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

Four games are scheduled for day 11 — Wednesday, November 30 — of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The schedule

Australia vs Denmark (Group C): 6pm (15:00 GMT), Al Janoub Stadium Al Wakrah

Tunisia vs France, Group D: 6PM (15:00 GMT), Education City Stadium Al Rayyan

Poland vs Argentina (Group B): 10pm (19.00 GMT), Stadium 974 Ras Abu Aboud

Saudi Arabia vs Mexico (Group C): 10pm (19:00 GMT), Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail

After losing their opening game 4-1 to France, Australia striker Mitchell Duke’s goal against Tunisia on Saturday has put the Socceroos right back in contention for a place in the final 16.

Australia is now second on the table with three points. France is three points behind, but Australia is still two points ahead of Tunisia and Denmark.

That’s why Denmark must win their third game of the tournament on Wednesday against Australia to stand a chance for a place in the group of 16.

The Australians showed great spirit during a Sunday training session, but they also knew that they must draw at least one match against the Danes in order to qualify for the knockout stages.

Australia’s star player Ajdin Hrustic said that the Socceroos must not be transfixed by Dutch footballing legend Christian Eriksen when they play Denmark. Hrustic stated that the Australians must win with a team effort.

You can expect an exciting game between the teams as they battle it out to reach the next stage.

You should be paying attention to these players:

Christian Eriksen is the Danes’ most promising hope for beating Australia.

Duke, the Socceroos’s Hero, is the eighth Australian soccer player to score a goal at The Australian. World Cup. The Australian striker, who plays his club football in Japan’s second division, dedicated his goal against Tunisia to his young son who was watching from the stands.

Duke will do everything possible to give his son another memory for life, and also get his team through to the next round.

Australian defender Harry Souttar is sure to entertain after a viral video of him tackling Tunisian Yassine Chenissi went viral. Souttar was almost in a coma to deliver a powerful tackle that would have impressed even the most hardened defenders. Souttar’s defending skills have been widely praised by pundits with many predicting he will be a target for a Premier League club in January.

Tunisia faces the enormous task of upsetting World France is the Cup title-holder and they must beat France on Wednesday to have any chance of reaching the knockouts. A goalless draw between Australia and Denmark could see Tunisia go second if they beat France – it’s a big ask but the brave Eagles of Carthage could still soar.

Don’t forget that Tunisia were the first African country to win a game at the World They beat Mexico in the 1978 Cup Finals. Ten of Tunisia’s 26-man squad were born in France and they have three players based at French clubs.

France became the first team to reach the round 16 of the tournament. World Cup tournament with wins over Australia, Denmark and one game left.

France appears to have broken the curse of being the defending champions and become the first World Cup champs to make it out of the group stage since 2006 – the year defending champs Brazil emerged. Germany, Spain and Italy all lost their places in the group stage four years early after they had won their respective cups. World Cup titles

The team’s pre-tournament injury blues are also fading, and Les Bleus are feeling upbeat again and looking like one of the tournament favourites.

France will try to find the perfect balance between resting and keeping its players. World Cup momentum up against Tunisia. A draw with Tunisians would guarantee them first place in their grouping.

The French team that finishes first in Group B, which includes Argentina, Saudi Arabia (Poland), and Mexico, will face the French team.

Didier Deschamps will be allowing some of his key players to retire and giving fringe players a few minutes each game.

Kylian Mbappe might be held back in reserve but France’s talismanic forward is chasing records in Qatar and Deschamps could give him some playing time to help him add to his seven World Cup goals – three of which were scored in Qatar.

To Watch:

France’s Antoine Griezmann has returned to his best form and is likely to play deep and also close to lone strikers at the front.

Griezmann has played as an attacking midfielder rather than a pure forward, brilliantly making the link between midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot and France’s attacking trio of Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappe.

“I probably ask different things from him, but there is no sacrifice on his part,” Deschamps recently said of Griezmann.

“I could have played him on the right flank of the attack instead of Ousmane (Dembele) but that’s not where he would be the most useful to the team,” he said.

