Early exchanges in the 2018 World Cup have given Arsenal fans their first chance to run the rule over new signing Stephan Lichtsteiner and the 34-year-old looked typically composed as his Swiss side held Brazil to a 1-1 draw in Rostov-on-Don.
Elsewhere, Danny Welbeck was an unused substitute as England snatched a late win over Tunisia in their opening match. Welbeck’s experience may be a factor as the tournament wears on while Gunners supporters will also be able to monitor Alex Iwobi and David Ospina in the group stages at Russia 2018. In the main, however, much of the focus is on Mesut Ozil and a faltering Germany side.
Setback
In the biggest upset of the tournament to date, Germany went down 1-0 to a spirited Mexican side who had enough chances to deliver an even more embarrassing scoreline. Highly fancied to retain the trophy that they won in Brazil four years ago, Joachim Low’s men are now facing the unlikely prospect of a must-win game when they tackle Sweden in Sochi on Saturday.
Germany are clear favourites to win that tie at odds of 4/9 at William Hill but every player who featured in that defeat to Mexico needs to lift their performance and that includes a rather subdued Mesut Ozil.
Under Pressure
Arsenal fans got the message when the TV cameras chose to focus on the dejected figure of Ozil as he trudged off the pitch following that unexpected loss. No German player left the field with any credit but the former Real Madrid midfielder attracted much of the criticism, particularly from former national captain Lothar Matthaus who claimed that Ozil simply had ‘no heart’.
Assuming he starts that crucial game against Sweden on January 23, Ozil does, at least, have a chance to impress at this World Cup and that may be more than others can expect.
Welbeck Waits
When Danny Welbeck was named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for Russia, he was the leading scorer in the 23-man group. That record may not last until the end of the World Cup but, in a party where there is little in the way of big-tournament experience, the forward may well be a reliable option for the manager as England go deeper into the competition.
That would still offer scant consolation for Gunners fans, who were hoping for more representation from within the squad but there could still be much to enjoy as the action continues through to mid-July.
The World Cup offers football fans to put their club differences aside, if at all possible, and just get behind their country, but it’s also an opportunity to look at new signings, potential transfer targets and existing players.
As far as Arsenal are concerned, Lichtsteiner is currently top of the class while Mesut Ozil has room for improvement and may well be in attendance elsewhere in 2018/19. Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck is simply marked as absent but all three, along with current and future teammates, have further opportunities to impress.
I really don’t get the Ozil bashing narrative. He played decent from the highlights that you had above and from my own eyes on the day. He didn’t stop Lozano from scoring, but where were the defensive midfielders or the right-back? To have your number 10 covering for right-back says all that you need to know. Hummels was wandering out of position the entire match. It really reminded me of how Wenger set his teams up and I half-expected Wenger to be on the touchline. Thank God we didn’t land Low as our next manager.
Let’s see how he performs under Emery next season. I would be willing to bet that he has a stellar season when playing for a team who have clear instructions on where to be, what to do.
I’m not fussed about how he plays at the WC, it’s how he plays for Arsenal which matters. Second half of last season he was pretty average, mind you, who wasn’t really…
Just to comment on the last post, another good one, and the discussions about the expectations for Emery. Imho, Arsenal last season dropped point in about 8 games that was Inexplicable, except of course because of management decisions – selection, tactics and substitutions. I am of the view that Emery underachieved at PSG; however, even given those same players and the way we dropped points, it would not happen with Emery. So on that alone, I see an improvement. We cannot forget how much a colossal failure AW was in League play in the past 5 seasons – FA Cup not included.
Regarding Ozil, I agree with Begeegs, the problem was not Ozil but the selection by Loew. Khedira and Kroos couldn’t keep up with the Mexican midfielders, particularly Herrera, who should’ve been MotM. Ozil is just an easy target for those who just want to change the narrative. I taped the game and have watched it twice. He should’ve had 2-3 assist if they would’ve finished.
