We have now had a look at all 32 teams at the World Cup now as the Group Stage completes its first round of matches, and so it is a good time to catch our breath, if not catch up on the lost sleep just yet.
Having fell short on watching all group fixtures live thus far by just four fixtures, not including the ones spent praying for the Optus App to work, and watched all the others on replay, a lot of football has been watched so this handy bite sized review of the best of the World Cup can be delivered.
As ever, it has been a fascinating first round of games, with a lot of surprises, including a lot of the big names getting off to a slow start, and the host nation defying local hopes and form to thrash Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the opening game.
Below then, is The Best of the Greatest Show on Earth…so far…Part 1. And read on for details of the latest Greatest Show on Earth World Cup podcast, which discusses the below and so much more.
EACH GROUP GONE IN 60 SECONDS
Plenty has been written on each game and group, but those time poor, less attentive fans, here is an attempt to go through the group as quick as possible.
GROUP A
If anyone saw 5-0 Russia coming then they are either lying, a better tipster than my dog or Paul the Octopus, or have Trump like connections to the Russian team.
In saying that, there were some cracking goals in the first match of the tournament, which was a relief as it had rubbish bore-fest written all over pre-game with the two worst ranked sides at the World Cup. So it was a delightful surprise.
The name we mentioned in our preview podcast <insert link to group a to d cheat sheet preview please> to keep an eye on Aleksandr Golovin produced one of the better performances of the first round of games. So at least we got one thing right.
Saudi Arabia were clearly the worst side of the first round.
Less beautiful was Egypt v Uruguay, which went Mo-less and Salah was rested, awaiting easier prey in Russia and Saudi Arabia. Plan sort of backfires now with Russia in the best position due to their mammoth goal difference. And Saudi Arabia won’t be offering up such treats again surely.
Just as frustrating was Luis Suarez missing many chances. Cavani meanwhile looked tremendous, but it took a defender Giminez to break the deadlock late for Uruguay. They should still top the group with the two easier fixtures to come.
| Group A | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Russia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 – 0 | 3 |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Egypt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
| S Arabia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 5 | 0 |
GROUP B
Had easily the best game of the World Cup so far in Spain v Portugal. End to end action, cracking goals, tension, superstars in action. The opposite to so many big head to head clashes in the Group stages.
Ronaldo confirms his greatness with his three goals, and the pressure cooker free kick at the end. If he delivers World Cup glory for Portugal, or at least continues in his current fashion, does he edge Messi and the game greatest player.
Morocco v Iran looked the most likely 0-0 in World cup history, and were it not for the one of the sweetest headers you’ll see at this World Cup in the dying stages of the game, it would have been. Pity for Morocco that the header was from its own player into their own net.
Iran look tough to score against, so a couple of draws from here could almost see them progress against the odds.
| Group B | PL | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Iran | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Portugal | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 – 3 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 – 3 | 1 |
| Morocco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
GROUP C
France may have won the match but they were far from impressive, but unlike a lot of the big name teams did actually win.
Australia earned respect with their performance, and really did deserve the point. Probably have Mat Ryan to thank for his myriad of early saves that stopped France going for the throat if an early 1-0 or 2-0 lead was established.
Peru actually looked like one of the better teams at the world Cup so far, their energy and style was impressive, a pity the result was not. Could have been helped if Cuerva, who was brilliant otherwise, didn’t balloon the penalty attempt over the goal.
But as Denmark prove, you just need a moment of quality and that came in the form of their goal, assisted by Christian Eriksen. They are Australia’s next opponent and me thinks the Socceroos may get a group stage saving result. Before they get torn apart by peru that is.
| Group C | PL | W | DRAW | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 1 | 3 |
| Denmark | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 – 2 | 0 |
| Peru | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
GROUP D
The Viking clap returns and Iceland do it again and open up with a draw against a favourite for the tournament. Worked out OK for Portugal last time at the Euros however….
Messi’s missed penalty is hard to believe, and underlines the comparable contributions from him against Ronaldo’s.
Croatia remain a dark horse after their win over Nigeria. They could even find themselves topping the group if they win again.
Funny story about Nikola Kalinic being sent home for not coming off the bench when asked in the first game.
| Group D | PL | W | D | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 0 | 3 |
| Argentina | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 – 1 | 1 |
| Iceland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 – 1 | 1 |
| Nigeria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 2 | 0 |
GROUP E
No holes in the Swiss as they hold on for a draw against Brazil.
Their tactic of kicking Neymar all night certainly worked, but should have been stopped.
Brazil were brilliant in the first half though, and a full 90 minute repeat will have a lot of teams worried. They did waste way too many chances in the second half taking long shots from outside the box.
