On this game: 1. Algeria 🇩🇿 played beautifully with and without the ball ⚽, the only difference between them and Argentina 🇦🇷 is "the Messi effect". 2. Although, Algeria 🇩🇿 missed some chances, they showed sparks of brilliance cutting through the Argentina 🇦🇷 defence with nice passes from the middle and from the wings. 3. Argentina 🇦🇷 was solid both in the low blocks when defending and in the quick transition from defence to the middle through De Paul and onward to Messi. It showed their ability to really be strong in the defence but also be clinical in the attack especially with a player like Messi to finish things up. 4. I like that Algeria 🇩🇿 didn't seat back, they kind of used this game to test out their play style and perhaps will fine tune it before the next game. 5. Algeria 🇩🇿 were really compact in their play such that they were preventing passes going through the middle from De Paul to Messi, but the moment they slipped, that pass went right through and Messi shot right through. 6. The win by Argentina 🇦🇷 was an expected scenario barring any surprises, but Algeria didn't play like they were defeated which made the game really worth watching. 7. The biggest difference in the game was MESSI and it was obvious as Argentina seemed to have lost the spark to quickly run against the Algeria 🇩🇿 defence when he was subbed off. Generally an enjoyable football ⚽ game.

Guess what, he scored his first goal against Serbia and Montenegro (which was one country then) at just 18 years. Since then, it has become two nations Serbia 🇷🇸 & Montenegro 🇲🇪... But the Lionel Messi is still with the same fire 🔥 as he was in 20 years ago.

On this game: 1. When it started, it was a balanced game where both teams went head on at each other and defended well enough to keep each attacking force at bay. 2. However, a little slip from Iraq 🇮🇶 allowed Haaland to get the first goal 🥅. 3. Before then, something was clear about the way Iraq wanted to play; they pressed the Norway defence high enough to force them to either play it long or commit some error, and that pressure was working and it produced a goal 🥅 4. The error from the back line of Iraq gifted Haaland another goal. Because Haaland loves to run at defenders and goalkeepers, he was able to quickly pounce on that mistake and made it count. 5. That mistake deemed the momentum that Iraq had built with that equaliser and how much of free flow play they were making which kept them at par with Norway for a good portion of the game. 6. From the moment that error happened, Iraq 🇮🇶 lost momentum and Norway went right in and punished them further with two more good goals. 7. Norway 🇳🇴 used their wingers so well and they ran at the Iraq defence exchanging very quick and smooth passes to dislodge the tight defending and unlock spaces. 8. It was a good game of football ⚽ to watch. The lack of experience showed on the side of Iraq 🇮🇶, but they did put up a good fight and were to a large extent playing without any form of fear. Basically enjoying themselves, until the error that cost them their joy happened. I hope they do better in their future games.

Every one's talking about Haaland, rightly so. But had no one noticed the incredibly blistering speed with which Nusa plays and dribbles past his opponents? His speed is well timed and well utilised to find spaces in tight areas and that's why his wing is being greatly utilised by Norway 🇳🇴 to play through Iraq 🇮🇶. By the way, he was born in Langhus, a suburb located just south of Oslo to his mother Kristin Hedelund Nordby, who is Norwegian and his father Joe Nusa, who is Nigerian. He has lived all his life in Norway 🇳🇴 and his parents play a pivotal role in his career development. Playing from Norway's U16 - U21 before his senior call up in August 2023 following his sharp development at Club Brugge.

Once Olise started doing the right things, he helped unlock the France 🇫🇷 team and picked up spaces behind the Senegal 🇸🇳 defence. He is a brilliant player once he's in the right frame of mind.