Thanks Obi.
I think a lot of the media battering Ozil is basically down to him being an Arsenal player. He’s picked on ahead of nearly anyone else currently playing at the WC. If it’s not Ozil, it’s Pogba, two players who on their day can rip any side apart imo.
Mourinho is ruining Pogba and Wenger hardy helped Ozil.
By the way, I didn’t write today’s post, the views within are not mine. It was send to me by the advertising group I’m with…
We are 2-4 years late but still give me Ever Benega over Jack Wilshire at any point in their careers. Benega’s passing abilities and his range of passing, coupled with his defensive awareness is better than anyone we have presently.
Tomic from Southampton would be a good sign
Do you mean Tadic Jm, the Serbian?
Morning Rico and all. Tadic has been a compulsive cheat since he joined Southampton. This WC seems to have featured more players feigning injury than ever before. It’s nonsense really. How many times did Shaqiri roll around pretending he was hurt last night? It’s a real turn-off for me.
Morning Adam. Never seen so much playacting in football, disgraceful..
Nice goal from Xhaka..
Hi Rico. It was a great strike but whatever the political gesture he was making was all about was probably better left out. The inconsistency of refereeing standards between this WC and what we see every week is a concern. Shaqiri with his shirt off was a real gross-out moment though. 🙂
Not sure what they were thinking doing that Adam.. Silly really.
Afternoon all.
See that Serbia are complaining about Xhaka`s goal celebration, I think he got cramp in his hands like I do and was just trying to release it .
I have the same problem when I drive over into Devon, I antagonise the inbreds with what looks like a hand gesture of a heart when it is infact a gesture of a strawberry to demonstrate my hatred of them for their crimes and atrocities against cream teas !………………….the idiots put their cream on first when everyone knows the strawberry jam goes on first, hence the hand gesture of a strawberry !
Ozil has been relegated to the bench !……………………what an idiot Low is, but I shant give him a hand gesture as he is the master of them and will gesture me with a sniffing of his fingers !
Bright side is like Iwobi another of our players is getting some valuable rest time !
‘evening all.
Both Xhaka and Shaqiri used the Albanian Eagle salute. They are both of Kosovan/Albanian decent and the gesture was a reminder that the country they were playing, Serbia, still refuses to recognise the existence of Kosovo as a country..
I don’t condone the player’s action, neither do I condemn it. But I wish politics could be kept out of all sports.
All quiet on the Arsenal front , off to Acle going boating .
Enjoy Potter, factor 50 on board I hope… lol
Morning..
Good morning Rico and Potter, what a lovely day to go messing about on river, are you going to get to watch the match? Kick off is 1pm.
yes, that one.
Morning Cicero, I will be watching. Gutted the Germans scored in the dying seconds…
Morning Rico and all. I agree about the Germans. The Swedes were absolutely fitted up with the penalty shout and then the German staff start goading the Swedish team after the whistle. Classic German sportsmanship.
A shame they won, but what a free kick!!!!
Morning Adam. Agreed. How anyone can believe football isn’t corrupt I don’t know…
Rico, is football corrupt? I guess it depends on your definition of the word, or perhaps on the use of the general term “football”. At the FIFA level, during Blatter’s reign, it was undoubtedly so.
When it comes down to complaints such as Serbia’s, that the appointment of a German referee for their match against Switzerland was “corrupt” on the basis that half of Switzerland’s population are German and therefore anti Serbia is ludicrous.
Is there bribery and match fixing in football? At some level undoubtedly, but at the World Cup? Impossible.
It also seems likely that football club ownership can be a cover for a certain amount of money laundering and tax evasion but that’s unlikely to impact on activities on the pitch.
It’s only my opinion but I wouldn’t say that football per se is corrupt, but neither would I say that all of football is lily white.
I think it is Cicero in one way or another. Too many obvious mistakes are being made at this world cup and in football generally to make me think otherwise.
