The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 7
In a day that was highly-anticipated to have plenty of goals, the players seemed to forget to score many. But despite the lack of scoring, today’s results proved to be instrumental for the futures of certain teams in this tournament.
Uruguay through, Morocco out as Ronaldo scores AGAIN
Ronaldo sends Morocco home: Portugal 1-0 Morocco
It began so promisingly. Cristiano Ronaldo, after just four minutes, headed powerfully home from a cross. At that point we were thinking it could be four or five goals for Portugal. We were praying for the Moroccans. They have families! Have mercy!
It was far from easy though, for Portugal as Morocco now had nothing to lose. After losing their opening match to Iran, they needed to push for an equaliser or they’d be going out – pending a Spain win against Iran.
And push they did, as Portugal seemed to be happy to drop back into their own half and soak up the pressure. Morocco came closest when Rui Patricio pulled off a spectacular save from a Younes Belhanda header, but they couldn’t find that all-important goal and the European Champions held on.
Two birds, one Suarez goal: Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia
Okay, so the Saudis lost 5-0 to a very average and hugely out of form Russian side. Uruguay beat Egypt in an unconvincing 1-0 victory where Luis Suarez was very anonymous. So surely this one must have had goals right? Not quite.
Midway through the first half, Suarez finally did something at this World Cup other than miss a great chance. As a corner was floated across, Mohammad Al Owais (Saudi keeper) had faith and trusted that he could simply just run under the ball instead of catching it, but everything would be alright. It wasn’t, and Suarez was there to finish into an empty net.
It was slightly unfortunate for the middle-easterns, who compared to their first performance were playing like the Harlem Globetrotters of football. Nevertheless, they couldn’t breach the Uruguayan defence and ultimately succumbed to a second defeat and subsequent group-stage exit.
This just proves that money can’t buy you World Cup success. It can buy you a World Cup (Qatar), but not World Cup success.
Defeat may Costa-lot for Iran: Spain 1-0 Iran
Apologies, we really are very sorry. We have evolved away from VAR puns but have now resorted back to this level. Costa, cost a… It really was the best we could do. Anyway, Spain versus Iran. Surely, surely now with these teams the match would be littered with goals. Right? Please tell me I’m right. Please give me something.
Wrong again. This was an incredible match but not really for the reasons you’d want it to be. Imagine a brick wall that is six foot high. Just picture that. Now picture that massive Ice wall in Game of Thrones (shout out to Khaleesi), the one that was indestructible for so many seasons, that took an hour to scale and was the most intimidating thing in a world where eight-foot soldiers would casually walk around the streets on the regular bearing a sword. That is what Spain were up against, an Iranian ice wall.
SPOILER ALERT, that was eventually destroyed by a dragon. Spain didn’t have a dragon. Instead, they had something a bit uglier, Diego Costa. They toiled and picked away at an Iran defence that was very well structured and ten-men strong at all times. But it took Costa and co. until the beginning of the second half to find the net.
When the goal did come, it came with a whole lot of fortune. Costa was found in the box and the defender, as tight as ever, kicked the ball against the Atletico striker and it somehow flew into the net. Iran, like Morocco and Saudi Arabia before them, tried hard to find an equaliser, and they thought they had one as well. Saeid Ezatolahi poked in from close-range but his effort was disallowed after mass Iranian celebration.
Boot of the day – Nike Mercurial Vapour XIIs
Nike Mercurial Vapour XII football boots
Isco was pivotal in all of Spain’s play and he is one of many who wears the Vapours.
Goal of the day – Cristiano Ronaldo
This is like picking who your favourite dictator is, there just isn’t much quality to choose from. Ronaldo takes the biscuit though, as Costa’s goal was a deflection and Suarez’s goal was a tap-in. So, no credit for Ronaldo here, his goal was the best of a bad bunch.
Assist of the day – N/A
We aren’t even dignifying this with an answer because like the goals, no assist was good at all. None worthy of the acclaimed FBG ‘assist of the day’ title, we wouldn’t want to bring its integrity and quality into question.
Moment of the day – Milad Mohammadi’s throw in fail
It is the dying seconds of the match. Iran are desperately pushing for that equaliser when Mohammadi runs over to take a throw-in. He takes a run up, moves forward and then proceeds to do a good old rollie pollie, before not releasing the ball. Bizarre, brilliant, bemusing? Yes.
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 7
Points Awarded
Portugal v Morocco
Rui Patricio +3 (Puma) – Clean sheet which was harder-earned than many may think.
Pepe +2 (Umbro) – He may be the most theatrical player to grace a pitch (ever), but he is still worthy of his two points for a clean sheet.
Jose Fonte +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Cedric Soares +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Raphael Guerreiro +2 (Adidas) – Clean sheet.
Cristiano Ronaldo +8 (Nike) – Another MOTM performance and the all-important goal.
Joao Moutinho +2 (Adidas) – Assisted Ronaldo’s header.
Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
Fernando Muslera +3 (Puma) – Valuable clean sheet.
Diego Godin +6 (Puma) – MOTM performance, lead from the back and got the clean sheet.
