World Cup opening round: Africa and Asia close in on Europe and South America | OneFootball

The World Cup's opening round pointed to a shifting landscape, Asia and Africa impressing while Europe and South America misfired.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Europe needed Germany's rout of Curaçao for its first win, as the Netherlands drew with Japan and Spain were held by Cape Verde. In South America, Brazil failed to win, Ecuador lost to Ivory Coast and Uruguay scraped a draw with Saudi Arabia, while only Argentina and Colombia, who beat Uzbekistan, began with victories.

Saudi Arabia troubled Uruguay, Qatar drew with Switzerland, North Korea beat the Czechs and Australia beat Türkiye. Africa underlined its rise, with Ivory Coast beating Ecuador and Ghana beating Panama, while Morocco, Senegal and Algeria all troubled Brazil, France and Argentina respectively.

The star turns showed up. At 38, Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick to draw level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup's top scorer. Erling Haaland netted two on Norway's return after 32 years, Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Harry Kane struck a brace with Jude Bellingham also on target.

Surprise heroes emerged. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, shut out Spain and saw his Instagram jump from 50,000 to 7 million in 24 hours, while Saudi keeper Mohammed Alowais, 34, starred in the draw with Uruguay and trains with strobe glasses to sharpen reactions.

Iraq's Aymen Hussein then netted their first of these finals against Norway, while Jordan's Ali Olwan opened the country's account, Abbosbek Fayzullaev did likewise for Uzbekistan and New Zealand's Elijah Just struck twice.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo