FIFA World Cup 2018: Friendly Matches Highlights

FIFA World Cup 2018 International Friendlies

A total of 7 matches were played today of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018 friendly matches. The Match wise highlights of all 7 matches are appended below.

Match Wise Highlights

Match 1 of 7: France Vs Republic Of Ireland

Result: 2 – 0

Goal Scorers:

• France: Olivier Giroud 40’, Nabil Fekir 43’

Highlights:

• This was the 3^rd last warm up match of France as they have only two more matches to go after this one before they start their campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2018.
• Both sides were expecting to win so a properly warm-up before the mega event i.e. FIFA World Cup 2018.
• France outplayed Ireland on all fronts as it was Giroud and Fekir who led from the front and won the match for their team.
• Chelsea striker, Giroud was looking in prime form in the 1^st half as he was looking to score the opening goal of the match.
• After several tries and an unsuccessful header, Olivier finally managed to net the ball at the 40^th minute to score the opening goal.
• Ireland looked to counter-attack but their intentions by Nabil Fekir as the Frenchman scored another goal three minutes later to take the lead to 2 – 0.
• With this goal, the 1^st half came to an end as France lead from the front.
• The 2^nd half went underway and although Ireland showed great defense, however they didn’t manage to score either.
• This resulted in them losing the match as France won it comfortably in the end.
• No one was surprised as Ireland had been outdone in the possession, shots at the goal and almost every other department.

 Match 2 of 7: USA Vs Bolivia

Result: 3 – 0

Goal Scorers:

• USA: Zimmerman 37’, Sargent 52′, Weah 59′

Highlights:

• USA had failed to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2018, however this didn’t stop the young team to beat Bolivia by 3 – 0.
• Domination by the Americans was seen in every aspect other than ball possession as they didn’t allow Bolivia to shoot even one ball accurately at their goal.
• The lead was taken by USA in the 1^st half as Walker Zimmerman struck at the 37^th minute to score the opening goal.
• This goal also allowed USA to take the lead in the 1^st half as no goals were scored after that in the first half.
• The 2^nd half started and Bolivian strikers looked desperate to even the scoreboard by scoring a goal.
• But, the opposite of that happened as Sargent who is only 18 years of age, netted the ball at the 52^nd minute to extend the lead by 2 goals.
• This goal was a blunder of the Bolivian keeper but Sargent cashed on it on his international debut to score his 1^st ever goal.
• The story didn’t end here as after that Timothy Weah, the son of former AC Milan’s striker George, struck a goal at the 59^th
• And USA were now leading by 3 – 0. This was also the final score of the match as no goals were scored by Bolivia and USA won the match.

Match 3 of 10: Mexico Vs Wales

Result: 0 – 0

Highlights:

• Mexico were expecting a win today and why wouldn’t they as they were playing in front of a Mexican crowd comprised of 82,345 people.
• But, a young Wales team did not allow the Mexicans to win this match despite losing their captain, Ashley Williams to injury in the 1^st half of the match.
• Several chances were taken by Mexico in the 1^st half but they were unsuccessful to get past Wale’s prolific goal-keeper.
• On the other hand, Wales were also unsuccessful to score in the initial half as it ended with the score being 0 – 0.
• Now, the 2^nd half went underway and Mexico continued in their hunt to score a goal but, it was Wayne Hennesey (Wales Goal-keeper) who kept the Mexicans at bay.
• And, despite dominating in every department this became the story of the match as the final score was 0 – 0.

 Match 4 of 7: Argentina Vs Nicaragua

Result: Match Cancelled

 Match 5 of 7: Azerbaijan Vs Kyrgyzstan

Result: 3 – 0

Goal Scorers:

• Azerbaijan: Maksim Medvedev 17′, Mahir Madatov 75′ , Urfan Abbasov 83′

Highlights:

• Azerbaijan came out on top as they beat Kyrgyzstan quite comfortably in the end.
• Pressure was put on by Maksim as he scored the opening goal at the 17^th minute of the match.
• Kyrgyzstan tried to counter and level the scoreboard but were unable to do so as the 1^st half ended with Azerbaijan in the lead.
• The 2^nd half was no different although, Kyrgyzstan didn’t allow swift attacks from Azerbaijan’s strikers.
• However, Mahir Madatov managed to slide through as he netted the ball to make it 2 – 0 at the 75^th
• And, then to confirm their victory, Urfan Abbasov struck another goal 8 minutes later as Azerbaijan won the match by 3 – 0.

Match 6 of 7: Armenia Vs Malta

Result: 1 – 1

Goal Scorers:

• Armenia: Ivan Yagan 13′
• Malta: Andrei Aguis 45’+1′ (P)

Highlights:

• An early goal is always hurtful to your opponents and it also increases the chances of you winning the match.
• This is exactly what Ivan Yagan of Armenia did when he struck a goal for his team at the 13^th minute to put them in the lead.
• However, Malta were not going to sit by the sidelines as Andrei Aguis was quick on his feet to level the scoreboard after scoring from a penalty just before the 1^st half ended.
• In the 2^nd half no team scored any goals as it came to end and thus the match was drawn.

Match 7 of 7: Albania Vs Kosovo

Result: 0 – 3

Goal Scorers:

• Kosovo: Arber Zeneli 20′, 51′, Edon Zhegorova 67′

Highlights:

• The last match of the day saw Albania and Kosovo lock horns with each other and it was the latter who came out victorious in the end.
• Albania gave the lead to his team in the 1^st half as he managed to net the ball at the 20^th minute and the score was now 1 – 0.
• The score remained the same as the 1^st half came to an end. In the 2^nd half this lead was extended by the same man i.e. Arber who score his 2^nd goal of the match to make it 2 – 0.
• Kosova were relentless in their approach as only 15 minutes later after the 2^nd goal, it was Edon Zhegorova who scored at the 67^th minute and made the score 3 – 0.
• Albania didn’t manage to score a single goal in the 2^nd half and the match came to an end with the final scores being 3 – 0.

That is it for today. Do visit us tomorrow for more FIFA World Cup 2018, International Friendly Matches Highlights.

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