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
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.
All four Concacaf teams competing at the World Cup have played their first games with all four failing to win. In this article we will grade the Concacaf teams at the World Cup based on their game results, how they looked and their likelihood of advancing to the knockout stages.
First let’s recap the results.
Time for the grades.
Qatar’s World Cup has provided fans with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in just four matchdays. For African nations, it had been nothing but low until André Ayew scored the continent’s first goal of the tournament with Ghana’s opener against Portugal.
Uruguay and Real Madrid star Federico Valverde almost had the highlight of his career on Thursday during his nation’s 0-0 draw vs. South Korea. With the score tied at in the 89th minute, Valverde ripped a shot from over 25 yards out that nearly brought the house down.
OFF THE POST
Federico Valverde nearly put Uruguay on top pic.twitter.com/9EBaxYMvWO
The United States men’s national team played its first World Cup game in eight years on Monday tying Wales 1-1 at Al Rayyan Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
Monday’s game was a tale of two halves with the USA controlling the first and scoring through Timothy Weah in the 36th minute.
TIM. WEAH.
A beautiful goal for the @USMNT pic.twitter.com/O0B1m8iDGq
3,065 days removed from elimination at the hands of Belgium in 2014, the United States began its World Cup campaign with a heartbreaking 1-1 draw against Wales. With the hopes of a nation on their backs, the Stars and Stripes came to play in the first half, epitomized by Tim Weah’s goal just after the half-hour mark, but ultimately a late penalty from Gareth Bale saved a draw for the Dragons.
Hakim Ziyech is a shooter. We've forgotten that this year with the Moroccan winger rarely playing for Chelsea, but when the goals were flying in at Ajax he was averaging 5.3 shots per game, and when he last represented his country at a major tournament (AFCON 2019) he was firing off 4.5 per game.
Who saw this coming? Just days after being left off England’s World Cup squad, Ivan Toney is the hero at the Etihad as Brentford gets its first win away from home on the season. His brace was the difference in the Bees’ 2-1 victory which ensures that Arsenal will be top of the Premier League going into the break.
It's become an annual tradition unlike any other here at The18. Every winter the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament comes around and, like clockwork, drops the highlight of the year.