Australia went to Canada to see about a Turkiye, and Irankunda Little, and Met(a)calfe

 1/13ths of the World Cup

 

 

The United States' victory over Paraguay meant that Australia and Turkiye needed a win not to get left in the chasing pack. Australia have never made it past the Round of 16 at a World Cup. Turkiye, though only at their 3rd World Cup, finished in 3rd place in 2002. Head to Head, Australia had not beaten Turkiye ever, losing both friendlies played in May of 2004. This warm evening in Vancouver would tell a different tale. Nestory Irankunda would score the opening goal in the 27th minute to put Australia ahead. Turkiye would dominate the match in many statistics such as their 30 shots to Australia's 9, 90% passes completed to Australia's 74%, 8 corners to Australia's 5, and 13 free kicks to Australia's 7. Australia was also contending with the mysterious absence of Mathew Ryan, the experienced goalkeeper and captain of the team who found himself observedly unhappy to be starting on the bench. In his stead was 22 year old Patrick Beach who was able to keep a clean sheet against the Turkish onslaught. it was Connor Metcalfe who put the nail in Turkiye's coffin for the night with a goal in the 75th minute. Australia trail the United States only on goal differential. Turkiye sit currently in third for the same reason. 

 

 

With the only perfect pick on the day thanks to Scotland's 1-0 victory over Haiti, our outstanding performance goes to a competitor who has started slowly but may be heating up. Jumping up 2 spots with his daily high of 12 points, congratulations to Historicus.

 

 

The next matches will start in roughly one hour. If you watched Australia and Turkiye to the end, I hope you get to take a nap. If not, be ready for the 4 matches that are up and coming.

 

 

Scotland's Tournament McGinn's

 7/104ths of the World Cup

  

 

Scotland 28

Haiti 56

Scotland and Haiti have never met in a football match. Their opportunities to do so at a World Cup Tournament were few. Scotland has not qualified for a World Cup in 28 years. Haiti have doubled that time frame missing out on the World Cup for 56 consecutive years. They opened up group play knowing that a victory would leave them top of the group for a brief moment in certainty. Scotland would find fortune first in the 28th minute as John McGinn's shot would deflect off of Danley Jean Jacques's thigh onto Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's outstretched foot, up and to the right of a diving Johny Placide. Haiti would turn on the pressure for the rest of the match besting Scotland in all things but finishing. A dominating performance on the ball counts for nothing when you cannot score a goal. Haiti sit at the bottom of the group while Scotland are in first place.

 

 

As we most likely head to bed for the night, there is one more match that will start and finish on this calendar day in Vancouver. Turkiye and Australia battle for a chance to top Canada's group. If The Grand Salmon Alpaca cannot stay awake to the end of this match, the daily review will commence in the morning. That is all. 

Morocco Ismael-ing until Brazil Vinicius-ly Scores

 3/52nds of the World Cup

  

 

Brazil met Morocco in the 1998 World Cup winning 3 goals to 0. This year, they opened up the tournament against the Atlas Lions once again. Morocco finished fourth at the World Cup of 2022, while Brazil were knocked out of the second straight World Cup in the Quarterfinals courtesy of Croatia. Both teams met as the only two top ten ranked teams in the same group. Morocco would start the party in the 21st minute thanks to Ismael Saibari chipping the ball over an rushing out Alisson. Vinicius Junior would tie the match at 32 minutes. Though both teams would strive to break the deadlock, they finished with 1 point each, leaving room for either Scotland or Haiti to win and sit atop the group in the next match.

 

 

 

It takes Nerves of Breel to Score a Penalty, and a Fortune Khoukie to Earn a Draw!

 5/104ths of the World Cup

  

  

 

The first and only prior meeting between Qatar and Switzerland was a friendly contest in November of 2018. Fans in Lugano watched in despair as Qatar won thanks to a goal by Akram Afif in the 86th minute. The two faced off for the second time ever in their opening match of Group B. Switzerland would take a 1-0 lead when Breel Embolo would convert a penalty kick in the 17th minute. Switzerland have yet to score a goal from the run of play against Qatar. The Maroon One are developing a taste for late goals against Switzerland. Boualem Khoukhi would strike in the 90th minute plus 4 of extra time to split a point apiece against Switzerland. All four teams now sit on one point. With discipline scores and FIFA rankings the deciding factors to break ties, every team has something to play for.

 

 

When you can't Stop Reyna-ing the Goals!

1/26ths of the World Cup 

  

 

The United States and Paraguay played one another for the first time at the World Cup of 1930. The United States won that meeting 3-0. Bert Patenaude became the first player to secure a hattrick at a World Cup. This meeting would prove to be just as painful for Paraguay. The scoring opened off of an own goal by Damian Bobadella. Folarin Balogun would then pick up a brace to extend the lead to 3-0. Brazilian born Mauricio would give Paraguay some hope by scoring in the 73rd minute for his adopted country. Gio Reyna would put an exclamation mark on the match scoring the fourth and final goal for the United States just before the final whistle. Mexico found victory in their opening match 2-0, Canada fought back for a 1-1 draw, but the United States have come out strongest of the three co-hosts. 

  

 

No one found a perfect match today. The performance of Match Day 2 belongs to the current leader. The 9 points Musicus earned have extended his lead at the top to 4 points. His impressive 11 Oracle points over the first two days are the most in the tournament so far. Here's to the Maestro!

We are 1/26th of the way through this tournament. The action picks up tomorrow with 3 matches on calendar day 6/13, followed by a match that kicks off at midnight on the east coast. If your fortune has been fine, may it continue. If you find your points lacking, may tomorrow bring you better luck.

Sleep Well My Crias,

 

When your Lukić Runs Out.

3/104ths of the World Cup 

  

 

The Canadian National Football Team has never won a match at a FIFA World Cup. They hope to change that statistic as co-hosts of The 2026 World Cup. Their opening match was a welcoming back of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hardly a fair contest, having to face 2 nations at once, the stadium in Toronto was very much up to the challenge. Circumstances would look bleak after a strong Canadian performance left nothing to show for in the opening 20 minutes. Bosnia and Herzegovina would find fortune atop the head of Jovo Lukić in the 21st minute. Canada seemed to lose steam as they headed into the dressing room for halftime. In the second 45 minutes, Canada came out with newly lit desire for goals. While Bosnia and Herzegovina weren't without their chances, it was Les Rouges who pressed on just missing out on several scoring attempts. One particular shot found its way to the foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Sead Kolašinac. Sead was credited with an assist earlier in the match, and proved to be a sort of talisman in this instance as well. As he kicked the ball up, very close to scoring an own goal, the ball would bounce off the crossbar and out of play. Bosnia and Herzegovina were poised to hold on for victory. It would be Canada's Cyle Larin who would tie the match at 1 goal apiece in the 78th minute giving Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 point off the draw each. Certainly not the best start for either team, but both will take it and move on. 

 

  

 

Oh Hyeon-gyu-nna Score the Game Winning Goal?

1/52nds of the World Cup 

  

 

Czechia took the lead in their first World Cup match in 20 years thanks to the head of Ladislav Krecji. Hwang Inbeom would tie the score just 8 minutes later. A key moment in the match happened around the 77th minute as Pavel Sulc would head the ball into South Korea's goal. VAR would rule the goal offside striking it from the record. This would allow Oh Hyeon-gyu to score the match winning goal in the 80th minute. South Korea sit 2nd in Group A behind Mexico on goal difference. Czechia sit ahead of South Africa on 0 points but a better goal difference.

 

 

The first match day is in the books. Three players had a perfect pick in South Korea vs Czechia. The player of the day picked both Mexico and South Korea to win, and racked up 7 Oracle Points total. Congratulations on your performance Musicus.

 

Day 2 starts at 3:00 pm with Canada hosting Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by the nightcap of United States hosting Paraguay at 9:00 pm. Sleep well my Crias, there are 38 more days to this World Cup.