Editorial Use Only Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Shopland/Shutterstock (13640353ai) Luis Chavez of Mexico Saudi Arabia v Mexico, FIFA World Cup 2022, Group C, Football, Lusail Stadium, Al Daayen, Qatar – 30 Nov 2022

World Cup Wednesday Recap: Argentina and France clinch first place, while Mexico eliminated on a thrilling Matchday 3

Clovis Shropshire
November 30, 2022
0
22 minutes read

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

Recapping the Wednesday action:

TUNISIA 1, FRANCE 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (D): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 @ 9 a.m. CT
Where: Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: France (No. 4) vs. Tunisia (No. 30)

Tunisia’s first goal of the entire 2022 World Cup was a monumental one for the North African nation, as it resulted in a stunning 1-0 upset victory over defending champion France at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Despite the historic win, however, the three points were not enough to qualify Tunisia for the knockout stage after Australia defeated Denmark 1-0 in the other Group D match to finish in second place. Wednesday’s end result marked the sixth time in six World Cup appearances that the Tunisians have not been able to advance past group play, although it was a solid effort in Qatar for the Eagles of Carthage. Tunisia drew 0-0 against No. 10-ranked Denmark on Matchday 1 and defeated France, surely a performance that not many envisioned for the No. 30-ranked nation in the latest FIFA world ranking update from October. If Denmark and Australia had tied, then Tunisia would’ve advanced, but an Aussie goal in the 60th minute from Mathew Leckie proved to be a fatal blow to the Tunisians in Al Wakrah, Qatar. The Tunisian defense was on full display once more on Matchday 3, notching its second shutout in three contests and finishing group play having allowed just one goal. France didn’t have its six-game World Cup winning streak snapped for lack of trying, though. The French starting lineup was filled with reserves to start Wednesday’s match, although Kylian Mbappé was subbed onto the field in the 63rd minute to attempt a late comeback just five minutes after Tunisia took the lead on a Wahbi Khazri goal. France threw numerous efforts for the equalizer late in the second half but could not find the back of the net despite some solid attempts on goal. The French dominated time of possession throughout (66% to 34%) and doubled up the Tunisians in total shots (10 to five), although the two sides drew even with three shots on goal apiece and were nearly even on corner kicks as well (France eight, Tunisia seven). A stoppage-time goal by France was disallowed after an offside penalty was called. However, despite the loss, the French still claimed first place in Group D by having a four-goal differential advantage over second-place Australia. “Les Blues” of France will now face Poland in the Round of 16 at 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Although France and Poland have faced off 17 times, the two sides haven’t met on the pitch since an international friendly in 2011. The last time they faced each other in the World Cup, it was Poland who prevailed 3-2 over the French in 1982. France is 8-3-6 all-time against Poland, and despite a myriad of injuries entering the 2022 World Cup, the 2018 champions will still be massive favorites against Poland. Robert Lewandowski’s side was barely able to advance to the knockout round with just one win in group play and a one-score goal differential tiebreaker.

AUSTRALIA 1, DENMARK 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (D): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 @ 9 a.m. CT
Where: Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: Denmark (No. 10) vs. Australia (No. 38)

The No. 38-ranked Australians shocked No. 10-ranked Denmark 1-0 on Wednesday at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, earning a trip to the knockout stage for the first time since 2006. Mathew Leckie’s goal in the 60th minute was all the Aussies needed to defeat a disappointing Denmark side and earn its second straight win after beating Tunisia 1-0 on Matchday 2. Australia finished tied with France in the Group D standings with six points each, but a goal differential tiebreaker officially put the Aussies in second place. Denmark played superior soccer in the first half and dominated time of possession with the ball, but the Aussies continued to counter and eventually found the breathing room it needed for the eventual winning score. Denmark finished the game with a time of possession advantage of 69% to 31% and finished with 13 total shots to eight and six corner kicks to two over the Socceroos. The Aussies, however, ended up with more shots on goal (four to three). Denmark’s brutally disappointing finish in Qatar officially ends with a last-place result in what many considered to be one of the weakest bottom-half groups of the entire World Cup. The last time Australia qualified for the Round of 16 was also its only time doing so, when it lost to eventual World Cup champions Italy in 2002. Australia will face another daunting task in the Round of 16 now 20 years later, as it will have to face star-laden Argentina at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Argentina is 5-1-1 against Australia in seven all-time matches, although the two nations haven’t faced each other in over 15 years. Australia’s only win against Argentina came in the nations’ first-ever meeting, a 4-1 victory for the Aussies in 1988 at the Bicentennial Gold Cup. Australia will be heavy underdogs by pundits and the public alike, although it won’t be much different from what the Socceroos are seemingly already used to after facing off against a desperate Denmark side on Matchday 3.

