Rise of a Football God-Chapter 478: FIFA World Cup 2026 [9]
On the 14th, Nigeria, Croatia, Canada, and Saudi Arabia gave football fans who were watching the World Cup around the world a treat.
Both games were thrillers.
But the excitement didn't' die yet because the next day, one of the favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup was to take the stage.
…
15th July, 2026…
The Spanish National Football team took the stage of the FIFA World Cup in SoFi Stadium, USA.
(GROUP F:)
(Spain vs Iran)
(Venue: SoFi Stadium, USA)
(Date: June 15, 2026)
(Time: 16:00)
That afternoon, football fans around the world got an eye feast, watching Luis de la Fuente's Spain team wreak havoc in the biggest stage of football, tearing the Iranian national football team apart.
It was a situation of all-stars vs mundane.
The Iranian national team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Beiranvand in between the posts, and Hardani, Kanaanizadan, Khalilzadeh, and Mohammadi forming the quadruple defensive wall.
In midfield was the duo of Ghoddos and Afagh, Jahanbakhshin right wing, Ghayedi in left wing, Taremi in attacking midfield, and Azmoun leading the line as the striker.
They played against an all-star Spanish team.
The Spanish lined up in a dynamic 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon manning the posts, while a formidable defensive lineup of Dani Carvajal Robin Le Normand, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Cucurella stood in front of him as his protectors.
In midfield was the dynamic trio of Pedri, Rodri, and Fabian Ruiz. While ahead in attack was the dynamic attacking trio of Lamine Yamal in right wing, Nico Williams in left wing, and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line as the striker.
The Spanish went on a rout, tearing the Iranian defense apart.
Within just 20 minutes, Spain were already leading 3-0 as Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with an absolute screamer from range in the 12th minute, followed by a trademark Lamine Yamal curled goal just 2 minutes later in the 14th minute, and then Robin Le Normand scoring with a header from a corner kick in the 19th minute.
In the 44th minute of the game, Nico Williams completed the first half rout after being sent on his way by a lethal Pedri through pass.
Nico Williams ran behind the Iranian defense, closed down on the goalkeeper before smoothly chipping him to score a cheeky lobbed goal.
The first half came to an end 4-0 to Spain.
In the 2nd half, Iran came out with more energy but it didn't do much for them in front of goal. All they did was manage to stifle Spain's momentum for 20 minutes, but then, lady luck shone on the Iranians.
In the 68th minute, Taremi did it, getting a rare counterattacking chance and he did not miss a beat, curling a shot past Unai Simon to the top right corner.
After that goal though, Spain woke up again.
Rodri scored the 5th goal in the 72nd minute, scoring a precision shot first-time from outside the box as he pushed it towards the top left corner.
5-1 to Spain.
Dani Olmo replaced Mikel Oyarzabal and within just 3 minutes of entering the game, he scored the 6th goal in the 77th minute of the game.
5 minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Lamine Yamal weaved his way through the Iranian defense before scoring a silky solo goal to make it 7-1.
And then, in the 90th minute, having come on for Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha struck.
POW!
It was a piledriver from outside the box, drilled with so much power and precision that it tore its way in between multiple players, fooling the goalkeeper before finding its way to the bottom left corner of the net.
8-1 to Spain.
What a game. Total Spanish domination.
The game came to an end 8-1, and Rodri won the man of the match award for how he effortlessly controlled and dictated the game from defensive midfield.
…
4 hours later, New Zealand took on Italy in Mexico.
(GROUP F:)
(New Zealand vs Italy)
(Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico)
(Date: June 15, 2026)
(Time: 20:00)
It was one of the few bland clashes in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and yet, Italy got their 3 points through a moment of magic from Nicolo Barella.
It happened in the 54th minute of the game.
He got the ball in midfield, went on a solo run before scoring inside the box as he showed great strength and technique to fend off New Zealand's defenders.
The game ended 0-1 in Italy's favor.
…
Before the 2nd Group F game of the day between New Zealand and Italy, Germany took on Colombia in a Group G encounter.
(GROUP G:)
(Germany vs Colombia)
(Venue: Lumen Field, USA)
(Date: June 15, 2026)
(Time: 17:00)
It was another FIFA World Cup thriller.
Luis Diaz stole the show for the Colombia National football team, winning millions of hearts with his 2 goal performance in the thrilling encounter and yet, it was not enough to topple the great Germany.
The German machines held nothing back on the night.
With the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Schlotterbeck behind, the midfield and attacking players had the freedom to express themselves up front, and boy did the young German talents show up in style.
Jamal Musiala won the man of the match award in the end with a head-turning 2 goals and 1 assist performance, his partner in crime Florian Wirtz continuing from where he stopped with a 1 goal and 1 assist performance.
Their combination this game was flawless and untouchable.
The highlight of the night was the goal that gave Germany the lead, Jamal Musiala receiving the ball from deep and wriggling through 3 players like they were not there before playing tiki taka football with Florian Wirtz.
Swift, short passes tore Colombia open like a hot knife through butter and Florian Wirtz played the final pass to Jamal Musiala who dribbled through 3 players, the goalkeeper included before scoring into an empty net.
Lumen Field in the U.S.A exploded in awe of the 2 German wonderkids now turning into legends.
Germany won the game 4-1.
