Substitute Niclas Fullkrug scored a late leveller against Spain to give his country hope. (AP pic)
1. Fullkrug gives German more than half a chance
You just knew it: no matter how tight the corner, the Germans would find a way. And it was the unknown Niclas Fullkrug, who was playing in the second tier a year ago, who was the unlikely hero. On as a substitute, the striker blazed a late leveller against Spain to give his country hope. Now, if they beat Costa Rica and Spain beat Japan, the Germans will go through.
They could even win it: in 1954, they lost 8-3 to Hungary in the group before beating them in the final. In 1974, West Germany lost to East Germany before beating Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands to become champions. In 1982, they were beaten by Algeria but still reached the final. Never write them off.
2. Blue Samurais commit hara-kiri against Costa Rica
Complacency did it. Japan made changes and were not the same team that shocked Germany in the previous game. But perhaps they could be forgiven for taking Costa Rica lightly. The Ticos had just lost 7-0 to Spain and were lucky to get nil. They never had a shot on target; they rarely score: their expected goals (XG) was 0.2. But score they did with a shot from Keysher Fuller proving too much for Suicha Gonda. A hero against Germany, he should have done better with the looping drive. It was Costa Rica’s first shot on target in almost three hours of football at this World Cup.
Two late goals by Moroccan substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal sent their fans wild as Belgium’s Golden Generation looked their age. (AP pic)
3. Morocco on a roll
All aboard the Marrakech Express, roared commentator Peter Drury. Morocco had just derailed the world’s No 2 nation in yet another shock result at this topsy-turvy tournament.
Overcoming the loss of keeper Yassine Bounou seconds before kick-off, the 22nd ranked Atlas Lions fully deserved their best World Cup result ever. Two late goals from substitutes Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal sent their fans wild as Belgium’s Golden Generation looked their age.
And it was another under-performing Chelsea player who stole the show: after Christian Pulisic, it was Hakim Ziyech who was the star man. The Morrocan defence has still to concede a goal in five games since Walid Regragui took charge in September.
4. Belgium blindsided by keeper switch
Yassin Bounou must be the first player to sing a national anthem and still not start a World Cup game. The Sevilla keeper’s patriotic duty ended then though as he disappeared to be replaced by Munir Mohamedi. Commentators were fooled, the BBC taking 38 minutes to notice the change. The explanation came later: Bounou had a recurrence of vision problems suffered in the previous game and quickly departed. Belgium didn’t seem to notice either.
5. Coach’s boast comes back to haunt Canada
Croatia crushed Canada in an unlikely grudge match caused by Canadian boss John Herdman’s ill-considered pre-match boast. Herdman’s claim that his side would “F” the 2018 finalists came back to haunt him. An early Alphonso Davies goal gave the Maple Leafs hope but a brace from Andrej Kramaric sent them packing.
The Man of the Match said: “I want to thank the Canada coach for the motivation. In the end, Croatia demonstrated who F’d whom.” Herdman’s reputation as a motivator remained intact – for his opponents. His side were outclassed.
