Russia 2018 - Day 2!
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:06 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Friday, June 15, 2018
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- Russia 2018 is Here!
- USA, Canada and Mexico Get the World Cup in 2026!
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group H
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group G
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group F
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group E
- England Play Costa Rica on Hallowed Ground
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group D
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group C
- Russia 2018 Preview - Group B
378 Comments:
The Fox coverage has started with the Fake Rebecca Lowe hosting, alongside Alexi Lalas, Ian Wright Wright Wright and some Mexican bloke.
So who is going to look like a tasty morsel to Luis Suarez this afternoon?
Good morning, Bob. Up early to join you
Is Egypt starting the 45 year old keeper? If so then Suarez and Cavani will be licking their chops like Sparky wanting a dog treat
The coffee is a brewin'
Looks like Mo Salah is starting on the bench as the teams are coming out of the tunnel.
Morning, MUR - I hope that you're well rested. We've got a long day of World Cup watching ahead of us.
The sides now out on the pitch:
Uruguay: Muslera; Varela, Gimenez, Godin, Caceres; Nandez, Betancur, Vecino, De Arrascaeta; Cavani, Suarez.
Subs: Silva, Campana, Coates, Pereira, G Silva, Laxalt, Rodrgiuez, Torreira, Urretaviscaya, Sanchez, Gomez, Stuani
Egypt: El-Shenawy; Fathy, Gabr, Hegazi, Shafy; Elneny, Hamed, Warda, El Said, Trézéguet; Mohsen
Subs: El Hadary, El Mohamady, Gaber, Morsy, Salah, Kahraba, Ashraf, Sobhi, Hamdi, Ekramy, Shikabala, Samir
Referee: B Kuipers (Ned)
Yes. I went to bed an hour earlier than normal. A tad tired, but I get up at this time during the school year.
The Egyptian national anthem benefits from enthusiastic accompaniment from their fans and players. They’re in the mood alright!
We teachers are accustomed to the early morning schedule, eh?
Egypt has their least experienced keeper, who has only three caps starting instead of the 45 year old.
I had been sleeping in later for a week and a half , so there is a bit of an adjustment.,
The ref is from Holland as is one of his assistants. The other linesman is from Serbia.
Two Baggies at the heart of the Egyptian defense. Suarez and Cavani licking their chops?
They're off.
I would imagine so. And we're underway in Match 2.
Egypt has never won a World Cup match. Two draws and two losses.
Russia put some pressure on Uruguay yesterday with that 5-0 win over the Saudis. They'll be looking forward to putting some goals by Egypt today.
I remember one particularly frustrating draw with England in 2010.
Gooner in Oregon. It's only 5 AM there.
Yeah - he'll be hooking up with LHS alums Brett Thompson and Mark Enderle for matches.
Egypt will be much tougher than the Saudis. Players that play in Europe and will be more solid defensively.
Wonder if they will be up early for the first match each day?
Egypt will be happy with this comfortable start to the match.
Well, tomorrow is particularly gruesome, with a 3am PST start. Ouch!
The Russians going for Egypt as they see Uruguay as their group rivals.
Cavani has a shot comfortably saved by Al Shanawy.
First scent of some chemistry between the front men. Suarez feeds Cavani but he scuffed his shot. Gave the Egyptian keeper something to do.
I will be skipping the first match tomorrow. Too early even for Yours Truly.
Egypt can knock the ball into the box from a free kick now. No - they play it short.
I feel you, mate.
Oh - Trezeguet with a half chance there on the turn. Couldn't really get any purchase on the shot.
Nice Egypt passing and Trezeguet has a difficult effort comfortably saved by Muslera.
This match is definitely more of a contest than the one yesterday, but this was to be expected,
Here's the red card watch for the Russia 2018 Predictions Game in this match. :
Blue Devil - El Mohamedy (on the bench for Egypt)
MUR - Hegazy (Egypt)
Good shout, mate!
Mo Salah the birthday boy.
Warda wins a free kick for Egypt about 30 yards from goal.
Free kick chance now for Egypt. Cleared out.
Head tennis off the free kick
Cheers, Bob. Not sure if it will happen. Yours could if the Villa player comes off the bench.
