The Footee Mag

  Juan Cuadrado celebrates his goal as Poland look crestfallen. (c) Photo: AP/Frank Augstein  Colombia won pretty convincingly against a sorry Poland side, who got the boot out of Putin’s land tonight. Radamel Falcao's 30th international goal putting Carlos Valderrama's kids on the verge of qualification. A win for them next game, could be all they require (given Japan falter v Poland).      Neither side wanted a draw, knowing that anything other than a win would signal the end of the dream. Colombia started the game brightly, with Juan Cuadrado, Juan Quintero, James Rodriguez troubling the Polish defence. Robert Lewandowski, though virtually a passenger. A barren run for the Bayern Munich hitman. The opening goal came just on the 40’ minute mark, with towering centre back Yerry Mina heading James’ centre. Soon after came the first half whistle. 1-0 to Jose Peckerman’s men.    Second half resumed, with the ebb and flow of the game still c...

  Celebrations after John Stones opened the scoring. (c) Rex/Shuttershock  Gareth Southgate's England booked their place in the Round of 16 of this summer's footballing fiesta. North London Hurri-kane bagged a hat-trick as the Europeans put up a six-star performance against an utterly helpless Panama side. Next up, Eden Hazard's Belgium on Thursday.      It would have taken a miracle for the Panamans to get one over the Three Lions, curse your luck Mr Trump. England had gone two up with 13 minutes gone thanks to John Stones and an emphatic penalty from Harry Kane, after Jesse Lingard got fouled in the box. It would be three soon after with Jesse Lingard picking out the top corner to add to his assist. Goals done? John Stones again, after Raheem Sterling missed a sitter to make it four, and then the Kane Man made it 5-0 before halftime. Margaret Thatcher doing the dab as we speak. Relentless from England.       It didn't take long for Harry...

Toni Kroos celebrates. (c) Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images       Oh they were close, so close to being knocked out. Do these guys know when they're beaten? You   bet not.       The Germans were on the front foot as you expected, with Andreas Granqvist and Mikael Lustig doing their utmost best to stop Timo Werner and co. Germany living on the edge, as Jerome Boateng felled Markus Berg from behind in the penalty area. No penalty according to referee Szymon Marciniak. Thirty minutes had passed, when Toni Kroos saw the World Cup trophy flash through his eyes. A stray pass fell to Albin Ekdal, who picked out Toulouse forward Ola Toivonen, whose deflected effort came off Antonio Ruediger and into Manuel Neuer's unguarded net. Minutes after, Ilkay Guendogan's deflected strike was tipped away by Robin Olsen, and Granqvist prevented Thomas Mueller from turning it in. Manuel Neuer fought back in time to be fit for the tournament. On the stroke of ...

  Javier Hernandez celebrates his 50th International Goal. (c) Clive Mason/ Getty Images         The Aztec speedsters Mexico squared off against a Korea Republic side, who knew a loss means a return ticket out of Putin’s land. High in spirits after defeating world champs Germany, a win all but guarantees qualification to the Round of 16.     Juan Carlos Osorio nicknamed “the Great Rotator”, picked the same side that ensured Jogi Löw’s men left empty-handed. Carlos Vela got the South Americans from 12 yards out on course for the victory with less than quarter of an hour to go. The Asians had chances alright, with Tottenham Hotspur attacker Heung Min Son, failing to hit the target thrice on the spin after being played in from a quick counterattack. Ki-Seung Yong’s header from the resulting corner tipped over by Guillermo Ochoa. The Standard Liege stopper has registered 14 saves already this tourney.  L ook away  n ow, David De Gea....

   Chelsea man Eden Hazard on his lap of honour after getting on the scoresheet (Photo/EFE)      Belgium faced off a less-fancied North African side in Tunisia, looking to make it Win No. 21 on the spin. A brightly lit up Sochi stadium waited in expectation.     Eden Hazard got the Europeans off in less than five minutes, with probably the coolest penalty you’ve ever seen all tournament. 1-0.  Bolingoli next?  You bet. Romelu Lukaku got on the mark after being put through by Napoli hitman Dries Mertens. Two in less than quarter of an hour for Roberto Martinez’s men. Dylan Bronn’s header via Wabhi Khazri’s set-piece sparking a fightback from the Africans.  Did I hear  you say comeba ck?  Romelu Lukaku at the double in first half stoppage time. That goal made him Belgium's all-time top scorer at the Fifa World Cup (4). Game took a break, as the ref sent both sides to the dressing rooms at 3-1.   Second half...

