Well, the semi finals of the 2018 Super Rugby got started as the Crusaders eased past the Hurricanes (Who were saying goodbye to departing stars such as Brad Shields) to advance through to the Investec Super Rugby final in Christchurch while the Lions burst into life to reach their 3rd consecutive final after toppling the Waratahs in Joburg.
So it's the Crusaders to play the Lions in the 2018 Super Rugby final at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night New Zealand time to decide who will become Super Rugby champion.
Super Rugby
#Don'tMissAThing
So that is my 216th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 36th of this year.
P.S. And it was on Friday that Carole Webb arrived here to live in Whanganui although her son Andrew drove her down to her new home but it was on Saturday that we had hot dogs that we got from the market for lunch at Carole's then I went to Caroline's with my family & had that Tex Mex steak then on Sunday morning, Andy & Carole was here for breakfast where we had a frittata with bacon & after that, Carole had returned to here new home so Pops dropped Andrew off to the airport in Palmerston North so that Andy had to return home to Auckland.
Monday, 30 July 2018
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Super Rugby quarterfinal news (My 1st post FIFA World Cup blog) + Whanganui club rugby final review, German soccer star's retirement & Rugby Sevens World Cup wrap up
Well, the quarterfinals of the 2018 Super Rugby got started as the Hurricanes win by 1 against the Chiefs to go through to the semifinals of the competition in Wellington a night before the Crusaders beat the dangerous Sharks side by 40 points in an tough game in Christchurch while the Highlanders season ends in defeat against the spirited Waratahs side who had an incredible comeback in Sydney then the Lions had to roar past the Jaguares (Which fielded its test team) to advance through to their 3rd consecutive semifinal in Johannesburg.
And here is the confirmed list for the semifinal games being played in the 2018 Super Rugby season:
Crusaders Vs Hurricanes
& Lions Vs Waratahs
And it was on Saturday that we went to the Whanganui premier club rugby final between defending champions Ruapehu & Pirates so here's the news report coming straight out of New Zealand Herald:
If you want to understand why Saturday's Tasman Tanning Premier championship game had the second largest winning margin in WRFU finals history, the answer can be found at the after match.
Collecting the trophy following their 41-17 triumph, McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu brought their families and friends around them, after accepting a haka from several of their Ohakune brethren.
Meanwhile, after picking up their own prizes for the season, the members of Black Bull Liquor Pirates just drifted away in dribs and drabs, barely a handful of old school players following the custom of waiting for the victors to hoist the silverware.
It summed up the afternoon in a nutshell; the truely united team won on the day, and won well.
In a departure from the Cooks Gardens thrillers of the past four years, the defending champions Ruapehu showed big match composure and cohesion, playing with structure and supporting each other in key moments.
Meanwhile, Pirates just kept trying to bash their way through in one's and two's, playing into the hands of a country side who could match them for physicality, absorb that pressure and then probe their opposition's weak points on the turnaround.
Unlike seven days before against Waverley Harvesting Border, it was harder to point out dynamic performances.
The retiring veteran No8 Andrew Evans gave an inspiring effort for a deserved man of the match award, while sharp winger Shaquille Waara scored an extremely rare grand final hat trick.
Yet simply, every Ruapehu player did his job as well as covering for the man alongside him after their occasional mistake – it really was just an honest team effort.
Even when still injured centre Craig Clare departed following his sideline conversion of Ruapehu's opening try in the second half, while captain Roman Tutauha came off not long after with a suspected broken arm, there was no concern in the champion's camp, although representative coach Jason Caskey will be frowning.
It was everything Ruapehu coach Daisy Alabaster could have asked from his charges in a championship match, minus one rush of blood which led to Pirates scoring their first try right before halftime to keep a bare sniff at 24-10.
"It's the whole squad [performing]," Alabaster said.
"Forward pack, defence.
"We let them have [that try] before halftime.
"If we'd shut that, it would have been a whole different second half.
"We had to work on defence and wait for the mistake."
For Pirates, it was now obvious the departure of their leading Samoan players at the expiration of their work visas last month left gaps which could not be filled.
In addition, talented young first-five Desmond Tyrell was immediately backing up after just playing 75 minutes of St Johns Club Whanganui Metro's outstanding win over Massey White in the Manawatu Colts semifinals.
Although Tyrell had the stamina for another 80, it laid bare Pirates lack of a Plan B, as they also moved barnstorming midfielder Soonalote Tauialoto out to the unfamiliar position of wing, where two big errors led to Waara snatching back-to-back tries in the first quarter, with Ruapehu never looking back.
"Not enough accuracy," said Pirates coach Phillip Morris.
"Lots of individual stuff, but team moments we just got lost.
"You can't leak easy points to these guys.
"I'm pleased the boys were in the final.
"It's no excuse for the four guys that aren't here, but it may have made a difference."
Morris singled out double tryscoring centre Vaovasa Afasua, who really stepped up in the third quarter as Pirates tried to drag themselves back into the match, while midfield partner Meki Magele made "a hundred tackles".
Taking first use of the wind, Ruapehu invited Pirates to try and bash their way out of their own half, with prop Gabriel Hakaraia looking to leave a mark on defence while Tutauha brought down the Pirate King Lasa Ulukuta after he had shrugged out of several tackles.
Overeagerness at the breakdown saw Ruapehu give up a couple of penalties, with Pirates fullback Junior Ainea missing his first long range attempt but getting the second to open accounts after seven minutes.
Ruapehu regained the kickoff and worked their way forward, before a grubber kick towards Tauialoto's sideline was accidentally fumbled backwards off the knee of the big man and the chasers swooped - getting the turnover on the tryline with Waara going over with the pass off the ruck.
Clare nailed a low sideline conversion, and after Evans made a good run from the kickoff, Ruapehu chipped ahead to the same wing and Waara flew up on Tauialoto to get a charge down and win the race to the ball for a massive momentum swing at 12-3 after 12 minutes.
Unable to get a line break, Pirates could only attempt another long range penalty through Ainea, which was away, with Ruapehu happy to make tackles and then clear the ball up centre field.
The pressure was building as one Tyrell free kick clearance went out very shallow and then Magele lost the ball on the hitup from the lineout.
Ruapehu worked forward as the pack drove over the tryline, but after being held up they simply reset from the scrum win and had another go, with prop Te Uhi Hakaraia burrowing his way under the posts in the 34th minute.
Pirates were falling apart as one of the front rowers tried a wild cut out pass in their own 22m that missed winger Elijah Ah Chong as Clare, despite his limp, was able to run through and score, leaving defenders on their knees in anguish.
However, they got a glimpse of hope just before the break when Clare looked to spread from another clearance, and fullback George Williams had his kick charged, with Afasua showing great control to get the bounce on the dive and score.
Ruapehu got those seven points back after the break as flanker Jamie Hughes ran from a midfield turnover and put down an excellent grubber kick, with Waara blitzing through to score in the corner.
Pirates lifted to their final stand, as following Tutauha coming off they slowly worked their way down field with one-off bursts- Afasua and Ulukuta leading the way with runs and offloads.
Getting a penalty 5m out, Afasua took a quick tap and ducked his way through, diving over the last defender for a gutsy try with 20 minutes left.
But again Hughes responded, as from a ruck on the 40m he fended his way through tired tacklers, transferring the ball to each hand, and fed Waara, who this time turned the ball back inside for flanker Jack Kinder to sprint away for the try of the match.
