Yekaterinburg: Out here two time zones from Moscow in the same time zone with Pakistan, where Europe meets Asia and Siberia is sort of just over yonder, 32,789 crammed into the delightful bandbox of Ekaterinburg Arena on a 52-degree June 21 with the light ample in the sky and . . .
What might linger in their memories of France 1, Peru 0, on Thursday night, which pushed France on through to the knockout round, and eliminated Peru from the World Cup?
It could be that France’s fleet phenom Kylian Mbappé, born on the excruciatingly recent day of Dec. 20, 1998 (which means he spent France’s 1998 World Cup title in the womb), scored. He scored his first World Cup goal at 19. It came as a sort-of tap-in in the 34th minute after some pretty French stuff that ended when one of Mbappé’s fellow frightening strikers, Olivier Giroud, punched a ball from the left in the box that caromed off the leg of Peruvian defender Alberto Rodriguez and over an onrushing goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, where it threatened to hop on in even without the help of Mbappé, who had arrived rapidly per custom.
“I’ve always said the World Cup was a dream for any player,” he said, as if anyone his age could have “always said” anything. “It was my dream as well. That dream has come true, and I hope I will have more.”
So it could be that detail, or it could be that France, a team with the dazzling capacity to scintillate, did not scintillate wholly, committing insufficient scintillation. That was true especially through a dormant second half of which Manager Didier Deschamps summarized: “We were not always able to keep the ball so we had to defend and defend and defend. Twenty-five minutes, we were defending.”
France, which is both among the favorites to win this World Cup and a capable sower of doubt about same, has wriggled through two lukewarm wins, gained the maximum six points and left the people who care about it hoping for increased beauty.
That captain from the storied 1998 team, the manager Deschamps, said he felt “very satisfied” even as he said that second half “obliges us to be more coherent.” He also said: “I saw Spain against Iran, and they spent the last 10 minutes defending. If you’re looking for a [big] score, don’t come to a World Cup because you won’t get this.”
But it probably won’t be that, after all is done here, so it could be the comprehensive devastation the Peruvians felt upon their mathematical exit in their first World Cup in 36 yawning years. They spent the second half attempting careful solutions to France’s defense without ever presenting anything truly scary, and their best parry came in the 50th minute from in front of the box when a fine setup finally made its way to midfielder Pedro Aquino, whose thrilling strike went left and smacked off the upper corner of the goal.
Then, when they could threaten no more than that and the whistle came, they reeled. Paolo Guerrero, the 34-year-old national icon cleared to play by a Swiss tribunal on May 31 while still appealing his suspension for a positive test for a metabolite of cocaine, bent over with his shirt on his head for what seemed an eon. Groups of teammates kept coming over to console him. With so much anticipation among its 31 million, Peru had come to Russia, lost 1-0 to Denmark, lost 1-0 to France, hoarded more possession and accuracy against both and failed only at finishing.
Yet that won’t prevail in memory, either.
The sound will.
When all this gets sorted out in Moscow on July 15, the staggering sound of the Peruvian fans should linger as one of the hallmarks of this World Cup. Their national anthem rendition from Thursday night alone surely will withstand the test of memory, leaving seasoned mouths agape as it did.
That’s because they had come to dominate a stadium 10 time zones and 8,620 miles from Lima, Peru, which is also 13,872 kilometers, which sounds more impressive. They had come all the way from the 12 South latitude, 77 West longitude on the world map to the 56 North, 60 East. They had come in astonishing methods.
Jose Milla, a 30-year-old telecommunications engineer from Lima, had flown from Lima to New York to Madrid (where he visited Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium) to Barcelona (where he visited Barcelona’s Camp Nou) to Moscow, where he traveled to Saransk, Russia, for Peru’s first match.
“On the train or by air?”
“No, bus.”
“How long did that take?”
“Twelve hours. A long trip . . . And then back to Moscow, another 12 hours.”
Giancarlo Cardozo, a 41-year-old based in Miami, had gone from Miami to Madrid to Paris to Frankfurt to St. Petersburg then to Moscow for a few hours, then a bus and train to Saransk, then another train 26 hours to Ekaterinburg.
“These people are incredible,” Peru Manager Ricardo Gareca said. “If there’s anything that really hurts me and the whole team, it’s when we saw the fans were so enthusiastic . . . we are pained at the fact we have been eliminated and we are not going to be able to play a last match for anything meaningful [for them] . . . We didn’t return their trust and passion as we would have liked.”
