Good start, but c'mon. It was Iran. A French or German under-16 side woulda been a bigger challenge.
2022 World Cup
- Thread starter Blackleaf
- Start date
Iran are ranked 20th in the world, so they are no pushovers. Wales are 19th and USA are 16th.
Dutch leave it late against Senegal
Group A
Senegal 0-2 Netherlands
Two late goals from the Netherlands sealed a crucial victory in their World Cup opener against Senegal in Group A.
PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to the ball when it was chipped in by Frenkie de Jong to nod the Dutch in front with six minutes remaining.
Substitute Davy Klaassen then pounced on a rebound from Memphis Depay's shot to add a second deep into stoppage-time to confirm the success.
Gakpo whirled away in celebration in front of the Senegal fans behind the goal as the Dutch supporters, together in a sea of orange at the other end of the Al Thumama Stadium, rose to their feet.
They were already chanting their team's name as they knew victory was near before Klaassen made sure in the ninth and final minute of injury time.
Senegal, who had threatened throughout the match, came close to equalising before that when Papa Gueye fired a finish towards the bottom left corner, but Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert got his fingertips to it.
It was a match that teased a goal for long periods but both sides lacked ruthlessness. Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal even risked the fitness of Depay to bring him on as a second-half substitute in the hope of finding a way through.
The risk paid off as the Netherlands secured a vital three points I'm a game many believe could decide the winners of Group A.
They now sit joint-top in the group with Ecuador, who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 on Sunday evening.
Senegal, without injured key forward Sadio Mane during the competition, looked like a side missing their main attacking threat but can take confidence from the number of times they troubled the Dutch defence.
Group A
Senegal 0-2 Netherlands
Two late goals from the Netherlands sealed a crucial victory in their World Cup opener against Senegal in Group A.
PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to the ball when it was chipped in by Frenkie de Jong to nod the Dutch in front with six minutes remaining.
Substitute Davy Klaassen then pounced on a rebound from Memphis Depay's shot to add a second deep into stoppage-time to confirm the success.
Gakpo whirled away in celebration in front of the Senegal fans behind the goal as the Dutch supporters, together in a sea of orange at the other end of the Al Thumama Stadium, rose to their feet.
They were already chanting their team's name as they knew victory was near before Klaassen made sure in the ninth and final minute of injury time.
Senegal, who had threatened throughout the match, came close to equalising before that when Papa Gueye fired a finish towards the bottom left corner, but Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert got his fingertips to it.
It was a match that teased a goal for long periods but both sides lacked ruthlessness. Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal even risked the fitness of Depay to bring him on as a second-half substitute in the hope of finding a way through.
The risk paid off as the Netherlands secured a vital three points I'm a game many believe could decide the winners of Group A.
They now sit joint-top in the group with Ecuador, who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 on Sunday evening.
Senegal, without injured key forward Sadio Mane during the competition, looked like a side missing their main attacking threat but can take confidence from the number of times they troubled the Dutch defence.
A draw for England against USA on Friday might be enough.
Gareth Bale, who scored the equalising penalty for Wales, plays for Los Angeles FC.
Bale had "no doubts" before historic Wales goal
Group B
USA 1-1 Wales
Gareth Bale said he had "no doubts" about taking the penalty which brought Wales' first World Cup goal since 1958 in their 1-1 draw with the USA.
Timothy Weah's calm finish looked set to give the US victory until Bale was fouled by Walker Zimmerman and stepped up to score the 82nd-minute penalty.
Captain Bale told ITV: "Yeah, [it was] always [going to be] me. No doubts in my head. I feel like I have to step up and I'm happy to do so."
Wales play Iran next up on Friday.
Boss Rob Page said "once against it's all about Bale" after the Los Angeles FC forward's 41st international goal.
When asked if Bale was always going to take the penalty, he told ITV: "A million percent. He's never let us down."
Wales were deservedly behind at half-time in Doha through Weah's 36th-minute opener, but improved after bringing on target man Kieffer Moore for Daniel James at the break.
"To go a goal behind against a good team was similar to Switzerland at Euro 2020 [a 1-1 draw in their opening game]," added Page.
"We showed character and determination to come back. It was important not to lose the first game. Credit to the lads for the shift they put in.
"That [change up front] was nothing about Dan. It just suited Kieffer to get us up the pitch. We couldn't play through their press. It made a big difference."
Bale said: "It was not a good first half. They played really well and we played poorly.