Abdallah Said lucky not to be booked for diving.
A catch 22 for Yours Truly. Without AC until Monday. Have a huge fan, but it's louder than an airplane.
El Said gets a ticking off from the ref there for a bad dive.
The Spanish and Portuguese teams will be watching this match with intent.
They could be scouting for the round of 16.
Uruguay corner now - apparently Egypt are weak at set pieces.
Oh - Cavan with a volley that was nodded over for another corner.
Cavani chests down a cross that was headed away then a volley was headed for goal, but Baggies reserve , Ali Gabr deflected it over.
Oh - Suarez hits the side netting. What a miss!
WOW! Suarez left free three yards from goal and shoots wide from just a few yards out of an open goal.
First defensive error of the match for the Egyptians.
Mohsen straight at Muslera off a run and pass from Warda.
Marwan Mohsin with a shot on the turn. Similar to the earlier effort by Trezeguet.
The Gooner will be keeping an eye on El Nenny unless he's catching up on some kip.
Uruguay wide with a long range effort.
Half an hour gone and not a lot of goalmouth action yet. UWS will be happy that he's at work.
Back from a trip to the bog. Don't think much was missed.
Not a lot, mate.
Not sure about that. He seems to be ready for Summer vacation.
Glad to read that loo trips are well timed, LOL.
No Nocito Curse for you.
Agreed, mate.
This match is putting me to sleep. Kate is trying to keep me awake with stories about her dreams from last night.
Al Warda down after taking an awkward fall. Now back up.
LOL. Sounds more entertaining.
Warren Barton is enjoying the match
Egypt will just have to weather another five minutes or so and then Hector Cuper can begin to envision using Salah off the bench.
Sparky is asking for morning walkies. Even he's ready for halftime.
It's a tactical battle of wits between two veteran South American managers
If this continues and then Salah produces some fireworks off the bench, it would blow this group wide open.
A minute of stoppage time.
Egypt definitely have more fans in the stadium today.
It's 0-0 at the half as Egypt have proved to be stubborn opposition and Suarez missed a sitter that could have given Uruguay the lead.
We've reached the interval then. That was not stimulating for the early kick-off. I'm going to whip out the smelling salts and will be back in ten minutes for the second half.
Back on for the second half now. It's only got to get better.
Oh - Suarez nearly in there early doors.
Still no changes from either side. We haven't seen any movement from Mo off the bench yet.
Back from walkies on a typically humid morning, Heard the announcer say that the Egyptian keeper made a great save.
Salah will probably get twenty minutes depending upon the score.
Hamed limps off the pitch and will have to be replaced now. Still no Mo, though.
Wigan Athletic's own Sam Morsy comes on. What a moment for the lad.
Wolverhampton born and current Wigan player, Sam Morsy on for the injured El Neny.
Sorry. For Hamed.
I think you're right. At the moment this match is going right to Hector Cuper's plan. If they could nick a late goal, that would only be icing on the cake.
I picked these two to top the group. Could very well happen
Warren Barton expects a "very good game" between Iran and Morocco. I do not.
It could. But as this one is going, both sides will need to beat the hosts who are now on a high coming off a 5-0 win. Won't be easy.
Uruguay look completely bereft of ideas at this point. They really need some changes.
Just as I had called for, Uruguay make two changes.
Sanchez on for Nandez aand Cristian Rodriguez on as Uruguay make a double change.
Agreed. The matches vs Russia will probably decide the group.
So, Sanchez and Rodriguez on - we'll see if they'll make a difference.
Kahraba on for Mohsen as each side has one substitution remaining.
Second substitution for Egypt now - Mohsen off and Kahraba on.
I'm not sure that either of us is going to get the points for a red card at this point. This has been a very clean match with no cards as I can remember.
The pharaohs in the stadium are sensing a draw.
Agreed with both statements , mate. Sounds like we're on the same wavelength.
Will Salah be Hector Cuper's final roll of the dice and the joker in the pack?
Uruguay win a corner , but it's well defended that ends up[ with a shot from Cavani hitting teammate Martin Cacares on the hand.
It he is, he's got to get him on pronto.
Finally some action for Muslera.
