World Cup 2022, Day 3: The schedule, key players, what to expect

What’s in retailer for Argentina vs Saudi Arabia, Denmark vs Tunisia, Mexico vs Poland, and France vs Australia in Qatar.

Wales' Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their first purpose in opposition to the USA at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar on November 21, 2022 [File: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters]

4 video games are scheduled on day three – Tuesday, November 22 – of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Schedule:

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia (Group C): 1pm (10:00 GMT), Lusail Iconic Stadium

Denmark vs Tunisia (Group D): 4pm (13:00 GMT), Schooling Metropolis Stadium

Mexico vs Poland (Group C): 7pm (16:00 GMT), Stadium 974

France vs Australia (Group d): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Al Janoub Stadium

What to anticipate:

Argentina vs Saudi Arabia

• Argentina, ranked third total and powered by their captain Lionel Messi – who's enjoying in his fifth World Cup – are closely favoured over the younger Saudi Arabian squad, who're ranked 51st.

Argentina’s Messi throughout coaching at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE in November 2022 [Amr Alfiky/Reuters]

 

Gamers to observe:

• All eyes are on Messi, who triggered alarm this week after skipping a scheduled staff coaching on account of “muscle overload”. The 35-year-old, who has made it identified that this World Cup will probably be his final, reassured followers on Monday that was feeling “excellent bodily” and was trying ahead to the match in opposition to Saudi Arabia.
• “I feel I’m in an incredible second, each personally and bodily and I don’t have any issues,” Messi mentioned at a press briefing.
• Messi gave the impression to be revelling within the frenzied World Cup environment in Qatar, which is house to 1000's of Argentina followers.
• Messi is the third-highest worldwide goal-scorer in soccer historical past – behind Ali Daei and Cristiano Ronaldo – and has racked up an astounding 91 worldwide objectives in his profession.

Captain Argentina is able to lead at #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/1hXyjDqjar

— Leo Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) November 22, 2022

• Saudi Arabia’s 19-year-old Firas Al-Buraikan, enjoying in his first World Cup, enters the 2022 World Cup with 11 objectives.
• Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard mentioned his staff is keen to begin the match after combating for the final two years to succeed in the finals.
• “We loved preparation interval and all of the gamers Benefitted from it. We stay up for presenting an honourable efficiency for Saudi Arabia,” he mentioned on Monday.
• Saudi midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki mentioned: “We aren't coming to the World Cup to simply be in it. We're right here to provide our greatest and make Saudi proud.”
• Saudi Arabia have by no means received their first sport in a World Cup since they took half for the primary time in 1994. Their greatest end result was a 2-2 draw to Tunisia in 2006.

Saudi Arabia gamers pose for a staff group picture earlier than the match in opposition to Australia in King Abdullah Sport Metropolis Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in March 2022 [File: Ahmed Yosri/Reuters]

 

Denmark vs Tunisia

• Denmark, buoyed by strong outings at Euro 2020 and the Nations League, scored a formidable 30 objectives, profitable 9 video games of their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign on the street to Qatar.
• Tunisia, who have been almost eliminated from the 2022 World Cup over alleged authorities interference, are hoping to advance from the group stage for the primary time, and, of their fifth World Cup.
• The 2 groups haven't competed in opposition to each other on the World Cup. The Scandinavians did, nonetheless, topple Tunisia – identified to their followers because the Carthage Eagles – 2-1 throughout an exhibition match in 2002.
  

  

  Denmark’s Simon Kjaer, proper, in motion with England’s Harry Kane at Wembley Stadium, London, UK in 2021 [Frank Augstein/pool via Reuters]

Gamers to observe:

• Manchester United midfield famous person Christian Eriksen, who will probably be marking his fourth World Cup look regardless of struggling a cardiac arrest final June throughout a Euro 2020 match
• Tunisia will depend upon the efficient – and skilled – attacking line trio of Wahbi Khazri, Naim Sliti and Youssef Msakni to spice up the North African squad’s dismal 2-9 World Cup file.
  

  

  Tunisia’s midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, left, and midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, proper, prepare at Al Egla facility in Doha on November 19, 2022, forward of the Qatar 2022 World Cup [Miguel Medina/AFP]

Mexico vs Poland 

• Mexico’s street to the World Cup has been turbulent. The scrappy staff, enjoying of their sixteenth World Cup, completed second within the eight-team qualifiers behind Canada on purpose distinction. The Mexican staff have by no means superior previous the quarter-finals.
• Poland, in the meantime, has not escaped their group stage since 1982. The staff is now trying to redeem itself after disappointing opening consecutive losses on the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
• This match, marking the third time the Mexican and Polish groups have met, will probably be essential in figuring out who makes it out of Group C.

Mexico gamers pose for a staff picture in San Salvador, El Salvador, in October 2021 [Jose Cabezas/Reuters]

 

Gamers to observe:

• Poland’s offence is spearheaded by Bayern Munich striker and FIFA’s males’s participant of the 12 months Robert Lewandowski.
• Look out for an unbelievable save or two from Mexican goalkeeper and World Cup cult hero Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, who is ready to play in his third World Cup.

Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in motion throughout coaching at Al Kharaitiyat SC Coaching Amenities, Umm Salal, Qatar on November 18, 2022 [Ibraheem Al Omari/Reuters]

France vs Australia

• France, trying to defend its second World Cup title, after coasting previous Croatia in Russia in 2018, heads to Qatar as a fan favorite anticipated to make the semi-finals, if not the ultimate. The heavy-hitting French squad is projected to glide by Group D with ease.
• The younger and hungry Australian staff, enjoying of their fifth consecutive World Cup, face an uphill battle as they give the impression of being to advance from the group stage for the primary time below the steering of supervisor Graham Arnold.

Australia’s Martin Boyle, left, and New Zealand’s Liberato Cacace, proper, compete for a excessive ball throughout a pleasant soccer worldwide in Brisbane, Australia, in September 2022 [Dan Peled/AP]

 

Gamers to observe:

• The strain is now on the ever-lethal Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, who guided France to a Nation’s League title final 12 months after Les Bleus suffered a string of problematic accidents.
• Notably, France was dealt a serious blow on Saturday when Actual Madrid striker Karim Benzema tore a muscle in his left thigh whereas coaching. Starters N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba are additionally noticeably absent from the staff’s 2022 lineup on account of accidents.
• However Benzema’s last-minute withdrawal might truly be a blessing in disguise as Mbappe is now anticipated to be paired together with his favoured attacking associate, Olivier Giroud.

France’s Benjamin Pavard celebrates scoring a second purpose with Olivier Giroud, Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi in opposition to Argentina in Kazan Enviornment, Kazan, Russia in 2018 [File: Pilar Olivares/Reuters]

• Mbappe and Benzema have brilliantly mixed at occasions however Mbappe has mentioned that Giroud’s fashion of play in all probability suited him higher. Look out for Ajdin Hrustic, who appears to have overcome an earlier harm, and should add a spark to Australia’s offence.

Go Deeper:

• View the total 2022 World Cup schedule right here and make sure to go to Al Jazeera’s AI match predictor to see how your staff is projected to carry out in Qatar.