The day the game is played on a level playing field can’t come soon enough for me, although I don’t think I’ll ever live long enough to see it..
Rico you must be right football is corrupt, otherwise why would Southgate select Sterling a player who hasn’t scored an England goal for a couple of years. Even with his arm in a sling he can still pocket a bribe.
🙂 Cicero, I take it Rashford is on the bench?
Yep, he’s on the bench but Young and Lingard are not. It’s where they should be.
Agree..
These officials are dreadful. Riley’s lot would have slotted in easily…
Well that half was a breeze…. lol
Very impressive by England.
No doubt about it, that’s the best England performance at a World Cup that I’ve seen since 1966.
The one and only criticism was the total ineffectiveness of Sterling, a can’t recall a single meaningful contribution from him in the entire ninety minutes.
I thought so too Kev. Even though they wobbled today, Buttler was outstanding. 5-0 battering of the Aussies is impressive…
Do that against Belgium and perhaps we can believe the national side improving, but Panama were absolutely awful imo. They’d struggle in League one I reckon…
Rico I’ve read that the Belgium manager believes that second place in the group would be a better outcome than first. With Lukaku carrying an injury Martinez will likely rest him as well as Hazard on Thursday.
It’s true that Panama were pretty awful and were lucky to finish with eleven on the pitch, but England were, for once, irresistible. They showed a complete lack of fear and played with confidence and purpose, Belgium will be looking with some anxiety towards the next game.
The commentators said the same Cicero which is a good job because England will finish there I reckon.
Not sure Belgium will fear England though, I still think we’re dodgy at the back.. if lukaku and hazard are fit, it could be an interesting battle..
Rico, the pressure to qualify is off so it depends on Southgate, if he has the courage to stick with the winning team, then the defence can get better as their confidence grows. The only change I would make is Rashford for Sterling, I’d even keep Lingard in the side for his nuisance value.
It’s vitally important to keep the winning run going, so no thought should be given to playing a weakened side in order to let the bench squad have a bit of pitch time.
Joss Butler has been simply magnificent all series and Lewis Hamilton won with ease in the French Grand Prix. ???
Rico, I meant the football… ?
But yes, the cricket team remained focus and motivated enough (or Buttler did) to whitewash the Aussies, no mean feat and the first time England have dished out a 5-0 to the antipodeans.
I guess losing so many wickets showed that all England need is one bad day and their World Cup hopes could be in tatters. So a concentration of the mind perhaps?
England could quite easily been 1-0 down to Panama in the opening 5 minutes, so I hope those idiots in the Press, radio and TV don’t start getting carried away, and if they do that the England public in general ignores their hyperbole and continues to be realistic.
Two penalties and a deflected goal for Kane’s hat trick, but he’s a lucky blighter in front of goal so give me a lucky striker any day.
England were efficient in front of goal which isn’t a problem for me. You can only beat whose put in front of you and despite those wise sages in retrospect telling us it was ‘only Panama’ I’ve seen enough upsets this World Cup not to underestimate the teams performance.
Belgium is going to be a really good game…
I knew Kev, I was being mischievous… 😉
That’s just why I won’t get too excited about this England team, if and as they progress then that’ll change but until they beat or at least match a top side, then unlike the press, I’m not getting my hopes up too much. Their situation right now is so similar to the last ten years of Wenger, smash a side one week, lose the next and seldom could we beat a proper footballing team.
Don’t get me wrong though, yesterday was a great result but I don’t get all the high praise from the media/pundits, the same people who will be battering them should they get knocked out.
Cicero, I’d agree, Southgate is stuck between a rock and hard place now, stick with his first eleven or rest/rotate to keep legs fresh and give others playing time in order to keep them focussed. I’d like to see Welbeck, Vardy and Rashford start the next match and there’s something about Pickford which concerns me too, I think he’s a weak link..
New post up now..