Fathy with a long range rocket gathered by Muslera after the ref did a great job of playing the advantage.
Oh - Suarez nearly in there but the keeper did so well.
Then Cavani puts through Suarez and a poor final touch results in Al Shanawy gathering at his feet.
Why oh why did Suarez try to round the keeper. He had a clear shooting chance. That could so easily have been the winner.
A quarter of an hour left for either side to make a breakthrough.
Have been the using the breaks in play to tend to feeding the pets. Next stoppage will be to feed Sparky.
Kate is not a fan of the horns in the crowd.
It hasn't been a classic, has it, mate.
It has not, but blame Uruguay. Egypt has tried to attack when possible.
Oh - half-chance for Elneny there. Chipped it over.
Then as I type , El Neny tries to chip Muslera and it's about a foot over.
And this looks like the last chance for Cuper...and it's not Salah. Having him on the bench was a bluff then.
The final roll of the dice from Hector Cuper as Ramadan Soby , who just moved from Stoke to the Terriers, on for Al Warda.
Oh - Cavani produces a superb save out of El-Sharaway. Wow!
OH!!! Al Shanawy makes a spectacular save from a volley from Cavani from the D that was headed for the upper 90.
Crisitian Rodriguez forces an Uruguay corner.
It's cl;eared away as the ball was bouncing around in the box.
El Neny has been a brick wall for Egypt today. Great performance!
Now Uruguay have a great free kick chance. This could be the decider.
AL Fatihy fouls Cavani just outside the Egyptian box.
Vecino on for Varela on the final roll of the dice for Oscar Tabarez.
Oh - off the post!
OH!!! A great free kick from Cavani cannons off the post then cleared away
Now Uruguay have a free kick near the corner flag.
GOAL !!!! A LATE URUGUAY SCORE. THE FREE KICK FROM CARLOS SANCHEZ IS HEADED IN
iNTO STOPPAGE TIME./
Oh my word! Late, late goal wins it for La Celeste.
One minute of a quintet played.
Egypt can only blame themselves. They gave away too many cheap free kicks right at the death.
Great header from Jose Jimenez for that late goal
Agreed, mate. It must be heart breaking.
Tree goals and an assist from subs so far in this tournament.
That is interesting, isn't it. Subs are going to be key. Hector Cuper may rue playing it safe and not sticking Mo Salah on.
Also, three goals scored in the 90th minute or later.
Hegazi with the first booking of the match as he shows his frustration by fouling Suarez.
It's over as Uruguay win 1-0 thanks to that late header off the free kick
Your red card boy Hegazi finally goes into the book. He's got seconds left to pick up a second yellow for you now. My boy Elmohamedy didn't even get off the bench!
Not a classic by half. Uruguay get the win that they needed but were far from convincing.
Time for brekkies before the next match
I'm going to be in and out of the next one mate and Kate and I get set for the party we're having this afternoon.
Cheers, mate. Will you be around for the late match?
We said that Egypt is the strongest team to qualify from African qualifying, but it could be Morocco. Seventeen of their 23 players are foreign born, including five that are Dutch born. They should be favorites to defeat Iran.
Group B gets underway as it starts with Morocco vs Iran. Both teams had excellent defensive records in qualifying , but it will be different at the tournament. Morocco go into this match as the favorites.
Here are the sides about to get underway now in the mid-day match:
Morocco: Mohamedi, Hakimi, Benatia, Saiss, Boussoufa, Ziyech, El Ahmadi, Harit, Nordin Amrabat, El Kaabi, Belhanda.
Subs: Bounou, Mendyl, da Costa, Fajr, Boutaib, Ait Bennasser, Dirar, En-Nesyri, Bouhaddouz, Sofyan Amrabat, Carcela-Gonzalez, Tagnaouti.
Iran: Beiranvand, Rezaeian, Cheshmi, Pouraliganji, Ansarifard, Ebrahimi, Hajsafi, Shojaei, Jahanbakhsh, Azmoun, Amiri.
Subs: Mazaheri, Torabi, Mohammadi, Khanzadeh, Ghoddos, Montazeri, Ghoochannejhad, Taremi, Hosseini, Dejagah, Abedzadeh.
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
They're off from St. Pete.