Pirates had no more shots left to fire, as Ruapehu emptied their bench and slowly ground their way back down to the tryline, to see first-five Josh Fifita repeat his semifinal effort by taking the pass off the ruck and sprinting low for the try to wrap up the season with only a few minutes left.
Ruapehu 41 (Shaquille Waara 3, Te Uhi Hakaraia, Craig Clare, Jack Kinder, Josh Fifita tries; Clare 3 con) beat Pirates 17 (Vaovasa Afasua 2 tries; Desmond Tyrell 2 con, Junior Ainea pen). HT: 24-10.
And finally in the soccer news department (Although this is going to be my 1st blog after the 2018 FIFA World Cup), Arsenal midfield player Mesut Ozil calls it quits (Along with Australia's Tim Cahill, Croatia's Mario Mandzukic & Danijel Subasic, Mexico's Rafael Marquez, Russia's Sergei Ignashevich & Spain's Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique & David Silva have moved on after the 2018 FIFA World Cup) after announcing his retirement from international soccer for Germany (Who had a disappointing World Cup with just the single win against Sweden (Real Madrid player Toni Kroos scored the match winning goal at the death) & both defeats against Mexico (Hirving Lozano scored an all important goal in which they won) & Korea Republic (Including Manuel Neuer moving out of the penalty area allowing the South Koreans to capitalize) in convincing fashion) at the tender age of 29 over claims of racism about the Turkish president.
So that is my 215th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 35th of this year.
P.S. And both the Black Ferns & All Blacks sevens teams (Well that's the 1st time that the All Blacks sevens gone back to back as well as winning it 3 times (They 1st did it way back in 2001 in Mar Del Plata, Argentina then in 2013 in Moscow, Russia & now this year in 2018) have won both the women's & men's rugby sevens World Cup titles in San Francisco, California (Well, Pops has been following it on TV, so too is Carole Webb who is due to move here in 2 days from Albany to right here in Whanganui).
And here is the confirmed list for the semifinal games being played in the 2018 Super Rugby season:
Crusaders Vs Hurricanes
& Lions Vs Waratahs
And it was on Saturday that we went to the Whanganui premier club rugby final between defending champions Ruapehu & Pirates so here's the news report coming straight out of New Zealand Herald:
If you want to understand why Saturday's Tasman Tanning Premier championship game had the second largest winning margin in WRFU finals history, the answer can be found at the after match.
Collecting the trophy following their 41-17 triumph, McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu brought their families and friends around them, after accepting a haka from several of their Ohakune brethren.
Meanwhile, after picking up their own prizes for the season, the members of Black Bull Liquor Pirates just drifted away in dribs and drabs, barely a handful of old school players following the custom of waiting for the victors to hoist the silverware.
It summed up the afternoon in a nutshell; the truely united team won on the day, and won well.
In a departure from the Cooks Gardens thrillers of the past four years, the defending champions Ruapehu showed big match composure and cohesion, playing with structure and supporting each other in key moments.
Meanwhile, Pirates just kept trying to bash their way through in one's and two's, playing into the hands of a country side who could match them for physicality, absorb that pressure and then probe their opposition's weak points on the turnaround.
Unlike seven days before against Waverley Harvesting Border, it was harder to point out dynamic performances.
The retiring veteran No8 Andrew Evans gave an inspiring effort for a deserved man of the match award, while sharp winger Shaquille Waara scored an extremely rare grand final hat trick.
Yet simply, every Ruapehu player did his job as well as covering for the man alongside him after their occasional mistake – it really was just an honest team effort.
Even when still injured centre Craig Clare departed following his sideline conversion of Ruapehu's opening try in the second half, while captain Roman Tutauha came off not long after with a suspected broken arm, there was no concern in the champion's camp, although representative coach Jason Caskey will be frowning.
It was everything Ruapehu coach Daisy Alabaster could have asked from his charges in a championship match, minus one rush of blood which led to Pirates scoring their first try right before halftime to keep a bare sniff at 24-10.
"It's the whole squad [performing]," Alabaster said.
"Forward pack, defence.
"We let them have [that try] before halftime.
"If we'd shut that, it would have been a whole different second half.
"We had to work on defence and wait for the mistake."
For Pirates, it was now obvious the departure of their leading Samoan players at the expiration of their work visas last month left gaps which could not be filled.
In addition, talented young first-five Desmond Tyrell was immediately backing up after just playing 75 minutes of St Johns Club Whanganui Metro's outstanding win over Massey White in the Manawatu Colts semifinals.
Although Tyrell had the stamina for another 80, it laid bare Pirates lack of a Plan B, as they also moved barnstorming midfielder Soonalote Tauialoto out to the unfamiliar position of wing, where two big errors led to Waara snatching back-to-back tries in the first quarter, with Ruapehu never looking back.
"Not enough accuracy," said Pirates coach Phillip Morris.
"Lots of individual stuff, but team moments we just got lost.
"You can't leak easy points to these guys.
"I'm pleased the boys were in the final.
"It's no excuse for the four guys that aren't here, but it may have made a difference."
Morris singled out double tryscoring centre Vaovasa Afasua, who really stepped up in the third quarter as Pirates tried to drag themselves back into the match, while midfield partner Meki Magele made "a hundred tackles".
Taking first use of the wind, Ruapehu invited Pirates to try and bash their way out of their own half, with prop Gabriel Hakaraia looking to leave a mark on defence while Tutauha brought down the Pirate King Lasa Ulukuta after he had shrugged out of several tackles.
Overeagerness at the breakdown saw Ruapehu give up a couple of penalties, with Pirates fullback Junior Ainea missing his first long range attempt but getting the second to open accounts after seven minutes.
Ruapehu regained the kickoff and worked their way forward, before a grubber kick towards Tauialoto's sideline was accidentally fumbled backwards off the knee of the big man and the chasers swooped - getting the turnover on the tryline with Waara going over with the pass off the ruck.
Clare nailed a low sideline conversion, and after Evans made a good run from the kickoff, Ruapehu chipped ahead to the same wing and Waara flew up on Tauialoto to get a charge down and win the race to the ball for a massive momentum swing at 12-3 after 12 minutes.
Unable to get a line break, Pirates could only attempt another long range penalty through Ainea, which was away, with Ruapehu happy to make tackles and then clear the ball up centre field.
The pressure was building as one Tyrell free kick clearance went out very shallow and then Magele lost the ball on the hitup from the lineout.
Ruapehu worked forward as the pack drove over the tryline, but after being held up they simply reset from the scrum win and had another go, with prop Te Uhi Hakaraia burrowing his way under the posts in the 34th minute.
Pirates were falling apart as one of the front rowers tried a wild cut out pass in their own 22m that missed winger Elijah Ah Chong as Clare, despite his limp, was able to run through and score, leaving defenders on their knees in anguish.
However, they got a glimpse of hope just before the break when Clare looked to spread from another clearance, and fullback George Williams had his kick charged, with Afasua showing great control to get the bounce on the dive and score.
Ruapehu got those seven points back after the break as flanker Jamie Hughes ran from a midfield turnover and put down an excellent grubber kick, with Waara blitzing through to score in the corner.
Pirates lifted to their final stand, as following Tutauha coming off they slowly worked their way down field with one-off bursts- Afasua and Ulukuta leading the way with runs and offloads.
Getting a penalty 5m out, Afasua took a quick tap and ducked his way through, diving over the last defender for a gutsy try with 20 minutes left.
But again Hughes responded, as from a ruck on the 40m he fended his way through tired tacklers, transferring the ball to each hand, and fed Waara, who this time turned the ball back inside for flanker Jack Kinder to sprint away for the try of the match.
Pirates had no more shots left to fire, as Ruapehu emptied their bench and slowly ground their way back down to the tryline, to see first-five Josh Fifita repeat his semifinal effort by taking the pass off the ruck and sprinting low for the try to wrap up the season with only a few minutes left.
Ruapehu 41 (Shaquille Waara 3, Te Uhi Hakaraia, Craig Clare, Jack Kinder, Josh Fifita tries; Clare 3 con) beat Pirates 17 (Vaovasa Afasua 2 tries; Desmond Tyrell 2 con, Junior Ainea pen). HT: 24-10.
And finally in the soccer news department (Although this is going to be my 1st blog after the 2018 FIFA World Cup), Arsenal midfield player Mesut Ozil calls it quits (Along with Australia's Tim Cahill, Croatia's Mario Mandzukic & Danijel Subasic, Mexico's Rafael Marquez, Russia's Sergei Ignashevich & Spain's Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique & David Silva have moved on after the 2018 FIFA World Cup) after announcing his retirement from international soccer for Germany (Who had a disappointing World Cup with just the single win against Sweden (Real Madrid player Toni Kroos scored the match winning goal at the death) & both defeats against Mexico (Hirving Lozano scored an all important goal in which they won) & Korea Republic (Including Manuel Neuer moving out of the penalty area allowing the South Koreans to capitalize) in convincing fashion) at the tender age of 29 over claims of racism about the Turkish president.
So that is my 215th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 35th of this year.
P.S. And both the Black Ferns & All Blacks sevens teams (Well that's the 1st time that the All Blacks sevens gone back to back as well as winning it 3 times (They 1st did it way back in 2001 in Mar Del Plata, Argentina then in 2013 in Moscow, Russia & now this year in 2018) have won both the women's & men's rugby sevens World Cup titles in San Francisco, California (Well, Pops has been following it on TV, so too is Carole Webb who is due to move here in 2 days from Albany to right here in Whanganui).
Monday, 16 July 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup final review (+ Super Rugby news)
Well it was on Sunday that me & Pops went to Thai Villa for dinner (I had a Pad Thai there) on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup final (Although one of my Jewish mates Leon watched it on Prime at the Command Post at 15 Alexander Street but he was here yesterday at my home since December 2016) between France & Croatia but the match ended at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia (Host nation) which France (Featuring the likes of Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, Manchester United's Paul Pogba & young 19 year old teenage sensation from Paris St Germain on loan from AS Monaco, Kylian Mbappe) prevailed over Luka Modric (Who plays for Real Madrid) & co of Croatia in a 4 - 2 victory to lift their 4th World Cup trophy so here's the match commentary taken from NZ Herald:
France and Croatia will take unchanged lineups into the World Cup final.
France coach Didier Deschamps has retained the starting 11 which beat Belgium 1-0 in the semifinals after Blaise Matuidi returned from a suspension in the quarterfinals.
Zlatko Dalic has stuck with Marcelo Brozovic in midfield after he came into the lineup for Croatia's 2-1, extra-time semifinal win over England. That means forward Andrej Kramaric remains on the bench.
Lineups:
France: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, N'Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Lucas Hernandez.
Croatia lineup: Danijel Subasic, Sime Vrsaljko, Ivan Strinic, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Domagoj Vida.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will help present the trophy to the winning captain after the World Cup final.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino will join Putin for the ceremony on the field at Luzhniki Stadium.
The recent World Cup tradition is for presidents of FIFA and the host nation to jointly hand over the gold-and-malachite trophy.
Four years ago, then-FIFA leader Sepp Blatter and Brazil's then-president Dilma Rousseff presented the trophy to Germany captain Philipp Lahm.
So it's France vs Croatia. Either Hugo Lloris or Luka Modric will lift the trophy this morning. After all the surprises this tournament has thrown up it seems these two teams certainly deserve their spots in the final.
Meanwhile it's a Serbian trying to steal a little bit of limelight on Croatia's big day. Novak Djokovic is two sets up over Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon final.
Here come the players under the stadium about to play the biggest match of their lives.
Here comes German great and 2014 winner Philipp Lahm with the World Cup. I learned during the week that the winning team will get to have the trophy for the post-match but then have to hand it back to FIFA. They will then be given the Winner's Trophy - a second World Cup trophy - which is the one they take home for four years.
The players walk out. Seven Nation Army is played. Here are the anthems. The French first.
The players shake hands. We're a few minutes away.
France: 1 Hugo Lloris, 2 Benjamin Pavard, 4 Raphael Varane, 5 Samuel Umtiti, 6 Paul Pogba, 7 Antoine Griezmann, 9 Olivier Giroud, 10 Kylian Mbappe, 13 N'Golo Kante, 14 Blaise Matuidi, 21 Lucas Hernandez.
Croatia: 1 Danijel Subasic, 2 Sime Vrsaljko, 3 Ivan Strinic, 4 Ivan Perisic, 6 Dejan Lovren, 7 Ivan Rakitic, 10 Luka Modric, 11 Marcelo Brozovic, 17 Mario Mandzukic, 18 Ante Rebic, 21 Domagoj Vida.
Six of the French team started the European final two years ago. Interesting to note Olivier Giroud has not had one shot on target at the World Cup.
Croatia unchanged with most of these players have played in three extra-time games.
We're underway.
1ST MINUTE, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Croatia begin with possession but can't get forward too far before turning it over. An early foul by Modric on Samuel Umtiti as the French defender looks to bring it out on the edge of his own box.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: And Modric gives away another foul in the French half. Croatia with the first attack of the game. Benjamin Pavard gives up the ball and Ivan Perisic gets into the box. But France clear.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Croatia on the attack again. Sime Vrsaljko gets space wide right and sends in a cross but it's blocked by Varane. France once again clear.
Croatia have a corner as Ivan Strinic gets in the French box
4 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Lloris doesn't get to it but Giroud clears with his head. All Croatia early on.
2 MINUTES LATER: France 0 Croatia 0: Long ball from Ivan Rakitic finds Ivan Perisic in the box. He brings it down but loses the ball as it goes out for a goal kick. Croatia winning the midfield battle. A number if turnovers turned into attacking chances.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Yet to have a shot on goal. Croatia have had 66% of possession in the opening 13 minutes.
But another Croatia attack down the lefthand side with Ivan Perisic. He can't get a shot on goal as France clear for a throw-in.
5 MINUTES LATER: France 0 Croatia 0: France look to attack for the first time as a long ball finds Mbappe. He can't control the ball but Giroud wins in back. A foul on Griezmann gives France a prime spot from a free kick. About 25 metres out.
GOAL FRANCE
Griezmann's free kick finds a head and goes in
Possible own-goal? Yes. It's off the head of Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic. It's the 12th own goal of the tournament.
Griezmann was aiming at one French head among five Croatian defenders and it was a Croatian who nodded it in.
FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0
It's the fourth time in the knockout stage that Croatia are trailing.
3 MINUTES LATER: France 1 Croatia 0: Now Croatia with an attacking freekick.
This one is wide right.
Luka Modric finds the head of Vida but it goes over the crossbar.
Since 1974 just one team has comeback to win the World Cup final - Italy over France in 2006. And the losing sides have combined for just one goal in the last seven finals.
3 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0: Things opening up as France attack once again but it's quickly shut down. Croatia go down the other end and get another attacking freekick.
1 MINUTE LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0: Modric sends it into the box and Lloris punches away. Croatia regain the ball and a cross comes in for Mandzukic who attempts a volley that goes well over that bar. That would have been some goal if he was on target.
