We Are At The World Cup: Day 2 – Carries More Than Just Goals, What has Day Three?

Finally, a dull start to the 2018 FIFA World Cup comes to an end, not because of the goals (Russia already put 5-past Saudi Arabia), but the pathetic display. Russia and Saudi Arabia were a disappointment for an opening game and it was just a slight improvement with Uruguay and Egypt (but there were not enough goals)

The first game of group B added nothing to the fold but just dragged us back to a similar situation as it was for the opening game.  The difference is it is Aziz Bouhaddouz who headed in his own net to let Iran to take all three points to lead Group B at the end of the day.

There is nothing as exciting as a six-goal thriller with a hattrick from one of the Stars whose presence at the World Cup was in doubt just before the final qualifying group game.

Can I start from the beginning? Nuh, it’s fast things fast and in this game, and in sport it’s the fast who get to eat the big.

Spain-Portugal opened the closed ends, and, we could soon see more goals coming through especially if you have Neymar and Messi who are still to feature in the Tournament with Brazil and Argentina respectively.

1998 and 2014 could certainly have a tie-breaker if numbers soar up with time. So far 13, and the count up begins...

It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo just won’t stop with the Champions League and is looking to venture into a more unfamiliar territory, perhaps to find something better. It’s certain the gods have chosen to increase the ‘Real Madrid man’s’ fortune with a World Cup Trophy shortly after uncharacteristically winning the Euros 2-years back.

A 51^st hattrick for 33-year old, against an opponent of Spain's magnitude, the legend lives on as we continue to wait what will happen in his next group games. Perhaps,  that won’t be one of the reasons to determine his fate back at the Club.

Behind, he leaves a troubled Luis Rubiales who now sits in between that thin line that exists between a genius and a fool after firing Julen Lopetegui, just 2-days to that very important match for the 2010 winners.

What was meant for a reedemer for the 2014 dismal performance ended in a 3-3 safe landing. And it remains unknown who survied. But, Lopetegui’s work is certainly starting to look exciting at a more serious level. How Hierro handles it is a story for another day.

Let’s see what happens next (after all they lost their opener in 2010 and the main man behind restoration of calm and conscience is now a front-end member of staff unlike then)

Can he deliver Spain from the sins they committed 2-days ago?

Who knows? Raymond Domenech did not but the players did as it came to be till the end!

With a great team like Spain, a 3-3 against the reigning European Champions is not that bad.

Tomorrow brings more onto the fantasy table as Ronaldo’s other end of the Cult will be up against Iceland as Argentina play their first game of Group D while the Club-neighbor, Griezmann will be involved in France’s early kick-off against Australia.

A hattrick from Ronaldo, against a much stronger side, Spain, can only mean a challenge for Messi and it would be a demeaning end to a game if Messi fails to give a worthy response against a much weaker opponent that Australia are.

A bigger struggle through the qualifiers and that 6-1 humiliation by Spain means Argentina and Messi now have a bigger reason to make a statement of intent at this year’s Tournament, just as it was in 2014.

Can Ronaldo last longer than Messi? Perhaps, age is just a number!

In the other games, France take on Australia and Antoinne Griezmann just‘la Decision’that perhaps should help him Spur France past Expectation.

And, its another day for Africa as Nigeria face Croatia.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

France v Australia

Argentina v Iceland FC

Peru v Denmark

Croatia v Nigeria