World Cup 2022: Luis Suarez left in tears as goal-shy Uruguay crash out while Gabriel Martinelli shines for Brazil even in defeat – hits and misses | Football News

Brazil stunned but Martinelli shines

Brazil will not remember their final game group game fondly. They were fortunate the late 1-0 defeat to Cameroon did not cost them top spot in Group G. But for Gabriel Martinelli it might prove a springboard.

The Arsenal forward, whose call-up for the tournament surprised some in Brazil, was handed his first start for the national side as Tite made wholesale changes, emerging from the encounter as one of few players to have enhanced his credentials.

As part of a front four with his Arsenal team-mate Gabriel Jesus, Manchester United’s Antony and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, he was by far the most dangerous player, his speed and directness from the left flank unsettling Cameroon throughout.

On another day he would have had a goal to reward his efforts but Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy thwarted him on three separate occasions, first tipping an early header over the bar, then saving two powerful efforts from further out.

There were three successful dribbles, more than anyone else on the pitch, and glimpses of creativity as well as goal threat. At one point, Martinelli teed up substitute Bruno Guimaraes for an opportunity from which he should have done better.

It was his speed, though, that most stood out. In an often turgid game, he was a catalyst. At one point in the second half, Cameroon’s only option was to haul him down as he threatened to race through on goal, goalscorer Vincent Aboubakar taking a yellow card which would later see him sent off in the closing stages.

It was telling, too, that while Jesus, Antony and Rodrygo were all withdrawn in the second half, Martinelli was kept on for the duration. His playing time at this World Cup amounted to only three minutes before this game. On the evidence of his performance here, and with Neymar’s fitness still uncertain, we can expect him to feature more prominently in the knockout stages.
Nick Wright

Suarez, Nunez, Cavani – so how did Uruguay go out on goals scored?

The World Cup group stages were decided on the finest of margins, but it’s still surprising that Uruguay simply did not score enough goals to go through.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s goals against Ghana were the only ones Uruguay scored at the tournament. They drew 0-0 in their opener with South Korea before losing 2-0 to Portugal just a few days ago.

De Arrascata’s goals were Uruguay’s 24th and 25th attempts on goal – the kind of numbers you would expect for a squad of their calibre. But to come away with just two goals to show for their work is a real concern.

Indeed, Uruguay’s squad includes two world-class forwards who have been there and done it. Between them, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani have scored 126 international goals with 273 caps.

They rotated into the starting XI alongside Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez, who at the age of 23, is the future of Uruguay’s forward line. Suarez and Nunez combined well in the first half against Ghana – the former assisting De Arrascaeta’s second goal – but ultimately were just a foot short of seeing Uruguay through.

Then there’s De Arrascaeta, with a clamour among fans for him to start against Ghana, having only come on as a 62nd-minute substitute against Portugal until Friday. He justified his inclusion too with both goals well taken. But it perhaps says a lot that in the current Uruguay squad, he is now the third-highest scorer behind Suarez and Cavani with 10 goals.

Some may point to various decisions by head coach Diego Alonso that contributed to the exit – not playing De Arrascaeta in earlier games and taking off both Suarez and Nunez on Friday when more goals were needed. That being said, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

As news of South Korea’s winner filtered through, Suarez became increasingly tearful and frantic as he urged his team-mates forward before breaking into inconsolable sobs at full-time. This will likely be the final time we see Suarez and Cavani at a World Cup and it’s a devastating way to end it.

But to end on a positive note – this is Uruguay squad in transition. The likes of Diego Godin, Sebastian Coates and Martin Caraces could also be making their final appearances at the tournament, but there is new talent coming through.

While Uruguay’s campaign in 2022 will not go down as their greatest, they now have four years to prepare for their next crack at World Cup glory.
Charlotte Marsh

Hwang enters pantheon of Asian footballing greats

With an average age of 27 years and 198 days, this was the youngest Portugal side named for a World Cup game since 1966 against the USSR – albeit one containing a 37-year-old Ronaldo – but take nothing away from this triumph for South Korea.

Ji-Sung Park’s place in the pantheon of Asian football is unquestioned – and it was he who scored the winning goal over the Portuguese back in 2002, when South Korea co-hosted the tournament and advanced as group winners.

It was only his 10th goal for his country and first at a World Cup, but you can add Hwang Hee-Chan’s name to that glittering cast as South Korea booked their spot in the knockout stages for the first time since 2010.

Hwang’s last goal for Wolves came against Arsenal way back in February. The forward went 26 appearances without breaking his drought at club level, which explains why he was omitted from the starting line-up by Paulo Bento.

A 66th-minute substitute, these were his first minutes of football in Qatar and first of any kind since playing for Wolves against Leeds in the Carabao Cup on November 9.

Heung-Min Son remains without a goal at this World Cup but he ran himself into the ground.

A day after Japan set the tone by stunning Spain 2-1 in their final game to reach the knockout phase on a night of mind-boggling drama, Son made sure South Korea’s fans could kick-start their own party in the Education City Stadium.

The Asian side simply refused to accept that their World Cup dream was over and it was captain Son who epitomised the Koreans’ relentless energy with a selfless display, typified by his role in the goal for Hwang, whose late intervention means he will be the toast of Seoul all weekend.
Ben Grounds