Yellow. First card of the game goes to Kante after bringing down Perisic as the Croatian was on attack
GOAL CROATIA
Ivan Perisic!
A great goal from Croatia and they hit back once again in this World Cup. The ball bounced around in the box before falling to Ivan Perisic. He took a touch to his left before striking it through several French defenders and past Lloris.
FRANCE 1 CROATIA 1
So that was the first shot on target of the final and it's the man who equalised in the semifinal against England with the equaliser in the final. A goal worthy of a World Cup final.
8 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 1: France with a corner, their first of the game. Blaise Matuidi gets a head on it. Possible hand ball in the box?
In other news Novak Djokovic has claimed his fourth Wimbledon crown.
VAR checking the hand ball. Huge call. It's a penalty
We haven't had a massive VAR call in the finals but we have one in the final. It clearly hit Ivan Perisic's hand but not sure if he had time to pull it away.
Antoine Griezmann steps up. Can he give France the lead again?
GOAL FRANCE - Antoine Griezmann
He scores and it's France 2 Croatia 1
Antoine Griezmann went low left Danijel Subasic went the other way.
So Croatia will need to comeback again. Five minutes left before the break.
Yellow for Lucas Hernandez. Hard tackle with Croatia on attack
Croatian free kick leads to a corner.
A few more chances there for Croatia. Seems like they have another goal in them. Samuel Umtiti is down
Three minutes of injury time. Croatia have a corner but Vida can't get a head on the ball and it goes out for a goal kick.
Halftime.
What a strange half in terms of goals. France have a 2-1 lead thanks to an own goal and a VAR handball penalty. Croatia levelled it up before the penalty. They've looked the better side as France haven't really been down the other end expect for the two goals.
Both teams are out for the second half. The question from the first half - was that a deliberate hand ball from Ivan Perisic? I say no.
45TH MINUTE, FRANCE 2 CROATIA 1: Croatia on attack early wide right but French defence shuts it down. France then have their first shot on goal in play. Griezmann attempts from outside the box but straight at Subasic.
Ante Rebic fires a shot on goal that Lloris tips over the bar. Croatia corner.
A Croatian head sends the ball back across goal but Vida can't get onto the end of it and it goes out for a goal kick.
5 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 2 CROATIA 1: Varane gives up the ball and Mandzukic advances into the box. He looks for a pass across goal but can't find his man. However Croatia win a corner. Good start to the second half. The corner is cleared, the ball falls to Sime Vrsaljko who fires from distance over the bar.
It's end to end stuff. Croatia on attack but quickly down the other end Mbappe outpaces Vida and fires on goal but Subasic saves.
We have four pitch invaders on the field but they are quickly dealt to.
Odd scenes. Two of the got to the middle of the field.
Croatia have a corner as a long ball is punched away by Lloris. Though the decision is changed to offside.
N'Golo Kante coming off. Steven Nzonzi on.
GOAL FRANCE
Paul Pogba makes it 3-1. France on the counter attack through Kylian Mbappe. He passed across goal where the ball eventually found Antoine Griezmann who played it back to Pogba on edge of box. He sent it by an unmoved Subasic.
France almost score again. They have a corner.
GOAL FRANCE
Wow. Wow. Wow. Kylian Mbappe. The 19-year-old with a stunner.
From outside the box he fires low and it bounces by Danijel Subasic. Only the second teen since Pele to score in a World Cup final. France 4 Croatia 1
CROATIA GOAL
Strange mistake by Lloris. Has the ball at his feet and tries to take on a fast charging Mario Mandzukic. Mandzukic takes the ball off him and taps in for a simple goal. What an error.
France 4 Croatia 2 - 20 minutes to play
What a final this has been
Ante Rebic off. On comes Andrej Kramarić
26 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 4 CROATIA 2: France on the attack again. They have a throw in in line with the edge of the box but Croatia win the ball back. Can they get another? Would make for a fascinating final 15 minutes.
Ivan Rakitic fires wide. They are not done yet.
Off goes Giroud. He leaves the World Cup without a goal but likely as a champion. On comes Fekir.
Marko Pjaca on for Ivan Strinic
Eight minutes to go. Looking like a second World Cup title for France as time runs out on Croatia. They have a freekick from wide left.
But Ivan Rakitic sends it over the wall and straight at Lloris. Pogba goes down injured but he seems fine.
Ivan Rakitic fires a shot over the bar. Five minutes of injury time coming up as they enter the final minute.
Pogba misses a sitter to claim his second.
Time almost up.
FRANCE WIN
We await the medal presentation as French players run around the field. Croatia just standing waiting
Finally it seems the trophy is on the way
Fifa young player award goes to Kylian Mbappe
Golden ball goes to Luka Modric
Harry Kane takes out golden boot with six goals
Golden glove to Thibaut Courtois
The rain falls as Croatia get their second placed medals
The rain is really coming down now
French captain Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy!
And what do I think of the World Cup final? It was top notch (It was even better compared to 4 years ago between Germany & Argentina because this years World Cup final didn't have to go into extra time), because the French were able to redeem themselves 2 years after losing to Portugal in the Euros & they were back to its best by lifting the World Cup trophy themselves instead (And each of their 23 men have achieved their boyhood dream to say the least).
And what a great performance from their star talisman for France in the form of Antoine Griezmann (Maybe he is a huge fan of that popular video game Fortnite because of that celebration being dished out by him) of Atletico Madrid by getting his player of the game honours (He scored a penalty but he never looked like missing because France always win when Griezmann scores a goal) after his relatively good form that he carried because he is now officially a World Cup winning player along with 22 others.
And what about the young gun of Kylian Mbappe? What a tournament he is having for the Cristiano Ronaldo fanboy as he became only the 2nd teenage player to score at a World Cup final after Pele in 1958. Because he was having a good game when he scored that incredible goal as well as picking the best young player at the tournament (2006 it was Lukas Podolski of Germany followed by Podolski's fellow countryman Thomas Muller in 2010 & one of Mbappe's French teammates Paul Pogba (Who also had a great match by scoring a goal after he had an attempt to shoot but it was deflected by one of the Croatian players) in 2014).
And it has been 20 years since France (Which used to have players such as Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry (Who used to play for Arsenal, FC Barcelona & New York Red Bulls before becoming assistant coach for Belgium), Patrick Vieira (Now coaches Nice back home in France after playing with clubs such as Arsenal & Juventus), Didier Deschamps (Who is now joined the likes of Mario Zagallo & Franz Beckenbauer to have won the World Cup as both a player & coach), Emmanuel 'Manu' Petit & Lilian Thuram) last lifted the World Cup trophy but their road to World Cup glory began with a 2 - 1 win over Australia before dispatching Peru 1 goal to nil to clinch a place in the round of 16 then their only blemish at the World Cup for the French was a goal less draw against Denmark in their final group game before they took on Leo Messi's Argentina side in the round of 16 & won 4 - 3 (It was hailed as one of the greatest FIFA World Cup matches of all time by British online newspaper The Independent) by advancing to the quarterfinals in which they took on Uruguay minus Edinson Cavani but they were victorious in the end with 2 goals being scored by Real Madrid's Raphael Varane & Griezmann then it is semi final time as they scraped past the Belgians allowing FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti to capitalize in order to score in what would be the match winning goal that sent France through into the World Cup final in 12 years (They lost to Italy on penalties way back then after Zinedine Zidane got sent off for a headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in a match that will always be remembered) in which they faced Croatia with Mario Mandzukic scoring their 1st own goal of the World Cup final then Ivan Perisic equalized before things have gotten out of hand by the Croatians as they gave away a penalty (Perisic the goalscorer was the culprit this time) allowing Antoine Griezmann to capitalize by scoring off a penalty to take France back into the lead just before the break but 2 incredible all time goals during the 2nd half scored by Paul Pogba & the young Kylian Mbappe had tripled to their advantage but the French conceded a goal off an embarrassment from French captain Hugo Lloris who was attempting to pass but he gave the ball away to Mandzukic allowing the Croatian player to score but in the end, France have won the World Cup after 20 years of heartbreak & disappointment.
