As Russia revels, an abysmal Argentina weeps
The World Cup host has sauntered into the knockout stage, but the two-time champion faces real prospect of an early flight home
THE fortunes of Russia - the lowest-ranked of the 32 teams competing at the 2018 World Cup - and the two-time champion Argentina could hardly be more contrasting.
Before the month-long tournament kicked off last week, the bookies would have quoted you some pretty long odds for Russia to win their first two matches to comfortably sail into the Round of 16. Most Russians, including perhaps even President Vladimir Putin himself, could not have expected to see their beloved team trounce Saudi Arabia 5-0 and then swat aside Mohamad Salah's Egypt 3-1 to surge to the top of their group.
Argentina - a team chock-full of superstars including Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Juventus striker Paulo Dybala - can only wish they were in Russia's shoes, and that speaks volumes of the messy predicament that they find themselves mired in.
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Lifestyle
Former Zouk morphs into mod-Asian Jiak Kim House, serving laksa pasta and mushroom bak kut teh
Massimo Bottura lends star power to pizza and pasta at Torno Subito
Victor Liong pairs Aussie and Asian food with mixed results at Artyzen’s Quenino restaurant
If Jay Chou likes Ju Xing’s zi char, you might too
Mod-Sin cooking izakaya style at Focal
What the fish? Diving for flavour at Fysh – Aussie chef Josh Niland’s Singapore debut