Pierre Boisrond has followed soccer and the World Cup
closely for many years and also writes for other websites. We at PWC are proud to have him as
a columnist. He will share his views about the past, present and future of
the World Cup.
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Substitutes rescued Belgium; “Memo” Ochoa stopped Brazil
Day 6 of the World Cup started with Belgium and Algeria. It was great to
see Belgium back to the World Cup after 28 years when Diego Armando Maradona eliminated them in Mexico 1986. It was Erwin Vandenberg in
1982 who scored the winning goal for Belgium against Argentina and also gave Maradona his first defeat in a World Cup game. Today it was
not Argentina but Algeria in front of the Belgians. Belgium dominated the game but they found it very difficult to pierce the Algerian
defense. Ironically, it was the Algerians who went ahead on a penalty kick converted by Feghouli in the 25th minute.
Despite the Belgian domination, the men conducted by the talented Hazard could not find the bottom of the net.
It was not until the 70th minute that Feillani, the substitute, beautifully headed the ball to the bottom of the Algerian net after a
magnificent cross by De Bruyne. It was a well-deserved equalizer for the Belgians. In the 80th minute, the Algerians found themselves
at the receiving end of a deadly counter attack but they could not do anything about it as the talented Hazard served a sublime ball to
Martens who voraciously buried the ball in the Algerian net to put Belgium up 2-1 and earned their first three points in a World Cup
after 28 years. I predicted that Belgium would win the game 2-0, but they ended up winning it 2-1. I was expected more from them but
it was their first game in the tournament.
The game of the day for Day 6 was Brazil vs Mexico. It was a hard-fought match. Both national teams played
extremely hard, but the hero of the day was Mexico’s goalie Guillermo Ochoa who rose to the occasion and prevented Brazil from four
clear scoring opportunities. The Mexicans played with great confidence, they were organized and they also pressed Brazil as well. They
were not afraid to attack the host country and they earned a valuable point that put them in control of their own destiny in group A.
Despite Brazil’s dominance in terms of possessing the ball for a long period of time in the first half, the
men conducted by Neymar were unable to find the bottom of the Mexican net.
In the second half, the Brazilians came with determination to snatch those 3 points but the Mexican goalie
“Memo” Ochoa was a giant in goal. He stopped Neymar in numerous occasions but saved his best save for last by stopping the dangerous
header of Thiago Silva. This was a virtuoso performance by the Mexican goalie and the best performance so far by any goalie in this
tournament. This was a gutsy performance by Mexico. Indeed, a gutsy performance that will build their confidence as they progress in
this tournament. My prediction for this game was 3-0 in favor of Brazil. Bravo Mexico! Bravo Mexico! I am speechless.
The last game of day 6 was Russia vs North Korea. I predicted the Russians to win the game 2-0 but the game
ended 1-1. I was 33% right for day 6. This game was very scrappy. None of the teams offered anything spectacular. The Russian goalie,
Igor Akinfeev, gave a gift to the South Koreans in the 68th minute. Luckily for the Russian goalie, the substitute, Alan Dzagoev, tied
the game for the Russians in the 74th minute. Both teams shared a point to keep their hope alive in the tournament.
Now it is time to predict the results for Day 7:
Australia 0 – Netherlands 2
Spain 1 – Chile 1
Croatia 2- Cameroon 1
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