And then onto the post match presentation where Kylian Mbappe was best young player of the tournament followed by Croatia skipper Luka Modric being awarded best player of the tournament which is in fact the golden ball but golden boot for top scorer of the tournament goes to English captain Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur & finally the golden glove award for best goalkeeper went to Belgian goalie Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea (Formerly of Atletico Madrid) before Croatia receive the runners up medals followed by the victorious French side receiving their winners medals before FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the World Cup trophy to French captain Hugo Lloris before lifting the trophy in the air in the wet to be officially declared themselves champions of the world.
And finally my last thoughts about the 2018 FIFA World Cup before I wrap this blog up? It was astonishing, an absolutely incredible way to sign off a tournament like that because that final was especially epic, it was way better than 2014 by the way (And my favourite World Cup moment was Korea Republic's 2 - 0 upset win over the defending & reigning champions Germany (Compared to Mexico knocking over Germany in the opening group match) which knocked the Germans out of the World Cup allowing the Mexicans to progress but I feel sorry for the Germans, I mean there is no one else to blame about Manuel Neuer moving out of his own penalty area allowing the South Koreans to capitalize in order to score the 2nd goal but the worst moment of the World Cup was Neymar's diving antics (Well, he needs to hurry up here about his simulations at the World Cup (He just kept on diving in games against Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia (In during the game in which he rolled on the floor after getting fouled by a Serbian player) & Belgium) but why is he faking an injury? Just like he rolled on the floor during their round of 16 clash against Mexico after Mexican defender Miguel Layun picked the ball up, although Harry Maguire did a Neymar against Colombia in the round of 16 then one of Neymar's PSG teammates Mbappe dived like Neymar against Uruguay, so too is Griezmann against Croatia in the World Cup final allowing themselves to win a free kick before Mario Mandzukic headed into his own net) but one of the funniest moments/bloopers of the tournament had to go to French captain Hugo Lloris's goalkeeping mishap in the final allowing Mandzukic to score the last goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Reminiscent of the UEFA Champions league final where Real Madrid striker & former French international Karim Benzema kicked the ball out of Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius's hands) but the real winner is Borussia Dortmund player Michy Batshuayi of Belgium after his country had scored a vital goal against England in the last group game, Batshuayi kicked the ball into the post but it immediately backfired which ricocheted off the post, smashed into his face (And man it was like a pinball to start with), therefore copping a bit of a falcon, LOL.
So that is my 214th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 34th of this year, VIVE LA FRANCE BABY! CHAMPION DU MONDE!! OUI, OUI, OUI!!!
P.S. And in Super Rugby news, the 14 man Chiefs (Who had Johnny Fa'auli red carded for a high tackle on Hurricanes player Wes Goosen) held on to beat the Hurricanes but miss out on hosting a home quarterfinal in Hamilton then the Highlanders defeat the Rebels in an action packed close game in Dunedin (Including that monster hit from Waisake Naholo on Rebels winger Jack Maddocks then made the pilfer to end the game meaning that the Rebels playoff chances are over) then the Crusaders managed to get better of the Blues in Christchurch.
And finally here is the confirmed list for the quarterfinal games being played in the 2018 Super Rugby season (I really don't know what teams will face because I have decided to keep a low profile of watching the rugby until tonight):
Hurricanes Vs Chiefs
Crusaders Vs Sharks
Waratahs Vs Highlanders
& Lions Vs Jaguares
France and Croatia will take unchanged lineups into the World Cup final.
France coach Didier Deschamps has retained the starting 11 which beat Belgium 1-0 in the semifinals after Blaise Matuidi returned from a suspension in the quarterfinals.
Zlatko Dalic has stuck with Marcelo Brozovic in midfield after he came into the lineup for Croatia's 2-1, extra-time semifinal win over England. That means forward Andrej Kramaric remains on the bench.
Lineups:
France: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, N'Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Lucas Hernandez.
Croatia lineup: Danijel Subasic, Sime Vrsaljko, Ivan Strinic, Ivan Perisic, Dejan Lovren, Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Mandzukic, Ante Rebic, Domagoj Vida.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will help present the trophy to the winning captain after the World Cup final.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino will join Putin for the ceremony on the field at Luzhniki Stadium.
The recent World Cup tradition is for presidents of FIFA and the host nation to jointly hand over the gold-and-malachite trophy.
Four years ago, then-FIFA leader Sepp Blatter and Brazil's then-president Dilma Rousseff presented the trophy to Germany captain Philipp Lahm.
So it's France vs Croatia. Either Hugo Lloris or Luka Modric will lift the trophy this morning. After all the surprises this tournament has thrown up it seems these two teams certainly deserve their spots in the final.
Meanwhile it's a Serbian trying to steal a little bit of limelight on Croatia's big day. Novak Djokovic is two sets up over Kevin Anderson in the Wimbledon final.
Here come the players under the stadium about to play the biggest match of their lives.
Here comes German great and 2014 winner Philipp Lahm with the World Cup. I learned during the week that the winning team will get to have the trophy for the post-match but then have to hand it back to FIFA. They will then be given the Winner's Trophy - a second World Cup trophy - which is the one they take home for four years.
The players walk out. Seven Nation Army is played. Here are the anthems. The French first.
The players shake hands. We're a few minutes away.
France: 1 Hugo Lloris, 2 Benjamin Pavard, 4 Raphael Varane, 5 Samuel Umtiti, 6 Paul Pogba, 7 Antoine Griezmann, 9 Olivier Giroud, 10 Kylian Mbappe, 13 N'Golo Kante, 14 Blaise Matuidi, 21 Lucas Hernandez.
Croatia: 1 Danijel Subasic, 2 Sime Vrsaljko, 3 Ivan Strinic, 4 Ivan Perisic, 6 Dejan Lovren, 7 Ivan Rakitic, 10 Luka Modric, 11 Marcelo Brozovic, 17 Mario Mandzukic, 18 Ante Rebic, 21 Domagoj Vida.
Six of the French team started the European final two years ago. Interesting to note Olivier Giroud has not had one shot on target at the World Cup.
Croatia unchanged with most of these players have played in three extra-time games.
We're underway.
1ST MINUTE, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Croatia begin with possession but can't get forward too far before turning it over. An early foul by Modric on Samuel Umtiti as the French defender looks to bring it out on the edge of his own box.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: And Modric gives away another foul in the French half. Croatia with the first attack of the game. Benjamin Pavard gives up the ball and Ivan Perisic gets into the box. But France clear.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Croatia on the attack again. Sime Vrsaljko gets space wide right and sends in a cross but it's blocked by Varane. France once again clear.
Croatia have a corner as Ivan Strinic gets in the French box
4 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Lloris doesn't get to it but Giroud clears with his head. All Croatia early on.
2 MINUTES LATER: France 0 Croatia 0: Long ball from Ivan Rakitic finds Ivan Perisic in the box. He brings it down but loses the ball as it goes out for a goal kick. Croatia winning the midfield battle. A number if turnovers turned into attacking chances.
