Argentina face a battle to keep alive on the World Cup on Saturday, with Lionel Messi and his teammates making ready to tackle Mexico in a match they can not afford to lose.
In the early kick-off in Qatar, Australia beat Tunisia 1-0, recovering from a chastening opening defeat in opposition to defending champions France to hold their hopes alive.
Two-time world champions Argentina, who arrived in Qatar on a 36-match unbeaten run, are in a precarious place after a surprising 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
The Argentines stated they’d draw on reminiscences of celebrity Diego Maradona, their 1986 World Cup-winning captain who died two years in the past this week, to encourage them in opposition to the Mexicans.
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“We keep him in mind. He was a very important person in world football, and not just for us Argentines,”
stated Inter Milan ahead Lautaro Martinez.
“Today is a sad day for everyone and hopefully tomorrow we can give happiness.”
The stunning Saudis have an opportunity to show they’re no flash within the pan once they face Poland and Robert Lewandowski, the prolific striker who continues to be in search of the primary World Cup objective of his profession.
The Barcelona ahead missed a penalty within the goalless draw in opposition to Mexico in Group C.
Australia, who had been crushed 4-1 by France, gained a World Cup recreation for less than the third time of their historical past on the Al Janoub Stadium.
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Striker Mitch Duke scored the one objective of a decent recreation with a intelligent header within the first half and Australia desperately held on to silence Tunisia’s vociferous followers.
The Socceroos sit second in Group D with three factors from two video games, with a recreation to come in opposition to Denmark.
“As a striker you need to have that confidence and believe that you can score in every match,”
stated Japan-based centre-forward Duke, 31.
“I actually was messaging some of my family saying that I was going to score today.”
France eye knockouts
Defending champions France might guide their place within the final 16 in the event that they beat Denmark at Stadium 974, which includes delivery containers in its design.
The French misplaced defender Lucas Hernandez to damage of their opening win in opposition to Australia, including to a listing of absences headed by Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who limped out of the World Cup earlier than a ball was kicked.
But France coach Didier Deschamps stated defender Raphael Varane was prepared to return after greater than a month out with a leg damage.
Veteran ahead Olivier Giroud wants only one extra objective to grow to be France’s all-time prime goalscorer.
Belgium star Eden Hazard admitted the nation’s much-vaunted “Golden Generation” had been previous their greatest on the eve of his staff’s match in opposition to Morocco.
Belgium, who completed third on the match in Russia in 2018, are nonetheless ranked second on the planet however most of the facet at the moment are of their 30s.
“To be fair I think we had a better chance to win four years go,”
admitted 31-year-old Hazard.
“The team was better four years ago but still we have the quality to win games and to win the competition. We have a few guys, they are a bit older now but we have experience and the best goalkeeper in the world (Thibaut Courtois).”
On Friday, host nation Qatar crashed out of their very own World Cup. They misplaced 3-1 to Senegal whereas Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1 within the different Group A recreation.
An uninspired England, who gained their opening match in opposition to Iran 6-2, missed the possibility to wrap up qualification for the knockout part following a 0-0 draw with the United States.
Brazil’s celebrity ahead Neymar might miss his staff’s closing two group video games after struggling ankle ligament injury within the staff’s opening 2-0 win in opposition to Serbia.
© Agence France-Presse
