Alright, yesterday we had a little amuse bouche of 2018 World Cup action, but today the tournament kicks off in earnest. We have a slate of three very good games today, starting off with Egypt vs. Uruguay, then Morocco vs. Iran, and finishing off with the headliner: Spain vs. Portugal. We did wake up to some bad news, however — Mohamed Salah, Liverpool star and PFA Premier League player of the year, will not play for Egypt in the first game, apparently still recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in the Champions League final. Egypt will certainly be lacking his firepower up top, though they do have a strong, veteran team that will look to defend tenaciously against Uruguay. In the later games, Morocco has one of the strongest midfields in the entire tournament, and we don’t need to say much about Spain and Portugal, two world powers who will be looking to send strong statements in their opening game.
5 winners and 4 losers from a spectacular World Cup Day 2
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesWe’re only one full day into the World Cup, and the competition has already delivered. The highlight was Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominant performance in Portugal’s 3-3 draw against Spain, but it’s not like the other matches were lacking drama. Neither was high scoring, but they both had last-minute winners, with Iran and Uruguay both snatching three points.
A lot of people had good days. But just as many had miserable days too. Here are your winners and losers from Day 2 of the World Cup.
Read Article >Spain vs. Portugal was a masterpiece
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesIt almost feels banal to put this down, a feeling that’s probably better expressed with a bewildered look of happiness after a final whistle. But holy shit everyone, what a game of soccer that was.
Portugal and Spain tied 3-3 on Friday. There were six goals, each one a twist, a mini-narrative, a dagger, a heartbreak. Just when we thought the game had a story, a plot ... everything changed. And then it changed again.
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