Guillermo Varela +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Jose Gimenez +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Martin Caceres +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Luis Suarez +4 (Adidas) – Scored the goal, redeemed himself from his first performance.
Carlos Sanchez +2 (Nike) – Assisted Suarez.
Spain v Iran
Sergio Ramos +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Gerard Pique +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
David De Gea +3 (Adidas) – Clean sheet, slight redemption for his first-match error.
Jordi Alba +2 (Adidas) – Clean sheet.
Daniel Carvajal +2 (Nike) – Clean sheet.
Diego Costa +4 (Adidas) – Scored the luckiest goal in the world but still gets four points.
Isco +4 (Nike) – Won MOTM.
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 |
Puma adds to their tally as Umbro get their first points on the board. Nike are still the ones to catch though!
Tomorrow’s World Cup matches
Denmark v Australia 13:00 (GMT)
France v Peru 16:00 (GMT)
Argentina v Croatia 19:00 (GMT)
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 12
Today was the first day of the World Cup where things have got real. Although technically these last round of matches are still group games, in many cases they become a knockout, with the losing team going out and the victors progressing into the last 16. Even when teams know they are through, they still must fight to guarantee first spot in the group and have (theoretically at least) an easier ti...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 11
KANE. ENGLAND. IT’S COMING HOME. WORDS. EXCITEMENT. CAPITAL LETTERS. Sorry, sorry. We will calm down now. As you might have guessed, and let’s be honest you will know by now, England played Panama today knowing a win would send the Three Lions through, and (not so much) spoiler alert, they did. They bloody did. In the other matches, Poland whimpered out of the World Cup and Senegal and Japan playe...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 10
Today was crunch time for the 2014 winners Germany. Lose to Sweden and they would be out at the group stages – a draw would not be much help either. Elsewhere, Belgium faced the rugby-tacklers Tunisia in England’s group. Germany is nearly out of the World Cup Germany is hanging by a thread: Germany 2-1 Sweden Germany was as close as any German team has been to going out at the group stages i...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 9
Brazil were many people’s favourites for the tournament, but after an uninspiring draw with Switzerland in their first match, the pressure was very much on for them to beat Costa Rica. The South Americans were unbeaten in five matches at the last World Cup, only losing on penalties in the quarter-finals to Holland. So, this one was set up nicely. Elsewhere, Nigeria faced Iceland and Serbia played ...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 8
Lionel Messi is one of the best players in the world. He’s won everything there is to win on a personal level, and it is a similar story when delving into his large archive of team achievements as well. One thing that has eluded the little magician though, is the World Cup. And despite being one match away in 2014, retiring, coming out of retirement and single-handedly dragging his side into...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 7
In a day that was highly-anticipated to have plenty of goals, the players seemed to forget to score many. But despite the lack of scoring, today’s results proved to be instrumental for the futures of certain teams in this tournament. Uruguay through, Morocco out as Ronaldo scores AGAIN Ronaldo sends Morocco home: Portugal 1-0 Morocco It began so promisingly. Cristiano Ronaldo, after just four minu...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 6
Another day, another World Cup day full of penalties and the odd own goal. When will it stop? Will it ever stop? Do we want it to stop? I don’t think we do. Poland lose as Salah on the brink Salah came, he scored, he didn’t conquer: Russia 3-1 Egypt Russia played Egypt in the first match of the second round of group games. A win for the hosts would see them all-but through. A loss for Egypt and th...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 5
You don’t need us to tell you that today was the day that England opened their World Cup campaign. The Three Lions faced Tunisia in their opener, with Belgium and Panama also in action in that group. Elsewhere, Sweden faced South Korea. Yes there was controversy. Yes VAR was (and in some cases wasn’t) used. Yes there were multiple penalties. But that is just par for the course in this tournament. ...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 4
After super Saturday largely lived up to its hype, a couple of previous World champions featured today. The goals may have been lacking, but drama certainly wasn’t despite the fact that today saw no penalties, own goals, last-minute goals or VAR controversies. Holders Germany are defeated Germany 0-1 Mexico In a World Cup where the underdogs in every match, bar the Nigerians yesterday, have played...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 3
After last night’s Iberian thriller, it would take a lot to top the drama, the entertainment, and the GOATiness. Luckily, today saw four World Cup matches, another GOAT contender in Lionel Messi and a whole lot of VAR drama. An absolute ‘VAR’ce as France and Denmark get lucky and Messi misses a penalty France 2-1 Australia – An absolute ‘VAR’ce The quality of the French squad is ...[Read More]
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 Egypt v Uruguay The starter was a fairly mundane soup. It looked appetising at first, but in rea...[Read More]
The World Cup Boot Battle: Day 1
Here we go. The Boot Battle is back. The World Cup is back. Life is good again. So let’s go straight into it, today saw Russia romp home a victory in the opening match of the tournament. Despite being the only match of the day, points are going to be handed out like there’s no tomorrow. But there is a tomorrow. And tomorrow there is three matches. Three top-class matches of international football ...[Read More]
- 1
- 2