Argentina vs Poland 

Two of the most talented and deadly strikers in world football, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi and Poland’s 34-year-old Robert Lewandowski, line up against each other on Wednesday with a last 16 place at stake in the World Cup.

Messi has scored twice in Argentina’s extraordinary start to the campaign in Doha, and also suffered one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history by losing to Saudi Arabia before 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 History, drawing 8.9 Million viewers on Telemundo television and streaming services Telemundo and Peacock.

The brilliant Argentinian is playing in his fifth and final campaign. This is his last chance at beating Diego Maradona to win the trophy for his homeland.

Argentina is currently second in Group C with three points. One behind the Poles. The Argentinians need to win Wednesday to ensure they progress and keep alive their dream of a Third. World Cup title.

If Mexico and Saudi Arabia end at the same level, a draw would suffice for South Americans.

Like Messi, Poland’s Lewandowski is also his nation’s all-time top scorer and is also on possibly his last mission at a World Cup. He has been in sizzling form for Barcelona (Messi’s old club) and has also had an eventful start in Qatar.

Lewandowski uncharacteristically missed a penalty in Poland’s opening draw with Mexico before scoring his first-ever World Cup goal during their 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Poland has not yet reached the World Cup knockout stage, since 1986, could see a draw or win against Argentina.

It will be the third time that Argentina and Poland meet at the World Cup. In 1974, Poland beat Argentina 3-2. Argentina beat Argentina 2-0 four years later. Argentina won six of their eleven meetings overall, while Poland won three. In June 2011, Poland beat Poland 2-1 in an international friendly.

You should be paying attention to these players:

Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi

Saudi Arabia vs Mexico

It is possible that Argentina, Mexico, and Poland were all fancied to have progressed from Group C at this time. World Cup ahead of Saudi Arabia but, after their win over the Argentinians the Saudis are now in the mix for their Wednesday match against Mexico.

In their five preceding World Cup appearances: Saudi Arabia has qualified for round 16 once in their first tournament in 1994.

At this stage, in Qatar, Poland leads Group C on four points. This is one more than Argentina or Saudi Arabia. Mexico is at one point.

Saudi Arabia must beat Mexico on Wednesday if they want to move forward, regardless of what happens in the match between Argentina and Poland. They would need Poland to defeat Argentina if they draw. A loss would complicate the situation as Poland would have to lose only one goal, but hope that Poland wins their match by a larger margin.

And the Saudi players can do  it.

Saudi Arabia shocked the football world by defeating Argentina 2-1 in their first group match, but then lost 2-0 to Poland in their next match.

“No one around the world thought that we could play with this level. Yes, in Saudi Arabia we know the players well, but they are unknown to the fans around the world,” Saudi coach Herve Renard told a news conference after the Poland game.

“We are still alive,” he said. Renard, 54 years old, indicated that his team would play Mexico in Lusail with the same energy and desire. He rallied Saudi supporters.

“We need the fans to make history. I want a green stadium again, maybe we will play in the white jersey, but that isn’t important, we want the support from the fans,” he said.

Saudi Arabia will have to work hard. Mexico has a chance to reach the 16th round, and it will be their eighth consecutive appearance. Mexico must beat Saudi Arabia at least by three goals, and Poland should not lose to Argentina. The final outcome will determine whether Argentina beats the Poles.

Mexico will recall that they have never lost against Saudi Arabia in five of their previous matches. They also won twice with 5-0 or 5-1 results in FIFA Confederations Cup. However, the Mexicans are having trouble offensively. The team failed to score in both of their matches against Argentina or Poland.

Mexico will be desperate for Wednesday’s game to not be the first time they fail to score at a World Cup tournament (they failed to score in their four previous matches). World Cup appearances

You should be paying attention to these players:

Mexico’s hopes seem to rest on the shoulders of star striker Raul Jimenez.

Saudi Arabia’s Saleh al-Shehri and Salem al-Dawsari scored a goal each against Argentina. Can the pair score goals against Mexico

There are two players you should be paying attention to.