Editorial Use Only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock (13634795cn) Lionel Messi of Argentina at full time Argentina v Mexico, FIFA World Cup 2022, Group C, Football, Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen, Qatar – 26 Nov 2022
World Cup Wednesday Preview: Argentina, Denmark and Mexico look to avoid early elimination on Matchday 3
Group D: France (No. 4) vs. Tunisia (No. 30)
When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
What to expect: The 2018 defending World Cup champs still have more than enough to play for despite being one of just three nations already qualifying for the knockout stage after Matchday 2. The French will face a Tunisian squad on Matchday 3, who, conversely is one of just three World Cup teams that have gone scoreless so far. Tunisia needs not only a win against France to qualify for the Round of 16, but also an Australia loss to Denmark, where Tunisia wins by more goals than Denmark. The only other path for Tunisia to qualify would be a win and an Australia draw. France wins Group D with either a win or a draw coupled with an Australian draw or loss. It will be an uphill battle, to say the least, for the No. 30-ranked Eagles of Carthage, who simply don’t have the firepower on either side of the ball to contend with No. 4-ranked France. The French are tied for the second-best goal differential in the World Cup (+4), trailing only Spain (+7), and seem poised to make another deep tournament run despite entering Qatar with a myriad of injuries to the likes of N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe, Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku and Eduardo Camavinga. “Les Blues” of France still have Kylian Mbappé, however, who is now a full four years removed and improved from his 2018 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award at the age of 19. France’s second and third stringers still have more talent than Tunisia’s top footballers, which should result in another victory for France here as they clinch Group D and prepare to face the Group C runner-up.
Chris Dell’s Prediction: France 2, Tunisia 1
Group D: Denmark (No. 10) vs. Australia (No. 38)
When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
What to expect: Denmark’s disappointing start to the 2022 World Cup can all be wiped away with a win against Australia on Wednesday at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar. The Danish Dynamite simply needs a win against the Aussies to qualify from Group D and face the winner of Group C in the Round of 16. Denmark and Australia played to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while the Danes hold a 2-1-2 edge in these nations’ past five meetings dating back to 2007. Australia’s last win against Denmark came all the way back in June 2010 in an international friendly, but it will be a tougher task this time around against the No. 10-ranked Danish team, which has soundly defeated some of the best European teams in the world over the last two years. Denmark’s defense has played mostly to form despite allowing two goals to France on Matchday 2, and it will be licking its chops to put the clamps down on an Australian offense that has struggled to produce during qualifying play. Look for Denmark to earn the win and advance, putting itself in the driver’s seat to be a knockout stage dark horse candidate that many pundits were backing before 2022 World Cup play began. The Aussies will qualify for the knockout stage with either a win or a draw coupled with a Tunisian draw or loss to France. It’s win, and you’re in this spot, which should certainly make for some compelling Matchday 3 football. It’s time for the Denmark defense to show its true stripes here.
Chris Dell’s Prediction: Denmark 2, Australia 0
Group C: Mexico (No. 13) vs. Saudi Arabia (No. 51)
When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
What to expect: Mexico remains just one of three nations not to have scored so far in the 2022 World Cup, along with Tunisia and Uruguay. Chances should be in abundance, however, against a suspect Saudi Arabian defense come Matchday 3 at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. “El Tricolor” has had one of the most disappointing starts in Qatar, but there’s still time to right the ship for this No. 13-ranked Mexican squad. Mexico needs a win and a Poland victory over Argentina in order to qualify. The only other way for Mexico to avoid elimination would be with a win and also making up the goal difference between either Poland or Argentina, coupled with an Argentina win or draw versus Poland. On the other side of the pitch, we’ll see Saudi Arabia, who dropped a 2-0 decision to Poland on Matchday 2, and the same Polish squadMexico played to a 0-0 draw on Matchday 1. Saudi Arabia seems far removed from its historic upset of Argentina in its opening match, and it’s unlikely Mexico will overlook its No. 51-ranked opponent this time around. Mexico’s offense has been underwhelming for most of the past year and then some, but just one goal here could be enough to give its fans a sigh of relief and instill hope in the possibility of a trip to the knockout stage. If Mexico prevails here, it will need all the goals it can get to help bolster its tiebreaking resume in the goal differential department. Saudi Arabia will qualify for the Round of 16 with either an outright win or a draw coupled with an Argentina loss or a loss coupled with an Argentina loss by one more goal. Saudi Arabia losing 2-0 and Argentina losing 3-0, for example, would still send Saudi Arabia into the knockout stage.