On this game: 1. A lot of the passes by France 🇫🇷 were really sloppy in the first half. It was really worrying how they played. 2. In the first half, the biggest mistake made by Senegal 🇸🇳 was not taking their chances because they had plenty of them. 3. The level of lethargy and lackadaisical behavior from France was unbelievable as it was surprising how they lost possession so quickly. 4. France was arrogant, and that caught up with them; they did not realise that Senegal is also a good team. 5. Senegal did so well defensively and offensively that no one will suggest that they were playing low blocks. 6. There was this ball played by Olise and another by Mbappe; Mendy made himself so big and tried to cover all the angles that the ball could be played through, that way, he had enough to keep the ball out. Mendy was really brilliant in the game. 7. The penalty call was not needed; Mane had no direct contact with Mbappe's leg. However, that was indeed a careless tackle in such a delicate place in their half. 8. The moment Olise discovered himself and started playing from the middle, his moves started causing some confusion for Senegalese players, and that led to the goal by Mbappe. 9. In the second half, Olise started engaging more quickly from the midfield and made things flow and caused Senegal issues. One thing with playing with countries with the kind of talent depth like France is you must not miss your chances; if you do, you will pay for it, and Senegal paid. 10. Once France scored, it seemed like the pressure that paralysed them from the first half gave way and they started playing football. This meant that Senegal had to be careful about how they approached their attacking. 11. Because France turned it on in the second half, they started exploiting the gap between the central defenders of Senegal, who could also be said to be slow-paced, so could not match up with the quick runs being made behind them by France forwards. 12. The criticisms of how France started the game are very important, as they have an embarrassment of talents to have been playing that way. They thankfully found themselves soon enough and punished Senegal for not making their chances count when they had them. That's what neutral fans want to see, every team playing well and taking chances that produce goals. 13. Olise was excellent from the moment he found himself. 14. The first two goals by France came about from brilliant runs behind the defenders and cutting-edge passes to cut through the defense line. The last goal was a lapse of concentration from Senegal defenders. 15. Mbaye just at 18 made that goal look so beautiful but it was quickly canceled by Mbappe goal and credit to the referee for playing advantage. All in all, the game started well to the advantage of Senegal but they didn't take their chances, France made things count in the second half.

On this game: 1. Cabo Verde started the game with some panic when they get the ball and want to attack Spain in the early periods of the game. They kept booting the ball right after they recover it from a Spain attack. Wrong thing to do, but it eventually worked out for them. 3. They are doing great with their defensive strategy, so much so that they made Oyarzabal create a record as the first attacker to not touch the ball for 30 minutes in a World Cup match. 4. During the 41st minute, Cabo Verde had a great counterattack; if not for their lack of quality, they ran out of ideas, it should have been a goal. 5. The mental resilience by Cabo Verde really helped stretch the game on 0:0 until the very end, and that's a great quality for a team that wants to go far in the tournament. 6. Spain on the other hand, needed to run in behind the defense of Cabo Verde but seemed not to do so more often or had no idea how to do it against such a solid back line. 7. Rodri has always was brilliant in breaking up the movement of Cabo Verde in the middle but couldn't break passes through the defence. 8. Right when Yamal came in, the pace and tempo of the game went up a bit and even he himself knew it. But as always, he wants to do too much with the ball ⚽ to attract unnecessary attention to himself. He should have been crossing in the ball more since the defenders already figured him out. 9. Cabo Verde gave the defending of the highest order, stayed focused, frustrated Spain and earned for themselves the pride of drawing the second best team in the world and earning their first every World Cup point in history. It was a beautiful game.

This Spain 🇪🇸 vs Capo Verde 🇨🇻 game is quite interesting. Thoughts after the match.

On this game: 1. Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 did great by soaking in the pressure from Ecuador 🇪🇨 while quickly transitioning when they break up the play of the Ecuadorians. 2. Ecuador 🇪🇨 played well, but the space that Hincapie leaves behind is not always filled by anyone, this allows Diamande to easily flow in to attack the defense. 3. Diomande is quite an intelligent 🧠 footballer with quick feets and knows how to take on defenders. 4. The lack of discipline by the Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 team did affect their ability to keep the flow of their defensive play. 5. In the second half, Ivory Coast increased their free flowing passes and interchange. 6. Most importantly, Ecuador 🇪🇨 failed to deal with the pace, intelligence and dynamism of Ivory Coast wing play and when Amad came in, it even got worse for Ecuador 🇪🇨. 7. Amad was the spark that the game needed, that touch of class and elite play was what made the difference. 8. Ivory Coast wingers and midfielders saw a lot of space because Ecuador was man marking in a squeeze. Overall, Ecuador 🇪🇨 tried to play, but Ivory Coast stuck with their game plan: >defend aggressively >attack with pace and speed from the wings Beautiful and interesting game with 4 balls to the post.

On this game: I have not much to say but to congratulate this team for being in the tournament. It means so much to them and their nation and that's all that matters. The result is irrelevant. This is what matters, being here and participating is amazing! Make sure you all enjoy these moments and memories, think less about the results.

