Kevin Baxter
For the primary time, the FIFA World Cup is being performed within the Middle East for a fall event highlighting soccer’s greatest.
The U.S. males’s nationwide staff seems to be to defy the chances and pull off a World Cup vacation shocker with a win over the Netherlands within the spherical of 16 on Saturday. After taking part in to attracts towards Wales and England, the U.S. defeated Iran 1-0 on Tuesday to punch its ticket into the subsequent spherical.
Mexico, hit arduous by accidents and points inside its federation, faces massive odds of staying alive past group play after falling to Argentina on Saturday. It’ll must beat Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to have any likelihood at advancing.
Here’s a have a look at Wednesday and Thursday’s World Cup matchups:
Poland vs. Argentina
Where: Stadium 974
Time: 11 a.m. PST
TV: Fox, Universo, Peacock Premium
The buzz:Poland hasn’t gotten out of the group stage since 1986, the final time Argentina received a championship. But if there’s a winner on this recreation, it’s attainable just one will undergo to the spherical of 16.
Poland leads the group with 4 factors after beating Saudi Arabia in a recreation noteworthy for Robert Lewandowski’s first World Cup purpose. If that relaxes the Barcelona striker, Poland may very well be harmful.
However, Argentina’s win over Mexico, behind a purpose and an help by Lionel Messi, seems to have put the upset loss to the Saudis behind them. La Albiceleste are second within the group with three factors, forward of the Saudis on purpose differential.
If there’s a winner right here, that staff advances whereas the loser must have a look at the rating of the Mexico-Saudi Arabia recreation to be taught its destiny. A tie would solely advance one staff since a Saudi win would transfer them to the highest of the group.
Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia
Where: Lusail Stadium
Time: 11 a.m. PST
TV: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock Premium
The buzz:With one level by two video games, winless Mexico is having its worst World Cup since 1978, when it misplaced all three video games and was outscored 12-2. But at the very least that staff scored. Mexico hasn’t had a World Cup purpose because the second group-stage recreation in Russia, a span of 384 minutes.
Remarkably, there’s nonetheless a path by to the knockout phases. If El Tri beats Saudi Arabia and Poland beats Argentina, Mexico advances. It additionally might advance if Poland loses or ties, nevertheless it must make up a large purpose differential.
Thanks to its upset of Argentina, the Saudis’ state of affairs is extra easy: in the event that they win, they go on. They additionally advance with a tie if Poland beats Argentina.
Saudi Arabia hasn’t superior past the group stage, nor received multiple recreation, in a World Cup, since 1994.
Croatia vs. Belgium
Where:Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
Time:7 a.m. PST, Thursday
TV:Fox, Telemundo, Peacock Premium
The buzz: Belgium entered the event ranked second on the planet and among the many favorites to win the title, but it has managed only a purpose right here and might be heading residence with out a win.
A draw additionally might suffice, however Belgium would wish plenty of assist from Canada towards Morocco to make that work. Belgium has the fifth-oldest roster in Qatar with a median age of 27.8 years.
Meanwhile, Croatia, the runner-up in 2018, additionally has lots to play for because it might win the group with a victory and can advance with a draw, however may very well be eradicated with a loss. The first tiebreaker — purpose differential — favors Croatia.
Canada vs. Morocco
Where: Al Thumama City Stadium
Time: 7 a.m. PST, Thursday
TV:FS1, Universo, Peacock Premium
The buzz:Canada’s second World Cup look will finish the way in which the primary one did, with the staff bowing out within the first spherical. But at the very least it scored a purpose this time and it has an opportunity to gather its first World Cup level with a win or draw.
That might be a heavy raise since Morocco is unbeaten and has not given up a purpose, utilizing two goalkeepers to close out Belgium and Croatia, who each completed within the prime three on the final World Cup.
First-choice keeper Yassine Bounou pitched the opening-game shutout towards Croatia however left the sector simply moments earlier than the beginning of the second recreation, complaining of dizziness. Munir Mohand Mohamedi took his place and made three saves to clean Belgium. Bounou is predicted to return to the lineup towards Canada.
The solely different time Morocco made it to the spherical of 16 was 1986, which was the one different time Canada appeared within the event.
Japan vs. Spain
Where: Khalifa International Stadium
Time: 11 a.m. PST, Thursday
TV: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock Premium
The buzz:Heading into the ultimate day of group play nobody in Group E has clinched a spot within the spherical of 16. The group winner is nearly sure to come back from this recreation, nonetheless, since Spain leads the desk by some extent over Japan.
The Spanish had essentially the most dominant efficiency of the event up to now in its 7-0 win over Costa Rica, turning into the primary staff in World Cup historical past with an 81% possession price and the second staff to report greater than 1,000 passes. It then stumbled towards Germany, getting outshot in a 1-1 draw.
Still, a win right here and Spain wins the group whereas a draw clinches it a spot within the subsequent spherical. A loss and a Costa Rica win, nonetheless, would ship the 2010 champions residence.
Japan performed a strong recreation to beat Germany in its opener, then outplayed Costa Rica solely to lose on Keysher Fuller’s purpose — the Ticos’ solely shot on track — within the 81st minute. As a end result, Japan should beat Spain to guarantee itself of a spot within the second spherical. A draw might additionally suffice, relying on the outcomes of the opposite recreation.
Costa Rica vs. Germany
Where: Al Bayt Stadium
Time: 11 a.m. PST, Thursday
TV: FS1, Universo, Peacock Premium
The buzz:Germany has received simply as soon as in 5 World Cup video games since taking the title in 2014 and are final within the group desk, but it could actually nonetheless advance to the second spherical with a win. Anything in need of that, nonetheless, and it goes residence in need of the spherical of 16 for a second straight World Cup.
Germany piled up 37 photographs, 13 on purpose, towards Japan and Spain however scored simply as soon as from the run of play, choosing up a single level.
Costa Rica, which has the doubtful distinction of being the one staff in World Cup historical past to lose one recreation by seven objectives then win the subsequent, strikes on with a victory — and would win the group if Spain-Japan ends in a draw. It would additionally advance with a draw if Japan loses. That’s outstanding provided that the Ticos have taken 4 complete photographs and put only one on purpose within the event.
World Cup TV schedules
Note: Groups A, B and D have accomplished all scheduled group matches.
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.
©2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Source: www.bostonherald.com