After the controversy generated by the controversial FIFA poster, the World Cup in Uzbekistan finally started and it did so with Brazil confirmed its status as the big favourite after a spectacular thrashing of weak Cuba (10-0). Marquinhos Xavier’s team had a smooth start against the Caribbean side, who in their preparation in Europe saw two of their best players leave the training camp. First, it was the lock Harold Aguilera in Portugal and, later, the goalkeeper Leonardo Hierrezuelo in Spain.
The Brazilian rout was a highlight for ElPozo Murcia with two of its players shining on the court. Closer Marlon and Marcel Marques each scored hat-tricks.The left-footed winger, top scorer in the First Division last season, has yet to renew his contract with the Jamoneros and once again raised his value with a prodigious performance. In addition, in the second half, Roncaglio defended the goal of the Canarinha after paying 20,000 euros out of his own pocket and leaving Anderlecht.
Five-time champions Brazil are top of Group B with three points, as are Thailand, who beat Croatia 2-1 in the opening match of the World Cup. Miguel Rodrigo’s team put in an extraordinary performance thanks to goals from Jimbee Cartagena’s new signing, Muhammad, and Ronnachai. Their goalkeeper Senbat was the hero of the Asian victory, despite the despair of the Croatian team, whose only goal was scored by Sekulic. The second day of this group will be played next Tuesday with the matches Brazil-Croatia and Thailand-Cuba.
In Group A, Paraguay defeated Costa Rica (5-2). Emerson Méndez, Pedro Pascottini, Arnaldo Báez and Francisco Báez were the top scorers for Carlos Chilavert’s team. The goals for the Tricolor were scored by Minor Cabalceta and Edwin Cubillo. In the other match played at the Arena Humo in Tashkent, the first duel of Spanish coaches took place – there are 4 national coaches together with Fede Vidal – with Venancio López on the bench for the hosts and Miguel Andrés in charge of the Netherlands.
Uzbekistan managed a creditable draw (3-3) despite being hampered by a plague of injuries with important absences such as their captain, Dilshod Rakhmatov, Choriyev, Eliboyev and Zhuraev. The orange squad was always ahead on the scoreboard, but in the last minute and with a goalkeeper playing, Nishonov rescued a point that could be worth its weight in gold. It is worth remembering that the 24 teams participating in the final phase of the World Cup are divided into six groups of four, from which the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams qualify for the round of 16.
