Groups A and B came to an extremity Tuesday with 4 teams advancing to the last-16... you whitethorn person seen the United States decision Iran? Maybe? Just checking. Wednesday, meanwhile, sees Groups C and D reason and each enactment from radical victor to aboriginal exit is connected the array for Lionel Messi and Argentina. No pressure, then.
Be definite to cheque successful with ESPN passim the tourney arsenic we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here's what you mightiness person missed from Tuesday's World Cup happenings, and a look up to what's adjacent connected Wednesday.
- World Cup news, features, previews and more
- Stream FC Daily and Futbol Americas connected ESPN+
USA! USA! USA! (Also, England?)
Tuesday's decision to Group B was afloat of play and tension, arsenic it had been in the days starring up to the game, but erstwhile the particulate settled pursuing 2 pulsating games, England topped Group B with a alternatively regular 3-0 triumph implicit Wales... AND THE UNITED STATES BEAT IRAN 1-0 TO ADVANCE TO THE ROUND OF 16!
That's the lone effect you came present for, right?
In the end, Christian Pulisic's brave, close-range decorativeness (more connected him successful a minute) proved capable to bushed Team Melli, though the US were intelligibly connected apical for overmuch of the lucifer successful a invited alteration to their draws against the Welsh and the Three Lions.
Tyler Adams anchored the midfield successful performance with Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, seldom allowing Iran a accidental to settee successful possession. Matt Turner made immoderate large saves erstwhile called upon, the defence of Tim Ream and Cameron Carter-Vickers held steadfast successful their archetypal clip playing together, and Tim Weah had a extremity disallowed for offside astatine the extremity of the archetypal fractional that would person made for a overmuch much comfy viewing experience.
As for Pulisic, helium came disconnected second-best successful a dense collision with Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand portion scoring the game's lone extremity successful the 38th minute. After aesculapian attraction connected the sideline -- US Soccer aboriginal informed the media he'd been taken to infirmary for "abdominal scans" -- helium gamely re-entered the crippled to adjacent retired the archetypal half, but was substituted astatine half-time fixed the grade of his injury. His presumption is 1 to ticker heading towards Saturday's last-16 clash against Group A winners, the Netherlands, particularly if the wounded proves superior capable to support him sidelined.
But capable astir that for now: the mood, and the vibes, successful the US campy are sky-high pursuing their deserved advancement to the knockout stages. (Weah adjacent had a beauteous rendezvous with his family, including begetter George, besides the president of Liberia, aft the game.) From here, genuinely thing tin happen. In a World Cup that saw Saudi Arabia bushed Argentina and Japan stun Germany, determination are inactive plentifulness of shocks to travel implicit the coming weeks successful Qatar.
(Because we mentioned it, 2 goals from Marcus Rashford and 1 from Phil Foden were much than capable to support England apical of Group B with a rout of Wales, with each the strikes coming aft half-time. Gareth Bale was withdrawn by Wales manager Rob Page astatine half-time, and their tourney is over. England look Senegal connected Sunday successful their last-16 clash.)
But capable astir the English: it's enactment clip successful the USA for a fewer days. Just retrieve to get immoderate rest: Gregg Berhalters broadside footwear disconnected against the Dutch astatine 10am ET connected Saturday.
Messi's day with destiny
The incandescent Lionel Messi's task is simple: people goals, beryllium a menace up beforehand and assistance Argentina beforehand retired of Group C. Every enactment is connected the table for the Albicelestes, who haven't missed retired connected the knockout rounds since 2002.
Basically (though click here for each imaginable permutation and tie-breaker) the concern is arsenic follows:
Guaranteed to suffice with a triumph vs. Poland, and volition bash truthful arsenic radical winners if Saudi Arabia draw/lose.
If Argentina draw, they are guaranteed to suffice if Saudi Arabia-Mexico draw.
If Argentina gully and Saudi Arabia win, Argentina are retired (Saudi Arabia and Poland qualify.)
If they lose, they spell location aboriginal and fixed that Messi said pre-tournament that this would beryllium his past World Cup, that's hardly however he'll privation to spell out. That said, Poland (who presently apical Group C with 4 points from 2 games) are nary slouches and fixed that their all-world striker Robert Lewandowski yet broke his scoring drought astatine the World Cup with a precocious blast to decision Saudi Arabia, they volition beryllium highly motivated to propulsion disconnected a daze of their own.
Today's apical reads
Why France and Brazil stay wide World Cup favorites
Despite the 2022 World Cup churning retired a ridiculous magnitude of upsets, play and intrigue, 1 happening remains constant: France and Brazil inactive look similar the champion teams successful the world.
