Well, it took a week but we’re finally through the first round of the group stage. Just two more weeks to go until we can think about knockout football. So many games. So, SO many games. Holy crap, so many.
Here’s your daily recap and upcoming matches for today, Tuesday.
Day 6 Recap
France 3-1 Senegal (Group I)
Goals: Mbappe (66’, 90+6’), Barcola (82’) | Mbaye (90+5’)
This game was kind of grimly amusing because France (and star Kylan Mbappe) pretty much played like dogshit for the entire first half. Senegal, by contrast, played exceptionally well during that same period. Then the second half happened and France turned on the jets. Mbappe scored the first of what we expect will be several World Cup goals, and Bradley Barcola added a second late in the half thanks to an incredible through-ball from Adrian Rabiot. And then, friends, your intrepid blogger turned the match off before Mbaye’s banger for Senegal and Mbappe’s last gasp second goal which was arguably better. Bad mistake on my part. With that goal, Mbappe became France’s all-time leading World Cup goal scorer with 58. Pape Matar Sarr did not get off the bench.
Iraq 1-4 Norway (Group I)
Goals: Hussein (39’) | Haaland (29’, 42’), Østigard (76’), Thorstvedt (90+7’)
There have been a number of super fun matches this round and almost invariably they happen in games you wouldn’t expect. Like this one — Norway has a formidable front line of Antonio Nusa, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Sørloth. But Iraq came to PLAY. This was a back and forth game with both teams pushing forward, trying to actually play football, and score. Erling Haaland is inevitable, and Norway ultimately pulled away, but this was a great match for the neutrals.
Argentina vs. Algeria (Group J)
Goals: Messi (17’, 60’, 76’)
I know it’s Cuti and Marcos vs. Nabil Bentaleb, but friends, I did not. I was tired. I went to bed. Watch the highlights — I did. Lionel Messi is pretty good at football.
Austria 3-1 Jordan (Group J)
Goals: Schmid (20’), Al-Arab [OG] (60’), Arnautovic (90+12’ [PK]) | Olwan (50’)
*snores quietly* Just kidding y’all, I have a CPAP and not even Big Kevin Danso can convince me to stay up until 2 a.m. to watch Austria vs. Jordan.
Day 6 Matches
Portugal vs. DR Congo (Group K)
1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. BST
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas, USA
TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC One (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: none
England vs. Croatia (Group L)
4 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. BST
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA
TV: FOX (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), ITV 1 (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: Djed Spence, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke (England); Luka Vuskovic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
Ghana vs. Panama (Group L)
7 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. (Wednesday) BST
BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), ITV 1 (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: none
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (Group K)
10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. (Wednesday) BST
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
TV: Fox Sports 1 (USA), Telemundo (USA – Español), BBC One (UK)
Stream: Fox One, Peacock (Español)
Current/former Tottenham players involved: Davinson Sanchez (Colombia)