Super free kick from Kolarov for Serbia. If only the World Cup Fantasy stalwart Mitrovic could have scored more points for the fantasy team.
| Group E | PL | W | D | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| Serbia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 – 1 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 – 1 | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
GROUP F
Ole! to Mexico, who put in one of the performances of the first round to beat Germany 1-0.
Could the Germans be another team to bow out in the group stages. 3 of the past 4 Champions never made it out of the group stage.
Lozano one of the players from the first round.
Sweden v South Korea was the dullest game thus far in the 2018 World Cup. More boring without Zlatan.
Spurs’ Son and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-Woo were the shining lights in a poor South Korean team.
| Group F | PL | W | D | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Sweden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 – 0 | 3 |
| Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
| Korea Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 1 | 0 |
GROUP G
England looked like they were going to do an England and struggle in a very winnable fixtures and have start the tournament off poorly.
Harry Kane has good news for England. A genuine goal threat for other teams.
Tunisia’s tactics of rugby tackling players probably won’t reap too many rewards.
But what was Kyle Walker thinking. It looked another return to the England of old.
Lukaku proved his effectiveness against easy teams with a couple of goals in the win over Panama.
Mertens goal was much better though.
| Group G | PL | W | D | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| Belgium | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 – 0 | 3 |
| England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 1 | 3 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 – 2 | 0 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 – 3 | 0 |
GROUP H
As open as Group H is, did anyone truly expect it to be Japan and Senegal as the round 1 winners?
Japan were helped by the World Cup’s first red card, one that will certainly end up being one of the stupidest handed out. Although, you do question how the French player escaped a card at all for his effort against Australia.
Colombia did well to equalise against Japan with 10 men, but fresher legs prevailed. Hard to judge relative qualities given it was such an early dismissal, but in the cut throat world of group stage who cares.
Senegal flew the flag for Africa with a win over Poland. The second goal was somewhat controversial, but the win no less deserved.
Group G big boys England and Belgium must be rubbing their hands at the prospect of getting knocked out by someone more exotic than first expected.
| Group H | PL | W | D | L | GF – GA | PTS |
| Senegal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 1 | 3 |
| Japan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 – 1 | 3 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 – 2 | 0 |
| Colombia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 – 2 | 0 |
BEST AND WORST OF THE WORLD CUP SO FAR….
THE PEACH (Very, very best)
Portugal 3 Spain 3
THE POS (the very, very bad)
Optus Sport
BIGGEST MOMENTS
Russia’s 5-0 spanking of Saudi Arabia
Ronaldo’s free kick
VAR debut for France penalty
Messi’s miss
Germany’s Mexican wave goodbye?
BEST GAMES..SO FAR
Portugal 3 Spain 3
France 2 Australia 1
Peru 0 Denmark 1
BEST GOALS…SO FAR
Nachos cracker volley from outside the box.
Kolarov’s free kick for Serbia
Cheryshev’s second goal
BEST PLAYERS
Aleksandr Golovin
Cristiano Ronaldo
Hirving Lozano
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Mexico beating Germany
Russia not only winning but 5-0.
Iceland hold Argentina to draw
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The second goal for France for Australians
WORST TEAM
Saudi Arabia
WORST GAME
Sweden v South Korea
GUEST TIPSTERS
You may recall the piece on Alternative Ways to find a World Cup winner from before the World Cup <Link to Story>, well here are the progress scores after the first 16 games.
TIPS BASED ON VARIOUS STATS – 9/16
TIPS BASED ON BETTING ODDS – 7/16
TIPS BASED ON POLITICAL STATS – 7/16
TIPS BASED ON CHILDREN SELECTIONS – 5/16
THE DOG’s AKA MUTTSTRADAMUS’ TIPS – 4/16
A QUICK LOOK FORWARD TO ROUND 2 OF GROUP STAGE
MUST WATCH GAMES
France v Peru
Argentina v Croatia
Germany v Sweden
BIG BOLD PREDICTIONS
Australia to beat Denmark
Germany to fail to win again
Brazil to put many goals past Costa Rica
MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Christian Cuerva (Peru) – was great for Peru in the first round, and will want to make up for the missed penalty.
Isco (Spain) – was Spain’s best and now has the easier games in the pool
Ronaldo v Messi – Ronaldo got the points big time in Round 1.
THE NIL-NIL SPECIAL
Not one scoreless draw in the first wave of matches, so surely the first one is just around the corner.
NIGERIA v ICELAND
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH WORLD CUP PODCAST
For those lucky enough to hear it, we brought you a two part preview podcast ahead of the World Cup – the Greatest Show on Earth World Cup podcast – and now we have the review of the first round of group stage fixtures and look ahead to what’s coming up.
There’ll be more of the same keen insight and ample banter to keep football fans interest for many minutes.