The reason Morocco 🇲🇦 struggles against West African teams, especially Nigeria 🇳🇬 is not due to "physicality"... I think such suggestion is to minimise things to the bearest. One of the reasons they struggle when it comes to winning AFCON when they meet teams like Nigeria is because, Nigeria 🇳🇬 knows just how to slow game down and reduce the intensity of the game's pace. If you run at Morocco 🇲🇦, they will run at you as well, and with greater fluidity and speed. One way to cut that out is to not allow them play at their own pace. This happened after the 20th minute of their game against Brazil 🇧🇷 and in most part of the second half when they (Morocco 🇲🇦) then had to resort to counter attack (quick transition from the back). The moment Brazil 🇧🇷 stopped trying to run at them and slowed the game down, Morocco retreated. That's how you play Morocco 🇲🇦, but since most European and South American teams play almost same style of quick plays, it suits Morocco 🇲🇦 pretty well. This is why they do better at these kind of competitions. Cc: @tobyasky @OgaNlaMedia @BankyGee_ @54footballx

Watching Morocco move the ball so fast with accuracy, urgency, intelligence and fluidity against Brazil last night and I remember some people suggesting NPFL players for Éric Chelle, I just burst laugh inside house. Check Morocco's squad, only two players are from their league and they're both goalkeepers - one 30 and the other 37 years old, and their league is 10x better than the NPFL. Éric Chelle should not pay attention to anybody! Build your squad the way you want it!!!

On this game: 1. Haiti 🇭🇹 were in a good position to have scored many goals, the difference was in them not having decisive strikers and wingers. 2. Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 should be happy that they played against Haiti 🇭🇹 cause they didn't really worry the Haiti 🇭🇹 team. 3. Morocco 🇲🇦 and Brazil 🇧🇷 should cruise past Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 if they know what they are doing. 4. Scott has really improved his game play and decision making and McGinn seems to keep up with his winning spirit. 5. The guy who was making the crosses for Haiti 🇭🇹 especially for free kicks really was awful tonight. He was unable to successfully cross in any dangerous ball ⚽ with set pieces. 6. Generally, Haiti 🇭🇹 has some really exciting players who would be able to do better with more exposure and experience. 7. It was actually a good game with a good crowd attendance.

This half time result does not do justice to the whole situation of this game. I believe those who were wondering how Haiti 🇭🇹 got to the World Cup, now understand better, right? Those guys are trying, just their final touches let's them down. Actually enjoying the game.

That was a good game of football. The first big game and it lived up to its expectations.

This is Morocco's 🇲🇦 Ayyoud Bouaddi and he is just 18 years old. 1. He drives the ball ⚽ with full confidence and doesn't waver under pressure. 2. He didn't play against some World class players like he is just 18. He had a good command of the midfield and manned it very well. 3. His hold up play was excellent and distribution even when under pressure from the opponent is incredible. What caught my attention was when he received a pass and applauded the defender. That's full confidence in himself and his teammates. 4. I want to guess that this is what Eric Chelle is planning to build with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Especially with the fact that this Morocco 🇲🇦 side has very quick transition once they get the ball ⚽. 5. The next AFCON will be very interesting especially with the facf that they are not hosting, they will play without that burden of home ground and enjoy their football without needing external assistance.

On this game: 1. Morocco 🇲🇦 utilised their strength of youthful and energetic players in the first 20 minutes. They made sure to keep the pace of the game high with constant movement around the pitch. 2. Brazil's 🇧🇷 midfield struggled to contain the fluidity of the play and the pace of it and that's why it looked like the Moroccans 🇲🇦 swamped them. 3. However, when Brazil 🇧🇷 began to slow the pace, they gained their own momentum in their own way rather than playing with the flow of the Moroccans. 4. Morocco 🇲🇦 showed no respect to Brazil 🇧🇷. They have played it all out and kept going until the end of the game. 5. Both teams in the second half didn't play so much as it was mostly slowed down by Brazil 🇧🇷. There was more of passes around the pitch by both sides and less of anything in the final third. 6. Only at the last minutes of the game did they both come to the park to play to see who gets the winning goal. It was a balanced game of football ⚽ and both teams gave a good account of themselves and made the hype behind the game worth it. Morocco 🇲🇦 was indeed a worthy representative of Africa 🌍 in the game and didn't cower out.

Morocco 🇲🇦 is playing to their strength... Brazil 🇧🇷 should do more of slowing down the pace of the game, that's how Nigeria 🇳🇬 does it against North African teams...