Month: July 2018
Location: Spotlight Family Salon & Spa.
Would you climb with me on this Jacob’s Ladder? #clouds
After a rather tame capitulations in the first set of matches of the knockout phase, this was a humdinger… The only possibility that Russia (70th ranked) could hope for to defeat Spain (10th ranked and outright favourite) was to ensure that they won the lottery. And boy, did they do it and how…
The famous Spanish tiki-taka was brought to a standstill by a rather determined and iron-clad Russian defense. In fact, over a thousand passes and two hours of play later, Spain could never hit the back of the net. Russia seemed to be playing solely for the penalty shootouts. Even in that, La Roja had some previous experience in shootouts whereas it was a new territory for the Russians playing in their home ground. And when Akinfeev denied Koke first and then Iago Aspas, it was the story of a persistent underdogs beating the much-vaunted superstars. So far, that’s what this World Cup has been so far.
Does this mean the end of the tiki-taka style football?
The famous Spanish tiki-taka was brought to a standstill by a rather determined and iron-clad Russian defense. In fact, over a thousand passes and two hours of play later, Spain could never hit the back of the net. Russia seemed to be playing solely for the penalty shootouts. Even in that, La Roja had some previous experience in shootouts whereas it was a new territory for the Russians playing in their home ground. And when Akinfeev denied Koke first and then Iago Aspas, it was the story of a persistent underdogs beating the much-vaunted superstars. So far, that’s what this World Cup has been so far.
Does this mean the end of the tiki-taka style football?
England had all but the match sewn up courtesy of an ill-timed impromptu wrestling match between Harry Kane and Carlos Sanchez and the resulting penalty converted easily by a man who had scored 40+ goals last year.
A few seconds to go in the last match of the Round of 16 and then Yerry Mina, sailing high and towering over the English defense brought a nation to its knees and another to its feet.
The resulting rather tame extra time gave way to the penalties before Jordan Pickford, the most expensive English goalkeeper, managed to block out Carlos Bacca and David Ospina failed to keep out Eric Dier.
The match was an ill-tempered one with 8 yellow cards and it looked like the red one might come out any time.
Now England seem to have a rather straight forward run towards the cup and might turn out to be favourite to possibly catch up with Brazil in the title clash…But then who knows… this is football.
A few seconds to go in the last match of the Round of 16 and then Yerry Mina, sailing high and towering over the English defense brought a nation to its knees and another to its feet.
The resulting rather tame extra time gave way to the penalties before Jordan Pickford, the most expensive English goalkeeper, managed to block out Carlos Bacca and David Ospina failed to keep out Eric Dier.
The match was an ill-tempered one with 8 yellow cards and it looked like the red one might come out any time.
Now England seem to have a rather straight forward run towards the cup and might turn out to be favourite to possibly catch up with Brazil in the title clash…But then who knows… this is football.
Funny in parts… I expected a lot more stories in this act.