Our feature columnist, John Newsome previews this year’s Football World Championship Qatar’22- Semi-Final with his unique and insightful commentary. You can view all previous analysis from John’s regular column here: English Premier League Predictions For Saturday.
Please note all prices quoted below were correct at the time of publication
Football World Championship Qatar’22 Semi-Final
Tuesday, December 13th
CROATIA v ARGENTINA
Whilst this EveryTip column predicted (like most!) a Brazil victory against Croatia and ultimately lifting the coveted trophy, John Newsome apologises to absolutely no one following the lethargic display put in by the Samba Boys on Friday.
Croatia had a game plan with the 3 Midfielders, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric (can one refer to them as M and M and M?) controlling for the majority of the game, however, like an old Lada from the Communist Block, ran out of juice towards the end and a more fitter, more vibrant team would eventually overrun the 3.
Brazil didn’t and concentrated more on attacking from back to front and not getting involved in a Midfield battle.
This ultimately proved the difference and despite conceding a goal late into Extra-Time, scored an equaliser through Bruno Petrovic to take the tie to a penalty shootout.
As one knows, that scenario then becomes a lottery.
The enigmatic Neymar, who had scored the Brazil goal, decided that he would take the 5th penalty, obviously to steal the limelight and the glory.
Unfortunately, for the (peroxide) Blonde Haired Maestro, Brazil missed 2 and with Croatia converting all 5, the game was over before Neymar got the chance to take.
In hindsight, the lad should have gone first to settle the nerves.
Funnily enough, there wasn’t any dancing, strange that especially as the Oasis tune, Stop Crying Your Heart Out blasted out of the tannoy.
The Croatians weren’t crying and if they were, it was tears of joy with their Kockasti Idols booking a place in the World Cup Semi-Final, in a repeat of 4 years ago in Russia.
That time it was England, this time it’s Argentina who are the opposition.
One thing to mention regarding Brazil and this may appear harsh but just stating a fact.
Neymar scored in the 105th minute.
The Brazilian Dancing Manager Tite introduced Fred at the start of the 2nd period of extra time when Brazil were leading.
Croatia equalised 10 minutes later, then as mentioned went on to win a penalty shootout.
It appears Brazil won’t win anything with Fred either.
La Albiceleste were simply too good for De Oranje, with Argentina finally inflicting a defeat on the Netherlands following another penalty shootout.
At full-time the game eventually ended in a draw by a 2-2 scoreline.
It appeared that Louis Van Gaal couldn’t get the tactics right for 80 minutes with Holland second-best in every department, apart from passing the ball sideways.
At times it was like the Dutch players hadn’t realised that this was a Quarter-Final of a World Cup.
When Argentina had scored twice, suddenly the Netherlands started to play and pulled 2 goals back from the ex-Burnley Striker Wout Weghorst.
Wout is currently on loan at Besiktas, from Burnley, taken there by the ex-Barnsley gaffer, Valerian Ismael.
Fortunately, that man Lionel Messi, who was instrumental in the victory, providing an assist for the opener and then scoring a penalty before the Dutch comeback, gets to play in this Semi-Final against Croatia.
It could be considered a shame that it’s not Brazil v Argentina, however, that’s not how football works.
It’s about playing on the Rectangular Green Grass, not in the hearts and minds of the Romantics of the Beautiful Game.
Could Limpy Lionel replicate the great Diego Maradona in helping Argentina to a World Cup victory, as the Little Man did in Mexico’86?
Watch out for the Hand of God Croatia (and the Referee!)
Betfred offer Croatia at 4/1, the draw at 23/10 and slight Odds On 5/6 for Argentina to progress to the Final after 90 Minutes.
Betfred offer 3/1 that Lionel Messi Scores First and 13/8 that there are Under 1.5 Goals.