2 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 0 CROATIA 0: Yet to have a shot on goal. Croatia have had 66% of possession in the opening 13 minutes.
But another Croatia attack down the lefthand side with Ivan Perisic. He can't get a shot on goal as France clear for a throw-in.
5 MINUTES LATER: France 0 Croatia 0: France look to attack for the first time as a long ball finds Mbappe. He can't control the ball but Giroud wins in back. A foul on Griezmann gives France a prime spot from a free kick. About 25 metres out.
GOAL FRANCE
Griezmann's free kick finds a head and goes in
Possible own-goal? Yes. It's off the head of Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic. It's the 12th own goal of the tournament.
Griezmann was aiming at one French head among five Croatian defenders and it was a Croatian who nodded it in.
FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0
It's the fourth time in the knockout stage that Croatia are trailing.
3 MINUTES LATER: France 1 Croatia 0: Now Croatia with an attacking freekick.
This one is wide right.
Luka Modric finds the head of Vida but it goes over the crossbar.
Since 1974 just one team has comeback to win the World Cup final - Italy over France in 2006. And the losing sides have combined for just one goal in the last seven finals.
3 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0: Things opening up as France attack once again but it's quickly shut down. Croatia go down the other end and get another attacking freekick.
1 MINUTE LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 0: Modric sends it into the box and Lloris punches away. Croatia regain the ball and a cross comes in for Mandzukic who attempts a volley that goes well over that bar. That would have been some goal if he was on target.
Yellow. First card of the game goes to Kante after bringing down Perisic as the Croatian was on attack
GOAL CROATIA
Ivan Perisic!
A great goal from Croatia and they hit back once again in this World Cup. The ball bounced around in the box before falling to Ivan Perisic. He took a touch to his left before striking it through several French defenders and past Lloris.
FRANCE 1 CROATIA 1
So that was the first shot on target of the final and it's the man who equalised in the semifinal against England with the equaliser in the final. A goal worthy of a World Cup final.
8 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 1 CROATIA 1: France with a corner, their first of the game. Blaise Matuidi gets a head on it. Possible hand ball in the box?
In other news Novak Djokovic has claimed his fourth Wimbledon crown.
VAR checking the hand ball. Huge call. It's a penalty
We haven't had a massive VAR call in the finals but we have one in the final. It clearly hit Ivan Perisic's hand but not sure if he had time to pull it away.
Antoine Griezmann steps up. Can he give France the lead again?
GOAL FRANCE - Antoine Griezmann
He scores and it's France 2 Croatia 1
Antoine Griezmann went low left Danijel Subasic went the other way.
So Croatia will need to comeback again. Five minutes left before the break.
Yellow for Lucas Hernandez. Hard tackle with Croatia on attack
Croatian free kick leads to a corner.
A few more chances there for Croatia. Seems like they have another goal in them. Samuel Umtiti is down
Three minutes of injury time. Croatia have a corner but Vida can't get a head on the ball and it goes out for a goal kick.
Halftime.
What a strange half in terms of goals. France have a 2-1 lead thanks to an own goal and a VAR handball penalty. Croatia levelled it up before the penalty. They've looked the better side as France haven't really been down the other end expect for the two goals.
Both teams are out for the second half. The question from the first half - was that a deliberate hand ball from Ivan Perisic? I say no.
45TH MINUTE, FRANCE 2 CROATIA 1: Croatia on attack early wide right but French defence shuts it down. France then have their first shot on goal in play. Griezmann attempts from outside the box but straight at Subasic.
Ante Rebic fires a shot on goal that Lloris tips over the bar. Croatia corner.
A Croatian head sends the ball back across goal but Vida can't get onto the end of it and it goes out for a goal kick.
5 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 2 CROATIA 1: Varane gives up the ball and Mandzukic advances into the box. He looks for a pass across goal but can't find his man. However Croatia win a corner. Good start to the second half. The corner is cleared, the ball falls to Sime Vrsaljko who fires from distance over the bar.
It's end to end stuff. Croatia on attack but quickly down the other end Mbappe outpaces Vida and fires on goal but Subasic saves.
We have four pitch invaders on the field but they are quickly dealt to.
Odd scenes. Two of the got to the middle of the field.
Croatia have a corner as a long ball is punched away by Lloris. Though the decision is changed to offside.
N'Golo Kante coming off. Steven Nzonzi on.
GOAL FRANCE
Paul Pogba makes it 3-1. France on the counter attack through Kylian Mbappe. He passed across goal where the ball eventually found Antoine Griezmann who played it back to Pogba on edge of box. He sent it by an unmoved Subasic.
France almost score again. They have a corner.
GOAL FRANCE
Wow. Wow. Wow. Kylian Mbappe. The 19-year-old with a stunner.
From outside the box he fires low and it bounces by Danijel Subasic. Only the second teen since Pele to score in a World Cup final. France 4 Croatia 1
CROATIA GOAL
Strange mistake by Lloris. Has the ball at his feet and tries to take on a fast charging Mario Mandzukic. Mandzukic takes the ball off him and taps in for a simple goal. What an error.
France 4 Croatia 2 - 20 minutes to play
What a final this has been
Ante Rebic off. On comes Andrej Kramarić
26 MINUTES LATER, FRANCE 4 CROATIA 2: France on the attack again. They have a throw in in line with the edge of the box but Croatia win the ball back. Can they get another? Would make for a fascinating final 15 minutes.
Ivan Rakitic fires wide. They are not done yet.
Off goes Giroud. He leaves the World Cup without a goal but likely as a champion. On comes Fekir.
Marko Pjaca on for Ivan Strinic
Eight minutes to go. Looking like a second World Cup title for France as time runs out on Croatia. They have a freekick from wide left.
But Ivan Rakitic sends it over the wall and straight at Lloris. Pogba goes down injured but he seems fine.
Ivan Rakitic fires a shot over the bar. Five minutes of injury time coming up as they enter the final minute.
Pogba misses a sitter to claim his second.
Time almost up.
FRANCE WIN
We await the medal presentation as French players run around the field. Croatia just standing waiting
Finally it seems the trophy is on the way
Fifa young player award goes to Kylian Mbappe
Golden ball goes to Luka Modric
Harry Kane takes out golden boot with six goals
Golden glove to Thibaut Courtois
The rain falls as Croatia get their second placed medals
The rain is really coming down now
French captain Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy!
And what do I think of the World Cup final? It was top notch (It was even better compared to 4 years ago between Germany & Argentina because this years World Cup final didn't have to go into extra time), because the French were able to redeem themselves 2 years after losing to Portugal in the Euros & they were back to its best by lifting the World Cup trophy themselves instead (And each of their 23 men have achieved their boyhood dream to say the least).
And what a great performance from their star talisman for France in the form of Antoine Griezmann (Maybe he is a huge fan of that popular video game Fortnite because of that celebration being dished out by him) of Atletico Madrid by getting his player of the game honours (He scored a penalty but he never looked like missing because France always win when Griezmann scores a goal) after his relatively good form that he carried because he is now officially a World Cup winning player along with 22 others.
And what about the young gun of Kylian Mbappe? What a tournament he is having for the Cristiano Ronaldo fanboy as he became only the 2nd teenage player to score at a World Cup final after Pele in 1958. Because he was having a good game when he scored that incredible goal as well as picking the best young player at the tournament (2006 it was Lukas Podolski of Germany followed by Podolski's fellow countryman Thomas Muller in 2010 & one of Mbappe's French teammates Paul Pogba (Who also had a great match by scoring a goal after he had an attempt to shoot but it was deflected by one of the Croatian players) in 2014).