         Xherdan Shaqiri's stoppage-time winner breaking Swiss hearts. (Photo/Getty Images)           It was the meeting of arguably Europe’s “darkest horses”. Serbia and Switzerland locked horns, with all to play for.      Few minutes into the game, Fulham target-man Aleksandr Mitrović rose highest to head in Dušan Tadić’s deft centre. 1-0 to the Serbs. Novak Djokovic in frenzy mode. Switzerland obviously came back into it, with Vladimir Stojkovic’s save preventing Dzemaili from equalising. 1-0 the first half ended.       They say this sport is a game of two halves, they were different tonight alright.    Granit Xhaka’s pirouette stunned a rooted Stojkovic. The Swiss got level after 52 minutes. And the tide did turn . Xherdan Shaqiri’s curled effort coming off the crossbar shortly after the leveller. Millimetres away. Game went from end to end, with the Swiss knowing anyth...

Nigeria's frontman Ahmed Musa enjoying his lap of honour. (Photo/AFP/Mark Raltson)     Talk about a change in fortunes . Nigeria, hapless in the first game, but clinical in the second game . CSKA Moskva speedster at the double. The result sending Messi and co into overdrive. 2-0 to Nigeria at Iceland’s expense.      Gylfi Sigurdsson hit a well-struck freekick early on which was kept out by Nigerian teenager Francis Uzoho. The Vikings huffed and puffed, but the 3 defenders employed by Genrot Rohr were peerless. Nigeria not registering a single shot on target. Guess what’s next.      Second period kicked off, and Oghene Etebo saw his neat drive saved by Haldorsson. About eight Minutes after, Victor Moses’ enterprising run down the right found Ahmed Musa, and he didn’t disappoint. The Nigerian hitting as Crisp a hit you’ll ever see. Issa Goal ⚽️⚽️ . 1-0 to the Africans: you could almost hear and see the ruckus celebrations round the globe. Q...

    Game of the tournament? Bet your house on it. Like a heavyweight boxing clash, these two illustrious teams went at each other time after time. What a game, and what a night for Cristiano: Hat-trick! Game finished 3-3.   His World Cup? (c) goal.com    It had to be him, yes it had to. Few minutes gone, Cristiano gets tripped in the penalty box. And he sent De Gea the other way. Spain then took the game by the scruff of the neck, and equalise deservedly through Diego Costa. With minutes to go to halftime, De Gea (Loris Karius) spilt Ronnie’s shot: 2-1. Taken a breath yet?   VAMOSSS CRACK!!! (c) goal.com          Second half began. Diego Costa Again with the Tap in after a neatly worked free kick. 2-2. Nacho’s thunderous drive cannoned off the woodwork and into the back of the net: 3-2! What a game: exhilarating, breathtaking, stupendous! And of course, he had to have the final word. 88 minutes gone, Cristi...

Look what it means to them. (c) theguardian.com   Patience, they say, is a virtue . And how virtuous the South Americans were. José Maria Gimenez heading in Sanchez’s cross with a minute of regulation time to go. Luis Suàrez's blushes saved.   He had an afternoon to forget, missing three gilt-edged chances: the first barely five metres away, Another in the second half, with the latter a sorry claim for a Penalty. Uruguay huffed and puffed, Egypt resisted, with Mohammed El-Shenawy’s brilliant reaction save keeping out Cavani late on in the second half. But Uruguay won’t be denied . Up stepped Atlètico Madrid’s José Maria Gimenez, who headed in his teammate’s cross to send Tabarez and his coaching staff into overdrive. Look what it meant to them. Mo’ Salah still cursing his luck. Get him jailed! The Egyptian didn't feature. His side really missed his presence. Only attempt really was an Ahmed Fathi drive which was comfortably held by Uruguay goalie Fernando Musle...