He aimed to solve Australia in the final Peru match “so they can at least celebrate one victory in this World Cup.”
“It was my dream,” Milla said. “You know, Peru was in the World Cup in 1982, 36 years. So I know that a lot of Peruvian people want to be here . . . One of my dreams has come true.”
“It’s amazing,” Cardozo said. “It’s my first World Cup and I feel it so much.” Thirteen thousand kilometers away from their homeland, they sang.
“With all my heart. With all my heart!” Cardozo said. “I feel,” Milla said, “that I was in Peru.”
FULL-TIME: France are through to the next round thanks to Kylian Mbappe who scored in the 34th minute to give his team 1-0 lead. Peru are out of contention now.
90+4': Olivier Giroud gets in front and makes the strike but it is deflected over the cross bar. Corner for France
90+3': A throw in for France. They are taking their time. Now a throw-in for Peru. A loud cheer from the crowd. This is a looooong throw-in and amounts to nothing
90+1': Corner for France. Short one this from Dembele. Fekir has been fouled. Free kick awarded to france.
90+4': Four minutes of added time for Peru to find the equaliser and for France to hold on to their lead.
89': SUBSTITUTION for FRANCE - Paul Pogba out, Steven N'Zonzi in
86': YELLOW CARD TO PAUL POGBA! He's not impressed. Free kick to Peru right from about 20 yards. Not a powerful strike from Guerrero but it was dipping and not much trouble for Lloris as he pouches it.
84': Guerrero wins a corner. Umtiti rises to clear the danger.
82': Final SUBSTITUTION for Peru: Rudiaz in, Cueva out
82': Dembele finds himself in front of Peru goal. But his left-footed attempt goes wide. That would have put the game to bed.
81': YELLOW CARD issued to Edison Flores. Now referee receives some information from his VAR team and it's Aquino who gets the Yellow Card. Case of mistaken identity this,
80': SUBSTITUTION for FRANCE - Nabil Fekir is on, Antoine Griezmann is off
78': France steal the ball courtesy Paul Pogba who has been fouled. Free kick to France inside their own half.
75': SUBSTITUTION for FRANCE. Kylian Mbappe off, Ousmane Dembélé on. He's taking all the time in the world to walk back, leaving Peruvian frustrated who egg him on to hurry.
74 ': CHANCE! This is good from Peru. A brilliant pass from Carrillo from the right. Farfan leaps but his resulting shot crashes on the net from a right angle.
70': This has been an absorbing half so far. France were all over Peru for the first 10-15 minutes before Peru gathered themselves and rallied back with wave after wave of attacks.
68': Corner for Peru. The crowd goes berserk. What can Peru make of it? Delivery good but Giroud rises above everyone to head it clear. Meanwhile, the referee has blown the whistle and it will be a free kick for France.
67': Anxious moments for France as Peru keep the possession to themselves and keep hovering near the danger zone. Luis Advincula receives the ball just outside the box and with his left boot, unleashes a powerful shot that sails over the cross bar.
65': The crowd comes alive after the ball finally touches the feet of a Peruvian. A long ball intended for Carrillo on the right flank and his cross inside the box is easily headed clear.
64': France regain control over the proceedings. Varane lifts the ball from French half, hoping to find Giroud but it has more power than needed. It flies well over the Frenchman.
61': Momentum seems to have shifted after the initial 15 minutes when France had camped inside the Peru half. Carrillo this time goes for the glory from outside the box but the ball goes just over the crossbar.
60': Advincula from the right, sneaks inside the box and sends a cross which is intercepted by a blue shirt. Peru are improving.
58': Carrillo gets the ball inside the box and is sandwiched between two French defenders. He goes down. Appeal for a penalty. Referee turns it down.
56': Corner for France. Paul Pogba wins it. It has been cleared.
54': Another free kick to France but it's a short one from Pogba. Nothing comes off it.
52': It's almost a lob from the Atletico Madrid man. Quite high. Drops right over the wall where after some wriggling, Gallese gobbles it
51': Free kick for France from a danger zone. Guerrero fouls Hernandez. A bit delay as the referee ensures everything is in order. passes instructions and Griezmann is ready.
50': CHANCE! Pedro Aquino nearly drew level for Peru. He receives a cross in the middle and inside the penalty area and sends in a powerful shot but it hits the post!