And it has been 20 years since France (Which used to have players such as Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry (Who used to play for Arsenal, FC Barcelona & New York Red Bulls before becoming assistant coach for Belgium), Patrick Vieira (Now coaches Nice back home in France after playing with clubs such as Arsenal & Juventus), Didier Deschamps (Who is now joined the likes of Mario Zagallo & Franz Beckenbauer to have won the World Cup as both a player & coach), Emmanuel 'Manu' Petit & Lilian Thuram) last lifted the World Cup trophy but their road to World Cup glory began with a 2 - 1 win over Australia before dispatching Peru 1 goal to nil to clinch a place in the round of 16 then their only blemish at the World Cup for the French was a goal less draw against Denmark in their final group game before they took on Leo Messi's Argentina side in the round of 16 & won 4 - 3 (It was hailed as one of the greatest FIFA World Cup matches of all time by British online newspaper The Independent) by advancing to the quarterfinals in which they took on Uruguay minus Edinson Cavani but they were victorious in the end with 2 goals being scored by Real Madrid's Raphael Varane & Griezmann then it is semi final time as they scraped past the Belgians allowing FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti to capitalize in order to score in what would be the match winning goal that sent France through into the World Cup final in 12 years (They lost to Italy on penalties way back then after Zinedine Zidane got sent off for a headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in a match that will always be remembered) in which they faced Croatia with Mario Mandzukic scoring their 1st own goal of the World Cup final then Ivan Perisic equalized before things have gotten out of hand by the Croatians as they gave away a penalty (Perisic the goalscorer was the culprit this time) allowing Antoine Griezmann to capitalize by scoring off a penalty to take France back into the lead just before the break but 2 incredible all time goals during the 2nd half scored by Paul Pogba & the young Kylian Mbappe had tripled to their advantage but the French conceded a goal off an embarrassment from French captain Hugo Lloris who was attempting to pass but he gave the ball away to Mandzukic allowing the Croatian player to score but in the end, France have won the World Cup after 20 years of heartbreak & disappointment.
And then onto the post match presentation where Kylian Mbappe was best young player of the tournament followed by Croatia skipper Luka Modric being awarded best player of the tournament which is in fact the golden ball but golden boot for top scorer of the tournament goes to English captain Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur & finally the golden glove award for best goalkeeper went to Belgian goalie Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea (Formerly of Atletico Madrid) before Croatia receive the runners up medals followed by the victorious French side receiving their winners medals before FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the World Cup trophy to French captain Hugo Lloris before lifting the trophy in the air in the wet to be officially declared themselves champions of the world.
And finally my last thoughts about the 2018 FIFA World Cup before I wrap this blog up? It was astonishing, an absolutely incredible way to sign off a tournament like that because that final was especially epic, it was way better than 2014 by the way (And my favourite World Cup moment was Korea Republic's 2 - 0 upset win over the defending & reigning champions Germany (Compared to Mexico knocking over Germany in the opening group match) which knocked the Germans out of the World Cup allowing the Mexicans to progress but I feel sorry for the Germans, I mean there is no one else to blame about Manuel Neuer moving out of his own penalty area allowing the South Koreans to capitalize in order to score the 2nd goal but the worst moment of the World Cup was Neymar's diving antics (Well, he needs to hurry up here about his simulations at the World Cup (He just kept on diving in games against Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia (In during the game in which he rolled on the floor after getting fouled by a Serbian player) & Belgium) but why is he faking an injury? Just like he rolled on the floor during their round of 16 clash against Mexico after Mexican defender Miguel Layun picked the ball up, although Harry Maguire did a Neymar against Colombia in the round of 16 then one of Neymar's PSG teammates Mbappe dived like Neymar against Uruguay, so too is Griezmann against Croatia in the World Cup final allowing themselves to win a free kick before Mario Mandzukic headed into his own net) but one of the funniest moments/bloopers of the tournament had to go to French captain Hugo Lloris's goalkeeping mishap in the final allowing Mandzukic to score the last goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Reminiscent of the UEFA Champions league final where Real Madrid striker & former French international Karim Benzema kicked the ball out of Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius's hands) but the real winner is Borussia Dortmund player Michy Batshuayi of Belgium after his country had scored a vital goal against England in the last group game, Batshuayi kicked the ball into the post but it immediately backfired which ricocheted off the post, smashed into his face (And man it was like a pinball to start with), therefore copping a bit of a falcon, LOL.
So that is my 214th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 34th of this year, VIVE LA FRANCE BABY! CHAMPION DU MONDE!! OUI, OUI, OUI!!!
P.S. And in Super Rugby news, the 14 man Chiefs (Who had Johnny Fa'auli red carded for a high tackle on Hurricanes player Wes Goosen) held on to beat the Hurricanes but miss out on hosting a home quarterfinal in Hamilton then the Highlanders defeat the Rebels in an action packed close game in Dunedin (Including that monster hit from Waisake Naholo on Rebels winger Jack Maddocks then made the pilfer to end the game meaning that the Rebels playoff chances are over) then the Crusaders managed to get better of the Blues in Christchurch.
And finally here is the confirmed list for the quarterfinal games being played in the 2018 Super Rugby season (I really don't know what teams will face because I have decided to keep a low profile of watching the rugby until tonight):
Hurricanes Vs Chiefs
Crusaders Vs Sharks
Waratahs Vs Highlanders
& Lions Vs Jaguares
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia news flash part 3 (+ 2018 FIFA World Cup final preview & Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Italian club Juventus)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA NEWS FLASH!!! THIS IS PART 3 PEOPLE!!! News that just come in as France defeated Belgium (Containing a golden generation of players) 1 - 0 in St Petersburg as FC Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti scores an all important goal that put the French through into the 2018 FIFA World Cup final but bad news England fans, well, at least football isn't coming home as Croatia crushed England's dreams by sinking into oblivion of reaching the final in extra time (Well England led at one point with a goal by Kieran Trippier until Croatia equalized allowing the match to be played at extra time then during extra time, the Croatians capitalized by scoring a match winning goal by Juventus player Mario Mandzukic that puts them through to the World Cup final) at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
So it's France to play Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Monday morning New Zealand time to decide who will become the new World Champion (Champion du monde).
And the big topic in soccer as star Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo has joined forces with ultra successful Italian Club Juventus (Featuring the likes of great players such as Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic & Mehdi Benatia) for $157 million on a 4 year deal meaning that he has to depart from reigning European club champions Real Madrid after spending 9 years with the club (He 1st played for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon then English club Manchester United (Once the old club for players such as David Beckham & Wayne Rooney) followed by Spanish club Real Madrid (Beckham used to play for that club along with the Brazilian Ronaldo & Zinedine Zidane) before joining Juventus).
So that is my 213th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 33rd of this year.
So it's France to play Croatia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Monday morning New Zealand time to decide who will become the new World Champion (Champion du monde).
And the big topic in soccer as star Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo has joined forces with ultra successful Italian Club Juventus (Featuring the likes of great players such as Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic & Mehdi Benatia) for $157 million on a 4 year deal meaning that he has to depart from reigning European club champions Real Madrid after spending 9 years with the club (He 1st played for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon then English club Manchester United (Once the old club for players such as David Beckham & Wayne Rooney) followed by Spanish club Real Madrid (Beckham used to play for that club along with the Brazilian Ronaldo & Zinedine Zidane) before joining Juventus).
So that is my 213th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 33rd of this year.
