FIFA Confederations Cup – Group A Quick Thoughts
Dan Tracey
June 25, 2017
1,866 Views
- Group A came to a conclusion last night and we now know which two nations will be progressing to the Semi Finals
- Portugal made easy work of New Zealand with a 4-0 victory yesterday afternoon and with that win they top the group
- The All Whites tactic of trying to contain the European Champions worked for just after half an hour but once behind it was only one way traffic
- Again Anthony Hudson’s side have themselves to blame for the manner in which they conceded the opener
- Tommy Smith’s clumsy marking of Danilo meant that the Porto midfielder fell to the box and it gave the referee no other option but to award a penalty
- Who else but Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and duly obliged from the spot
- First blood Portugal and then it was one way traffic
- Ronaldo had already fired out a warning shot minutes previously when his header rattled the crossbar and with the Portuguese ahead it was now a case of just how many they could register
- Their advantage would be doubled before the break when Manchester City new boy Bernardo Silva
- He may have scored but he did pick up an ankle injury in the process, one that leaves him a doubt for the Semi Finals
- One player who will definitely miss out is Pepe who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament
- With the second half reduced to a mere training ground run out, there was still time for Portugal to add goals from Andre Silva and Nani to wrap up a comprehensive victory
- For New Zealand they are set packing without a point and questions will be asked about their level of performances, some that I have raised in this piece about the All Whites
- Mexico had to come from behind to book their Semi Final berth as hosts Russia bow out
- The Russians did take the lead through Alexsandr Samedov on 25 minutes and at that point were in a qualifying position for the Semi’s
- But Mexico would be level just five minutes later when Nestor Araujo’s header looped over Igor Akinfeev
- On reflection Afinkeev should have done a lot better in dealing with the effort on goal and must come in for some criticism for Mexico’s leveller
- There can be no criticism though for Mexico’s winner though as Hirving Lozano scored just before the hour
- That meant Russia now had to score twice to qualify
- A feat made more difficult when former Chelsea midfielder Yuri Zhirkov was sent off for two bookable offences
- So Russia bow out as hosts with the Confederations Cup still really failing to capture the fans imaginations
- Group B concludes this afternoon
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