France beat Denmark, Argentina defeat Mexico, Poland win over Saudi Arabia, and an Australian victory over Tunisia.
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 recreation that noticed Kylian Mbappe put two targets 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 workforce 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 goals alive, whereas the Mexicans should now beat Saudi Arabia to have any likelihood of coming 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 glorious 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 objective.
Here's a fast information recapping all you should know from day seven — Saturday, November 26, 2022 — of the Qatar World Cup 2022.
France’s Kylian Mbappe scored two targets and put the defending champions into the knockout stage of the World Cup with their 2-1 win over Denmark in a recreation that early on appeared as if it may finish in a impasse.
Les Bleus attacked with would possibly from the kickoff, and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel nearly tipped a harmful header from Adrien Rabiot. Denmark additionally had their first likelihood with Andreas Cornelius capturing vast proper.
It was France who lastly broke via with wonderful attacking when Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe gave his workforce 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 objective.
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 workforce to advance to the spherical of 16.
Mbappe scored 4 targets when France gained the World Cup 4 years in the past, together with one within the last. He now has 31 targets for France, transferring him one forward of Simply Fontaine — the all-time main scorer at a single World Cup with 13 targets on the 1958 match.
“I’m very pleased with the best way my gamers have responded,” France Coach Didier Deschamps informed broadcasters TF1. “We're certain to be certified after two video games. It brings peace of thoughts,” he mentioned.
“We've got a powerful and stable group of gamers who need to do nice issues.”
Denmark defender Victor Nelsson mentioned after the match: “Proper now I’m very disenchanted with the late objective. It's unacceptable to let in a objective so late within the recreation … We have to win over Australia on Wednesday.”
Argentina had been conscious that one other defeat would have despatched them out of the match on Saturday, and so they 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 ft) out within the sixty fourth minute, firing a low shot via a crowd of defenders into the again of the objective.
Messi was virtually in tears as he grabbed and shook his jersey in entrance of Argentina’s celebrating followers, then blew a kiss and seemed to the sky. It should go down as one of the vital targets of his profession because it has reignited his workforce’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 objective within the 87th minute, making certain the workforce 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 mentioned after the match. “It offers us pleasure and peace of thoughts to start out once more.”
“We lived with discomfort and stored the defeat within the opening match in our minds,” Messi mentioned. “We had been wanting to have the prospect to show the scenario round and fortuitously we gained,” he mentioned.
“All of our matches are finals now. We will’t mess up.”
It seemed like Saturday’s Group C match was not going to go Poland’s means, with Saudi Arabia driving on a wave of confidence after their historic defeat of Argentina earlier this week.
Poland had been taking part in earlier than a deafening, overwhelmingly Saudi crowd that was excited, rapturous and raucous, booing and jeering practically each Polish transfer.
In a primary half dominated by slick Saudi counterattacking and huge quantities of gamesmanship from the Gulf aspect, Poland acquired three yellow playing cards within the area of 4 minutes and had been on the incorrect finish of a VAR penalty determination the Poles will deem harsh.
But it surely was Piotr Zielinski who opened the scoring for Poland within the thirty ninth minute with a wise end in opposition to the run of play.
Salem Aldawsari had an opportunity to convey Saudi Arabia again on degree phrases in direction of the top of the half, however his penalty kick was fantastically saved by Wojciech Szczesny. The Polish keeper then saved a follow-up by Mohammed Alburayk, too.
With simply eight minutes left within the recreation, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski dispossessed Abdulelah Almalki of the ball and slotted dwelling the second of Poland’s 2-0 win.
Saturday’s win mattered. Poland wanted a minimum of a draw to face any actual likelihood 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 with regards to the World Cup, it is likely to be my final World Cup truly,” Lewandowski mentioned after the sport and what was his 77th worldwide objective.
“The results of the workforce was most vital … 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 mentioned he was pleased with his workforce’s efficiency; Saudi Arabia had twice as many pictures at objective as Poland did.
“I don’t assume lots of people [thought] Saudi Arabia was in a position to play this sort of soccer,” he mentioned. “That is the explanation why I’m pleased with them,” he mentioned after the match.
Renard referred to the vocal help the Inexperienced Falcons acquired 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 recreation in opposition to Mexico on November 30 again at Lusail, the place his workforce beat Argentina.
“I hope they gained’t quit,” Renard mentioned of the Saudi followers.
“As a result of when you're followers, you should help your workforce when it’s a improbable day, however you additionally must help your workforce to make the historical past in the course of the third recreation.”
It was a scrappy begin to the match between Tunisia and Australia till the “Socceroos” went forward when striker Mitchell Duke scored halfway via the primary half with a glancing header previous keeper Aymen Dahmen to provide Australia the lead.
Duke’s objective got here after he collected a goalkeeper’s cross close to the center of the sector and made a rapid 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 objective.
Duke celebrated scoring Australia’s profitable objective by forming a “J” together with his fingers in a tribute to his son Jaxson, who was within the stands.
The rating quieted the massive 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 after 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 direction of the top.
Tunisia’s finest likelihood got here when skipper Youssef Msakni shot simply vast.
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 searching 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 mentioned.
“We nonetheless have another match to go and we’ll play our hearts out.”
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