Welcome back, Bob.
Morocco managed by Frenchman Herve Renard and Iran by former United assistant , Carlos Queiroz.
Early chance for Morocco as a cross is headed out and Amine Harit of Schalke volleys wide.
El KJaabi is tackled for a Morocco corner.
A quick check on the Red Card Watch:
Bee's Knees - Nabi Dirar (Morocco)
Red Devil - Hosseini (Iran)
Red Dragon - Karimi (Iran)
UWS - Hosseini (Iran)
Taken short ,a miss kick then a cross from formermer Hornet ,Amrabat headed out for another corner. The keeper punches away the next corner.
Belhanda heads wide off a near post cross from Amrabat.
There could be a few early points won in this match
Chesmi lectured by the ref from neighboring Turkey as he fouled Harit.
El Kaabi shoots wide after a long diagonal was headed out.
Shojaei with a booking for a really agricultural challenge.
The first red card may come from this match and may be a player that wasn't even picked.
Who do you fancy in this match, mate?
Amiri with a foul from behind on Belhanda.
WOW! How did that not go in? A long free kick headed down, two blocked shots then a close range reflex save by the Iranian keeper.
Definitely fancy Morocco, who may be more talented than Egypt.
Iran go on a counter and Harim with a great chance , but the final ball in the box was cleared by Roman Saiss of Wolves.
Benatia concedes a free kick. Set piece for Iran. Easily headed away
I have heard that Morocco are the top side in Africa. Lots of players with Eriedivisie experience.
I haven't seen a lot of quality in this first half.
Better from Morocco. Nice first time passing and Hakimi dos well to pick out Harit who shoots straight to the keeper.
Morocco does have players playing throughout Europe. Iran have a few playing in Russia. Agreed. Not a quality first half.
The Spanish and Portuguese camps will have enjoyed this morning's action. The presumptive favorite in this group, Uruguay, looked really toothless and now these two are engaged in a snoozefest.
El Ahmedi booked for a foul from behind on an Iranian break.
Hopefully the late one provides more entertainment than the first two matches.
That long range Iranian free kick provides a lucky souvenir for a fan.
I fear that that one will be similarly cautious. If someone wins this one, it will make the late one a "must-not-lose" match.
Iran nearly take the lead. Nice double save from El Mounir to prevent a goal.
It’s worth noting that this match is being played to the soundtrack of a cacophony of horns above what sounds suspiciously like the low, irritating drone of thousands vuvuzelas.
Another Iranian set piece.
A long range free kick from about 40 yards out is about a foot over.
A pair of stoppage time minutes.
It's 0-0 at the half as Iran have proven stubborn opponents for Morocco and nearly took the lead a few minutes before halftime.
Back from a trip to the bog. A couple minutes into the second half and still 0-0.
Arami with a nasty tackle for Iran and just a lecture.
Nice cross from Amrabat , but the volley from Harit threatens the corner flag more than anything else.
This one has been as poor as the early one. I need a cracking Iberian Derby to renew my faith in this World Cup.
Just got off the phone with Elizabeth. Agreed about the match. Surprised because I was expecting Moor from Morocco.
Went to get the mail and got something from you.
BUGGER! Derek Rae mentions that there will be a lot of stoppage time.A shame as this match needs to be put out of its misery.
OH!!! finally some action as a long range effort from Belhana was turned around the post by the Iranian keeper.
Then Saiss of Wolves heads well wide off a decent cross.
Manuel Da Costa on for Harit.
Iran on a counter off several blocked Moroccan shots.
Amiri does a horrible triple roll off an innocuous challenge from Saiss to waste time.
This one is winding it's way down to an inevitable 0-0 draw.
BLOODY HELL! HALF A DOZEN STOPPAGE TIME MINUTES . Hope this match ends soon.
Six minutes of stoppage time! Wow - has it been that dirty?
Hand bags as Ansrivan is booked for a tactical foul.
Oh dear - some handbags emerging as there is a chippy foul at the death of this match. Even the managers got involved.
Looked like an argument between Renard and Queiroz, but it comes to nothing.
Not a lot of injuries, just time wasting by the Iranians.
Another cynical foul produces another yellow card.
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