On day seven of the World Cup in Qatar, France has grow to be the primary nation to earn their spot within the knockout levels after beating Denmark 2-1 on Saturday in a sport that noticed Kylian Mbappe put two objectives away for the French.
With their victory over Denmark, world champions France now have six factors on the high of Group D and are the primary crew to be assured a spot within the Spherical of 16.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez earned Argentina a 2-0 win over Mexico and stored their World Cup desires alive, whereas the Mexicans should now beat Saudi Arabia to have any probability of getting into the Spherical of 16.
It was additionally 2-0 for Poland of their tense match in opposition to Saudi Arabia, which noticed the Saudis dominate the sport for lengthy intervals, however the gritty Poles held the backline, and wonderful goalkeeping saved them the day.
Australia earned their first World Cup victory in 12 years in a 1-0 win over Tunisia. The Tunisians are nonetheless hoping to advance from their group stage however should now beat France to attain that aim.
Here’s a fast information recapping all it’s essential to know from day seven — Saturday, November 26, 2022 — of the Qatar World Cup 2022.
France vs Denmark
France’s Kylian Mbappe scored two objectives and put the defending champions into the knockout stage of the World Cup with their 2-1 win over Denmark in a sport that early on appeared as if it may finish in a impasse.
Les Bleus attacked with may from the kickoff, and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel nearly tipped a harmful header from Adrien Rabiot. Denmark additionally had their first probability with Andreas Cornelius taking pictures large proper.
It was France who lastly broke by means of with effective attacking when Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe gave his crew the lead within the 61st minute. The French ahead swapped passes with Theo Hernandez down the left flank and poked the ball previous Schmeichel for the primary aim.
However that was shortly cancelled out by Denmark’s Andreas Christensen, who scored an equaliser simply seven minutes later.
To not be outdone, Mbappe then scored the winner within the 86th when he jumped acrobatically to information within the second after a cross from Antoine Griezmann to make Les Bleus the primary crew to advance to the spherical of 16.
Mbappe scored 4 objectives when France gained the World Cup 4 years in the past, together with one within the remaining. He now has 31 objectives for France, shifting him one forward of Simply Fontaine — the all-time main scorer at a single World Cup with 13 objectives on the 1958 event.
“I’m very proud of the best way my gamers have responded,” France Coach Didier Deschamps instructed broadcasters TF1. “We’re positive to be certified after two video games. It brings peace of thoughts,” he stated.
“We now have a powerful and strong group of gamers who wish to do nice issues.”
Denmark defender Victor Nelsson stated after the match: “Proper now I’m very disenchanted with the late aim. It’s unacceptable to let in a aim so late within the sport … We have to win over Australia on Wednesday.”
Argentina vs Mexico
Argentina have been conscious that one other defeat would have despatched them out of the event on Saturday, they usually began poorly in opposition to Mexico as they struggled to deal with the strain the Mexicans unleashed from the primary kick of the ball.
That wrestle continued at Lusail Stadium till Lionel Messi discovered the bottom-right nook of the Mexican internet from greater than 20 metres (66 toes) out within the sixty fourth minute, firing a low shot by means of a crowd of defenders into the again of the aim.
Messi was virtually in tears as he grabbed and shook his jersey in entrance of Argentina’s celebrating followers, then blew a kiss and appeared to the sky. It’ll go down as one of the essential objectives of his profession because it has reignited his crew’s World Cup probabilities.
Argentinian followers contained in the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium hugged one another. Some cried. Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez fell to the bottom and appeared to bury his face within the turf.
Argentina’s substitute Enzo Fernandez then added a second aim within the 87th minute, making certain the crew has bounced again from their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia that now ranks as one of many World Cup’s biggest-ever upsets.
Fernandez — who’s 21 years of age — additionally grew to become the youngest participant to attain at a World Cup for Argentina since Messi himself in 2006.
“It’s a weight off our shoulders,” Messi stated after the match. “It offers us pleasure and peace of thoughts to begin once more.”
“We lived with discomfort and stored the defeat within the opening match in our minds,” Messi stated. “We have been desperate to have the possibility to show the state of affairs round and by chance we gained,” he stated.
