Well, let's be honest, it really wasn't the draw we all hoped for, but there are some positive to take. The most important positive for me, is the order of matches:
- We KNOW, we must win the first match in order to have any chance of qualification. There is no ifs or buts....we win, and we will go into that final game in Saransk vs. Portugal with a chance to qualify.
- Spain and Portugal playing each other first, they can't be complacent. All teams want to make a statement in their first matches. Remember last World Cup? Both those teams were ELIMINATED in the group stage, because they suffered heavy defeat in their first matches and never really recovered. Spain lost 5-1 and Portugal lost 4-0. In that match, We must hope for a repeat, and most likely for Spain to beat Portugal, because the latter are more beatable and more prone to dropping points against weaker sides like us.
- It's been historically proven and accurate that top teams tend to play it a bit loosely in their second group match and if they drop any points, it's in that game. For example, Germany lost to Serbia in 2nd match in 2010, Brazil drew Mexico in 2014, Italy lost to Costa Rica in 2014, we almost drew Argentina ! and that's when we're facing the best team in our group.
- I am happy that we got Morocco instead of Panama. Why?? Panama, sure we'd have a better chance of beating, but they'd get pummeled by Portugal, and we won't have a chance of catching up on GD. Morocco is like an African IRAN. They didn't concede a goal in qualifiers....They can easily get a draw vs. Portugal. So it'll be HUGE if we beat them first match...but they are a very good team, but we know our task.
Keep your heads high, Carlos will have us prepared...and just enjoy the ride.
Recipe for progress:
- Have Spain destroy Portugal first match
- Beat Morocco
- Don't lose to Spain by too many goals
- Get a draw vs. Portugal last match and go up
- We KNOW, we must win the first match in order to have any chance of qualification. There is no ifs or buts....we win, and we will go into that final game in Saransk vs. Portugal with a chance to qualify.
- Spain and Portugal playing each other first, they can't be complacent. All teams want to make a statement in their first matches. Remember last World Cup? Both those teams were ELIMINATED in the group stage, because they suffered heavy defeat in their first matches and never really recovered. Spain lost 5-1 and Portugal lost 4-0. In that match, We must hope for a repeat, and most likely for Spain to beat Portugal, because the latter are more beatable and more prone to dropping points against weaker sides like us.
- It's been historically proven and accurate that top teams tend to play it a bit loosely in their second group match and if they drop any points, it's in that game. For example, Germany lost to Serbia in 2nd match in 2010, Brazil drew Mexico in 2014, Italy lost to Costa Rica in 2014, we almost drew Argentina ! and that's when we're facing the best team in our group.
- I am happy that we got Morocco instead of Panama. Why?? Panama, sure we'd have a better chance of beating, but they'd get pummeled by Portugal, and we won't have a chance of catching up on GD. Morocco is like an African IRAN. They didn't concede a goal in qualifiers....They can easily get a draw vs. Portugal. So it'll be HUGE if we beat them first match...but they are a very good team, but we know our task.
Keep your heads high, Carlos will have us prepared...and just enjoy the ride.
Recipe for progress:
- Have Spain destroy Portugal first match
- Beat Morocco
- Don't lose to Spain by too many goals
- Get a draw vs. Portugal last match and go up
Comment