BHARGAB SARMAH
KAZAN: It’s finally curtains for the group stages of the World Cup with three-fourth of the total matches completed. And while spotlights will immediately shift to the Kazan Arena where heavyweights France kick of the prequarterfinals against Argentina on Saturday, there is still a lingering disbelief over how defending champions Germany were shown the door.
“They don’t win much here,” said a taxi driver while taking this reporter to the Spartak Stadium for the Brazil-serbia game, his remark being a sly reference to the second World War.
South Korea’s win over Germany also meant that barring Australia, all other teams representing Asia have won at least one game, Japan being the only Asian side to advance. Most impressive were Iran who came within inches of topping Group B but for a late miss from Mehdi Taremi against Portugal. This wasn’t the time for Africa though, with all five teams crashing out to leave a knockout stage without a nation from the continent for the first time since 1982.
Their early ousters notwithstanding, Senegal, Morocco and Nigeria in particular, did well. Most unfortunate exit however was that of Senegal who lost out to Japan due to fair play.
Among the other big guns, not all teams managed to impress. France lumbered to unimpressive wins over Australia and Peru on way to topping their group, while Brazil showed signs of peaking after a dull 1-1 draw against Switzerland. Belgium will draw strength from their 1-0 win against England as well.
Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo to thank for single-handedly hauling them to an actionpacked 3-3 draw against Spain but their struggle since then reiterates how football is not about
2010 2010 2014 Field Penalty 2014 (Till group stage)
Who is the only player to have won three World Cups?
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