Chris Dell’s Prediction: Mexico 1, Saudi Arabia 0
Group C: Argentina (No. 3) vs. Poland (No. 26)
When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Stadium 974, (Doha, Qatar)
What to expect: The No. 3-ranked Argentines look to avoid an early World Cup exit by defeating No. 26-ranked Poland. Argentina qualifies with either an outright win or a draw coupled with a Saudi Arabia draw or loss by fewer than three goals to Mexico. Argentina can also still win Group C with a win and a Saudi Arabia draw or loss. Poland can both win Group C and qualify for the knockout round with a victory over Argentina, and it can also qualify from Group C with a draw. Even with a draw, however, Poland could still win Group C if Saudi Arabia draws or loses to Mexico. Needless to say, the race to the top of Group C is very much still up in the air, like most groups are entering Matchday 3 play in Qatar. Lionel Messi and company should have their way against an overmatched Poland team that took advantage of the fat-and-happy Saudi Arabians on Matchday 2. Poland prevailed 2-1 over Argentina in these teams’ last meeting in 2011, and before that, the two nations split down the middle, with Argentina winning 2-0 in the 1978 World Cup and Poland winning 3-2 in the 1974 World Cup. The Polish are now unbeaten in their past four international contests with wins against the aforementioned Saudi Arabians, as well as Chile and Wales. Argentina, on the other hand, is 9-1-1 in 11 international matches in 2022, and despite a slow start, are still the far superior side here come Matchday 3 play at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. Look for Argentina to showcase its top talent early and often, en route to winning comfortable and taking home the Group C crown.
Chris Dell’s Prediction: Argentina 3, Poland 1
Wednesday’s Schedule (Nov. 30, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3
- Group D: France (No. 4) vs. Tunisia (No. 30)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group D: Denmark (No. 10) vs. Australia (No. 38)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group C: Mexico (No. 13) vs. Saudi Arabia (No. 51)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
- Group C: Argentina (No. 3) vs. Poland (No. 26)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Stadium 974, (Doha, Qatar)
Thursday’s Schedule (Dec. 1, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3
- Group F: Morocco (No. 22) vs. Canada (No. 41)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group F: Belgium (No. 2) vs. Croatia (No. 12)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group E: Germany (No. 11) vs. Costa Rica (No. 31)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
- Group E: Spain (No. 7) vs. Japan (No. 24)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
Friday’s Schedule (Dec. 2, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3
- Group H: Portugal (No. 9) vs. South Korea (No. 28)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group H: Uruguay (No. 14) vs. Ghana (No. 61)
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group G: Brazil (No. 1) vs. Cameroon (No. 43)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
- Group G: Switzerland (No. 15) vs. Serbia (No. 21)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha, Qatar)
Rd of 16: Saturday, Dec. 3
- Who: 1A vs. 2B
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Who: 1C vs. 2D
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
Rd of 16: Sunday, Dec. 4
- Who: 1D vs. 2C
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Who: 1B vs. 2A
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
Rd of 16: Monday, Dec. 5
- Who: 1E vs. 2F
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Who: 1G vs. 2H
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha, Qatar)
Rd of 16: Tuesday, Dec. 6
- Who: 1F vs. 2E
- When, where: 9 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Who: 1H vs. 2G
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
2022 World Cup groups
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea