PBP: Copa do Mundo 2026 - other teams and news thread

Haiti 4-0 New Zealand

 

Scotland is definitely a good team and you can't take them lightly. But I wouldn't say they are as tough, as physical as Scotland from 90s or that good defensively organised as Morocco is lately. I'd say, in theory, Scotland is easier to score against than Morocco. In qualies they had some very poor moments defensively, which almost cost them qualification, then in friendlies they had such too, even against Curacao, which they defeated only when latter had player sent-off in 1st half. Basically, they are having problems to break down defenses, so they tries to build their game on defense and transition. They has good midfield to play on counters, but kinda lacks decent finisher to convert the chances. I kinda liked the way Japan played in friendly against them. They could control the game, press, push for goals and probably would've succeeded, but that would've give a lot of space for Scotland to play in transition. So Japanese didn't force things too much, played patiently and waited for chances. Scotland always gives them away to rivals, they has troubles against faster, technically gifted players and the way game went, the way Japan found holes in Scotish defense, it felt that Japan would still score what so ever, it was more important not to concede. And that patience paid-out, Japan scored and won. Yeah, it was kinda borefest, but who cares when its efficient and it works.
It's hard to tell what Brazil will need from the Scotland game as its last one in group stage, what Scotland will need and how they'll approach it. But if draw will be enough, I would surely play Japanese way, especially if Scotland will need to win. Even if 3pts would be needed this style could pay off. Of course another option might be to risk more in opening minutes, try to score fast goal as Scotland at times losses concentration and might fall apart trying to go get equalizer, then go back and try to catch them on counters to finish the game. If this plan doesn't work out, go back to patient game.

 

Morocco - Norway 1-1

I'd say very solid game from Morocco, especially tactically. Both teams started with strong line-ups. Norwegians put all their offensive strenght on the pitch with Haaland, Odegaard, Nusa, Sorloth and etc. But Moroccians coped with that just fine. Moreover, knowing that Norway's obvious weak link is defense, Morocco started very aggressive and pushed forward, in opening 10mins they totally controlled the game, had couple of moments till finally Brahim Diaz scored. Then they went back to play on counters and was still quite dangerous. I don't know if that was their exact plan of the game, but if so, it worked perfectly. Norway barelly could create smth, except one Nusa shot late in 1st half after small defensive mistake, but Bonou saved. Also, Morocco had a very decent chance to double the lead before that, but Ezzalzouli missed from close range. In 2nd half picture was more or less the same, Morocco were dangerous in transition, Norway tried to create smth, but nothing came close to equalizier. Till the middle of the half, when coaches made bunch of subs. Then at 75min subbed in Bobb did some great work on the wing, passed the ball to Odegaard into the box and he caught defense a bit sleepy. The picture didn't change much after that.
Of course it's just a friendly, but it might be just another proof that Morocco was not a fluke in 2022. Coaching changes lately didn't ruin it all for them too, they still are good tacticially, still are compact defensivelly, can cope against top level offensive team and can be very dangerous upfront by themselves

 

Norway lately always plays like that with both Haaland and Sorloth. If there's no Haaland, coach still puts another striker in, mostly Strand Larsen from Crystal Palace, Sorloth moves a bit right, on left side plays Nusa. At times coach even went more offensive with adding Bobb to the right. But it was like that when playing against weaker teams. It all worked great in qualifiers, also even without Haaland Norway looked decent vs Sweden few days ago, scored 3 and could've hit more, but team struggled a bit yesterday or in another friendly in March at home vs Switzerland went scoreless and if I recall correctly, didn't have much chances created.
Regarding Morocco, yes, Ezzalzouli got injured, was subbed off during halftime, also Mazraoui from ManUtd was subbed during 1st half, he might miss Brazil game too. Big blows for Morocco if both won't feature

 

Korea’s first goal was clinical – it takes frieza to lob the ball like that in a World Cup game at just enough speed for a defender not to reach it in time.

As for Mexico, the “coreano hermano ya eres mexicano!” was funny, but Mexico will do everything it can to secure a second consecutive home ground victory. I for one will hope for a Korean upset.

 

Paraguay are embarassing

 

I expected more from them. They didn't have a stellar offensive performance, but defensively, they only allowed 10 goals (same as Argentina). Brazil allowed 17. As well, they defeated Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay on home ground with a combined 5-1 score; as visitors, they lost to Argentina and Brazil by 1-0 and drew 0-0 at Uruguay.

Yet they were dominated from start to finish. It's as if they forgot how to play futebol and I'm not being sarcastic.

As for CONMEBOL teams doing well in WCQ and poorly at the World Cup, Colombia 1994 is probably the most glaring example. Argentina in 2002 as well.

 

What has happened to CONMEBOL? Paraguay and Ecuador are rather pathetic sides, I must say.

 

Indeed. Ecuador and Ivory Coast had a solid game, with both sides attacking. A few centimeters and Ecuador would have been up 2-0. Credit to the Ivory Coast as it too has talented players and as it went for the win - and got it.

I would say Ecuador's performance last night, while disappointing in terms of the result, was nowhere as lackluster as Paraguay's against the United States. And if Ecuador loses to Germany, that would be a group stage result completely within feasibility. Germany hasn't been what it was in years past, but the Germans are still serious opponents.