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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Brazil 1 – 0 Switzerland

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Brazil 1 - 0 Switzerland #FIFAWorldCup

Casemiro scored a stunning winner as five-time champions Brazil edged past Switzerland to reach the World Cup knockout stage.

An otherwise drab encounter was brought to life seven minutes from time as Manchester United midfielder Casemiro fired a first-time effort into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Yann Sommer standing.

Brazil backed up their opening victory over Serbia to top the group with maximum points and will guarantee the top spot with a point against Cameroon in their final game.

Tite’s men thought they had broken the deadlock after the hour mark when Vinicius Jr kept his composure to coolly stroke in, but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.

Switzerland had sat compact for much of the game and did not offer any attacking threat, failing to get a shot on target in the contest.

Murat Yakin’s thought they were going to escape with a point, but Casemiro’s moment of inspiration had Brazilian fans bouncing inside Stadium 974.

For the most part, this looked like a drab, goalless draw before Casemiro’s moment of brilliance.

The midfielder had been described before the game as Brazil’s “invisible man” by Gilberto Silva – part of their last World Cup-winning side of 2002. It was a tribute to the midfielder’s willingness to quietly do the team’s dirty work.

But this time, Casemiro was the centre of attention at the end, as he and his teammates celebrated the victory by jumping and singing in front of their fans.

It was a lovely finish too – with the Brazilians playing quick interchange passes before substitute Rodrygo of Real Madrid slipped a pass to Casemiro to fire an angled finish with the outside of his boot.

Without injured star man Neymar, who was out injured and won’t recover until the knockout stage, Brazil lacked inspiration in the final third and found chances at a premium.

The tournament favourites are stacked with attacking players but it was their defensive midfield maestro who extended their unbeaten run in the group stages to a record 17 games.

It took Brazil 27 minutes to have their first shot, Vinicius Jr’s scuffed volley at the back post was pushed out by Sommer, while Raphinha’s well-struck effort from range was straight at the Switzerland goalkeeper.

The Swiss had to abandon their defensive shape when they conceded late on and further chances fell Brazil’s way but they were unable to add further goals.

Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes’ header was straight at Sommer, while Rodrygo had the best opening for a second in injury time, but his thumping shot was brilliantly blocked by Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji.

source – BBC Sport

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Argentina wins 4 – 2 on penalties against France – 2022 World Cup Final

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Argentina wins 4 - 2 on penalties against France

Lionel Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory after beating France on penalties in one of the most thrilling climaxes in the tournament’s history.

Argentina looked to have thrown the trophy away, after Kylian Mbappe scored twice in the last 10 minutes to take the tie into extra time, after a Messi penalty and a sweeping finish from Angel di Maria had seen the Argentines 2-0 up in the first half.

Argentina wins 4 - 2 on penalties against France

Messi restored their lead in the extra period, before Mbappe stunned the South Americans again from the penalty spot to force a shootout with his third – the first hat-trick in a World Cup final since 1966.

But Kingsley Coman had his penalty saved by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano MArtinez, and Aurelien Tchouameni then missed the target, allowing Gonzalo Montiel fire home the winner and spark incredible scenes.

More to follow…

BBC

In other news – The reason why TT Mbha and Somizi are no longer best friends

Mzansi media personality and businessman, Somizi Mhlongo and TT Mbha were once joined on the hip but it seems that their friendship which was once everyone’s envy has gone sour and TT Mbha says that he does not know what changed.

TT Mbha and Somizi

According to a local publication, the Mzansi Cribs host took to his Instagram in a since-deleted post and said, “My wife just sent me this pic from two years ago today and I honestly didn’t know how to respond to her because so much has changed in the past two years. Learn More

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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

World Cup 2022: Croatia 2 – 1 Morocco

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Croatia 2 - 1 Morocco

Croatia showed their class once more by clinching their third top-three finish at the World Cup with a play-off victory over history-makers Morocco.

Zlatko Dalic’s side were runners-up to France four years ago and confirmed their status as one of the elite footballing nations with another third-place finish to go alongside that secured in their competition debut in 1998.

In a frantic opening, Josko Gvardiol gave Croatia the lead on seven minutes with a superb diving header but Achraf Dari levelled just two minutes later by nodding home from close range.

Mislav Orsic curled in a sumptuous second for Croatia via the post three minutes before half-time and struck a thumping, deflected drive into the side-netting after the break.

The second half could not match the energy of a thrilling opening period and Morocco failed to find an equaliser as a fruitful campaign ended in back-to-back defeats.

Modric makes Croatia tick again
It’s the game no team wants to be involved in but in the end Croatia, a country with a population under 4 million, will be highly satisfied with another outstanding showing on the global stage.

At the heart of the team is influential skipper Luka Modric, running the show once again at the age of 37 on his 162nd cap, though this could well be his last appearance at a World Cup.

Croatia’s opener was straight off the training ground, Ivan Perisic flicking on a free-kick which was latched on to by Gvardiol’s brilliant finish, flying through the air to head into the far corner.

But Morocco levelled immediately courtesy of Dari, a looping ball falling into his path to convert from a few yards out and spark rowdy celebrations in the stands.

Teenage midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, making his Morocco debut at 18, showed confident touches but was culpable for Croatia’s second goal, giving the ball away deep in his own half and ultimately handing over victory.

Marko Livaja laid the ball off for Orsic, who curled a glorious first time finish past the despairing reach of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net via the post.

Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri had Morocco’s best chances for an equaliser, forcing knockout round penalty hero Dominik Livakovic into a sharp save from close range and heading on to the roof of the net in injury time.

Walid Regragui’s men made history by becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals and their passionate players and supporters have lit up this tournament.

Their following sang and banged their drum for the entirety of this game and, despite being beaten in the last four by defending champions France and here by Croatia, they will look back on their achievements at this tournament with fond memories.

-BBC

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