Monday, 9 July 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia news flash part 2 (+ Super Rugby news)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA NEWS FLASH AGAIN!!! EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!! News again just come in as France just defeated Uruguay (Who are without injured striker Edinson Cavani) 2 goals to 0 at Nizhny Novgorod while Neymar & Brazil's World Cup hopes have gone up in smoke (He joins the likes of Lionel Messi & of course, Cristiano Ronaldo, to miss out on World Cup glory but hopefully Neymar would be better in 4 years time in Qatar 2022), losing to Belgium's golden generation by a single goal in an epic game in Kazan then England reach their 1st World Cup semifinal in 28 years (Well, it looks like football may be coming home for England, eh?), but 1st they had to play Sweden in which they won in Samara by both goals while Croatia once more have won on penalties by crashing the host nation Russia out of the World Cup to reach their 1st semifinal since 1998 because one of the Croatian goalkeepers Danijel Subasic is again the hero against Russia, repeating the heroics against Denmark in the round of 16.
And here is the confirmed list for semifinal matches being played (And trust me I will be watching one of these games on TV):
France Vs Belgium
& Croatia Vs England
And finally in Super Rugby, the Crusaders remain on top of both the New Zealand conference & overall standings with a win against the Highlanders in Christchurch while the Chiefs were victorious against the Brumbies by 5 points in Hamilton then the Hurricanes managed to beat the Blues in Wellington to snap their losing run with second five-eighth & former rugby league player Ngani Laumape scoring 4 unbelievable tries (The 2nd time that has happened this year because the 1st was Ben Lam against the Rebels).
So that is my 212th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 32nd of this year.
P.S. Why does it feel like night today?
Something in the air's not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
Like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(It watches everything)
So I know now when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right beneath my skin
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
And here is the confirmed list for semifinal matches being played (And trust me I will be watching one of these games on TV):
France Vs Belgium
& Croatia Vs England
And finally in Super Rugby, the Crusaders remain on top of both the New Zealand conference & overall standings with a win against the Highlanders in Christchurch while the Chiefs were victorious against the Brumbies by 5 points in Hamilton then the Hurricanes managed to beat the Blues in Wellington to snap their losing run with second five-eighth & former rugby league player Ngani Laumape scoring 4 unbelievable tries (The 2nd time that has happened this year because the 1st was Ben Lam against the Rebels).
So that is my 212th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 32nd of this year.
P.S. Why does it feel like night today?
Something in the air's not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
Like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(It watches everything)
So I know now when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right beneath my skin
It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Thursday, 5 July 2018
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia news flash (+ Super Rugby & America's Cup news & it is my 1st blog in the month of July in 2018)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA NEWS FLASH!!! News just come in as France just defeated Argentina 4 goals to 3 in the round of 16 match in Kazan to advance through to the quarterfinal (Well, the young 19 year old wonder kid Kylian Mbappe (The one who met famous players as a kid such as Thierry Henry & Cristiano Ronaldo but he is one average Cristiano Ronaldo fanboy who had just ruined or should I say spoiling Lionel Messi's party in which his country went safely through to the quarterfinals) had a wonderful game (Along with defender Benjamin Pavard who scored an incredible goal of the tournament off a volley) but it's the end of Lionel Messi as we know it) while Uruguay beat Portugal in Sochi ending Cristiano Ronaldo's hopes of World Cup glory then hosts Russia & Croatia win on penalties (The 2 main heroes of both winning sides were goalkeepers Igor Akinfeev of hosts Russia & Danijel Subasic of Croatia (Who had to get past Greece to qualify) against powerhouse Spain & Denmark (Who had edged the Republic Of Ireland to make it to the World Cup in the UEFA qualification playoff) respectively (The matches were held at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the Spain Vs hosts Russia showdown & in Nizhny Novgorod for the Croatia-Denmark clash) while Brazil defeated Mexico (Who had stunned the World Champions Germany in the group stages) with goals scored by Brazil's star talisman Neymar (Who is the only one left with a chance of winning the World Cup following the departures of both Messi & Ronaldo & the one who famously met players as a kid such as the likes of David Beckham, Diego Maradona, Pele & the Brazilian Ronaldo) & Liverpool's Roberto Firmino (He mainly used as a sub because Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus is preferred ahead of Firmino in the starting lineup) in Samara while Belgium went coast to coast to snatch a goal scored by Nacer Chadli right at the death in the dying minutes against Japan (Who were 2 - 0 up during the 2nd half before allowing the Belgians to capitalize with 3 unanswered goals), sending them through to the quarterfinals in Rostov-On-Don while an Emil Forsberg (Who is Sweden's key man following the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Euros 2 years ago) goal helped Sweden (Who was eliminated in the group stages at the Euros 2 years ago as I mentioned before because they wanted to be at the World Cup so that's why they made it of course (And they knocked over Italy by crashing them out of the World Cup in the UEFA qualification playoff) advance against Switzerland (Who beat Northern Ireland to qualify in this year's World Cup) in thrilling fashion in Saint Petersburg but the big news is...the main headline is that England finally win a game on penalties against Colombia (English captain & Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane (The one who famously met David Beckham as a kid) scored a penalty then Yerry Mina responded with an equalizer in stoppage time) therefore ending their penalty shootout curse at Spartak Stadium in Moscow.
And here is the confirmed list for quarterfinal matches being played:
Uruguay Vs France
Russia Vs Croatia
Brazil Vs Belgium
& Sweden Vs England
And in Super Rugby news (Well, Super Rugby is back in full fashion after the 3 week June international test window (I wonder we will be seeing the last of it before the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year) such as the Blues who had to end their terrible home record by dispatching the Reds in a commanding win with a perfect send off by Tolouse bound player & former All Black Jerome Kaino in Auckland & the Highlanders had a disappointing game, losing to the Chiefs in Waisake Naholo's 50th appearance for the team in front of his adoring home fans back in Suva in Fiji.
And finally only 3 challengers from America, Britain (Who are represented by INEOS Team UK (Formerly Land Rover BAR) & Italy (Who are represented by the challenger of record, Luna Rossa Challenge) have confirmed that they will take part in the 2021 America's Cup which is held in Auckland according to the defender of the cup, Emirates Team New Zealand (And it's been over a year since we won it from Oracle Team USA (Who were replaced by the New York Yacht Club's American Magic for the 2021 Challenge in the last minute) at the Great Sound in Bermuda).
So that is my 211th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 31st of this year.
And here is the confirmed list for quarterfinal matches being played:
Uruguay Vs France
Russia Vs Croatia
Brazil Vs Belgium
& Sweden Vs England
And in Super Rugby news (Well, Super Rugby is back in full fashion after the 3 week June international test window (I wonder we will be seeing the last of it before the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year) such as the Blues who had to end their terrible home record by dispatching the Reds in a commanding win with a perfect send off by Tolouse bound player & former All Black Jerome Kaino in Auckland & the Highlanders had a disappointing game, losing to the Chiefs in Waisake Naholo's 50th appearance for the team in front of his adoring home fans back in Suva in Fiji.
And finally only 3 challengers from America, Britain (Who are represented by INEOS Team UK (Formerly Land Rover BAR) & Italy (Who are represented by the challenger of record, Luna Rossa Challenge) have confirmed that they will take part in the 2021 America's Cup which is held in Auckland according to the defender of the cup, Emirates Team New Zealand (And it's been over a year since we won it from Oracle Team USA (Who were replaced by the New York Yacht Club's American Magic for the 2021 Challenge in the last minute) at the Great Sound in Bermuda).
So that is my 211th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 31st of this year.
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