A View from the Mountains

Four times champions Germany are out of the 2026 Football World Cup! Beaten in a penalty shoot-out for the first time ever in a World Cup by minnows Paraguay, one of the fancied teams is on its way home.

[YouTube]    

The Netherlands were also among the favourites and they too were beaten on penalties in the early hours of Tuesday morning by lowly Morocco.

Earlier on Monday night five time winners Brazil scraped through against Japan by scoring the winner in the 96th minute of extra time.

What is going on?

Of the teams I fancied as possible winners of the tournament only England, Spain, Belgium and Brazil are left. Are England, Spain and Belgium going to have problems in their Round of 16 matches? Well, we shall see over the next two days as the dieciseisavos are completed.

Monday 29 June

I sat through the match between Brazil and Japan in my favourite sports bar, Bar Alegria in Ronda, before going home for the late match between Germany and Paraguay. This was pretty dour stuff as I dozed through parts of the match, only to revive for the penalty shoot-out. Well, the German penalty takers proved their vulnerability against the giant Paraguay goalkeeper Gill.

    [Trip Advisor]

I had no stamina left, so didn't stay up for the Netherlands v Morocco match. When I woke this morning I discovered that the Dutch had also crashed out on penalties.

Links:

El Mundial - Round of 16

South Africa v Canada

©  Sporty Sam MMXXVI

Pictures:

Trip Advisor, YouTube

Thanks:

DAZN, Paul Whitelock, ZDF

Tags:

Belgium, Brazil, DAZN, England, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Paul Whitelock, penalty shoot-out, Spain, Sporty Sam, Trip Advisor, World Cup, YouTube, ZDF

Two former colonies, one British, one Dutch, met last night in the heat of Los Angeles, California, in the Football World Cup.

Both RSA and Canada were second in their groups, A and B respectively.

[Eurosport]    

My instinct was to be on the side of Canada. They have never beaten England at either rugby union or cricket, unlike the Springboks who do so regularly!

The 1st half was fairly even in terms of possession, but Canada were more threatening in front of goal. A dramatic goal-line clearance kept the scores level at half-time.

The 2nd half was more of the same; innacurate passing and lots of niggling fouls.

Canada finally scored in the 91st minute through their captain Eustaquio with a shot from distance.

The Canada goal [MARCA]    

On balance a deserved win for Canada.

© Sporty Sam MMXXVI

Pictures:

Eurosport, MARCA

Thanks:

AS, DAZN, Eurosport, MARCA, Paul Whitelock

Tags:

AS, Canada, DAZN, Eustaquio, Paul Whitelock, RSA, South Africa, Sporty Sam, Springboks, World Cup

My three teams are through to the dieciseisavos, the knockout stages, of the Football World Cup: namely England (I was born there); Germany (my wife is German); and Spain (because I live here in Andalucia).

[Yahoo Sports]    

Each of my teams had one poor match where they drew and dropped points. Nevertheless, all three topped their groups, so in theory have an easier passage into the last 16, in that they are paired with a 2nd or 3rd placed team.

I've watched the important games. Among the favourites, France, Brazil and Argentina have looked impressive in all their matches so far, while Belgium and Portugal have faltered a little.

As for me, I'm tipping France to win the Jules Rimet Trophy for the 3rd time, although don't discount Messi (Argentina).

Leo wants to go out on a high in his last World Cup, so Argentina must be in the frame too.

One team not mentioned so far is The Netherlands.

And what about Germany? They know how to win, even win ugly.

    [Wikipedia]

© Paul Whitelock MMXXVI

Photos:

Wikipedia, Yahoo Sports

Thanks:

AS, Malaga Hoy

Tags:

Argentina, AS, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Jules Rimet Trophy, Malaga Hoy, Messi, Mundial, Netherlands, Paul Whitelock, Portugal, Spain, Wikipedia, World Cup, Yahoo Sports

Trying to watch two matches simultaneously on adjacent TV screens is quite a challenge.

Bar Alegria was full to bursting, mainly with Malaga fans. I didn't spot any supporters of Germany nor of Ivory Coast nor of Almeria.

    Bar Alegria, Ronda [Trip Advisor]

Malaga CF v UD Almeria

These two teams were playing for the final promotion spot from Liga 2 to Liga 1.

It had finished 0 - 0 in the first leg at La Rosaleda, Malaga's home ground.

Last night in Almeria it was still 0 - 0 after 90 minutes.

Then in extra time Malaga scored twice and Almeria once.

[ABC]    

Although they had been reduced to 10 men following a red card, Almeria still dominated through the 10 minutes added time.

Finally the whistle went, the game was over and Malaga were promoted back into the top division after a gap of nine years.

Germany v Ivory Coast

Germany struggled against a lively, energetic and tenacious Ivory Coast in this World Cup group match.

Germany even fell behind in the first half, before equalising in the second half through Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav.

Indeed it was Undav who scored the winner in time added on.

Deniz Undav [FOX Deportes]    

So, Malaga went up and Germany scored two, to lead their World Cup group on six points.

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

ABC, FOX Deportes, Trip Advisor,

Thanks:

AS, Bar Alegria, DAZN, La Liga,

Tags:

ABC, AS, Bar Alegria, DAZN, Deniz Undav, FOX Deportes, Germany, Ivory Coast, La Liga, Malaga CF, Paul Whitelock, Trip Advisor, UD Almeria