World Cup lives up to its billing as piece of high-end entertainment

Drama as World Cup favorites Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina fail to win their opening games.
Defending champions Germany was beaten 1-0 by Mexico in the best match of the tournament so far.

Best match because it had all the ingredients. Pace, speed and brave players willing to take on opponents and two teams using their abilities to the maximum.

Plus Iceland and Switzerland holding South American giants Argentina and Brazil to one-all draws, respectively, in a masterclass display of team organisation by opponents unwilling to give an inch to either of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi or Brazilian ace Neymar Jr.

And more drama in that it is either maximum concentration or you pay the price. A team thinks it has secured a win or at least a draw, and bang, they’re shocked.

In four of the 11 games already played, results were decided or altered in the last five minutes of play.
Egypt vs Uruguay, Morocco vs Iran, France vs Australia and Portugal vs Spain, all ending dramatically.

Goals galore
It’s turning out to be a very attacking World Cup.
Incredibly, in all the 11 games played so far up to Day 4, there has been a goal(s) scored in each of the matches. Twenty-six goals scored in total.

This shows a desire by teams to go for three points in their opening fixtures and the psychological advantage a team gains from it.

And on display so far are teams willing to put the ball on the ground and pass it, as opposed to long punts upfront. Refreshing!

*The writer is a three-time winner of the Ugandan League with SC Villa and played in two continental finals (1991 & 1992)