The FIFA World Cup 2018 has started with lots of surprises where almost every team is giving neck-to-neck competition to other in their first matches. Most surprisingly the star teams of all seasons, Brazil Argentina, Spain and Germany couldn’t bring success in their first matches which sends shock-waves throughout the football world.
Germany’s shock defeat to Mexico raises question among the football world. Packed with players of high technique, the holders’ display showed no flair or dynamism against a Mexican team that cleverly exploited the space left by Joshua Kimmich’s dashes forward from right-back.
On Saturdays match, the draw of Argentina with Iceland was shocking where they couldn’t stand against Argentina’s strong defense. The feeling persists that a top team might rip Argentina’s defense to ribbons, even if Lionel Messi does his thing at the other end.
Spain, the 2010 World Champions faced Portugal where the match between the clash of champions ended with a 3-3 draw with the Real Madrid star scoring his 51st career hat-trick. Spain midfield played beautifully throughout the match while their defenders were not at their best at all.
The five time world cup champion Brazil, in their opening game against Switzerland drew 1-1 with the Swiss side in a tight match where Coutinho scored the only goal for them.
“There was a lot of pressure and anxiety on the players and that translated into the finishes that were not precise. We had 20 finishes but we should have made the goalkeeper work harder,” said Tite, The Brazilian team coach, while talking about Sunday’s match with Switzerland.
Brazil will next play against Costa Rica on Friday while Argentina will go against Croatia on June 21, Spain against Iran on June 20 and Germany will play on June 23 against Sweden.
> Shatabdi Sarker Poushi
