THE TRAGEDY OF MUSLER. FRANCE BEAT URUGUAY AND REACHED THE SEMIFINAL OF THE WORLD CUP

Today. Nizhny Novgorod. Uruguay - France - 0: 2. The 61st minute. A disappointment of Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando MUSLERA after his mistake.

Credit Image: Pixabay

France defeated Uruguay in the first quarterfinal of the 2018 World Cup (2: 0). The second goal, "Tri-color" was scored after a monstrous mistake by the goalkeeper of South Americans, Fernando Musler.

URUGUAY - FRANCE - 0: 2 (0: 1)
Goals: Varan, 40 (0: 1). Grizmann, 61 (0: 2).
Uruguay : Musler, Caceres, Jimenez, Godin, Laxalt, Nandes (Urretaviskaya, 73), Vesino, Torreira, Bentancourt (Rodriguez, 59), Stuani (Gomez, 59), Suarez.
France : Lloris, Pavar, Varan, Yumti, Hernandez, Mbappa (Dembele, 88), Pogba, Kante, Grizmann (Fekir, 90 + 3), Tolisso (N`Zonzi, 80), Giroux.
Warnings: Hernández, 33. Bentancourt, 38. Mbagpe, 69. Rodriguez, 69.
Judges: PITANA, Belatti, Maidana (all of Argentina).
VAR: Irrati (Italy). Villagino (Argentina), Astros (Chile), Valerie (Italy).
6 July. Nizhny Novgorod. The stadium "Nizhny Novgorod". 43,315 spectators

Vyacheslav KOROTKIN from Nizhny Novgorod

THE WHOLE WORLD - IN THE BOTTOM

Bottom is beautiful. Here, the majestic Volga takes on the Oka - it is on the arrow in the place of the confluence that a magnificent stadium is erected. Here blows the spirit of the centuries from the ancient Kremlin, located on a high bank. Here it offers a stunning view of the embankment, Chkalov's staircase and islets scattered along the riverbed. Here you feel like a merchant from the middle of the XXI century, when you walk along the picturesque Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, studded with benches, benches and small shops interspersed with countless cafes and bars. And it was here that the fate of the trip to the semifinal was to be decided by two bright teams. And as a warm-up in the city since the morning (I arrived in the city at 6.30) "lit" the fans. And not only French and Uruguayan.

Here yell that there is urine "Chi-chi-chi! Le le le!" the guys in red - the Chileans!

"How did you end up here?"

• And we that, not people - the world championship for all, - answer with a smile. - No, we do, we support "rustle"!

Here from the pub, where there is nowhere to fall an apple, "Mexico! Mexico!". Here runs by a flock of Argentines. Here are wandering around in a couple of elderly Peruvians. Here are photographed at the monument to Chkalov three Portuguese. Here the Chinese are strolling along the banks of the Volga. Here, the Japanese stand in line to enter the fan zone. The Lithuanians are walking by.

But a funny family from the USA comes across to the eyes: covered with a star-striped flag, a husband with obvious signs of Hispanic blood, a blonde wife, a son - a copy of his father and daughter, like two drops of water, similar to his mother.

"We are from Washington, we have been in your country for seven days," said the head of the family in response to my question, from what state they were.

• Were not you afraid to go to Russia?

• No, why did we have to do this?

• Before the start of the tournament, the press in America negatively spoke about us and did not recommend coming here.

• You know, the media writes a lot, - the spouse entered into the conversation. "It's one thing - publications, quite another - real life.

"Politics is politics, but in reality everything is completely different," added the husband.

• So you did not have any problems?

• No, not one. We have already visited Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, now we have arrived in Nizhny Novgorod - and everywhere we met hospitality and warmth. Russians are very open and friendly people who are always ready to render any feasible assistance. Be sure to tell everyone about this when we get home.

"And I'm going to once again come to Russia," said the son.

All this multicolored people from all over the world long before the starting whistle of the Argentinean Pitany created a classy atmosphere. Meet the expectations of the first quarterfinal of the 2018 World Cup.

THE HEAD OF VARANA, SAYW LLORIS, THE GODIN'S GOALS

And how not to wait for something special from the rivals, if France gave an amazing performance in the 1/8 finals against Argentina - 4: 3, and Cavani's double at the same stage sent Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. to the Portuguese goal ? And how disappointing that the forward of " PSG " did not have time to recover from the injury received in that meeting - a pair of Suarez made up Stuani . The "Tricolor" also followed the forced replacement - instead of the disqualified Mathewi from the first minutes came Tolisso .

True, South Americans lost one of their main stars as if they did not notice. From the very beginning of the game, their middle line captured the oponents so that Pogba and Kante did not have time to raise their heads, and Mbagpe , Grizmann and Gira remained on a starvation ration. Pressing the Uruguayans worked clearly and until the middle of the half, they had three promising attacks after covering the opponent far from the gate of Musler . And everything was completed by Stuan : in two cases he did not have enough accuracy at the final blows from the game, in one of his for a moment, ahead of Lloris after filing a corner.

France began to wake up only a minute to the 25th, when the press of South Americans slightly weakened. Pogba issued several sharp transmissions, scattered Gira and Mbappa , showed Grizmann a couple of times , switched on Tolisso's fourth . Uruguay already had a hard time, but, Godin and Co, unlike the French, could not save their gates. Another tug Tolisso on the right brow at the price of a rough foul and a yellow card was interrupted by Bentancourt . Grizmannperformed a "laser" filing with a free kick, the ball, passing the cluster of players, flew exactly on Varanu's head - and from her into the lower corner. Muslar had no chance . It was the 40th minute.

We must pay tribute to the Uruguayans. The guys in the blue T-shirts instantly bristled and added. So the second goal in four minutes would be logical. But then Lloris demonstrated the miracles of reaction . Mind is incomprehensible how he pulled the ball out of the "six" after hitting the head of Caceres almost at point-blank range! How completely incomprehensible and how successful at finishing off Godin launched the ball to the upper tier of the stands from the meter ...

WELL AS IT, Fernando ...

The beginning of the second half of the game was the continuation of the ending of the first. The situation forced Uruguay to go forward in large forces and the French sometimes for half a minute and no longer touched the ball. And when this happened, the South Americans quickly returned it to themselves. They did not create any obvious moments, but the tension on the approaches to the Lloris penalty increased with every second. True, there was an episode when he almost smelled Musler , who almost gave Grismann a ball in the goal area. If only the two of them knew what a fortune would soon be thrown out by the football god ...

... Pogba robbed the opponent at the middle line, moved forward and otpasoval to the left, burying himself in two defenders. Transfer took Grizmann . To the gate - 30 meters, in the penalty box, what to do? Yes, try to break through. Naudachu. Without any hope to change the score on the scoreboard.

Antoine did this. And was so surprised that she, luck, smiled at him, that he did not even celebrate the goal - so monstrous was the error of Muslery , who put his hands under a simple blow directly into him so that the ball from the gloves slowly flew into the net. All this was very reminiscent of the famous blunder Akinfeev in the starting match for the Russian national team of the 2014 World Cup with Korea.

Everything further lost its meaning: the Uruguayans, like real fighters, certainly did not quit playing, but in every act after the fateful 61st minute, it was not that they were doomed-the understanding that such a feat was impossible against such a France. A "tricolor", catching courage, could score more, but then smeared from good positions, then defenders covered Mabppe and Gira , then Musler , recovering, acted reliably. Only to the point, Fernando, where have you been before?

France confidently goes on. And there is a feeling that the potential of this team, which in the game looked pale in the group, but dramatically changed into the playoffs, is not yet fully revealed.

@whatsontrend