Top stars shine but a raft of draws after first World Cup group games
· Yahoo Sports
The World Cup has felt both very much the same and very different now every team has played one match.
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The big names have already come out to play, with Argentina's Lionel Messi starting the defence of the title with a hat-trick to top the scoring list ahead of the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane on two goals.
Kane's double in the 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday, which included a retaken penalty, means he equalled Gary Lineker's England record of 10 goals at men's World Cups.
German coach Thomas Tuchel gave the Three Lions a rollicking at half-time after a disjointed first period and they responded with high intensity.
Captain Kane told ITV: "Credit to the manager. The manager gave us a speech at half-time, just to say if we lose we lose, but we lose in our way."
There have been the usual thumpings, with Germany hammering debutants Curaçao 7-1 and Sweden forcing Tunisia to change coaches after a 5-1 triumph, as well as the quadrennial controversies over refereeing, tickets, pitches and the rest.
But the first ever World Cup with an expanded 48 teams also has unique dynamics. Three host nations, stricter entry requirements and countries who never thought they would reach the big stage.
Nine draws in the first tranche of matches also suggests teams are playing more conservatively given the eight best third-placed teams also go through from the 12 groups alongside the winners and runners-up.
A similar format has prompted the same trend at the Euros in 2016, 2021 and 2024 although comparisons are tricky given the extra games this time.
On Monday, four games were draws, the first time this has happened on the same day at a men's World Cup since 1958.
But that is not to say there has not been excitement, with Cape Verde drawing 0-0 in their first World Cup game against favourites Spain one of the best stories so far.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, 40, was superb and has become a social media sensation, crying after the game and prompting US officials to quickly organize a visa for his mother.
Ronaldo and Modrić struggle
There are eight players 40 or over at the World Cup and two of the most high-profile had difficult games on Wednesday.
Croatia's Luka Modrić, who inspired them to the 2018 final and 2022 semi-finals, conceded England's early penalty and looked off the pace.
Could time also be creeping up on Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo?
He barely had a sniff in the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leaving fans on social media to wonder if Roberto Martinez would be better off without the top men's international scorer.
On Fox Sports, France 1998 winner Thierry Henry said Ronaldo got in the way during one Portugal attack.
"Because he wants to score, he goes into the path of the pass," he said. "That's my thing - the team needs to score, not you."
But Ronaldo's problems should not take away from a resilient performance from the Congolese, who could even have snatched a win.
Ghana beat Panama 1-0 on Wednesday to continue Africa's relatively strong World Cup so far. Tunisia and South Africa were poor but the other teams from the continent at least competed and at best impressed.
Morocco becoming the first African team to make the semis in 2022 has opened the door, with the increase in teams from each continent not yet diluting the standard as many had feared.
The rest of the group stage could be influenced by third place still having a chance of going through, but there are enough thrills and spills to keep the football world entertained.