World Cup Day 11 Highlights: Goalkeeper Heroics, Spain’s Comeback, and Cape Verde’s Surprise
Day 11 of the World Cup was full of excitement, with goalkeepers playing a key role. Spain regained their form, while Belgium continued to face difficulties after their ‘Golden Generation.’. In Miami, Cape Verde ended with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Meanwhile, Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand made an incredible save that could be the best of the tournament.
Spain’s Bounce Back
Spain returned to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Atlanta. Lamine Yamal, making his first start in this World Cup, scored the opening goal in the 10th minute. At just 18 years old, he joined the ranks of other top players who have scored, such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
The young star dazzled by maneuvering past defenders and creating opportunities. He was substituted at half-time with an impressive performance under his belt. Yamal’s growth over the past two years has made him a key player for Spain, especially in breaking down tough defenses, as seen in their earlier draw with Cape Verde.
Goalkeeper Showdowns
Goalkeepers have been making headlines this World Cup. Beiranvand’s save against Belgium was a standout moment. He denied Maxim De Cuyper’s close-range effort, preserving a crucial point for Iran. This isn’t his first memorable act; he previously stopped a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.
Other goalkeepers have shone too. Cape Verde’s Vozinha became popular after facing 23 shots in a goalless draw with Spain. Curacao’s Eloy Room made history with numerous saves against Ecuador. These performances have led Thibaut Courtois of Belgium to call this the ‘tournament of goalkeepers.’
Despite outstanding goalkeeping, goals have been abundant. The tournament only took 33 matches to reach 100 goals, a record-breaking pace in the last 68 years. The Adidas Trionda ball is said to contribute to this scoring surge.
The Wide-Open Competition
As Cape Verde showed by drawing with Uruguay, many groups are still wide open. Group H remains competitive with Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in the running for the knockout stages.
Across the tournament, only Haiti, Turkey, and Tunisia have yet to earn points. Meanwhile, the U.S., Mexico, and Germany are the only teams with full points, progressing as group winners. The unexpected results have kept the competition intense.
The large number of draws, 13 from 40 matches, has left many teams on edge, needing favorable results to progress as top third-placed teams. You can monitor your team’s chances with The Athletic’s interactive tracker tool.
Looking Ahead to Day 12
Day 12 anticipates action from big names like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland. Messi, nearing his 39th birthday, aims to create history against Austria, while both teams seek to lead their group with a win.
- Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 1pm ET (6pm BST)
- Group I: France vs Iraq, 5pm ET (10pm BST)
- Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 8pm ET (1am Tuesday BST)
- Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, 11pm ET (4am Tuesday BST)