World Cup radical signifier deciders: Teams successful trouble, astonishment packages
Who has amazed truthful acold astatine the Qatar World Cup, and what play volition the last circular of radical signifier matches bring? Here's what the information shows.
Lisandro Martinez winning implicit Argentina conscionable arsenic rapidly arsenic he's done astatine Man United
The defender faced plentifulness of questions erstwhile helium joined Man United, lone to go 1 of their cardinal cogs. Now he's doing the aforesaid with Argentina.
Your champion bets (odds via Caesars Sportsbook)
If you're looking to stake connected the World Cup, ESPN contributors Paul Carr, Dan Thomas and Dalen Cuff are present to springiness you cardinal tips on odds, options and futures. Here's what we person for the Wednesday matches.
Group C
Saudi Arabia (+390) vs. Mexico (-150), Draw (+290)
Dalen Cuff: I person nary hint however the nether is +110. Mexico are devoid of a striker and creating legit chances is truthful hard for them. Mexico has to triumph to person immoderate accidental of advancing. Saudi Arabia does person to effort to win, arsenic a gully would not beryllium capable connected its ain and things would apt travel down to extremity quality with Poland. So possibly this crippled volition beryllium unfastened and much chances than I expect... but tin either squad really capitalize? I don't deliberation so, I'll instrumentality nether 2.5 goals astatine +110.
Paul Carr: I don't recognize wherefore the nether is positive wealth either. Mexico's defence has been good, allowing lone 11 shots, and their onslaught has been poor, taking lone 15 shots. There person been a full of 2.3 expected goals successful Mexico's 2 games truthful far, and this should beryllium much of the same. Go with nether 2.5 goals (+110), and I'm besides tempted by the Saudi Arabia treble accidental (+115), considering Mexico's attacking woes.
Daniel Thomas: Mexico person been truthful mediocre truthful acold and I'm struggling to spot immoderate crushed they mightiness get immoderate better. I'd instrumentality the nether goals here, too. I don't deliberation this is going to beryllium a crippled for the ages.
1:43
Gab Marcotti examines the interaction Argentina's triumph implicit Mexico volition person connected Lionel Messi and his teammates.
Poland (+650) vs. Argentina (-215), Draw (+305)
Cuff: Robert Lewandowski yet scored for Poland successful a World Cup. It was agelong overdue for 1 of the large strikers successful the world, but I don't spot him scoring here. Argentina volition predominate the ball, possibly needing much magic from Lionel Messi. In a choky one, I deliberation they triumph to nil (+113).
Carr: Yes, Poland bushed Saudi Arabia and scored twice, but that was acold from a convincing performance, flattered by the acquisition of a 2nd goal. Poland was outshot 16-7 and conceded much expected goals. I person Poland penciled successful for zero goals, and Argentina volition find a mode to win, truthful I'm again going with Dalen connected an Argentina triumph to nil.
Thomas: Well, then. Despite the 2 goals successful the 2nd fractional against Mexico, Argentina person labored truthful acold successful the tournament. I'm going to spell for a daze Poland win.
Group D
Tunisia (+550) vs. France (-185), Draw (+290)
Cuff: France is flying and injuries person been nary issue. They've already qualified (and are precise apt to triumph the group, barring a nonaccomplishment and a immense Australia win) truthful I'm funny successful seeing their lineup. If Kylian Mbappe starts, which I deliberation helium will, I'm going to play him to people anytime (+110). I'm besides apt to laic the -1.5 dispersed (+145).
Carr: I'm besides not playing this crippled until I spot the lineup, though France is heavy capable that it astir apt doesn't truly matter. Tunisia inactive has thing to play for, but I don't spot France giving them a chance. I'm astir apt staying distant from this one, but I thin toward France covering the 1.5 goals.
Thomas: France person looked similar 1 of the champion teams successful tourney truthful far. I expect them to triumph this crippled 2-0.
Australia (+575) vs. Denmark (-205), Draw (+310)
Cuff: Denmark person been 1 of the much disappointing teams successful the tournament. Their way guardant is clear: triumph this crippled by astatine slightest 2 goals and they are through. After all, Tunisia isn't beating France to complicate things. The Danes volition propulsion and the Socceroos volition sit, believing a gully is each they need. I deliberation this is going to beryllium a tight, low-scoring affair. Take nether 2.5 astatine -115.
Carr: Four years ago, Denmark needed a gully successful the radical finale against France, and the Danes scraped retired a dull 0-0 gully that had a combined 0.6 expected goals. Yawn. I expect Denmark doing precisely what is indispensable again this year. I deliberation Denmark wins this to nil (+125).
Thomas: I'm going to instrumentality Denmark here, but not by much. Let's spell with Denmark to triumph by 1 extremity (+210).
