For they can conquer who believe they can

Cosmas Zulu

Uruguay Vs France

2018 Quarter-finals
In five meetings the two nations have always drew in the 15th minute. The second youngest player in World Cup history after Pele in the 1958 finals could have put France ahead, heading from far post unmarked but chose to bring the ball to his feet to shoot.

Kit managers in this country can learn one or two things from France’s manager’s handing his player a new clean spare jersey after one got torn during a tussle with an opponent. Also the uniforms inscribed on the chest which stage they have reached in the World Cup tournament.

But Uruguay went to sleep on the  free kick taken from outside the box leading to a defender Varane running across to give France the lead with a grazing header to score  the second goal conceded by Uruguay in the tournament.

There was a quick reaction by Uruguay when a player connected a header from a free kick which was however, tipped for safety by the goalkeeper.

I watching this game with my grandson, every time France scored, he would jump shouting Goal! Goal! Then I said you have not been jumping and celebrating like this on other games, what is it then? He says Khulu, it’s because France is the only African team left in the World Cup. I assume he said this after seeing a number of black players in the team.

Brazil vs Belgium
2018 Quarter-finals
For they can conquer who believe they can. This is what Belgium players did for the entire ninety minutes in this game. This goal showed me that we assume coaches in these big tournament are experts when they are not. The  first goal conceded by Brazil, a Belgium player on the near post was supposed to be sandwiched so as not to flick the ball.

This was in the 12th minutes when there was  an own goal in a tournament with so many own goals.

Belgium was coming up with some beautiful methodical counter attacks for the second goal. Lukaku charged forward like a wounded bull, picking one of the deadliest  players in world, Kevin De Bruyne in the far post who cut in to release a bullet into the net. This  goal, any layman in football could see that this was the end of a movie to be continued in the next World Cup. In the 75th minute Brazil got a goal trying to get themselves out of jail after taking 22 shots at Belgium goal. I cannot finish the story without mentioning the France goalkeeper’s  brilliant work.

I once saw a surgery on my travels around the world and on the door it was written. “Here we bandage the wound, but God heals the wound”. Brazil needed God on their side. This time, God was on Belgium’s side instead. Yes, it’s now a battle of  European  nations in the tournament.

Belgium vs France
 2018 Semi-final
Do you know that France is the only country which has won the World Cup in all age groups. A very balanced team with a French connection playing one and two touch passing game. The goal scored is from training ground manual. They scored the same type of a goal against Brazil in the quarter-final.

It was one of the best tactics shown  by France especially in the last six minutes of the game. With Belgium with players in the make of  Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, you cannot afford to lose possession unnecessarily. But France, who have been in camp for  49 days managed to hold their, thanks to an Umtiti headed goal in the second half.

England Vs Croatia
2018 Semi-finals
There is no substitute for experience. Few shots at goal for 120 minutes summed up England’s night. It put them back on the familiar pain again. And it truth be told, they were not entertaining and their game had too many unforced  errors than creativeness. I hope we will see quality football in the final today. Congratulations to Croatia for getting in the finals  for the first time in their history.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us stick to the teams we were supporting to win the World Cup before the tournament commenced.

Not to say Croatia is my team because their won the  match the previous night. I predicted Germany to win, now they are home in Germany and now I say France is winning. I will lose honourably and win honourably.
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