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

The World Cup’s opening round ended with results, shocks and hints of shifting power. Africa and Asia have closed the gap on Europe and South America.

Superdeporte reports that Europe’s aura faded, its first win not arriving until early Sunday when Germany routed Curaçao. Draws for the Netherlands and Spain against Asian and African opponents underlined the wobble. South America also stuttered, Brazil failed to win, Ecuador lost to Ivory Coast and Uruguay drew with Saudi Arabia, while only Argentina, lit by Messi, and Colombia, who beat Uzbekistan, began with victories.

Asia and Africa stirred, with Japan holding the Dutch and North Korea beating the Czech Republic. Saudi Arabia pushed Uruguay, Qatar drew with Switzerland and Australia beat Türkiye. Ivory Coast beat Ecuador and Ghana beat Panama, Morocco tested Brazil, Egypt frustrated Belgium, Senegal led France until Mbappé, and Algeria bowed only to Messi.

Lionel Messi led the star turns, hitting a hat-trick at 38 to draw level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s top scorer. Erling Haaland marked Norway’s first finals in 32 years with a brace in Stale Solbakken’s rout of Iraq.

Kylian Mbappé struck twice to settle Senegal. Harry Kane hit a brace against Croatia, with Jude Bellingham also scoring. Vinícius provided Brazil’s goal against Morocco, while Cristiano Ronaldo struggled and Spain still await Lamine Yamal.

Unexpected heroes emerged too. Vozinha, Cape Verde’s 40-year-old keeper, kept Spain out. Once an electrician and painter, the Chaves stopper saw his Instagram jump from 50,000 to seven million in a day.

Saudi Arabia’s 34-year-old Mohammed Alowais, who trains with stroboscopic glasses, underpinned the draw with Uruguay. Iraq’s Aymen Hussein, bereaved by Al Qaeda and with a brother abducted by Islamic State, ended a 40-year wait with the qualifying goal, then scored their first of these finals against Norway.

Jordan’s Ali Olwan and Uzbekistan’s Abbosbek Fayzullaev struck their nations’ first World Cup goals, while New Zealand’s Elijah Just hit two after coming through the Olé Football Academy.

Source: Superdeporte