World Cup Recap: Day 10
Kroos scores last-gasp winner for Germany; Mexico and Belgium also triumphant
Jun 23, 2018, 9:09 pm
Excitement at the 2018 FIFA World Cup only amplified as Belgium, Mexico and Germany all picked up thrilling wins. Germany’s win left the qualifying possibilities open in Group F while Belgium and Tunisia await the result of Sunday’s match between England and Panama.
Spartak Stadium, Moscow
Attendance: 44,190
After a 3-0 win in their opener against Panama, Belgium gave another dominating display that showed why they are among the countries with possibilities to win the tournament. Tunisia hardly gave itself a chance, conceding a penalty during the first five minutes of the match. Chelsea standout Eden Hazard would convert for the spot to put the Belgians up in the sixth minute. Manchester United striker Romelo Lukaku scored in the 18th minute to increase the lead to 2-nil. A set piece would give Tunisia hope as 23-year-old Dylan Bronn - a defender in the Belgian League - headed in a goal to cut the score to 2-1. Lukaku would score again, just before halftime, as he chipped the keeper to increase Belgium’s lead back to two goals. 3-1 Belgium at halftime.
The Belgians would return in the second half with determination to see out the result. Six minutes after halftime, Hazard received a long ball ball between two defenders and scored his second of the day. Hazard and Lukaku would be rested as the half went on and others like Yannick Carrasco and Michy Batshuayi would pick up the attacking responsibilities the Red Devils. Batshuayi would cap off a great season in Europe by showing the continuation of his good form in this match and scoring Belgium’s fifth in the 90th minute. The Carthage Eagles would pick up a consolation goal in stoppage time thanks to Wahbi Khazri.
Analysis: Belgium were the far better team on paper but especially given the unpredictability of this World Cup, they still had to come out and show it. They executed to perfection and picked up the six points they needed. Tunisia had to play a perfect match and failed by giving away a penalty so early. Regardless, neither team qualified or was eliminated from advancing to the next round as we await the result of Sunday’s England vs. Panama match. An England victory or draw would clinch a berth for the Belgians while Tunisia will need a long-shot win from Panama to say alive.
Notable stat: Lukaku and Hazard are the first duo to score twice in the same World Cup match since Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle did so in Germany’s 7-1 win over Brazil in 2014.
Rostov Arena, Rostov-On-Don
Attendance: 43,472
Mexico and South Korea traded opportunities early but discipline would determine the result of this match. Both goalkeepers would come up with two important saves in the first half but the defining moment came in the 24th minute when a Korean defender Jang Hyunsoo had his hand raised during a defensive slide, prompting the referee to call handball and award a penalty in favor of El Tri. Los Angeles FC striker Carlos Vela would convert from the spot and put Mexico up 1-nil.
The lead gave Mexico confidence and freedom to make more quality attempts and the national team’s all-time leading scorer, Javier Hernandez, would pick up his 50th international goal in the 66th minute. Son Heung-min, the top Korean scorer in Premier League history, would take a shot from range in second half stoppage time to put South Korea on the board. The match would end 2-1, with all eyes on the following match between Germany and Sweden to see what the score would amount to.
Analysis: Mexico were confident they could walk away with the win and completed the task. They inched closer to advancing to the round of 16 and are in pole position to finish top of the group. Still, nothing is guaranteed give the result of Germany vs. Sweden. The most important detail is that the Mexicans hold their destiny in their hands as they approach the last matchday. Thanks to Germany’s win over Sweden, Korea are still alive but will need a win versus the Germans to have any hope of advancing.
Notable stat: Javier Hernandez became the first Mexican scorer to reach the half-century mark in goals with the national team. He also joined Luis Hernandez as the only Mexicans to score four goals in FIFA World Cups and joined Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Rafa Marquez as the third Mexican to score in three World Cups.
Fisht Stadium, Sochi
Attendance: 44,287
Germany were looking to reverse their fortunes after dropping their opening match to Mexico while Sweden were aiming for three points to secure their passage into the next phase. The Germans had some chances but were lucky not to have had a penalty called against them in the 13th minute. The Sweden team would remain true to their cause and would be rewarded by punishing Germany. Ola Toivonen chipped a ball over Manuel Neuer to put Sweden up 1-0, sending the Germans to the locker room with a feeling of embarrassment.
Manager Joachim Löw must have given a good speech at halftime because Germany would return with fury in the second half. Marco Reus would get the equalizer in the 48th minute but Germany would struggle to find the back of the net after that, despite multiple attempts. As desperation built, Germany would be left with 10-men to finish the job as defender Jerome Boateng received his second yellow - and ejection - in the 82nd minute. A set piece opportunity in stoppage time would give Germany one last hope, with Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos converting to become a national hero.
Analysis: This result keeps everything in the group wide open, with all to be determined on the last matchday. The defending champions were fortunate to get out of this match with a win, staving off elimination and keeping their back-to-back title hopes alive. Germany also earned the opportunity to control their destiny in their final match against Korea. For Sweden, this was a missed opportunity but cool heads must prevails as a win against Mexico will still send the Swedes to the knockout phase.
Notable stat: Toni Kroos’ goal is the latest winner scored at a FIFA World Cup (94:39), passing up Francesco Totti’s goal for Italy (94:26) against Australia in 2006.
Sunday, June 24
7 a.m. - [Group G] England vs. Panama (FS1, Telemundo)
10 a.m. - [Group H] Japan vs. Senegal (FOX, Telemundo)
1 p.m. - [Group H] Poland vs. Colombia (FOX, Telemundo)
The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!