Argentina Win 1-0- Get 9/2 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
Wednesday, December 14th
FRANCE v MOROCCO
John Newsome stated in the first World Cup Preview on the 15th of November, that England wouldn’t win a World Cup with Harry Maguire at the back and whilst the similar mantra regarding Fred, Manchester United and now Brazil continues, John actually hoped that the initial statement would be proved wrong.
Whilst Harry can be applauded for the contribution put into the 5 games, ultimately, the statement came true.
When England faced the USA a couple of weeks ago, Gareth Southgate was seen talking to the legendary Astronaut, Neil Armstrong.
At the time it wasn’t clear what the conversation was about but following the France Quarter-Final, it’s obvious now that Gareth was enquiring as to whether Mr Armstrong would be prepared to go back to the Moon and collect the ball that was kicked up there by Harry Kane.
If one had placed their mortgage on Harry scoring the 2nd penalty against the French on Saturday, a lot would be homeless this morning.
As it turned out, HK, kicked the ball over the bar and up into the Qatar night sky.
Neil turned his phone off.
Beautiful!
There wasn’t much between the two teams but at this level, it’s fine margins that win a game and the fine margin was Harry Kane not able to convert the 2nd penalty.
Where’s Gary Lineker when you need him?
This was written back on the 15th of June, 2022 following 4 UEFA Nations League matches and whilst not 100% accurate isn’t far off.
‘A different mindset isn’t it, Gareth Southgate is negative and maybe has reached his peak.
England have reached the top of the mountain.
It’s downhill now, the hierarchy won’t get rid of Gareth because he’s supposedly got credit in the bank but the players he picks aren’t going to improve.
Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane, all will no doubt start in the World Cup but all won’t improve, that’s the problem, so England may not even progress from the Group and at best, the last 16.
There’s no progression, Jack Grealish got 136 minutes in the 4 Nations League games.
Mr Southgate brought Harry Maguire on when England were 3-nil down against Hungary, that’s it, that’s the peak, Everest, it’s the descent now mark these sad words.’
There’s no doubt that Jude Bellingham has come out of this Qatar’22 World Cup with glowing praise, however, ultimately, England, with Jude in the starting eleven were knocked out in the Quarter-Finals.
Jack Grealish was on the Desert Sand-Dunes for a total of 87 minutes in the 5 games of this tournament.
One of those minutes was in the fixture against France.
One minute!
That was in the 98th when John Stones couldn’t continue.
Gareth is a reactive Manager, not proactive and in these times of 5 substitutes, a lot of Managers are using the bench in a positive way to try a gain a victory.
France took the lead in the 78th minute.
Mr Southgate made England’s first substitute in the 79th minute.
As Eni Aluko would say,
Do the Math on that.
One Probably should mention France seeing as it was actually Didier Deschamps Les Bleus that progressed to this Semi-Final and are two games away from retaining the World Cup.
A speculative shot by Aurelien Tchouameni then an Olivier Giroud goal was enough to give France the victory by a 2-1 scoreline.
A lot, including Gary Neville, have questioned the referee and the decisions made, however, England were awarded 2 penalties, which rarely occurs in a major fixture and still lost.
It wasn’t the referee who smashed the ball up to the Moon.
It wasn’t the referee that allowed a 30-yard (25 but one likes to be dramatic!) shot to go through Jude’s legs (Megnuts!) and into the back of the net and it wasn’t the referee that allowed France’s all-time leading goal scorer space in the box to head the eventual winner.
Can’t blame the referee Gary!
This World Cup has thrown up a lot of shocks and surprises, however, 2 of these 4 Semi-Final teams were in the last 4 in Russia’2018 and the finalists could be a repeat of that tournament.
Betfred offer France at Odds On 8/15, the draw at 3/1 and 13/2 for Morocco to progress to the Final after 90 Minutes.
Betfred offer 11/4 that Kylian Mbappe Scores First and 6/5 that France Win To Nil.
France Win 2-0- Get 5/1 on Betfred & Claim your new account welcome offer!
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