Dave’s Dribble: Soccer World Cup round-up in case you missed the games

Portugal survive elimination scare

Iran came within a whisker of sending Portugal packing after the teams drew 1-1 in their Group B clash.

A shot into the side netting in the dying seconds was half a metre away from causing one of the World Cup’s biggest ever upsets.

This was one Iran just had to win; even a draw for Portugal would have seen them through – which it did.

As early as the 3^rd minute Ronaldo hit a shot on target, which may have signposted a long night for the Iranians, especially as their keeper Alireza Beiranvand twice dropped the ball in the early stages.

But Portugal were having difficulty breaking down the Iranian defence and were themselves at times under pressure.

Not surprisingly, little was seen of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was well marked.

On the cusp of half time the stalemate was broken as Ricardo Quaresma, instead of sending over another of his fine crosses, cut in from the right wing and hit the ball with the outside of his right foot into the top left corner (1-0).

Goal of the tournament so far, and Portugal were smiling.

They thought it was all over early in the second stanza when Ronaldo stepped up to take a penalty but it was brilliantly saved by Alireza Beiranvand.

This rejuvenated Iran into waves of attack, barely repelled by a scrambling Portuguese defence, who can thank Pepe and William Carvalho for their continual mopping up as a tiring but ever willing Iran kept on being a nuisance.

Ronaldo escaped red with an elbow off the ball incident and were in disarray in the 90^th minute when Cedric was deemed to have hand-balled in the box.

Karim Ansarifard took the spot kick for Iran and beat Rui Patricio low to his left (1-1).

Then came that 93^rd minute drama as Mehdi Taremi got the ball in the box but put it into the side netting.

Had it gone in, it was bye bye Ronaldo and company.

As it is, by finishing second behind Spain, they now have the massive hurdle that is Uruguay to climb in the last 16.

Spain secure top group position

Spain secured top spot in Group B with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Morocco and will play their first knockout game against Russia on 30 June.

The stylish Spaniards were tipped to breeze past Morocco but were stunned in the 14^th minute when a Sergio Ramos error let in Khalid Boutaib, who put it through the legs of De Gea (1-0).

This was historic: Morocco’s first ever World Cup finals goal.

The lead was short-lived after Spanish midfield dynamo Andres Iniesta set up Isco to level matters.

Boutaib almost got his brace after being put clear but this time De Gea was able to smother the shot.

Spain were dominant, but lacked finishing: with 15 minutes to go they had strung together over 600 passes with only the solitary goal to show for it.

Their fans were astounded when they conceded a second late in the half, with Youssef Ait Bennasser smashing a terrific header into the top corner! Morocco 2-1 up.

There was a dramatic equaliser at the death, courtesy of Iago Aspas who came off the bench to score.

Despite the linesman flagging for offside, VAR allowed the goal and 2-2 was the result.

Also read: FIFA to choose North America or Morocco for 2026 World Cup today

Goal ‘rushers’ Uruguay top Group A

With an emphatic 3-0 win, Uruguay glided to the top of Group A, relegating their opponents Russia to the second group qualifying spot for the knockout stage.

Russia had scored eight in their previous two games but there was no way they were going to break down the renowned Uruguayan defence in those numbers.

In truth, the hosts were hardly in the game and as early as the 9^th minute they were a goal down.

Luis Suarez lined up a free kick outside the box and cleverly did not go over the wall but low and around it, into the far bottom corner.

Uruguay were two up after 23 minutes when a shot by Diego Laxalt deflected off defender Alan Dzagoev and into the net.

It went from bad to worse for Russia when Igor Smolnikov was given his marching orders 10 minutes before the break for a second yellow card offence.

Two goals down and a man down, Russia fared slightly better on resumption but Uruguay still dominated possession without much to show for it.

They were deserving of another and it finally came in the 90^th minute – yet another late, late goal in the tournament

Lucas Torreira’s corner was met with a thunderous header by Diego Godin and Igor Akinffev did well to save the shot.

However, it fell unkindly at the feet of Edinson Cavani, who did the necessary to make it 3-0.

Whether they ran out of steam, were the inferior side or finally met their match, this Russian effort was sub par.

One hopes they did not peak too early.

Also read: FIFA eyes big crowds, bigger profits at 2026 World Cup

Saudis are the winning losers

With both teams already eliminated and nothing really to play for, one might have expected a dull encounter between the two bottom Group A sides.

That was certainly not the case and this was by no means a ‘friendly’, as attested by some of the tough tackles.

That being said, the 2-1 result in favour of the Saudis was purely academic, with no influence of the group.

Egyptian fans were the first to rejoice when their idol Mo Salah opened the scoring in the 21^st minute, against the run of play.

Sandwiched between two defenders, he pulled down a through ball and delicately chipped it over the head of advancing keeper Yasser Al Mosailem

Saudi Arabia were increasingly making a statement of intent and should have pulled level with a 39^th minute penalty after the ball hit the arm of Ahmed Fathi.

Fahad Al Muwallad struck the spot kick well enough but Essam El Hadary saved superbly, pushing the ball onto the post.

As luck would have it, the Saudis were given another penalty after a jersey tug in the box and this time El Hadary was sent the wrong way as Salman Al Faraj nailed it for 1-1 and a more than deserved share at the break.

The second stanza was to and fro stuff, with Saudi Arabia the aggressors and El Hadary forced to make a terrific double save in the Egyptian goals.

But the justified win came in the 95^th minute when Salem Al Dawsari tucked the ball away after a bit of ping pong in the box to make it 2-1 and farewell to both sides.

Thanks, and we’ll see you in 2022.