The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 2
Today marked the second day of the World Cup and it still all feels like a dream. We have waited so long for this and it has not disappointed. The day’s matches came in three courses, with the dessert being a massive, gorgeously-rich chocolate cake.
Ronaldo is the GOAT as Iran and Uruguay snatch wins
Ronaldo is the GOAT as Iran and Uruguay snatch wins
Egypt v Uruguay
The starter was a fairly mundane soup. It looked appetising at first, but in reality, it was a huge disappointment. The pre-match anticipation focussed all around Mo Salah and Luis Suarez, but the former never even left the bench due to his injury and the latter was about as effective as a nun in a brothel, missing an array of good chances.
Egypt had their moments. Without their main man though, they lacked a clinical edge in front of goal. Uruguay edged it with Edinson Cavani looking sharp and having a few decent strikes on goal, the best of which a free-kick that rebounded off the post. But just as it looked like it was destined to be goalless, up steps Jose Gimenez with a great header to win the South Americans the game.
Morocco v Iran
From a match that promised so much but delivered so little, to a game that promised pretty much nothing and delivered a little bit… We guess. Morocco were favourites to beat Iran and despite their domination they failed to convert any chances in a week where they lost out the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
Iran were having a mini-crisis of themselves as Nike announced earlier on in the week that they will need to find other shoes – oh the horror! Despite this hideous setback, they managed to scrape an unexpected victory thanks to Aziz Bouhaddouz heading into his own net.
Portugal v Spain
Alright. Soup has been sipped. Main course has been enjoyed. Now it is time for this beast of a desert. Spain, under the emergency management of Fernando Hierro, faced Portugal.
It started at a blistering pace, with Cristiano Ronaldo determined to prove he is the GOAT, and prove that he did. After just three minutes, he skipped passed Nacho who brought him down in the area. Ronaldo calmly scored the penalty.
Diego Costa then equalised with a disgustingly-skillfull goal, checking back more times than a passive poker player before calmly slotting home.
David De Gea then showed us that he is capable of a mistake or two, by thumbling a Ronaldo shot late in the first half and letting it slip in. Costa equalised with a tap-in shortly after half-time, before Nacho turned into Wayne Rooney Street Striker and banged a scrumptious volley into the corner.
Portugal looked dead on their feet but in the last minute won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Up stepped Pepe, who expertly bent the ball around the wall and into the top corner. Only joking, it was of course Ronaldo to secure his hattrick.
Yesterday we said it would take a special performance to beat Aleksandr Golovin’s tally from yesterday’s opener, but that shows how much we know.
Boot of the day – Nike Mercurial CR7s
What boots are Ronaldo, Messi and Griezmann wearing at the World Cup – Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo’s customised football boot wins it for his sheer quality.
Goal of the day – Nacho (Spain)
Assist of the day – Sanchez (Uruguay)
It was a truly great cross for Uruguay’s late winner.
Player of the day – Ronaldo (Portugal)
Christiano Ronaldo is another hattrick in this tournament from us permanently referring to him as the GOAT.
Moment of the day – Iran’s winner
It was a day of late goals, but Iran’s winner has to be the moment of the day as it is such an achievement for them.
Dick of the day – Suarez (Uruguay)
Suarez spent his time missing sitters and simulating horrendous dives. At this point, replicating his bite of Giorgio Chiellini at this year’s tournament could only improve his popularity.
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 2
Points Awarded
Jose Gimenez +6 (Nike) – Clean sheet and got the winning goal with an elegant header.
Diego Godin +6 (Puma) – Clean sheet and was also MOTM.
Guillermo Varela +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Martin Careres +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Fernando Muslera +3 (Puma) – Clean sheet, not much to do but gets the three points.
Carlos Sanchez +2 (Adidas) – Whipped in a nice ball for the goal.
Alireza Beiranvand +3 (Adidas) – Made some good saves so deserves the three points.
Roozbeh Cheshmi +2 (Adidas) – Clean sheet.
Morteza Pouraliganji +2 (Adidas) – Clean sheet.
Ramin Rezaeian +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Medhi Benatia +4 (Nike) – MOTM.
Cristiano Ronaldo +16 (Nike) – On a day where he found out he was being charged a hefty fine back in SPAIN, he unleashed a wrath upon the country that defied him and went and scored a hattrick and was also MOTM… Unbelievable.
Diego Costa +8 (Adidas) – Good performance from the big man with two goals, well worth his eight points.
Sergio Busquets +2 (Nike) – Perhaps the least deserved points of the day. A long puntup field gave Costa a lot to do, but somehow the Atletico man managed to do a just fine.
Nacho +4 (Adidas) – Deserves more than just the four for his wonderful strike.
Goncalo Guedes +2 (Nike) – Didn’t have the best game but got the assist for his side’s second.
The World Cup Boot Battle: The best football boots in the world
| Adidas | Asics | Diadora | Mizuno | New Balance | Nike | Puma | Umbro | Under Armour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 501 | 78 | 2 | 4 |
So Nike extend their lead following Ronaldo’s rage. Adidas get their first serious points on the board and Puma also add to their tally.
Tomorrow’s World Cup matches
France v Australia 11:00 (GMT)
Argentina v Iceland 14:00 (GMT)
Peru v Denmark 17:00 (GMT)
Croatia v Nigeria 20:00 (GMT)
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