World Diary: June 17th and 18th

It was since 1982, from the 2-1 loss against Algeria , that Germany had not been able to win the opening match of the World Cup. And if we add to this that they are the current holders of the Cup born from the hands and mind of Silvio Gazzaniga , here is the thud against Mexico (1-0 goal by Lozano in the 35 ‘), in group F, is even more echoed .
It is the news of Sunday 17 June and of the fourth day of the Russian World Cup, but if Low’s team is the first sacred monster to fall, Brazil certainly does not smile that in the evening match at 20.00 in group E does not go beyond the 1-1 draw against a tough and annoying Switzerland. So to lead the group E, after the first day, and Serbia who opened the day by winning 1-0 against Costa Rica.
Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia
| Group E
And let’s start from the positive debut of the Balkan national team who conquers the first three points of the world championship thanks to a stroke on a free kick, one might say, of the usual Aleksandar Kolarov. The Roma full-back, seeing the much less concrete play of his teammates, decides to do everything by himself and to cross the barrier and pierce Keylor Navas in the 56th minute. For better or for worse it is the “Italians” who get noticed: Adem Ljajic and in his day when he takes the field with his slippers; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is radiant and is the true lighthouse of Serbia . One overhead, many plays: his class explodes at the Samara Arena and the ecstatic eyes of the globe fall on him. Costa Rica shows up only at the beginning, then it is the boys of coach Mladen Krstajic who spoil the double goal on two clear occasions.

Germany 0-1 Mexico
| Group F
Mexico’s victory against Germany provokesthe first earthquake in Russia… and also in Mexico City . In fact, Hirving Lozano’s goal was a shock caused by the irrepressible euphoria of the fans. If all eyes were aimed at the Teutonic door to understand if Neuer had recovered, Germany is discovered with wet powders in attack. The North American national team makes perfect use of a lethal counter-attack, Hummels comes out in midfield as a villain hoping for an advance, Lozano is lucid to control the ball, to overcome Ozil and to beat Neuer. Ochoa, as usual, transforms and repels the shots of Kroos, Ozil and companions. Julian Brandt tries the impossible and desperate shot in the 89th minute, but does not change the result.

Brazil 1-1 Switzerland
| Group E

And if Germany does not score, to pierce Selecao and the souls of the Carioca fans and Steven Zuber, the central attacking Hoffenheim who spikes, at 50 ‘ , the 1-1 that numbs Tite and Brazil. The “joga bonito” did not last long, Coutinho’s brushstroke at 20 ‘and a roar that wasted in a match between flames, between Neymar who gets ten fouls and the Swiss resistance. It is a fairly anarchic Brazil, where everyone tried to save their homeland alone; an empty lap that leaves the team in a half agony in a group, that E, which sees Serbia in the lead.
Group F ends with Sweden – South Korea on Monday 18 June (2.00 pm, Italy 1). South Korea does not have a good memory of Sweden, that 12-0 suffered at the 1948 Olympics represents one of the most painful defeats in its history and, at the same time, the biggest victory ever for the Scandinavians. There are four precedents in all between the two national teams, but none in the World Cup, where Sweden and South Korea have never competed. They will do so at the Novgorod Stadium , effectively closing the first day of group F begins with the match between Germany and Mexico.
[/ vc_column_text] [/ vc_column] [/ vc_row]

• Choose

  Official T-Shirts

[/ vc_column] [/ vc_row]

At 17.00 (again on Italia 1) it is the turn of Belgium and Panama to open Group G. An unprecedented challenge, and the first cross between the formation of Martinez and that of Dario Gomez , who aims to limit the damage in the presence of an unbeaten selection in the last nine games of the group stage of the World Cup. For Panama, together with Iceland, and absolute debut. Group G closes with the other match scheduled for Tunisia – England (20.00, Italy 1): the two national teams return to challenge each other twenty years after the last time, taking to the field at the Volgograd Arena. A 2-0 in favor of the English arrived during the World Cup in France ’98, after which never again a crossing.

The probable formations

Sweden: Olsen; Krafth, Lindelof, Granqvist, Augustinsson; Claesson, Ekdal, Larsson, Forsberg; Berg, Toivonen.

South Korea: Seung-Gyu; Young-Sun, Ban-Suk, Min-Woo; Lee-Yong, Jung, Sung-Yeung, Jo-Hoo; Jae-Sung; Heung-Min, Hwang.

Belgium: Courtois; Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Kompany; Meunier, Witsel, De Bruyne, Carrasco; Hazard, Mertens; Lukaku.

Panama: Penedo; Murillo, Baloy, R. Torres, Ovalle; Gomez, Godoy; Barcenas, Cooper, J. Rodriguez; Perez.

Tunisia: Mathlouthi; Nagguez, Meriah, Ben Youssef, Maaloul; Sassi, Ben Amor; Badri, Khaoui, Sliti; Khazri.

England:Pickford; Walker, Stones, Cahill; Trippier, Henderson, Dier, Young; Alli, Sterling; Kane.