Belgium V Russia World Cup 2014

Belgium V Russia Fifa World Cup 2014

After match synopsis in red!!

Beers: Group H of Beer World Cup: http://thisdrinkinglife.com/world-cup-beer-group-h/

Who is set to win the battle of the beers? Stella Artois V Baltika 7 Eksportnoe (Export)? Who will quench the thirst, set the mood, get me in the right spirit? Click on picture for a preview of the beers. Get the beer result after, much after!

Baltika 7 Eksportnoe V Stella Artois: 1-0. Tight victory for Baltika 7 Eksportnoe. Both beers were spot on with appearance. Baltika had a nice pale yellow appearance and a good frothy head while Stella Artois was perfectly clear of a nice golden colour, with a good sized white head and some decent lacing. Baltika had a slighty better aroma though, that was of sweet malt and grain producing a lovely rustic kind of smell that was both strong and appealing on the nose. For taste, both beers were very easy to drink, and refreshing and clean tasting, but would give this to Baltika as its aftertaste was stronger and it brought a nice balance to the beer. The taste is of some sweet malts, was slightly hoppy, with some light barley malt. I do like both beers and both are good for a session, but I give the victory to Baltika. Click on links below for full beer information and reviews.

PreGame:

Belgium were very laboured at times and struggled to do anything of note in the first half of the first game. It took them until the 43rd minute for their first real chance of that game.

Lukaku wasnt up to much, pretty disappointing, looked off the pace, but credit to the Belgian manager Wilmots for taking him off early on in the second half.

Hazard the £35.3 million player also went missing for the whole game Fellaini won it for Belgium in the end with a cracking headed goal, and he also showed glimpses of the form that had taken him to United.

Belgium have a good team, and in the second half they played a little better. Were much better going forward than defending. But they have no real leader on the pitch, no one to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drag them to victory. Remember this was Algeria not Argentina or an Italy. Will be very interesting to see how they do against the Russians today. Actually this might be an even easier game to play than against Algeria. For a start the Russian defence wont be as solid, and they have a tendency to drop the heads when enforced pressure is put on them. Would be surprised if Belgium didn’t score at least two goals in this game. Hopefully a better performance today from the Belgians.

Russia: Not a whole lot to write about on their first game against South Korea, was a dour soulless game. It was a dull game. Not to Capello though, on speaking to the BBC he thought it “was a good game” , and that his players did well. I wouldn’t want to see when they play bad so.

Russia were clueless. South Korea not much better.

In a must win game both Russia and Korea fluffed their lines, and now will struggle to qualify for the second round, unless Russia can pull of a small shock today and actually beat Belgium. Can it happen? I doubt it.

A more detailed review on Belgium here and on Russia here

A pretty dull match, with a very dour first half, Belgium and Russia produced one of the worst games of the World Cup so far. Belgium not always willing to put in the hard work for a victory. In their two games now they have only really played about 20 minutes of real football, leaving it very late in both games to win.

Dries Mertens was very lively in attack for Belgium down the right flank and was one of the few Belgian players making an effort to win the game. He was taken off in the second half but that was more than likely due to the heat and humid conditions of the game.

Romelu Lukaku was once again hopeless in attack, and was wandering aimlessly up front. Wilmots rightly took him off early second half. Lukaku wasn’t too impressed with this decision and looked to be mouthing off when he went to the dugout. Thing is though, why didn’t he show that passion and aggression on the pitch, wimp. To further rub salt into his wounds Divock Origi, who replaced him, impressed when he came off the bench and scored the winning goal two minutes from time. Take that Romelu, another brilliant inspired substitution from Wilmots. Now if the manger could only start with a good team, and not leave it until the second half…..

Hazard finally started to show his talents, he played well in the second half and created a few chances and was unlucky not to score himself. Better from the star player.

Kompany had it fairly comfortable at the back, mopped up everything fairly handy and was never in danger much throughout the game, albeit it apart from the one free header that Russia missed.The Goalkeeper also gets to continue his amazing record of playing for Belgium without ever losing. He has 19 caps and counting.

Russia offered absolutely nothing. Alexander Kokorin missed their best chance in a dour first half, heading wide from six yards out. A free header missed. They did come into the game a little more in the second half but that was only due to Belgium standing off and letting them play

Belgium are now in the second round with a game to spare and have to play Korea next. it might be a good chance for Wilmots to try and see if he can pick a perfect 11 that he can settle on for the second round.

Russia have to play Algeria and they will have to win to stay in the World Cup. Can they do it? I haven’t seen anything of yet to suggest they can. They are a pretty limited team that have no passion and look like they have already settled for the the long trip back to Russia.

Music to get you in the mood

Gabriel Ríos V Theodor Bastard