisson Becker in the Brazil goal had a rather busy evening! The flying one handed save he made on 17 minutes to deny Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Hwang Hee-Chan a spectacular World Cup memory was stunning. A TV replay captures the pure strike from Hee-Chan from behind, the ball arching toward the top corner of Becker’s goal before he tips a certain goal brilliantly over his crossbar for a corner. The Reds goalkeeping custodian was finally beaten by a ridiculous left footed volley from way outside of his penalty area by Paik Seung-Ho on 76 minutes (arguably THE goal of the game) but I also recall the shot stopper smartly denying Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-Min just a minute into the second half before denying Hwang Hee-Chan again twenty or so second half minutes later.
From Alisson Becker through the defensive spine of Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and Casemiro and an attacking front four of Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Richarlison, this Brazil team are exactly that, a team. We also, lest we forget, have a substitutes bench full of starting XI worthy excellence but in front of them are a hard working XI who scurry and “rat around” in packs for the ball when not in possession, are cool, calm and destructive when they do, and I see only Brazil as genuine challengers to a mighty France team intent on defending their title as world champions.
Thanks for reading. In addition to the delights that can be found within the cave of wonders that is my archives, I’m penning a day to day diary of the World Cup, and here are days 13 through 15:
Mbappe and Bellingham with the world at their feet
World Cup Diaries: Day 15.medium.com
Vamos Messi! Netherlands next after they expose the naivety of the USA
World Cup Diaries: Day 14medium.com
The Indomitable Lions and a World Cup win for the ages
World Cup Diaries: Day 13.medium.com