   If Russia's game was anything to go by, then we may have a ruckus of a tournament: one filled with goals. Arab money couldn't save the day, as Vlad Putin's grandkids thumped the Middle-Easterns 5-0. Today's games? Well, I could tell you Mo' Salah is fit to play. Bet you've seen this many a times.     Uruguay V Egypt is the first game of the day(12:30 pm). Long-serving coach Oscar Tabarez has the big guns in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani raring to go in attack. What a combo that is: more than 80 goals between the two players in the just-concluded club season. Beware El-Hadary. The Egyptian goalie could be playing what would most likely be his last tournament for his country. The South Americans have a decent qualifying campaign, just finishing behind favourites Brazil. One man in particular, has a date with destiny, you could say. Redemption bids for the Barcelona man this time round. He can't get the Golden Boot, yeah? Did I hear someone say...

      Well, it was the opening you dreamed of. Colours, Music, and Beauty. Robbie Williams’ performance giving us a sign of things to come.    And yes, the hosts got in front. 12 minutes it took: Alek Golovin’s expertly delivered centre headed in by Gazinsky to send the Luzhniki Stadium into overdrive. The Saudi Arabians had no shot on target, yeah (were you expecting a fight though?). Denis Cheryshev picked no better occasion picked the perfect chance to get his first international goal, roofing his effort and skipping past two men (wait for his next goal). Artem Dzyuba headed late in the second half, with his first touch, again set up by Alek Golovin. Denis Cheryshev scored his second with an absolute gem of a goal with the outside of his left foot into the top corner. Alek Golovin’s perfectly-struck free kick making it 5-0 in injury time to Stanislav’s Cherchesov’s Russian charges. Man of the match for the CSKA Moskva Playmaker. The Arabian Sheikhs stil...

Zabivaka , Russia World Cup Mascot showing some tekkers. (c)wired.com     It's here! The greatest sporting spectacle on the planet kicks off hours from now, and oh, what a month this promises to be. Can you feel it?    Vlad Putin’s own Scandinavian army, host the Arabians at the Luzhniki Stadium to kick off the footballing fiesta. The hosts have never made it past the group stage in any of the tournaments they’ve been in (1994, 2002, and 2014).The Last World Cup host to win the tournament was France in ‘98: à la Zizou. History, they say, hardly turns up the second time.    🇷🇺 Star men in Alexasndr Golovin and Alan Dzagoev (CSKA Moskva) tend to be the focal points of attack with balls being supplied to front men Artem Dzyuba and Fedor Smolov Of Krasnodar. Golovin’s party pièce thé Freekick: hits them very well. "Prepare for a barnstormer at the Luzhniki Stadium ". Home side ready to do battle (c) sportsillustrated.com     But ...

In all its beauty. (c) standard.co.uk “....Germany are the champions of the world! Once more this irrepressible nation of winners, has found its way to the top of the globe.....” -Peter Drury (SuperSport Commentator For the 2014 World Cup Final in the Maracana).        L’Allemagne took it last time in 2014 thanks to Mario Götze’s extra-time winner, with the G.O.A.T. left ruing what could have been. The last time anyone won the cup on a spin was back in 1962, Brazil (who else) got past a hapless Czechoslovakia side.  As is often the case, pretenders to the crown all lie in wait, and this time they couldn’t be more daring. Ronaldo, Messi, Brazil, France, Spain, Belgium, all in contention (lord Bendtner pulled a groin 😭):  it should be worth all the hype.  Russia host Saudi Arabia after the opening ceremony, then Uruguay square off against King Salah’s Egypt. That should be a cracker. We’ll be waiting.  Holà, Señor Perez...

    Germany's Official World Cup 2018 Squad? All the way?        You can't be serious. Who do they think they are? Germany, to win a second consecutive cup? Not even on EA's footballing franchise (Fifa 18). Only two nations have won it on a spin: Italy and recently Brazil in 1962. Czechoslovakia falling to the Samba boys in Chile.    But who'll discount these Germans? You'll be forgiven to think of them as that team in school who just found a way to get past every single team. That's an elite mentality: an inner self-belief in their own abilities. It all stems from the head coach, Joachim Loew (who has a bit of Hitler about him you could say, bar the moustache): a certain authority daring each opposition in the face. Just ask Brazil's class of 2014.     Placed In Group F alongside Mexico, Sweden, and South Korea, Der Kaiser's grandkids come into this tournament on the back of a pretty impressive qualifying campaign (a 100% w...