"We were torn up by the gaffer at half-time and changed a few things. The boys came out fighting and battling. We looked like we were going to win from the start of the second half.
"It was a great point from where we were. We showed character, we go again."
Page, though, said "the medical team will have work to do" before their match against an Iran side that lost 6-2 to England in their opening Group B game.
"We have players not playing week in, week out, they are cramping up," he added.
Bale said: "Our second-half performance was fantastic. It gave us a lot of confidence. Now it's all about recovering and let's get going again."
www.bbc.co.uk
Group B
USA 1-1 Wales
Gareth Bale said he had "no doubts" about taking the penalty which brought Wales' first World Cup goal since 1958 in their 1-1 draw with the USA.
Timothy Weah's calm finish looked set to give the US victory until Bale was fouled by Walker Zimmerman and stepped up to score the 82nd-minute penalty.
Captain Bale told ITV: "Yeah, [it was] always [going to be] me. No doubts in my head. I feel like I have to step up and I'm happy to do so."
Wales play Iran next up on Friday.
Boss Rob Page said "once against it's all about Bale" after the Los Angeles FC forward's 41st international goal.
When asked if Bale was always going to take the penalty, he told ITV: "A million percent. He's never let us down."
Wales were deservedly behind at half-time in Doha through Weah's 36th-minute opener, but improved after bringing on target man Kieffer Moore for Daniel James at the break.
"To go a goal behind against a good team was similar to Switzerland at Euro 2020 [a 1-1 draw in their opening game]," added Page.
"We showed character and determination to come back. It was important not to lose the first game. Credit to the lads for the shift they put in.
"That [change up front] was nothing about Dan. It just suited Kieffer to get us up the pitch. We couldn't play through their press. It made a big difference."
Bale said: "It was not a good first half. They played really well and we played poorly.
"We were torn up by the gaffer at half-time and changed a few things. The boys came out fighting and battling. We looked like we were going to win from the start of the second half.
"It was a great point from where we were. We showed character, we go again."
Page, though, said "the medical team will have work to do" before their match against an Iran side that lost 6-2 to England in their opening Group B game.
"We have players not playing week in, week out, they are cramping up," he added.
Bale said: "Our second-half performance was fantastic. It gave us a lot of confidence. Now it's all about recovering and let's get going again."
Bale had 'no doubts' before historic Wales penalty
Gareth Bale says he had "no doubts" about taking the penalty which brought Wales' first World Cup goal since 1958 to seal a 1-1 draw with the USA.
www.bbc.co.uk
Standings
Group A
Netherlands - 3
Ecuador - 3
Senegal - 0
Qatar - 0
Group B
England - 3
Wales - 1
USA - 1
Iran - 0
Tomorrow:
Group C
Argentina Vs Saudi Arabia (10:00am UK time)
Group D
Denmark Vs Tunisia (13:00)
Group C
Mexico Vs Poland (16:00)
Group D
France Vs Australia (19:00)
Group A
Netherlands - 3
Ecuador - 3
Senegal - 0
Qatar - 0
Group B
England - 3
Wales - 1
USA - 1
Iran - 0
Tomorrow:
Group C
Argentina Vs Saudi Arabia (10:00am UK time)
Group D
Denmark Vs Tunisia (13:00)
Group C
Mexico Vs Poland (16:00)
Group D
France Vs Australia (19:00)
It was a hell of a shot. The keeper guessed right and moved to block it, it was just so powerful it was past before the keeper got there.
Bale is a class player. He's won the Champions League FIVE times with Real Madrid.
Their front line of Ronaldo, Benzema, and Bale was so great it was too much of a good thing.
No one man, however great, makes a side. But it sure helps.
Bale probably almost makes that Welsh side. Take him out and they'll be severely reduced. They don't have the resources and strength in depth that the likes of England, Italy, France, Germany, Argentina and Brazil have. If Bale is substituted then Wales are severely weakened. It will be Bale who decides whether Wales or USA get out of the group as runners-up (if England's big guns like Saka and Bellingham and Rashford keep firing on all cylinders then they will coast this group).
The USA's goalscorer today was Timothy Weah.
Weah is the son of Liberian footballing great George Weah, who was top scorer in the 94/95 Champions League playing for Paris Saint-Germain before moving to AC Milan. He won the FA Cup with Chelsea before moving to Manchester City and won the Ballon d'Or. George Weah is now the President of Liberia.
Are you FUCKING kidding me?
Fuck this guy, and FIFA and the whole issue right now.
This organization promoted modern day slavery just for a fucking sport.
