23RD JUNE
BELGIUM VS TUNISIA
Match kicks off at 13:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 12:15 (BST). Presented by Gary Lineker, analysis from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Pablo Zabaleta, commentary from Steve Bower and Phil Neville.
Belgium started their campaign off with a 3-0 win over Panama but it really wasn’t as comfortable as the score line suggests. In fact it took a wonder goal from Mertens to break the deadlock and from there, the game opened up and they ran out deserved winners. They are going to have to be much better in this game because they are up against the same sort of organisation but much better quality. Martinez can’t put De Bruyne as one of the 2 defensive midfielders again, if he does then Belgium wont go far in this competition, he needs to be further forward.
Goal scorers so far:
Lukaku (2), Mertens (1).
Tunisia started their tournament with a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to England, conceding in the last minute. However, it was a deserved defeat as they never showed any ambition, and were lucky to have been awarded a penalty to level the score. Add to all that their playacting was ridiculous. I don’t think they’ll get away with all those antics in this game because we refs have surely been told to look out for it. I expect their organisation will cause Belgium a lot of problems though.
Goal scorers so far:
Sassi (1).
Group G as it stands:
SOUTH KOREA VS MEXICO
Match kicks off at 16:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 15:25 (BST). Presented by Jacqui Oatley, analysis from Martin O’Neill, Eni Aluko and Slaven Bilic, commentary from Joe Speight and Iain Dowie.
South Korea started their World Cup with a 1-0 defeat to Sweden courtesy of a VAR-awarded penalty in what was otherwise a fairly uneventful game. Ki controlled and ran things from the centre of midfield for South Korea but Son Heung-Min was well off the pace and needs to perform better in this game if South Korea are to have a chance.
No goal scorers so far.
Mexico put in the performance of the 1st round of fixtures beating Germany 1-0 thanks to a breakaway goal from Lozano. They really could have won that game by 3 or 4 but poor finishing let them down towards the end of the game. They will want to win this game and try to finish top in order to avoid Brazil in the knockout rounds. I expect they’ll be on it from the start in this game, still buzzing from their last game.
Goal scorers so far:
Lozano (1).
Group F as it stands:
GERMANY VS SWEDEN
Match kicks off at 19:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 18:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Pougatch, analysis from Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Patrice Evra and Henrik Larsson, commentary from Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon.
Germany were outfought and outclassed in their first game vs Mexico, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat. Germany weren’t without chances in the game but they did begin to run out of ideas. Even more baffling that they don’t have a game changer like Leroy Sane on the bench. Germany go into this game probably needing to win in order to progress, otherwise it might be asking too much to wait until the last game.
No goal scorers so far.
Sweden played out a fairly drab game vs South Korea in their Matchday 1 but they came away with the win thanks to a deserved VAR-awarded penalty. Suprisingly centre half and captain Granqvist too the penalty. If you offered Sweden a draw in this game they’d take it and knowing Germany need a win, you get the feeling they are just going to sit back and play on the counter. If they win they pretty much seal qualification.
Goal scorers so far:
Granqvist (1).
Group F subject to change due to earlier game.
BELGIUM VS TUNISIA
Match kicks off at 13:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 12:15 (BST). Presented by Gary Lineker, analysis from Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Pablo Zabaleta, commentary from Steve Bower and Phil Neville.
Belgium started their campaign off with a 3-0 win over Panama but it really wasn’t as comfortable as the score line suggests. In fact it took a wonder goal from Mertens to break the deadlock and from there, the game opened up and they ran out deserved winners. They are going to have to be much better in this game because they are up against the same sort of organisation but much better quality. Martinez can’t put De Bruyne as one of the 2 defensive midfielders again, if he does then Belgium wont go far in this competition, he needs to be further forward.
Goal scorers so far:
Lukaku (2), Mertens (1).
Tunisia started their tournament with a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat to England, conceding in the last minute. However, it was a deserved defeat as they never showed any ambition, and were lucky to have been awarded a penalty to level the score. Add to all that their playacting was ridiculous. I don’t think they’ll get away with all those antics in this game because we refs have surely been told to look out for it. I expect their organisation will cause Belgium a lot of problems though.
Goal scorers so far:
Sassi (1).
Group G as it stands:
SOUTH KOREA VS MEXICO
Match kicks off at 16:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 15:25 (BST). Presented by Jacqui Oatley, analysis from Martin O’Neill, Eni Aluko and Slaven Bilic, commentary from Joe Speight and Iain Dowie.
South Korea started their World Cup with a 1-0 defeat to Sweden courtesy of a VAR-awarded penalty in what was otherwise a fairly uneventful game. Ki controlled and ran things from the centre of midfield for South Korea but Son Heung-Min was well off the pace and needs to perform better in this game if South Korea are to have a chance.
No goal scorers so far.
Mexico put in the performance of the 1st round of fixtures beating Germany 1-0 thanks to a breakaway goal from Lozano. They really could have won that game by 3 or 4 but poor finishing let them down towards the end of the game. They will want to win this game and try to finish top in order to avoid Brazil in the knockout rounds. I expect they’ll be on it from the start in this game, still buzzing from their last game.
Goal scorers so far:
Lozano (1).
Group F as it stands:
GERMANY VS SWEDEN
Match kicks off at 19:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 18:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Pougatch, analysis from Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Patrice Evra and Henrik Larsson, commentary from Sam Matterface and Lee Dixon.
Germany were outfought and outclassed in their first game vs Mexico, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat. Germany weren’t without chances in the game but they did begin to run out of ideas. Even more baffling that they don’t have a game changer like Leroy Sane on the bench. Germany go into this game probably needing to win in order to progress, otherwise it might be asking too much to wait until the last game.
No goal scorers so far.
Sweden played out a fairly drab game vs South Korea in their Matchday 1 but they came away with the win thanks to a deserved VAR-awarded penalty. Suprisingly centre half and captain Granqvist too the penalty. If you offered Sweden a draw in this game they’d take it and knowing Germany need a win, you get the feeling they are just going to sit back and play on the counter. If they win they pretty much seal qualification.
Goal scorers so far:
Granqvist (1).
Group F subject to change due to earlier game.