Amarelinha beat the North Africans with Leonardo, Santos (brace) and Martins despite a time outnumbered by the red in Renan. The Cafateros scramble the Slovakians and await the winner of Italy-England
A crippled Brazil is enough to liquidate Tunisia and conquer the quarter-finals. In fact, Menez’s troop liquidates the practice in the first 45 ‘to manage in the second half outnumbered after a red light aimed at Renan. In La Plata Leonardo scored from a penalty, Andrey Santos (twice) and Matheus Martins, but Tunisia recriminated for a goal disallowed by the Var. Colombia also had a failing life, which put on a show by sending the entire offensive department peremptory 5-1 over Slovakia. The “Cafeteros” await the winner of Italy-England in the quarter-finals, while Brazil will face Israel.
Brazil-Tunisia 4-1
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Amarelinha asserts the technical superiority and gets rid without worries of a Tunisia victim of its own levity. The first, fatal, after a handful of minutes: Arfaoui’s wicked outburst, penalty for Brazil and an advantage signed by Marcos Leonardo, Casadei’s direct competitor in the race for the title of top scorer. From then on it’s almost a walk for Menezes’ boys dragged by an inspired Biro and a solid and precise midfielder. The South Americans went through again in the 31st minute, the result of a delicious assist from Leonardo for Andrey Santos, who punched Arfaoui with a low angled right footed shot. All downhill for the Brazilians, except for Renan’s blackout in the 45th minute which leads to an inevitable red card and a consequent second half to face in numerical inferiority. Luckily for the South Americans, Tunisia does not go beyond a few flares from El Djebali, the starlet from Lyon who, however, can do little without an adequate support. However, the Tunisians have the merit of trying and coming close to reopening the games, but in the 77th minute the Var canceled a splendid goal from Aouani (control spoiled by a touch of the hand) and Brazil took off by exploiting the counterattack. In full recovery, with Tunisia unbalanced, the South Americans place the third paw with a rapid escape from Martins on the closed left, then sign the poker with a precise running right foot from Andrey Santos. In the 103rd minute, however, there was time to also witness a goal by the North Africans, scored by Othman at the end of a scrum in the green-gold area.
Colombia-Slovakia 5-1
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In San Juan they studied for the first quarter of an hour, then Colombia took over the reins of the game and never left them again, gradually crushing the Slovaks in their own half. Cardenas’ team, which for the occasion lines up the starting trident with Asprilla, Gutierrez and Cortes, begins to target the opponent’s goal with shots without too much precision, and when the aim is good Danko takes care of it. Prodigious intervention by the Slovakian goalkeeper in the 38th minute on a powerful attempt by Puerta, the most dangerous of the first half which left a bad taste in the South Americans’ mouths. However, the credit with good luck is collected upon returning to the field: ready, go and it is immediately the Colombian advantage, thanks to a mistake by the Slovakian defense which is handed over to Cortés. Two minutes later it was time to double, thanks to a precise shot from the edge of Asprilla, and in the 52nd minute the third goal also arrived, that of safety, thanks to a powerful shot by Angel that slipped under the crossbar. Three goals in six minutes that crumble Slovakia and allow Colombia to spread without forcing the rhythm. In the 63rd minute, in fact, it was again Gutierrez who left his mark with an angled shot from the edge of the area, while in the 94th minute Cortés took advantage of it again to sign his personal double and close the goal. Little consolation for the Slovakians in the 87th minute, with Jambor scoring the goal.
May 31st – 10.02pm
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