The first round of the qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup brought some unexpected results. First of all, this concerns the National Teams of Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. Although, the same Portuguese, led by Ronaldo, were able to score only one goal to Azerbaijan. So let's look at three interesting encounters.
Malta - Russia
Before the match, all forecasters gave an unconditional advantage to the Russian team. They believed that Dziuba and company would be able to disassemble the rivals into small parts. But the game showed that now the Russian national team is not yet able to show a decent game.
Yes, in the first half Dziuba played at a high level. On the 23rd minute, after the transfer of Fomin Dziuba scored the first goal of the national team. Already at the 35th minute of the meeting, he assisted Mario Fernandez. The score becomes 0 - 2. You might think that the situation is completely under the control of the Russians. But Malta has shown that they are ready to fight.
The second half was controversial. First, on 56 minutes, Joseph Mbong scores against Anton Shunin. The score becomes obscenely slippery: 1 - 2. Malta continued to play their football and were close to leveling the score. The game was saved by the substitute Alexander Sobolev, who was assisted by Alexey Miranchuk.
Yes, Russia wins with a score of 1 - 3. But the game showed all its sins. By the way, in terms of shots on target, Malta turned out to be ahead: 5 - 4. It was lucky that Malta's implementation of chances was lame on both legs.
France - Ukraine
I will not say that it was the Ukrainian national team that was able to create a sensation. In this case, the French Champions are to blame for everything. In fact, they outplayed their rivals in all respects. We struck 3 shots on target, while the Ukrainians didn’t. Now many will ask, what about the goal? Here is the time to tell about the events on the field.
Already on the 19th minute, Antoine Griezmann takes the French ahead. The relatively quick goal showed that the Ukrainian national team is not yet ready to play against opponents of such a high level. The French were in 100% control of the game. They have a 63% possession of the ball. But the denouement came from where they did not expect. On 57 minutes, Presnel Kimpembe scored his own goal. This is how the score becomes a draw. Ultimately, the match ended in a draw: 1 - 1. The French have to bite their elbows and remember the missed chances and shots on target.
Turkey - Netherlands
But the most sensational was the match between the Turks and the Dutch. All experts, unanimously, declared that the Turkish national team had no chance of winning. Holland was supposed to win with a 1 - 2 goal difference. But the reality was not at all in favor of the Netherlands.
Already on the 15th minute of the meeting, Burak Yilmaz, after the transfer of Khakan Chalkhanoglu, opened the score of the meeting. On the 34th minute of the meeting, the Dutch violate the rights in their own penalty area. Burak Yilmaz converted the 11-meter kick and doubled the hosts' lead.
In the first minute of the second half (46 minutes), Chalhanoglu scores himself. This time he was assisted by Umut Merash. The score becomes obscenely large: 3 - 0. At 75 and 76 minutes, Holland tried to regain the intrigue. Davi Klassen scores first, after the transfer of Memphis to Depay. The second goal, a minute later, was awarded by Luc de Jong. It would seem that the intrigue is returning and the guests will be able to finish off the enemy. But this illusion was dispelled by the same Burak Yilmaz. He scores a hat trick at 81 minutes. This is how Turkey created one of the loudest sensations of the first game day of the qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup. However, it is worth noting that the match turned out to be rather dirty. The hosts have recorded 5 yellow cards. The Netherlands has only one. The hosts have committed 18 fouls. Guests violated the rules 12 times.
Thus, Ukraine and Turkey were able to present an unexpected surprise to the entire football Europe. The Russian national team did not show the level of play that it demonstrated in the League of Nations.
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