DOHA - Doha’s Stadium 974 thrummed to the samba beat on Monday night as Brazilian fans brought Latin American swagger to this patch of Qatar and Casemiro fired Brazil into the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup finals with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland.
The midfielder’s spectacular 83rd minute goal sent Brazil through with a game to spare and lit a touch paper to a contest that up to then had struggled to smolder.
The only thing that makes a spectacular comeback better is when it's started with a stunning goal. Needing a moment to act as the catalyst, to give the Indomitable Lions a kick back into contention, Vincent Aboubakar provided that spark with a silky solo goal to put Cameroon within one against Serbia.
WHAT A CHIP
After a VAR check, the goal stands and Cameroon takes one back! pic.twitter.com/2zwCtckDjW
Serbia and Cameroon arguably played the best game of the 2022 World Cup on Monday with a six-goal thriller that ended 3-3. The game also saw a Serbia tiki-taka goal that honestly looked like it could have been scored by that legendary 2010 Spain squad.
The Eagles of Serbia were soaring after scoring two goals in first-half stoppage time to take a 2-1 lead. Playing with supreme confidence, Serbia scored one of the prettiest team goals of the tournament in the 53rd minute.
Look at this string of passes from the Serbs.
Belgium has been stunned by a moment of Moroccan magic, that puts the African nation top of Group F. Midfielder Abdelhamid Sabiri scored a ridiculous free kick from the most unlikely of angles to get Morocco’s winner against the highly favored Belgians.
MOROCCO TAKES THE LEAD VS BELGIUM pic.twitter.com/hhCQVeHCaO
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 27, 2022
Un segundo de genialidad de Lionel Messi y un hermoso chanfle de Enzo Fernández dejaron a México conectado a un respirador artificial en Catar.
El plan de Gerardo Martino era maniatar, frustrar y jugar con la desesperación de una Argentina que si perdía quedaba fuera del Mundial. Y aunque por momentos, el partido parecía ir de acuerdo al libreto imaginado por el Tata, bastó un pequeño rayo de libertad de Messi para demoler la resistencia y exponer los errores detrás de la estrategia diseñada por el entrenador de la selección mexicana.
Argentina promised the world a response after that catastrophic opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. With over 60 minutes gone against Mexico on Saturday, La Albiceleste looked just as hopeless and ineffective, landing zero shots on target and failing time after time in Mexico's half.
But when you have one Lionel Messi, your threat level is always high.
Cody Gakpo is making quite the name for himself on the world’s biggest stage thanks to a pair of great goals in Holland’s first two matches. He’s continued his incredible club form with the national team and the 23-year-old is showing no signs of stopping.
That didn't take long ⚡️
Cody Gakpo gets things started for the Netherlands pic.twitter.com/rV8MmgCgQo
The Iran national team proved to the world the talent it possesses with an incredible 2-0 victory vs. Wales on Friday. Iran’s goals came in the 99th and 101st minutes after dominating the Dragons all game.
The Wales national team looked atrocious, disjointed and unlike themselves as they were completely outplayed against Iran. Iran hit both posts in the game, forced great saves out of Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (who was shown a red card in the 86th minute) and found the win at the end.
Jogo bonito, pero sobre todo mucha paciencia. Esa fue la receta que necesitó Brasil para vencer 2-0 a Serbia en su debut en el Mundial de Catar.
La llave para desbloquear el cerco defensivo de los europeos fue el delantero del Tottenham, Richarlison, quien anotó ambas conquistas.
Una de ellas fue un auténtico golazo.
En la primera etapa, Serbia apretó los espacios y con una línea de cinco atrás le hizo la vida imposible al ataque brasileño.
Richarlison, take a bow. There are few words that could possibly do this goal justice. After a difficult first half, Richarlison firmly stamped his name on the match with one of the all-time great World Cup goals.
“Samba Soccer at its absolute best,” according to Stu Holden. “That is Joga Bonito. That is the Beautiful game,” added Jon Strong.
Richarlison, in his first World Cup appearance for Brazil, scored his second goal of the match with a beautiful overhead kick that will live forever, and deservedly so.