hot in front
France-Denmark and Argentina-Mexico
After their resounding victory against Australia (4-1) for their entry into the World Cup, the Blues find Denmark this Saturday at 5 p.m. at the 974 stadium in Doha. A victory would allow Didier Deschamps’ men to secure their place in the round of 16. But beware of the Scandinavians, who inflicted two defeats on the French in the last Nations League (2-1 and 2-0) and helped to chip away at the label of favorites of the reigning world champions in Qatar.
Speaking of favorites for the final victory, the match of the evening between Argentina and Mexico will also be worth a look. After its incredible inaugural defeat against Saudi Arabia (2-1), the Albiceleste is forced to react: a defeat would mark the end of its World Cup and the dream of Lionel Messi. According to coach Lionel Scaloni, his men are ready to “leave to the last drop of sweat” in the field. It promises.
full throttle
Muntari in the annals of Qatari football
Yes, Qatar lost its second meeting in “its” World Cup, against Senegal (3-1). Yes, the Qataris are already eliminated. But they still have a reason to rejoice: Mohammed Muntari scored the first goal in the history of the country in a World Cup.
A quarter of an hour from the end of regulation time, Ismail Mohamad saves the touch on the right side with a superb control in extension, then manages to center at the penalty spot towards Muntari. The only player moving in the area, he is ahead of Kalidou Koulibaly with an uncrossed header. Edouard Mendy can do nothing.
Quicksands
“I am European champion and I have never played a World Cup: it is absurd. The nations that win the various continental tournaments should qualify directly for the World Cup. »
Despite their continental title a year and a half ago, the Italians are not on the trip to Qatar, eliminated by North Macedonia in the semi-finals of qualifying. An anomaly that the former Juve midfielder and transalpine international Federico Bernardeschi did not fail to point out in the columns of The Gazzetta dello Sport.
A patch of blue sky
Deschamps, humility and “the rooster”
We are reassured. France has won its first meeting, the group is living well, and Hugo Lloris invites “take the matches one after the other”. In short, the Blues are well in their World Cup and some imagine them again as a potential favorite after their opening demonstration against Australia (4-1).
Asked about his possible opponent in the round of 16, Didier Deschamps calls for staying with both feet on the ground (or in the sand) and thinks first of all to negotiate this match against Denmark on Saturday. “We are not going to see ourselves more beautiful than we are, or put the rooster higher than necessary, warned the coach. We have this possibility to qualify. For Mexico and Argentina, this will not be the case. To each his groups. »
Denmark first. An opponent who beat the Blues twice in the League of Nations and that, Didier Deschamps has not forgotten. “This team gave us a lot of trouble. It is undervalued compared to its real value”, he warns. Message received coach.
Qatar Postal
Tim-e Melli’s explosion of joy
As in 2018 and their victory acquired at the 95e minute against Morocco in hens (1-0), the Iranians are the kings of suspense scenarios. After the correction suffered against England in the first match (6-2), the Persian players could not afford to lose against Wales, under penalty of possible elimination.
The Tim-e Melli did better than that, triumphing with two goals scored in the very last seconds by Roozbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian. Refusing to sing the anthem during the first match, in support of the popular uprisings following the death of the young Mahsa Amini, the Persian selection unites an entire country behind it. Charge to the players of Carlos Queiroz, second in group B, to finish the job against the United States, Tuesday, November 29, to extend the enchanted parenthesis.
Doha in the eye
English wedding
Radji and Lurdes got married on 1er July 2006. No need to even ask for the precise date, Lurdes, originally from Lisbon, dropped a precious clue for the Seleçao supporter who is one of the special envoys of the World. “It was the day we eliminated England”she says. “A good memory all the same this day”adds Mr., Englishman of Indian origin and too accustomed to seeing his Three Lions always lose in the end on penalties as during this quarter-final of the German world.
But Radji is not resentful. Met in the Doha metro (where he has worked for ten years), he wears a Portugal jersey like his wife and their two children. The whole little family had an appointment at the 974 stadium to see Ronaldo and his friends dominate Ghana (3-2). At home, we rather speak the language of Harry Kane, but the two boys cite Cristiano Ronaldo as their favorite player. On the chances of England, their father remains cautious. “I wasn’t born in 1966 when we last won, I want to believe it but I feel it’s not going to do it again. »
Grain of sand
1
Against Ecuador, the Netherlands had started their match wonderfully thanks to winger Cody Gakpo, sending a shot from the left full top corner from the 6the minute of play. A magnificent goal… which will also be the only shot on target for the Dutch (for two attempts). Memphis Depay and his teammates can thus consider themselves happy to end the match in a draw (1-1) against much more attacking opponents, having tried their luck thirteen times. Later in the evening, there was even less drama in the game between the United States and England: together, the two teams accumulated four shots on target.
Our selection of articles on the 2022 World Cup