itsbeautifuloutside

DENOUEMENT - definition: when Poirot gathers the characters in an upmarket drawing room and discloses who done it – and, indeed, who done it not.

Game 5: Brazil 2 Serbia 0. k.o. 1900, 27/6/ 18, Spartak Stadium, Moscow.

Game 6: Switzerland 2 Costa Rica 2. k.o. 1900, 27/6/18, Nizhny Novgorod.

Whilst weirder scenarios existed, the straightforward way of looking at Group E at kick off was:


- Costa Rica were out
- Switzerland needed a draw to qualify.
- Serbia had to beat (and therefore knock out) Brazil.

With 2 games left there is still all to play for. The only sure thing is Costa Rica are going home. They'll be disappointed, given their exploits at Brazil 2014, but this time they have yet to score a goal. They are hard to beat but that cuts no mustard at tournaments.

Group E, Game 4: Serbia 1 Switzerland 2
Kaliningrad, 1900, 22/6/18

Tadić Watch v.2 - or There - and Back Again!

Brazil's win had put them top of Group E and Switzerland were now under pressure to get something from this match. Defeat would send Serbia through so that was not an option the Swiss could allow. The Swiss kept their side unaltered but Serbia brought in Kostic wide left.

Serbia wore their red kit and Switzerland white. Apparently, Lichsteiner (a player I've always liked) is going to Arsenal and tonight was playing his 9th WC finals match – a Swiss record. The ref was German, the stadium pundit Kilbane - who is better than most.

Group E, Game 1: Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Samara, 1300, 17/6/2018.

Tadić Watch v.1

My favourite stadium of Samara hosted its first game on Sunday lunchtime. It saw Branislav Ivanovic overtake Stankovic to become Serbia's most capped player (104).

Brazil plus one (hopefully Switzerland)