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by Ben Ayuko

{image by Getty Images}

Colombia survived a second half siege from Uruguay to book themselves a place in the Copa Final.

Uruguay met Colombia, in what promised to be an interesting matchup, to fight for a place in the Copa Final against World Cup winners Argentina. It was a clash of ideologies with Colombia being a more physical side and Uruguay having more technical players.

Uruguay peppered the Colombia goal with chance after chance in the first half, majority of which fell to their new star man, Darwin Núñez. Núñez, unfortunately, could not find the finishing touch as majority of these chances were wayward efforts that he should really have done better with. Colombia was thriving playing on the counterattack with players like captain, James Rodríguez and Luis Díaz, in particular, showcasing their talents in quick transition. It was one such transition that saw Los Cafeteros travel up the pitch and earn themselves a corner-kick. James Rodríguez lifted the ball into the penalty box and Jefferson Lerma rose highest to head Colombia into the lead. 1-0 to Colombia into the break which would have rounded off the perfect first half performance for their, or really any, manager. were it not for a moment of madness from right-back Daniel Muñoz.

Muñoz got himself into a tussle with Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte, which ended with him shoving his elbow into Ugarte’s face and the referee, subsequently, shoving a red card into his face, much to the dismay of the Colombia contingent. 1-0 up and 1 man down into the half-time break, they seemingly had to prepare for war by the time they came back out.

And that seems to have been the gist of the team talk they received because, that 10-man Colombia team became heroes, in the face of adversity, for their nation. They played with even more energy. They were even more unrelenting, forcing Uruguay into situations they did not want to be in. Even a legendary substitute appearance by Luis Suárez wasn’t enough to ebb the flow of the game away from Colombia. Of course, it didn’t help that La Celeste had abandoned all footballing principle, resorting to the tried and tested method of simply “having a go“, but it would be difficult to say the Colombians didn’t deserve that final result.

1-0 it ended as Uruguay crashed out of the tournament and Colombia booked their ticket to Florida for the Final.

by Ben Ayuko

{images by AP}

England managed to eke out a cheeky 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the European Championship semi-finals.

And it was all thanks to Ollie Watkins. He couldn’t have written himself a better script at the start of the season. He was probably growing angsty on the substitutes bench, wondering when he would get his chance to show himself to the world. And when the chance came to him, he wasted no time at all.

It was a very explosive start to the game as after just 6minutes, Xavi Simmons eased Declan Rice off the ball, took a touch and left England goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, floundering helplessly as he rifled the ball straight into the top corner. 1-0 to the Oranje, who looked primed and ready to meet La Roja in the final.

England’s response to the early setback was quite positive as they ended up having what many people consider their ‘best half of football’ in the tournament thus far. They peppered the Dutch goal with chance after chance, keeping Dutch goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, relatively busy without troubling him too much. Indeed, England needed some extra help once they were inside the box. And some would say they got it.

In what it is one of the most controversial decisions of the tournament, the referee awarded England an incredibly soft penalty. Denzel Dumfries, the defender in question, raised his foot to block the ball and from England Captain, Harry Kane’s, strike. This resulted in an England penalty. Reprieve for England as Kane dispatched the spot kick and drew them back level.

It was a tale 2 strikers in the 2nd half as Wout Weghorst’s introduction off the bench indeed had an impact on how his team played. With his large frame and deft footwork, he allowed a more direct kind of play that helped to set up Netherlands nicely, seeing more of the ball and putting more pressure on the England goal. It was, however, his opposite number Ollie Watkins who would steal the headlines today.

Running into space and latching onto a through-pass by fellow substitute Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins executed what is quickly starting to look like his signature finishing move. From the tightest of angles, he used his first touch to set himself up and his second to laser the ball right through defender, Stefan de Vrij’s legs, past Verbruggen and into the bottom corner. A 90th minute winner to end all 90th minute winners. Using the little time, he was afforded to live the childhood dream of every single football fan. And it showed, with the effulgence of joy emanating from his face. What a way to realize your dreams, doing it for your nation.

Thanks to him, the 3 lions now have a date with Spain at the Euro Finals in what is promising to be a blockbuster of a game.

by Ben Ayuko

{image by Getty images}

Argentina secured their spot in the Copa América final after a comprehensive 2-0 victory over a stubborn Canadian side.

It always felt as though La Albiceleste would have too much quality for the Canadian side, and it didn’t really take long for us to see it. It was in the 22nd minute when Argentina midfielder, Rodrigo de Paul, received the ball on a swivel in midfield before playing an inch-perfect through pass onto the feet of the running Julian Alvarez. The Centre-forward took it expertly with his first touch and eloquently finished it right through the goalkeeper’s legs with his second to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.

Canada tried to put up a fight, with touted Chelsea signing, Jonathan David, in particular latching onto a long throw in by right-back Alistair Johnston and trying to tuck it into the near post of the Argentina goal. Argentina goalkeeper, Emi Martinez, however, was on hand to make a good save and deny them the opportunity. 1-0 into the break with Argentina 45minutes away from securing progression into the final.

The 2nd half promised to offer more of the same action as Les Rouges seemed determined to take the game to Argentina. There being only a goal in it, Argentina needed to make sure they put the game to bed before they found themselves in yet another penalty shoot-out. And so, no sooner had the 2nd half kicked off than Argentina doubled their lead. It was in the 51st minute when some brilliant work from Lionel Messi down the right wing opened the opportunity for Enzo Fernandes to have a shot at goal. Messi, who had made the pass and kept running toward goal, found himself right in the path of the effort, electing to get a touch on it and deflect it away from the diving Maxime Crépeau, making it a more difficult chance to save.