“All of our matches are finals now. We will’t mess up.”
Poland vs Saudi Arabia
It appeared like Saturday’s Group C match was not going to go Poland’s method, with Saudi Arabia driving on a wave of confidence after their historic defeat of Argentina earlier this week.
Poland have been taking part in earlier than a deafening, overwhelmingly Saudi crowd that was excited, rapturous and raucous, booing and jeering almost each Polish transfer.
In a primary half dominated by slick Saudi counterattacking and huge quantities of gamesmanship from the Gulf aspect, Poland obtained three yellow playing cards within the area of 4 minutes and have been on the flawed finish of a VAR penalty resolution the Poles will deem harsh.
Nevertheless it was Piotr Zielinski who opened the scoring for Poland within the thirty ninth minute with a sensible end in opposition to the run of play.
Salem Aldawsari had an opportunity to carry Saudi Arabia again on stage phrases in the direction of the tip of the half, however his penalty kick was beautifully saved by Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish keeper then saved a follow-up by Mohammed Alburayk, too.
With simply eight minutes left within the sport, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski dispossessed Abdulelah Almalki of the ball and slotted house the second of Poland’s 2-0 win.
Saturday’s win mattered. Poland wanted not less than a draw to face any actual probability of attending to the final 16 for the primary time since 1986, and with Argentina left to play, few would fancy their probabilities.
“I feel the older I get, the extra emotional I get, and I’m conscious that in relation to the World Cup, it is likely to be my final World Cup really,” Lewandowski stated after the sport and what was his 77th worldwide aim.
“The results of the crew was most essential … There’s one other day and we have to prepare for the subsequent match as a result of we don’t know what’s going to occur subsequent. We have to do all we are able to.”
Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard stated he was happy with his crew’s efficiency; Saudi Arabia had twice as many pictures at aim as Poland did.
“I don’t assume lots of people [thought] Saudi Arabia was capable of play this sort of soccer,” he stated. “That is the explanation why I’m happy with them,” he stated after the match.
Renard referred to the vocal help the Inexperienced Falcons obtained at Training Metropolis Stadium, the place the enthusiastic Saudi followers turned the sport into a house one, and he hopes for extra of the identical for the ultimate group sport in opposition to Mexico on November 30 again at Lusail, the place his crew beat Argentina.
“I hope they gained’t hand over,” Renard stated of the Saudi followers.
“As a result of if you find yourself followers, it’s essential to help your crew when it’s a implausible day, however you additionally have to help your crew to make the historical past throughout the third sport.”
Tunisia vs Australia
It was a scrappy begin to the match between Tunisia and Australia till the “Socceroos” went forward when striker Mitchell Duke scored halfway by means of the primary half with a glancing header previous keeper Aymen Dahmen to present Australia the lead.
Duke’s aim got here after he collected a goalkeeper’s cross close to the center of the sector and made a fast contact to set Craig Goodwin down the left flank. Duke then sprinted ahead to nod Goodwin’s deflected cross into the far nook together with his again to the aim.
Duke celebrated scoring Australia’s successful aim by forming a “J” together with his fingers in a tribute to his son Jaxson, who was within the stands.
The rating quieted the big contingent of Tunisia followers among the many crowd of 41,823 inside Al Janoub Stadium and despatched the small pockets of Australian supporters wearing yellow into delirium.
Tunisia had impressed once they held European Championship semi-finalist Denmark to a 0-0 draw of their opener, however solely sometimes threatened in opposition to Australia till the Aussies sat again and defended in the direction of the tip.
Tunisia’s greatest probability got here when skipper Youssef Msakni shot simply large.
It was an emotion-filled day for Australia, whose 1-0 victory over Tunisia was solely their third win in 18 World Cup matches.
Tunisia remains to be looking for to advance from the group stage for the primary time in its six World Cup appearances however now must beat France.
“This version of the World Cup has had surprises for everybody. The bigger squads have been defeated,” Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri stated.
“We nonetheless have yet another match to go and we’ll play our hearts out.”
