Ben Fisher has filed his match report from Lumen Field, which is my cue to grab a drink. have a lie down. That was quite the climax. Egypt march on, Iran are in squeaky bum time, and I will see you back here for more soon. Cheerio!
Of the teams that are guaranteed to be eliminated at this stage only Turkey. Uruguay could be considered major shocks. Turkey bowed out with a morale boosting win over the USA, Uruguay were dragged out kicking. screaming in disgrace against Spain, leaving Marcelo Bielsa’s legacy in question.
double quotation mark “I have not left anything to Uruguayan football,” Bielsa said afterwards. “A coach who has been in a country for three years. not got results cannot say he has made a contribution. Fourth place in the qualifiers has no value. nor does third at the Copa América and there is no need to even define this performance [at the World Cup]. My time doesn’t say anything.”
“We could have seven points but we have two,” Bielsa added. “This is the result of my management. It was my job to manage a group of players that I did not manage to turn into a force. If you want explanations – which I don’t think you want – I would say that of the seven points we deserved. we got two.
Here’s confirmation of Belgium’s rout of New Zealand.
All of the following have to occur for Iran to be knocked out:
Group J – Algeria and Austria must draw.
Group K – DR Congo must beat Uzbekistan.
Group L – Croatia must earn at least a point against Ghana.
As Daragh Thomas points out, there are three matches tomorrow that have an impact on their progress. all three need to go against Team Melli to deny them progress. On the prediction markets they are being given an 80% chance to still go through.
What do we know for certain?
Belgium are through to the round of 32, where they will face a third-place team in Seattle. The Belgians are odds on to face the USA in the round of 16 with Spain looming as the big hitters in. quarter of the bracket.
Egypt are also through to the round of 32, where they will face Australia in Dallas. The winner of that clash are likely to face Argentina in the next round.
Considering everything that Iran’s players have been through already this World Cup, it is a heartbreaking end to the group phase. they are set for a nerve-wracking 24 hours as they are no longer in control of their destiny.
Tom Bolger with the email shot on 90 minutes: “The atmosphere has been much better than the players. especially the second half. Crowd would love to explode for a winner but the teams aren’t interested.”
And now with the email chaser on 90+3: “The crowd exploded. VAR is the worst.”
“Exhibit A in showing how VAR has changed what is called offside for the worse,” bemoans Adam Blakeley. “I don’t mind the end result personally. it doesn’t feel right.” I think it would have felt a lot less right to Egypt had the goal have stood, but it is an enormous detriment to the spectacle that a team is no longer able to celebrate such a momentous event without fear of that joy being overturned.
Amir Ghalenoei is STILL in his chair in the dugout with a thousand yard stare.
Algeria v Austria in Group J, DR Congo v Uzbekistan in Group K,. Croatia v Ghana in Group L are the three matches that will decide Iran’s fate tomorrow.
Iran are currently the sixth best of the third-placed teams as things stand. Senegal are now confirmed in the round of 32 in fifth place.
Amir Ghalenoei remains impassive in the dugout despite the extraordinary conclusion to a match that looked as though it had ended with his time snatching victory at the death. only for their joy to be erased by a VAR offside call of the narrowest of margins.
Egypt are through to the round of 32 in second place. Iran have an agonising wait to see if they are one of the eight best third-placed teams.
90+8 mins: Now Iran hit the bar! A cross from the right, headed firmly, and Shobeir didn’t get a touch to it. What a climax!
90+7 mins: Iran come again and Egypt are forced to throw bodies into the way of two goalbound shots!
90+6 mins: What drama late on in Seattle. Iran thought they’d sealed progress only to be denied by VAR. Also, Khalilzadeh is booked for taking off his shirt during his goal celebration (not to mention wearing some meme sunglasses).
VAR has curtailed Iran’s delight with an offside call that must be by the narrowest of margins.
VAR is checking. This is going to be a tight decision.
… but was he offside?
From the free-kick on the left Iran chuck the ball into the box, Shobeir makes a mess of it in the air. as the ball hits the deck there’s a snapshot blocked but the rebound comes out to Khalilzadeh who lashes home! Absolute delirium in the Iran dugout.
90+2 mins: Egypt give the ball away cheaply in midfield. Lasheen is the latest into the referee’s book for an obvious professional foul to halt Iran’s counter.
90 mins: Six minutes of stoppage time to be played as Jahanbakhsh waits to come on for Iran. Mohebi is the man to make way.
89 mins: Almost! The corner is wicked. right on the goalkeeper’s head, who is swallowed by a crashing wave of white jerseys, one of which belongs to Taremi who flicks a header onto the bar. The whistle went for a foul on the keeper (which wasn’t there) so the goal wouldn’t have counted anyway.
88 mins: Iran decide to attack eventually and win their first corner of the night on the left.
87 mins: This is defence v defence with Egypt bringing 11 men behind the ball. Iran tapping passes to one another in front of them.
86 mins: Meanwhile in Seattle, both teams seem to have accepted their fate. Egypt will definitely qualify in second place, Iran seem happy to try their luck with what might happen tomorrow.
Ha! Now it’s 4-1 Belgium! For a minute Egypt were back on top of the group. Romelu Lukaku has returned the Red Devils to first place almost immediately.
New Zealand have scored against Belgium, narrowing the margin there to 3-1.
83 mins: Iran have been poor this half and again concede possession cheaply in midfield. Egypt try to go direct but are repelled initially then Marmoush finds room on a counter press, cuts inside. floats over an inviting cross that the tall Abdelkarim almost gets his head onto.
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