2-0 to the good, Argentina saw out the game expertly and booked themselves a spot in the finals, awaiting their opponent who would dare challenge them for the cup of the Américas.

by Ben Ayuko

{image Getty images}

Spain and France met in the 1st semi-final of the 2024 European championships and gave us a thrilling and very entertaining feast for our eyes.

Spain immediately staked their claim on the proceedings as they took control of the football. They were passing it around with that oh so familiar Spanish Flair that reminded everybody of their dominance in the early 2010s. An early chance squandered by midfielder, Fabián Ruiz, suggested that their quality may be too much for France to handle. And then, in the 8th minute of the 1st half, France struck.

It was as though the world needed reminding as to who Spain’s opponents were. The back-to-back World Cup finalists were not about to be outdone in such a routine manner. After receiving the ball on wide on the left-hand side, Kylian Mbappe took a touch before lifting it into the penalty area right onto the forehead of an unmarked Kolo Muani, who nodded France ahead from point blank range. This would turn out to be France’s first goal scored in open play since the tournament began. And what a time they picked to do it.

1-0 to Le Bleu giving La Roja the mountain we all thought they would have to summit to get to the final.

France enjoyed a period of some dominance right after this and had they have got a 2nd; the game might have been done. Spain themselves looked almost like they had begun accepting their fate. They were devoid of any inspiration. They, therefore, needed something special to lift their spirits. Step up 16yr old wunderkind, Lamine Yamal.

It was in the 20th minute when he took the ball in his stride on the right wing and cut inside, past Adrien Rabiot, onto his favoured left foot and curled in a gem of a shot passed French keeper, Mike Maignan. The whole Stadium erupted. The whole footballing world took a bow. What a feat for someone so young, taking the woes of a nation onto his own shoulders and flipping it on its head.

That proved to be the jolt they needed as merely 5minutes later, Spanish midfielder, Dani Olmo expertly controlled a deflected cross from inside the box and sent it right across goal, leaving both Maignan without a hope of stopping it.

This proved to be the extent of the damage as, after the break, Spain opted to limit France’s opportunities and saw out the game professionally. 2-1 it ended and no doubt France was disappointed by the end result, but it would be difficult not to say the better team won. Through to the final they go, waiting to see who would dare be their opponent.

by Ben Ayuko

{Image by ESPN}

The Netherlands turned around a tough test to topple Turkey after scoring 2 goals in 6min, to emerge victorious and book a spot in the Euro 2024 semi-finals against England.

England who, after a nervy end to their game against Switzerland, needed penalties to get through to the next stage.

This sets up an intriguing clash as neither team has really set the tournament alight this year. They have both been pragmatic in their approach to the game as they have always ended up doing what needed to be done to get to where they are now. What with Netherlands just about making it out of their group after finishing in 3rd place and with England being canonically labelled as “the most underwhelming team” in the tournament thus far. Both managers will definitely want to turn around the narrative and secure a spot in the final as they, surely, both believe that they could go all the way. But how would they go about it?

England, on paper, would definitely look like having the better team. Team Captain Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have arguably been 2 of the best players in Europe this past season, both in contention for the coveted Ballon d’Or trophy while Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have both enjoyed exceptional seasons at their club with the former in particular making a name for himself at his new club. They will definitely feel that they have the measure on Ronald Koeman’s side. However, given the fact that they have never, at any stage, really looked like winning any of their games against the “lesser” opposition, Gareth Southgate’s men will surely tread with caution as this Netherlands team will provide a much sterner test than they have come across in the tournament thus far.

In Cody Gakpo, the Netherlands have one of the players of the tournament thus far, no doubt, in part, due to the 3 goals (almost 4 last time out) he has scored which leaves him joint at the top of the top scorer standings. In fact, of the players remaining in the tournament, nobody has scored as many goals as he has. At the other end of the pitch, they have their captain and leader (and hopefully legend if all goes well) Virgil van Dijk, Gakpo’s club teammate, who is fresh off somewhat of a resurgent season at his club side and who is looking to prove all doubters wrong. Wout Weghorst, who has been every bit the definition of the term “Super-sub” could also inspire his team from off the bench if need be while Memphis Depay, the Dutch side’s leading man, will no doubt feel like he has something to prove at the top level of European football.

However it ends, it looks to be quite an intriguing clash. Both team’s footballing philosophies look primed to cancel each other out which means that it is very likely that the winner of this game will be determined purely by whoever wants it more.

by Ben Ayuko

{image by AP}

The All Blacks narrowly got one over the Three Lions in test match over the weekend. It was a close affair as both teams showed up fully intent on taking the game to their opponent.

New Zealand took the lead after winger, Sevu Reece, ran onto a cross kick by fly half Damien McKenzie and carried over the England try line. McKenzie’s failure to convert the try proved vital as England then took the lead after Marcus Smith converted a Maro Itoje try, bundling over the tryline with sheer force and determination. New Zealand took back the lead with a try from Number 8, Ardie Savea, making an overlapping run onto a pass from fullback, Stephen Perofeta, who did well to sidestep a challenge and create the space to run into. Right on the stroke of halftime, England converted a penalty to level the score at 10-10 going into the break.

The second half started with a bang as merely 5 or so minutes after the break England took the lead with a try from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. He soared over the tryline after England forced New Zealand to commit numbers to one side of the pitch, leaving an overlap on the other side. Quick interplay capped off with a good pass wide by Marcus Smith to the winger made it 15-10 to England, Smith failing to convert the try.

It was a much more calculated affair after that as both teams were weary of giving away any cheap concessions. Damien McKenzie made up for his first half conversion woes by converting 2 penalties to give New Zealand back the lead. It was a nervy affair, with England throwing the kitchen sink at New Zealand in a bid to try and get the final word, but to no avail.

New Zealand held on to secure a 16-15 victory after a tough test match in front of their home crowd at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand.