Superb strikes save Argentina
After their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Argentina faced Mexico knowing they needed to get at least a point to avoid elimination with a game to spare.
Back at the Lusail Stadium in front of 88,966 fans, who created an incredible atmosphere, Argentina were disappointing for large parts of the match. Mexico frustrated the 2021 Copa América winners, Alexis Vega going closest to goal in the first half from a free kick comfortably held.
The entire Argentina team were disappointing, Messi drifting through large parts of the first hour. Stifled by the tactics of a man who knows him well, perhaps? Mexico boss Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino having managed Messi during the 2013-14 season at Barcelona and between 2014 and 2016 with Argentina, in which time they lost consecutive Copa América finals to Chile, prompting Messi’s short-lived international retirement.
But, as he does so often, the Barcelona legend pulled the footballing equivalent of a rabbit out of a hat. Receiving the ball twenty yards from goal, he took one touch to tee up his low-drilled shot, which went past Guillermo Ochoa and into the bottom right corner.
The Argentina captain also set up the second, to become the oldest player to score and assist in the same World Cup match. The ball played short to him from a corner, Messi found substitute Enzo Fernández. Given far too much space, the Benfica man entered the box, opened up his body, and curled the ball into the far side of the goal.
The win gets Argentina their first three points on the board, and they will go though if they beat Poland, or if they draw a draw in the other Group C fixture would see them through, as would a Mexico win by one or two goals.
Mexico will need to beat Saudi Arabia and hope that the Poland-Argentina result goes their way.
A taste of their own medicine
Throughout their historic win over Argentina on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia only had three shots, whilst their opponents had fifteen. On Saturday, the script was flipped, the Green Falcons having sixteen shots to Poland’s nine.
Piotr Zieliński was first on the score sheet with a powerful shot into the roof of the net from seven yards aftere a cutback from Lewandowski.
Saudi Arabia had the chance to equalise from the spot in injury time at the end of the first half, Krystian Bielik, on loan at Birmingham City from Derby County, fouling Saleh Al-Shehri. It was captain Salem Al-Dawsari who stepped up, but his effort was saved by Juventus’ Wojciech Szczęsny, who then diverted Mohammed Al Burayk’s follow up shot over the bar.
Hervé Renard’s side pushed for an equaliser throughout the second half, Szczęsny on good form to deny them, whilst Poland hit the woodwork twice before their second came. Robert Lewandowski, widely considered one of the best strikers of his generation, robbing Abdulelah Al Malki of the ball on the edge of the box and slotting the ball past Mohammed Al Owais for his first World Cup goal.
Poland are top of Group C with four points, meaning their destiny is in their own hands. A win against Argentina would see them through as group winners, whilst a draw against Mexico will be enough for Saudi Arabia should Poland beat Argentina by three goals or more.
Mbappé the main man
In four of the last five World Cups, the defending champions have gone out in the group stage. But France will not be following that trend, having become the first side to qualify for the last sixteen with a win over Denmark.
France had the better of the first hour, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé both looking dangerous before the latter put Les Bleus a goal to the good after a one-two with Theo Hernandez.
Seven minutes later, Denmark were level, Christian Eriksen’s corner flicked on by Joachim Andersen of Crystal Palace to his fellow centre back Andreas Christensen headed the ball past Hugo Lloris.
In the last twenty minutes of a thoroughly entertaining second half, both sides had chances to win the game, and it was France who deservedly did so, Griezmann’s cross in off the knee of Mbappé from three yards out, making the PSG man this World Cup’s joint-top scorer.
With six points from six, France are guaranteed progression out of Group D, with a point against Tunisia enough to see them finish top. Denmark, who have just one point, will need to beat Australia, and better Tunisia’s result against France.
Dad’s goal
To finish, a lovely story from Australia’s victory over Tunisia. Having made the better start, the Socceroos taking the lead after Mitchell Duke’s looping header from Craig Goodwin’s deflected cross. Duke celebrated by forming the letter ‘J’ with his fingers, in reference to the name of his young son who was in the crowd and copied his father.
Stoke City defender Harry Souttar, whose brother John opted to represent Scotland, made some crucial blocks, whilst Tunisia captain Youssef Msakni should have scored on the stroke of half time, finding the side netting from close range.
Matthew Leckie was inches away from doubling the Australians’ lead in the second half, but it didn’t matter as they survived a late flurry of Tunisian chances to secure their first win at a World Cup since 2010.
Australia are second in Group D with three points and face Denmark, level with Tunisia with one point, on Wednesday. They are in the driving seat, and a draw will see them through provided Tunisia don’t spring a shock and beat France.
Tunisia will need to pull off an upset against the world champions, and hope for a draw or a Denmark win by a smaller margin, in order to qualify for the Round of Sixteen.
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