Hello and welcome Offside: your daily summary and look forward to the World Cup. The strangest thing about Day 18 was that it only had one game and it was one that would have made cricket fans feel like they were watching the first round of an ICC tournament had Cricket Canada not been disbanded due to gang-related corruption.
Action recap: Canada 1-0 South Africa
There is an oft-repeated phrase in cricket: the intention was there. Canada had more intentions, South Africa went for overtime and penalties, but Stephen Eustaquio had other ideas. Alphonso Davise made the difference when he entered the game in the 75th minute and instantly lifted the spirits like maple syrup on pancakes. Canada has advanced to the round of 16, where they will face the not-so-powerful Dutch or Morocco.
Matchday action: Brazil vs. Japan
June 29, 22:30 ISTIn ‘Kill Bill’, Hattori Hanzo makes a blade for the Bride and tells her, “If you meet God on your journey, God will be cut.” The Japanese team looks sharp, like a samurai sword or a Shogun about to save a kingdom, but now they face the football gods in Brazil, even though God has been MIA since 2002.
Warrior watchThe Brazilian Vinicius Jr looks like he’s on fire, as if he’s being driven by a thousand racist shouts. With another star, Takefus Kubo, injured, Japan will look to Daichi Kamada for inspiration.Battle planJapan will try to make this a game of discipline, quick passes and sudden breaks. Without Kub, Daichi Kamada must become the brains between the midfield and attack, while Junya Ito gives them a wide outlet.
Brazil’s plan is simpler and scarier: give the ball to Vinicius Jr. before Japan can determine their shape. If Japan lose cheaply, Brazil will be penalized for one missed pass.The key battle is clear possession against Brazil’s open-field violence. Japan needs rhythm. Brazil needs grass. Whoever fulfills the wish controls the match.Table talkJapan have already beaten Germany, Spain and England in the past few years and even upset Brazil in a friendly before. The smart money will be on Brazil, but Japan is a nation that keeps coming back from impossible odds. If they can survive the atomic bombs, they can upset the Samba boys.
Match day action: Germany vs Paraguay
June 30, 2:00 ISTGermany arrives with four World Cups, a squad full of shiny moving parts and a nagging feeling that something in the machine is still off. Paraguay is like Billy the Butcher with a crowbar, but with the eternal belief that he can still kill that Homelander.Warrior watchGermany will be looking for magic from Jamal Musiala, as even Germany’s best machine needs someone who can draw outside the lines. Paraguay returns Miguel Almiron, whose pace can surprise teams.Battle planGermany will want the ball, pace and enough space for Musiala and Florian Wirtz to finally turn promise into punishment. If they score early, this could become an exercise in German administration. Paraguay’s plan is simpler: clog up the middle, slow down the game, get fouls and make Germany impatient. Then release Almiron into space and see if the panic spreads faster than the passing ball. The key battle is the control of Germany against the chaos of Paraguay. Germany needs rhythm. Paraguay needs mud. Whoever fulfills the wish controls the match.Table talkThe smart money will be on Germany, because history, talent and common sense point in that direction. But Paraguay is always ready to fight. Expect them to be key in the operation.
Action on the day of the match: The Netherlands against Morocco
June 30, 6:30 AM ISTJohan Cruyff’s total football is now a museum piece with better lighting than the current Dutch backdrop. Plows are still dangerous, but they are not as popular as they used to be. Meanwhile, Morocco has gone from being a brave outsider to one of the true African heavyweights.To paraphrase Rick Blaine: of all the knockout matches in all the world championships, the Dutch had to go into this one.Warrior watchThe Netherlands will look to Cody Gakpo for sharpness and Virgil van Dijk for composure. An additional emotional thread is Gakpo’s loss of a child. Morocco will look to Achraf Hakimi for impetus, Brahim Diaz for invention and Ismael Saibari for the kind of unsavory value that destroys Europe’s sleep cycles.
Battle planThe Dutch want the ball, width and enough attacking flow to make this look like a footballing philosophy again. The problem is that they scored, but also left the door open. Morocco’s plan is to stay compact, skip Hakimi and Diaz and make every Dutch turnover feel like a boundary incident. The key battle is Dutch control against Moroccan prowess. Holland needs rhythm. Morocco needs a clean break and an audience that starts believing in 2022 again.Table talkMorocco will always have Qatar, but it will want more than memories. The Dutch will always have Cruyff, orange shirts and enough talented defenders to build a dam, except right now the Dutch dam is still leaking. If Hakimi and Diaz find cracks, this could be the end of a wonderful streak for the Oranje. Play again, Sam: soccer, heartbreak and a Moroccan counter-attack.