48': All good with Umtiti now. It looks a case of dead leg. He's back
47': Oh dear! Umtiti and Farfan involved in a mid-air collision. Umtiti kneed in the thigh. He looks in pain. Play halted.
46': Second half gets underway. Peru have made double substitution to start the second half
Halftime Substitution: Anderson Santamaria replaces Alberto Rodriguez and Jefferson Farfán comes in for Yoshimar Yotun
This is going to be an interesting half. Peru need to score to avoid elimination meaning we can see more aggressive approach from the South Americans. Meanwhile, France have responded well after an early wave of Peruvian attacks. Peru could have taken the lead in the 31st minute but Guerrero only managed to hit ball straight into the hands of Lloris.
45+2': Griezmann wins the possession on the left and sends a delicious pass but it's blocked. The referee has blown the half-time whistle!
45'+2': Two minutes of additional time
42': A good counterattack from France as Kylian Mbappe finds Griezmann in the middle who in attempts to pass it to Giroud but it lacks the bite allowing the Peru custodian to intercept.
38': Carrillo leads the attack for Peru. Combines well with Guerrero. Sends the ball inside the box for his teammate but the French defense is equally good.
36': The Peruvian fans have outnumbered French in the stands. They are in full force behind their men. Peru have some work to do to draw level with France now.
34': GOAL! Kylian Mbappe scores for France! France lead 1-0. Griezmann sent a throughball for Giroud intercepts it inside the box and his shot is deflected by Ramos but it goes over the goalkeeper. Mbappe finds himself in front of an open goal and all he has to do is to tap the ball inside. He has become France's youngest ever goalscorer in World Cup history!
33': Chance for France! It's Paul Pogba who lobs one over the Peru defense for Mbappe whose attempt is weak allowing Gallese to make an easy save.
30': Chance for Peru! Flores supplies the ball to Guerrero inside the box and his attempt crashes straight into Lloris who makes a good save.
28': A threatening move from Peru but the French defense is alert and resourceful enough to thwart Carrillo and Co.
24': Corner for Peru. France clear that without much effort and then Flores goes for the shot with his left boot and it's wide.
23': Guerrero has been issued a YELLOW CARD! Some argument between Umtiti and Guerrero and the referee deems it as objectionable enough to book the Peruvian.
20': Foul on Umtiti. France have the free kick.
18': A long pass from Pavad and Griezmann with a decent run from the right to intercept the ball but his left-foot attempt is easily saved by the goalkeeper.
17': YELLOW CARD TO Matuidi for a late challenge on Advincula
16': Griezmann fires right in the middle of the goalmouth and Gallese saves it from going past with his knees. Good save!
14': Now Varane with a header that goes just wide. Peru are facing testing times.
13': First corner of the match goes France's way. Referee is issuing warning to the defenders and thus delays the attempt. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe goes down near the goalline but referee isn't interested. The corner is easily headed away.
12': Paul Pogba with a tricky shot from just outside the box as the Peruvian goalie Pedro Gallese dives but the ball evades him after bouncing inches in front. France now look to be in control of the proceedings after the early jitters.
11': Griezmann , from a tight angle, makes a right-footed attempt but the effort is wide.
8': Now Mbappe leads the charge and he passes it forward, looking for Antoine Griezmann but the pass is intercepted.
7': Umtiti with a timely challenge to stop Peruvians in their tracks.
6': Carrillo skips past two French defenders before the blue shirts arrive to win the ball. The possession is regained and an ambitious shot from Yotun follows from near the midfield. French custodian Hugo Lloris is outside his mark but alert as the ball flies well over the cross bar.
3': Carrillo goes down after playing a cross. Play halted as he recovers.
2': Action limited to midfield. France keep possession for a while before Peru take over. After wriggling through the midfielders, Carrillo enters from the right before being dispossessed after a challenge from French defender who sends it out for a throw-in.
1': France will start the proceedings- 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. It's kick off!
#French players are donning blue colours while their Peru counterparts are in their traditional whites
#It's time for the national anthems!
Starting lineups are in
France: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez, Paul Pogba, Ngolo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe.
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Peru: Pedro Gallese, Luis Advincula, Christian Ramos, Alberto Rodriguez, Miguel Trauco, Pedro Aquino, Yoshimar Yotun, Andre Carrillo, Christian Cueva, Edison Flores, Paolo Guerrero
Coach: Ricardo Gareca (ARG)
