For the football fanatic, the World Cup doesn’t have that history of unmissable games. Everyone is. It is worth seeing each one of them, from beginning to end, without restriction.
Starting with the opening match, Qatar x Ecuador, this Sunday (20), any and all duels are valid, even those that, if they were a friendly game, would not even be known to exist.
For example: Australia vs Tunisia, Iran vs Wales, Costa Rica vs Japan, Canada vs Morocco. Unattractive by nature, in the Copa they are attractive.
But to follow all, or almost all, World Cup games –because in the final round of the group stage there are games taking place simultaneously, so you can’t watch them at the same time–, in addition to being passionate about the World Cup, you need to have plenty of time. free.
In the first two rounds, there are four matches in seven of the nine days. The ball starts to roll at 7 am only to close to 6 pm (Brasília time).
There will, of course, be soccer (and World Cup) superfans who will arrange this time, both among the youngest (students with good grades, who have already passed the year, can negotiate with their parents to skip classes) and among the older ones (That’s what retirement is for… watching football until you get sick).
If you don’t fit into these two groups, I recommend seeing, in addition to the matches in Brazil (on the next 24th, 28th and 2nd), mandatory – if there is sympathy for Neymar and company, to cheer in favor; if there is antipathy, to cheer against–, two others, the only ones in the group stage that involve selections of name and tradition.
To attend one of them, the calendar helps, as it will be on a Sunday, a day off for many people.
And it is the better of the two, as it involves a four-time world champion, Germany (considering the titles before unification, 1954 and 1974, and then, 1990 and 2014), and a world champion, Spain (2010).
Germans and Spaniards duel at 4 pm on the 27th, for Group E, at the Al Bayt stadium, in Al Khor, 50 km from the capital, Doha.
The two teams are favorites to qualify for the group that also includes Costa Rica and Japan.
The teams currently don’t have super hyped names, there’s no Messi (Argentina), no Benzema (France), no Lewandowski (Poland), no Kane (England).
Germany, however, has a tight-knit attack, made up of players from the mighty Bayern Munich (Gnabry, Sané, the revelation Musiala and the veteran Thomas Müller, owner of the most furious goal scream I’ve ever seen), fueled by midfielder Kimmich , also from Bayern.
The goalkeeper, Neuer, capital of the German national team and another of Bayern, is still one of the best in the world.
Spain will enter the field without favoritism and will place their hopes in the ability of Barcelona’s trio of midfielders (veteran Busquets and young sensations Pedri and Gavi) to win the duel in the sector against the Germans.
The Spanish defense lacks confidence, with fading veterans on the wings (Carvajal and Jordi Alba) and a somewhat unstable goalkeeper (Unai Simón). Instability is also a hallmark of the attack, with the options (Morata, Ansu Fati, Ferrán Torres, Olmo, Sarabia, Asensio) alternating highs and lows with great frequency.
The other game that I consider unmissable in the World Cup qualifying phase will be held the following day, Monday (28th), at 4 pm: Portugal x Uruguay, at the Lusail stadium, 15 km from Doha, for 80,000 people, the biggest of the World.
It’s a working day, but it’s also the day of the second clash of the Brazilian team in the World Cup, against Switzerland, at 1 pm.
So it’s possible that you, even if you don’t have a living and need to work, are dismissed by the boss early to see Neymar and company. This happening, following the departure of the selection, you can see the duel between the Portuguese and Uruguayans.
Uruguay is attractive for being twice world champion (1930, at home, and 1950, defeating Brazil in the middle of Maracanã) and for always demonstrating its famous determination on the field.
Portugal has never won a Cup, but has raised its status in recent years by winning Euro 2016, defeating France in France, and the inaugural edition of the League of Nations, in 2019, overcoming the Netherlands in Portugal.
In addition, it has the usual attraction Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, perhaps in his last Cup.
CR7 is thirsty for goals that he has not achieved at his club, Manchester United, with which he has had a very bad relationship, notably with the Dutch coach Ten Hag, who has relegated him several times to the reserve.
The final attraction of this clash for Group H, completed by Ghana and South Korea, is the fact that it will define Brazil’s rival –if Brazil qualifies– in the round of 16.
The first place in Group G (the Brazilian team) will play an elimination match against the second in Group H, and the second in G will take the first in H.
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