MEXICO 2, SAUDI ARABIA 1

What: World Cup, Group Stage (C): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 @ 1 p.m. CT
Where: Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: Mexico (No. 13) vs. Saudi Arabia (No. 51)

Mexico’s rally for second place in Group C fell just inches short of a miracle finish despite a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar. The Mexicans earned their first goal of the entire 2022 World Cup when Henry Martín found the back of the net in the 47th minute, and Luis Chávez made it 2-0 with a gorgeous free-kick conversion in the 52nd minute. A 2-0 victory for Mexico, coupled with a 2-0 loss from Poland to Argentina, would’ve put the two nations level in every single tiebreaker (goal differential, total goals scored, and head-to-head record) outside of the “fair play system” by FIFA, which uses a formula based on the number of yellow cards and red cards each team has to determine a winner. Poland would’ve advanced on the fair play system, which meant that Mexico needed a third goal to advance. “El Tricolor” had its fair share of chances to find its third goal and qualify, but those chances fell inches short on numerous occasions as the ball could not find its way past Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais for the third time. After going scoreless in its first two matches, Mexico’s offense erupted against a shaky Saudi Arabia defense. The Mexicans amassed 26 shots and 11 shots on goal and edged out Saudi Arabia on corner kick opportunities (eight to one) as well. Al-Owais finished with eight saves on the day, and it was just enough to send Mexico home early and end its streak of seven consecutive knockout stage appearances. It will be the first time since 1990 that the World Cup will not have Mexico in the Round of 16 when it was banned from the tournament. The last time El Tri wasn’t banned and didn’t qualify for the knockouts was all the way back in 1978. A 3-0 victory for Argentina, coupled with a 2-0 win for Mexico, also would’ve qualified for the El Tri, but the Argentines missed on a penalty kick from Lionel Messi in the 39th minute of its match with Poland. Salem Al-Dawsari managed to convert a score in the 95th minute for Saudi Arabia to make it 2-1, giving the Green Falcons their first goal of the tournament since their upset of Argentina.

ARGENTINA 2, POLAND 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (C): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 @ 1 p.m. CT
Where: Stadium 974, (Doha, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: Argentina (No. 3) vs. Poland (No. 26)

A second-half scoring flurry lifted Argentina to a first-place finish in Group C play and a 2-0 victory over Poland on Wednesday at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. Alexis Mac Allister opened the second-half scoring barrage for Argentina with a goal in the 46th minute, and Julián Álvarez followed with a score in the 67th minute to propel the Argentines to the knockout stage and a date with Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Argentina dominated time of possession against Poland, holding the ball at more than a 70% clip throughout the match and finishing with a whopping 23 shots on goal to just four for the polish, as well as 12 shots on goal and nine corner kicks. Argentina allowed just four total shots, zero shots on goal, and just one corner kick to a Polish side that seemingly never had a real chance to challenge for a goal for the duration of the match. Argentina bounced back to form over its next two matches after a shocking upset loss to Saudi Arabia on Matchday 1. The White and Sky Blues of Argentina pitched back-to-back shutout wins to close out Group C play, defeating both Mexico and Poland by a combined score of 4-0 this past week.

Thursday’s Schedule (Dec. 1, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3