4 video games are scheduled for day 11 — Wednesday, November 30 — of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The schedule:
Australia vs Denmark (Group D): 6pm (15:00 GMT), Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
Tunisia vs France (Group D): 6PM (15:00 GMT), Schooling Metropolis Stadium, Al Rayyan
Poland vs Argentina (Group C): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Stadium 974, Ras Abu Aboud
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Group C): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
After dropping their opening sport 4-1 to France, Australia striker Mitchell Duke’s objective towards Tunisia on Saturday has put the Socceroos proper again in rivalry for a spot within the ultimate 16.
Australia now sits second within the desk on three factors, three behind France, however nonetheless two forward of each Denmark and Tunisia.
That’s why Denmark should win their third sport of the event on Wednesday towards Australia to face an opportunity for a spot within the group of 16.
In a coaching session on Sunday, the Australians had been in excessive spirits but additionally conscious that they want a minimum of a draw towards the Danes to have any likelihood of qualifying for the knockout phases.
Australia’s star participant Ajdin Hrustic stated that the Socceroos should not be transfixed by Dutch footballing legend Christian Eriksen after they play Denmark. Hrustic stated a collective staff effort can be wanted if the Australians are to triumph.
Count on an thrilling sport as each groups battle it out to make it by to the subsequent stage of the event.
Gamers to observe:
The Danes will look to Christian Eriksen to ship his brilliance and beat Australia.
Socceroos hero Duke is just the eighth Australian participant to have scored a objective on the World Cup. The Australian striker, who performs his membership soccer in Japan’s second division, devoted his objective towards Tunisia to his younger son who was watching from the stands.
Duke will do all the things potential to provide his son one other reminiscence for all times, and likewise get his staff by to the subsequent spherical.
Australian defender Harry Souttar will even you’ll want to entertain following a video of his earth-shaking sort out on Tunisian Yassine Khenissi going viral. Souttar appeared nearly out of nowhere to slip in with a thunderous sort out that might have had hard-nut defenders of yesteryear nodding their approval. Souttar’s defending abilities have been broadly praised by pundits with many predicting he can be a goal for a Premier League membership in January.
Tunisia are confronted with the large job of upsetting World Cup title-holders France on Wednesday if they’re to face an opportunity of advancing to the knockouts. A goalless draw between Australia and Denmark may see Tunisia go second in the event that they beat France – it’s a giant ask however the courageous Eagles of Carthage may nonetheless soar.
Don’t neglect that Tunisia had been the primary African nation to win a sport on the World Cup finals after they beat Mexico 3-1 in Argentina in 1978. Ten of Tunisia’s 26-man squad had been born in France they usually have three gamers primarily based at French golf equipment.
However, France had been the primary staff to safe qualification by to the spherical of 16 at his World Cup event with wins over Australia and Denmark, and with a sport to spare.
France seem to have shaken off the curse of the defending champions by changing into the primary World Cup champs to make it out of the group stage since 2006 – the yr defending champs Brazil emerged. Italy, Spain and Germany all had been eradicated early 4 years after successful their World Cup titles.
The staff’s pre-tournament damage blues are additionally fading, and Les Bleus are feeling upbeat once more and looking out like one of many event favourites.
France will look to strike the correct steadiness between resting gamers and maintaining their World Cup momentum up towards Tunisia, the place even a draw with the Tunisians will assure them prime spot of their grouping.
Ought to the French end first, they are going to face the staff who finally ends up second in Group C, which options Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Poland and Mexico.
Coach Didier Deschamps is about to relaxation a few of his key males and provides fringe gamers minutes within the sport.
Kylian Mbappe is likely to be held again in reserve however France’s talismanic ahead is chasing data in Qatar and Deschamps may give him some taking part in time to assist him add to his seven World Cup objectives – three of which had been scored in Qatar.
Gamers to observe:
France’s Antoine Griezmann has returned to his greatest type and is more likely to play deep and likewise near lone strikers on the entrance.
Griezmann has performed as an attacking midfielder somewhat than a pure ahead, brilliantly making the hyperlink between midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot and France’s attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe.
“I most likely ask various things from him, however there isn’t any sacrifice on his half,” Deschamps not too long ago stated of Griezmann.
“I may have performed him on the correct flank of the assault as an alternative of Ousmane (Dembele) however that’s not the place he can be essentially the most helpful to the staff,” he stated.
Two of essentially the most gifted and lethal strikers in world soccer, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up towards one another on Wednesday with a final 16 place at stake within the World Cup.
Messi has scored twice in Argentina’s extraordinary begin to the marketing campaign in Doha, and likewise suffered one of many largest upsets within the event’s historical past by dropping to Saudi Arabia earlier than masterminding a euphoric victory over Mexico.
Argentina’s 2-0 win over Mexico was the most-watched Spanish-language World Cup group stage broadcast in US historical past, drawing 8.9 million viewers on Telemundo tv and the streaming providers of Telemundo and Peacock.
The good Argentinian, whose staff are one of many event favourites, is taking part in his fifth and ultimate marketing campaign, which means it’s his final likelihood to match Diego Maradona and raise the trophy for his longing homeland.
With Argentina second in Group C on three factors, one behind the Poles, the Argentinians should win on Wednesday to make sure of progressing and maintaining alive their dream of a 3rd World Cup title.
A draw can be sufficient for the South People, too, if Mexico and Saudi Arabia additionally finish stage.
Like Messi, Poland’s Lewandowski can be his nation’s all-time prime scorer and can be on presumably his final mission at a World Cup. He has been in scorching type for Barcelona (Messi’s previous membership) and has additionally had an eventful begin in Qatar.
Lewandowski uncharacteristically missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico earlier than scoring his first-ever World Cup objective of their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.
Poland, who haven’t reached the World Cup knockout stage since 1986, may undergo with a win or draw towards Argentina.
That is the third time Poland and Argentina will meet on the World Cup. Poland gained 3-2 in 1974 and Argentina gained 2-0 4 years later. Argentina have gained six of their 11 conferences general, with Poland successful three. The groups final performed a world pleasant in June 2011, which Poland gained 2-1.
Gamers to observe:
Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.
Argentina, Mexico and Poland might all have been fancied to progress from Group C on the World Cup forward of Saudi Arabia, however after their beautiful win over the Argentinians, the Saudis are firmly within the combine forward of their Wednesday sport towards Mexico.
Of their 5 earlier World Cup outings, Saudi Arabia have certified for the spherical of 16 solely as soon as, on their debut on the event in 1994.
At this stage in Qatar, Poland lead Group C on 4 factors, one forward of Argentina and Saudi Arabia, whereas Mexico are on one level.
If Saudi Arabia need to progress they should beat Mexico on Wednesday, whatever the consequence of the match between Poland and Argentina. A draw would imply they want Poland to beat Argentina, whereas a defeat would make the permutations extra difficult, as they would wish to lose by just one objective whereas hoping that Poland win their match by a much bigger margin.
And the Saudi gamers can do it.
Saudi Arabia shocked the soccer world after they defeated Argentina 2-1 of their opening group sport, solely to then lose 2-0 to Poland of their second match.
“Nobody world wide thought that we may play with this stage. Sure, in Saudi Arabia we all know the gamers properly, however they’re unknown to the followers world wide,” Saudi coach Herve Renard instructed a information convention after the Poland sport.
“We’re nonetheless alive,” he stated. The 54-year-old Renard indicated his staff will play the subsequent match in Lusail towards Mexico with the identical power and want, and he rallied Saudi supporters.
“We’d like the followers to make historical past. I desire a inexperienced stadium once more, possibly we are going to play within the white jersey, however that isn’t vital, we wish the assist from the followers,” he stated.
Issues is not going to be straightforward for Saudi Arabia. Mexico even have an opportunity of reaching the final 16, and for them, will probably be their eighth time in a row. Mexico must beat Saudi Arabia by a minimum of a three-goal margin, with Poland not dropping to Argentina. If Argentina beat the Poles, it would depend upon the ultimate outcome.
Mexico can be reminding themselves that they’ve by no means misplaced to Saudi Arabia in 5 earlier matches, and gained twice with 5-0 and 5-1 ends in the FIFA Confederations Cup. However the Mexicans are struggling offensively and the staff didn’t rating a objective within the first two matches towards Poland and Argentina.
Mexico can be determined for Wednesday’s sport to not be the primary time they fail to attain at a World Cup event (they’ve now failed to attain of their final 4 World Cup appearances).
Gamers to observe:
Mexico’s hopes appear to relaxation on the shoulders of star striker Raul Jimenez.
Saudi Arabia’s Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari scored a objective every towards Argentina. Can the pair ship objectives towards Mexico?
Definitely two gamers to observe.