📰 Table Of Contents
Accumulator of the day:
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France vs Denmark
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Denmark beat France not once but twice in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year, so can they do it again?
Many were tipping de Rød-Hvide as dark horses pre-tournament although, following their drab goalless draw with Tunisia, that zeitgeist has somewhat subsided.
So, with just a point on the board, Kasper Hjulmand’s team are under pressure to claim a result here, or run the risk of being left with their destiny out of their own hands.
In contrast, despite an early scare, France know a victory here would almost certainly see them wrap up top spot.
That’s because, on Tuesday night, les Bleus came from a goal down to demolish Australia 4-1 in Al Wakrah.
Olivier Giroud bagging a brace, becoming his country’s joint-leading scorer of all-time, while Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappé also netted.
Four years ago, these two met in the group stages at the Luzhniki, playing out the tournament’s sole goalless draw.
This time, in a vastly different context, those inside Stadium 974 are likely to see goals.
Argentina vs Mexico
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Having suffered an astonishing defeat in their group opener, the pressure has been dialled up to 11 for Argentina.
Lionel Scaloni’s side were expected to swat Saudi Arabia aside, and looked set to do so when Lionel Messi cooly rolled home a penalty in the tenth minute.
But, la Albiceleste failed to double their advantage, with Lautaro MartÃnez having two goals disallowed for offside.
They were then made to pay the price because Saudi Arabia, against all odds, scored twice in just five minutes to lead.
This simply left Argentina shellshocked, meaning they were unable to recover, slumping to an unthinkable defeat.
Beforehand, they’d been unbeaten in 36 internationals, but fell one short of Italy’s world-record.
Now though, Argentina simply must win their remaining two group games, or will be eliminated in the group stages for just the second time in 60 years.
Mexico meantime haven’t failed to get out of their group since 1978, in Argentina, a streak that’s coming under threat.
El Tri held Poland to a goalless draw on Tuesday, thankful to Guillermo Ochoa who saved a second half penalty from Lewandowski.
Many Mexican supporters are cornered that Tata Martino’s men struggle to create chances, with that opener only exacerbating these fears.
On the flip side, even a draw here would leave el Tri in pole position to advance.
Argentina have won 12 of their last 16 meetings with Mexico, their only defeat in the last 32 years coming the 2004 Copa América group stages.
At World Cups, la Albiceleste have won all there games against el Tri, scoring 11 goals, desperately needing that trend to continue at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Poland vs Saudi Arabia
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After pulling off statistically the biggest shock in World Cup history, can Saudi Arabia do it again?
The Green Falcons were widely expected to go home without a point to their name but, unlike the people counting attendance figures, proved they’re not just here to make up the numbers.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia took on one of the pre-tournament favourites Argentina, and found themselves 1-0 down after little over nine minutes.
La Albiceleste kept, seemingly, doubling their lead, only to have three goals disallowed by VAR for offside.
Then, after half time, came the most famous five minutes in Saudi Arabian football history.
Saleh Al-Shehri slotted home a surprise equaliser, this his team’s very first shot, before Salem Al-Dawsari fired home, what turned out to be, a stunning winner.
Other heroes include Yasser Al-Shahrani, who made three tackles and six interceptions before suffering a bad head injury.
Meantime, goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais made five saves, accumulating a post-shot xG figure of 2.5, which is big!
Before this, the Greens had won just one of their last 13 World Cup fixtures, defeating Egypt in a dead-rubber four years ago.
Now, can Hervé Renard’s team book their spot in the knockout stages?
Poland’s matchday one encounter was far less memorable, held to a goalless draw by Mexico.
The game’s defining moment came early in the second half, when Robert Lewandowski saw a tame penalty saved.
The Eagles haven’t reached the round of 16 since Mexico ‘86 and, given that they face Argentina on Wednesday, this is simply must win.
Education City Stadium will almost certainly witness a low-scoring affair, so will Saudi Arabia be responsible for another massive shock?
Tunisia vs Australia
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Tunisia have only ever won two of 16 World Cup matches.
Australia have only ever won two of 17 World Cup matches.
Thus, both will see this match-up as a golden chance to claim an extremely rare victory at football’s biggest competition.
Of the two, Tunisia enjoyed matchday one rather more, getting off the mark by holding Denmark to a goalless draw in Al Rayyan.
The fact it was a low-scoring affair isn’t overly surprising, given that the Eagles of Carthage’s have now conceded just five goals in 16 competitive fixtures.
This point suggests Tunisia have improved from four years ago, when they were beaten by Belgium and England before defeating Panama.
So, if Jalel Kadri’s team do prevail here, they’ll be in a great position to, against the odds, sneak through.
Australia meanwhile are sitting rock bottom of Group D, having been hammered 4-1 by France on Tuesday.
Craig Goodwin did give the Socceroos an early shock lead but, in the end, they were lucky not to be on the wrong end of an embarrassing scoreline.
To date, Australia have only reached the knockout phase once, this in 2006, losing six of seven World Cup matches since their last victory 12 years ago.
Most expect Graham Arnold’s team to remain at the foot of this group, so Tunisia kick off as favourites at Al-Janoub Stadium.
