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If its goals and upsets you craved for, there you have it. In what has been a treat for the eyes for the millions of viewers across the globe, day seven of the World Cup delivered as well and how!
Living up to the benchmark that has been set so far, it was another day with a flurry of goals and a plethora of storylines. The day brought to us our first set of eliminations as Australia, Cameroon and to everyone’s shock; defending champions Spain were knocked out from the group stage of the World Cup.
This was the third time in the last four World Cups that the defending champions were knocked in the group stages. Spain’s disastrous run followed the path set by France and Italy in 2002 and 2010 respectively.
A red pile of sadness
No one except George R.R. Martin probably plans dethroning in such brutal manners. At the end of their two games, the truly indomitable Spanish Armada now is a sunken boat, barraged and beaten to surrender.
If the 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Netherlands wasn’t shocking enough, the Spanish took it to the next level and managed to get themselves eliminated from the tournament altogether. The final nail in the Spanish coffin was put in by a Chile side that thoroughly outplayed them.
The Spanish boat was rocked from the opening itself as Arturo Vidal and then Gonzalo Jara almost put the South Americans ahead within sixty seconds of the kick-off.
This might have been a different story altogether if Diego Costa had taken his chance in the opening minutes when put through on goal, or if Xabi Alonso hadn’t misfired on the rebound. But that is for another day.
It took only 20 minutes for the South Americans to plant their first arrow into the Spanish hearts. An errant pass from Xabi Alonso, some sublime skill from Alexis Sanchez and the finishing touch from Eduardo Vargas was enough to put Chile, in front against the defending champions, to the delight of the partisan crowd at the Maracana.
The job was finished in the 43rd minute when another error from Iker Cassilas helped Chile to double their advantage. The Real Madrid keeper did nothing to justify his inclusion after his horrors against Netherlands. His awkward punch to an Alexis Sanchez free-kick landed straight on to the feet of Charles Aranguiz, who made no mistake in slotting it past the diving Cassilas.
The Spanish did re-group in the second half but their good spell bore no fruit in terms of goals. Even when presented with a great chance, the Spanish failed to capitalise. Sergio Busquets’ horror miss when it seemed harder to miss the target summed up the whole tournament so far for the Spaniards.
Heavy favourites. Two games in. Seven goals conceded. One scored (via a penalty). Last in the group and below Australia. Bags packed. How the mighty have fallen.
Netherlands on top in a 5 goal thriller
Memphis Depay of the Netherlands celebrates with team-mates after scoring the team's third goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Australia and Netherlands at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 18, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The beautiful game’s beauty was on full display in Porto Alegre as the both Australia and Netherlands enthralled and entertained the crowd with a fearless display football.
Free-spirited and filled with flair and passion; this year’s World Cup has been reminiscent of the cultural traits of the host and both the team reminded of it again in this game, which see-sawed until the decider by Memphis Depay.
Australia having rolled over so easily against Chile in their opener was tipped to do the same this time around as well. But boy, were we in for a shock!
The Soceroos’ start should have been indication enough of their grit and determination coming into this game. However, when Arjen Robben opened up the goal-scoring vault for Netherlands in the 20th minute, it had everyone anticipating of another brutal bludgeoning.
The Aussies on the other hand had other ideas. Just 70 seconds after Robben had put the Dutch infront, the game was back level as Tim Cahill produced one of the moments of the World Cup. Ryan McGowan’s chip to the back-post was met by Tim Cahill’s weaker left foot as he made himself some space with his nimble movement. The rest as they say “is history”. Australia’s talismanic striker scored his 5th goal in a World Cups as his left footed volley left Jasper Cillessen helplessly clutching air as the ball rocketed into the top corner. A thing of beauty!
With Mark Bresciano and Matthew Špiranovi? also threatening later in the half, this was not the script that everyone had expected. The script got even tenser ten minutes into the second-half.
Mile Jedinak stepped up and rolled the ball into the net from the penalty spot after a cross from Oliver Bosanic hit the arms of Daryl Janmaat. Australia had taken a surprising although deserved lead against the Netherlands. The cat was firmly amongst the pigeons by now, which even had Robben pulling at his hair.
The Aussies however found little time to celebrate as the left foot of Robin van Persie brought the Dutch level just two minutes later. Memphis Depay found Robin van Persie inside the box; who turned to find only the goalkeeper between him and the goal. The result was inevitable as the talismanic striker slotted the ball into the roof of the net.
Memphis Depay’s swerving effort in the 68th minutes was the bottom line in this see-sawing battle. Moments after Australia’s Tommy Oar had missed a great chance at the other end, Depay found space just outside the box with no one closing him down. His excellent shot bounced just in-front of the goal-keeper before nestling into the bottom corner to provide the Oranje with the winner.
Croatia hand Cameroon a thrashing
Mario Mandzukic of Croatia celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Cameroon and Croatia at Arena Amazonia on June 18, 2014 in Manaus, Brazil.
“The Indomitable Lions” were easily subdued in their opener against Mexico and they were nowhere any better this time around against the Croats. Except for the first ten minutes of the game in which Cameroon did show some resilience and spirit, it was the Croats who ruled the game with absolute power and might.
Croatia opened their tally in the 11th minutes when Ivan Periši? found space on the right and rolled the ball across the ball for an on-rushing Ivica Olic to duly oblige. Their task was made even simpler when Alex Song literally took matters into his own hands.
In a moment of madness, the Barcelona midfielder lashed out at Mario Mandžuki? for no apparent reason. The referee, who was only a few yards away from the scene wasted no time in directing Song to head for the showers.
Within three minutes of the restart, Croatia had no trouble doubling their lead. Ivan Periši?, who assisted the first, this time, put his own name on the score sheet. The midfielder raced down the left, before cutting into the box and coolly slotting a low shot beyond the outstretched Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje.
Mandžuki? put the finishing touches to the game with his goals in the 61st and 73rd minute as with Cameroon looked a heap of misery by then with no discipline left at the back.
The win keeps Croatia’s dreams of making it to the next round alive, with the 4-0 score line doing no harm to their goal-difference.
