World Cup 2022, day 11: The schedule, what’s at stake for teams | World Cup

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), Training 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 shedding their opening recreation 4-1 to France, Australia striker Mitchell Duke’s aim in opposition to Tunisia on Saturday has put the Socceroos proper again in rivalry for a spot within the remaining 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 recreation of the event on Wednesday in opposition to 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 in addition conscious that they want at the very least a draw in opposition to the Danes to have any probability of qualifying for the knockout phases.

Australia’s star participant Ajdin Hrustic mentioned that the Socceroos should not be transfixed by Dutch footballing legend Christian Eriksen after they play Denmark. Hrustic mentioned a collective crew effort can be wanted if the Australians are to triumph.

Anticipate an thrilling recreation as each groups battle it out to make it by to the subsequent stage of the event.

Gamers to look at:

The Danes will look to Christian Eriksen to ship his brilliance and beat Australia.

 

Socceroos hero Duke is barely the eighth Australian participant to have scored a aim on the World Cup. The Australian striker, who performs his membership soccer in Japan’s second division, devoted his aim in opposition to Tunisia to his younger son who was watching from the stands.

Duke will do every part potential to offer his son one other reminiscence for all times, and likewise get his crew by to the subsequent spherical.

Australian defender Harry Souttar may even remember 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 will have had hard-nut defenders of yesteryear nodding their approval. Souttar’s defending abilities have been broadly praised by pundits with many predicting he might be a goal for a Premier League membership in January.

Tunisia are confronted with the massive activity 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 might see Tunisia go second in the event that they beat France – it’s an enormous ask however the courageous Eagles of Carthage might nonetheless soar.

 

Don’t neglect that Tunisia had been the primary African nation to win a recreation 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 and so they have three gamers based mostly at French golf equipment.

However, France had been the primary crew to safe qualification by to the spherical of 16 at his World Cup event with wins over Australia and Denmark, and with a recreation 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 crew’s pre-tournament damage blues are additionally fading, and Les Bleus are feeling upbeat once more and searching like one of many event favourites.

France will look to strike the fitting steadiness between resting gamers and maintaining their World Cup momentum up in opposition to 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 crew 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 recreation.

Kylian Mbappe is perhaps held again in reserve however France’s talismanic ahead is chasing information in Qatar and Deschamps might give him some taking part in time to assist him add to his seven World Cup targets – three of which had been scored in Qatar.

Gamers to look at:

France’s Antoine Griezmann has returned to his finest kind 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 just lately mentioned of Griezmann.

“I might have performed him on the fitting flank of the assault as a substitute of Ousmane (Dembele) however that’s not the place he can be essentially the most helpful to the crew,” he mentioned.

Two of essentially the most proficient and lethal strikers in world soccer, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up in opposition to 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 shedding 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 companies of Telemundo and Peacock.

The good Argentinian, whose crew are one of many event favourites, is taking part in his fifth and remaining marketing campaign, which means it’s his final probability to match Diego Maradona and elevate 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 Individuals, too, if Mexico and Saudi Arabia additionally finish degree.

Like Messi, Poland’s Lewandowski can also be his nation’s all-time prime scorer and can also be on probably his final mission at a World Cup. He has been in scorching kind for Barcelona (Messi’s outdated 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 aim of their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

Poland, who haven’t reached the World Cup knockout stage since 1986, might undergo with a win or draw in opposition to Argentina.

That is the third time Poland and Argentina will meet on the World Cup. Poland received 3-2 in 1974 and Argentina received 2-0 4 years later. Argentina have received six of their 11 conferences total, with Poland successful three. The groups final performed a global pleasant in June 2011, which Poland received 2-1.

Gamers to look at:

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

Argentina, Mexico and Poland could all have been fancied to progress from Group C on the World Cup forward of Saudi Arabia, however after their gorgeous win over the Argentinians, the Saudis are firmly within the combine forward of their Wednesday recreation in opposition to 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 wish to progress they must beat Mexico on Wednesday, whatever the final result 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 want to lose by just one aim whereas hoping that Poland win their match by an even bigger margin.

And the Saudi gamers can do  it.

Saudi Arabia surprised the soccer world after they defeated Argentina 2-1 of their opening group recreation, solely to then lose 2-0 to Poland of their second match.

“Nobody all over the world thought that we might play with this degree. Sure, in Saudi Arabia we all know the gamers effectively, however they’re unknown to the followers all over the world,” Saudi coach Herve Renard informed a information convention after the Poland recreation.

“We’re nonetheless alive,” he mentioned. The 54-year-old Renard indicated his crew will play the subsequent match in Lusail in opposition to Mexico with the identical power and need, and he rallied Saudi supporters.

“We’d like the followers to make historical past. I desire a inexperienced stadium once more, perhaps we’ll play within the white jersey, however that isn’t essential, we would like the help from the followers,” he mentioned.

Issues won’t be straightforward for Saudi Arabia. Mexico even have an opportunity of reaching the final 16, and for them, it will likely be their eighth time in a row. Mexico must beat Saudi Arabia by at the very least a three-goal margin, with Poland not shedding to Argentina. If Argentina beat the Poles, it should rely upon the ultimate consequence.

Mexico might be reminding themselves that they’ve by no means misplaced to Saudi Arabia in 5 earlier matches, and received twice with 5-0 and 5-1 leads to the FIFA Confederations Cup. However the Mexicans are struggling offensively and the crew didn’t rating a aim within the first two matches in opposition to Poland and Argentina.

Mexico might be determined for Wednesday’s recreation 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 look at:

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 aim every in opposition to Argentina. Can the pair ship targets in opposition to Mexico?

Definitely two gamers to look at.