BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
This was also a game which was key for both teams. The team that won the game was going to qualify. It only depended on which team is more prepared than the other. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
This was a very important match for both matches,they needed to win the game in order to proceed to the last sixteen (16). BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
Senegal continues to fly the African flag high, it is the only African team that has not yet lost a game in the world cup finals. This time around they came more prepared and more calm into they game. They could manage the game well and play their normal game. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
The defending champions came into the game on a disadvantage. They lost their first game against Mexico. Now this was a must win for them. They came into the game with a few changes in the Squad. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
Nigeria came into this game carrying a lot of hopes for Africa. This game was very important for them to win, also the Argentinians were their hopes as they carried their keys to the last 16. I believe Argentina was fully behind Nigeria to win or draw the game to stop Iceland from getting the maximum points. However their prayers were answered and the Nigerian prayers were answered as the walked away with three points on the night. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
A beautiful game of football where a giant continues to limp. One would have thought Argentina would come into the game with aggression and determination. Many Argenties pinned their hopes on Lionel Messi to perform a miracle, that was not so. The man is under a lot of pressure as he faces a lot of criticism even from those who are supposed to motivate him, give him support. They have denied him. The statistics can not lie, the Argentinians had more possession on the ball initiated more attacks but failed to connect in the final third, they lacked proper understanding for each other. They could not find each other in the box. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
A very distressful game for Spain as they were desperately in need of the three (3) points and yet their counter parts did now allow them space to score. The spanish came into the game with a point they got from a 3all draw with Portugal. Iran on the other hand had three (3) points from their first game. The other pressure also came from the afternoon game which the Portuguese won, that put them under pressure to win their game. However they came against team which had a strategy to counter their play. The three lions affectionately known by its followers took on the African side Tunisia. They had their league goal scorer leading them into that encounter, Harry Kane. England squad is one of the underrated teams in the World Cup. Tunisia was expected to give them a run for their money. The squad had well known players who are doing well in their clubs. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Lingard, Harry Kane. They were favoured to win the encounter looking at their quality compared to the Tunisian side.
The game started on in high as the English team were chasing an early goal. Harry Kane found the goal for them in the first minutes of the game. They continued pressing and created a lot of chances. Their main problem was that they were not clinical. Had they used their chances well, they would have gone to half time leading by two to three goals. They messed up a lot of chances. Tunisia was not there to watch, they also had their fair share of chances. They kept pressing until they got a penalty. They went for break 1-1 all. When they came back from break, England continued with their attack on Tunisia. This was a very attacking game. Very fast with a lot of chances created. Lingard's crosses were very dangerous but were not utilized. They went on pressing each other until the last minutes of the game where we saw Harry Kane scoring his second goal of the night to ensure his team gets the maximum point. The game ended 2-1 in favour of the three (3) Lions, England. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
African teams continue to suffer defeat in the hands of their competitors in Russia. Yesterday we saw an African team losing its second game in the groups, this afternoon the spell continued as another African team lost another game again. The chances of African teams proceeding to the next round are quickly diminishing. Morocco took on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. The team was hoping to console themselves and get a win for Africa, it was not so as Ronaldo shut their hopes in the first minutes of the game. The game started on high as the Portuguese were pilling pressure on the Africans looking for an early goal to settle the game. In less than four minutes Ronaldo headed home a well placed cross. He produced a very nice diving header stealing it from the feet of the Moroccan defence. He showed his class. The game was more balanced even though Morocco had more possession on the ball. They created more chances and were not clinical. They put pressure on the Portuguese defence, planting crosses which were easily cleared away by Pepe. The game went on with Morocco looking for an equaliser. Chances were there but the decision making in the final third was very poor on the Morocco strikers. The captain had about two shorts which he should have converted but missed them. If he had scored them Morocco would have equalised and even led the game. They continued dominated the Portuguese the whole second half but were not lucky on the day. The Portuguese were able to hold on to the lead until the final whistle. Remaining only with one final group match against Iran BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
Many thought Egypt would console themselves from a last minute defeat by Uruguay in their opening game. The fact that their star player in Mohamed Salah was back gave fans more confidence. Looking at how they played against a stronger team, all hopes were high for the Egyptians. That was not to be as the host nation, Russia came prepared, determined and with a plan. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
The final result of this game was not expected as the German team took on Mexico. The history between these two teams did not give Mexico a chance and most people expected the defending champions to cruise through. The quality in the German squad, the experience and the teamwork that the defending champions have is unquestionable. However the Mexicans came more prepared and more determined to get a result from the game. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
African teams continue to dissappoint at the world stage. Last night we saw Nigeria playing Croatia. In the group stages of the world cup. African hopes were high as the Nigerian team boasts talent and experience in their squad. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
A very exciting encounter as it was anticipated, everyone expected fireworks in this game between Portugal and Spain. We saw a mistake in the early minutes of the game four (4) minutes to be precise by Nacho that resulted in a penalty. As expected Cristiano Ronaldo converted it. BY:Phodiso Gaebepe
One of the teams which Africa's hopes and prayers lie, a representative a brother to the African people, Egypt. Without their star player Mohamed Salah, they took on Uruguay in the group stages of the 2018 world cup Russia.
BY:Tirelo Mosielele
Following the opening ceremony of the largest footballing tournament hosted by Russia this evening, is the host who will look to start their with a morale boosting win against the stubborn Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in their group A opener at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Russia with the kickoff time at 1700hrs CAT. GABORONE: National team coach Major David Bright was addressed a press conference today at Lekidi auditorium about the just ended Cosafa cup. He gave feed back about the trip, welfare and the hospitality they received in South Africa, Polokwane. The coach was happy about all those. Bright said that the tournament went well, the group which the team was in was a very challenging one and was believed to be the group of death. The teams that it was in was Malawi, Angola, Mauritius. The first game was against Angola where the Zebras won 2-1. It went on to draw 1-1 with Malawi where Kabelo Seakanyeng scored a late equalizer. The third game was against Mauritius where the Zebras demolished it by 6-0.
PIC:Molalapata attended for nose bleeding.Tirelo Mosielele
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