News and notes
A Qatari authoritative progressive successful the enactment of the nation's World Cup has stated the fig of idiosyncratic deaths related to the tourney for the archetypal time. In an interrogation with Piers Morgan, Hassan Al-Thawadi, the caput wide of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said determination were "between 400 and 500" deaths successful the build-up to the World Cup. But that fig has not been antecedently discussed by Qatari officials, arsenic the released fig by the authorities has enactment the fig of deaths astatine 40.
Match shot exertion has proved conclusively that Cristiano Ronaldo did not marque immoderate interaction with the shot successful Portugal's opening extremity against Urugay. FIFA and shot manufacturers Adidas confirmed to ESPN that the Connected Ball Technology which has sensors, showed nary outer force. "The 500Hz IMU sensor wrong the shot allows america to beryllium highly close successful our analysis," work a connection from FIFA. The extremity was awarded to Bruno Fernandes, who said "I celebrated [the goal] arsenic if it had been Cristiano's goal. It seemed to maine that helium had touched the ball. The astir important happening is that we achieved our aim, which is to beryllium successful the adjacent round."
The protester who invaded the transportation during Portugal's crippled against Uruguay portion carrying a pridefulness emblem has been released without being charged. Mario Ferri, who stopped the Group H lucifer successful the 2nd half, was besides wearing a T-shirt carrying the messages "respect for Iranian women" and "save Ukraine" earlier helium was led distant by information unit and was detained. On his Instagram page, Ferri wrote: "A connection for Iran.....where women are not respected. The satellite indispensable change, we tin bash it unneurotic with beardown gestures that travel from the bosom with courage. FIFA banned rainbow skipper bands and quality rights flags successful the stands, they blocked everyone but not me."
France caput manager Didier Deschamps has said that Karim Benzema's reported instrumentality from wounded to play successful the World Cup is "not thing that's successful my mind." The 2022 Ballon d'Or victor suffered a thigh wounded successful grooming a time earlier the tourney started, and reports suggested that the Real Madrid striker could marque a return. "You're looking for things," Deschamps said connected Tuesday. "It's not thing that's successful my mind, you cognize the situation. I spoke with Karim earlier helium left, you cognize his concern and the clip helium needs to recover. I don't cognize wherever you privation to spell with your question." Deschamps' broadside volition look to implicit a cleanable expanse successful the radical signifier erstwhile they look Tunisia connected Wednesday.
What other caught our eye
Belgium request a triumph connected Thursday if their World Cup escapade is going to continue, and Eden Hazard was speedy to clap backmost against disapproval from teammate Kevin De Bruyne that their squad is "too old" to marque a heavy run.
1:03
Eden Hazard speaks connected rumours astir changing-room turmoil and reacts to Kevin De Bruyne's comments connected the Belgium squad being "too old" to triumph the World Cup.
Matches connected pat for Wednesday
Group D: Tunisia vs. France (Education City Stadium; 10 a.m. ET)
The defending champions France person already booked their spot successful the past 16, portion Tunisia beryllium bottommost of the radical and indispensable bushed the heavyweights to person immoderate accidental of making it done to the knockouts. Tunisia are inactive looking for their archetypal triumph successful the tournament, and adjacent if they were to stun the French, knockout qualification will beryllium connected Australia's effect against Denmark.
Group D: Australia vs. Denmark (Al Janoub Stadium; 10 a.m. ET)
Both teams are looking to publication their spot successful the past 16 erstwhile they play each other. Australia are coming disconnected a triumph against Tunisia aft losing to France successful their archetypal game, portion Denmark are yet to triumph a crippled successful the tournament. A gully oregon triumph for Australia volition nonstop them through, and Denmark volition request a triumph to qualify.
Group C: Poland vs. Argentina (974 Stadium; 2 p.m. ET)
Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski volition spell caput to caput to pb their state into the knockout stage. It's been a topsy-turvy travel truthful acold for some players, Argentina suffering a daze decision to Saudi Arabia earlier winning against Mexico, and Poland coming disconnected a 2-0 triumph vs. Saudi Arabia aft drafting against Mexico. For Lewandowski and co., a triumph oregon gully volition beryllium capable to spell through, portion Argentina indispensable win, a gully leaving them depending connected the result of Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico (Lusail Stadium; 2 p.m. ET)
It's each to play for successful Group C connected Wednesday. Fans are utilized to seeing Mexico successful the circular of 16, but El Tri are facing elimination successful the radical signifier for the archetypal clip since 1978 up of Wednesday's lucifer against Saudi Arabia. Mexico volition beryllium done if they triumph and Poland gully Argentina, and if Argentina bushed Poland, Mexico volition request to triumph by 5 goals. Meanwhile, tin Saudi Arabia nutrient different upset? They are guaranteed to suffice if they win.
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