On Thursday at the World Cup, Germany will struggle to avoid the embarrassment of yet another first-round exit, while Belgium’s “golden generation” will struggle to survive when they play Croatia.
On Thursday at the World Cup, Germany will struggle to avoid the embarrassment of yet another first-round exit, while Belgium’s “golden generation” will struggle to survive when they play Croatia. Germany, the tournament’s holders, lost to Costa Rica in Group E, and they are hoping to avoid a repeat of their elimination at the group stage four years ago in Russia. The Germans lost to Japan in their opening match, but they managed to tie Spain in their subsequent match.
To have a chance of moving on, Germany must defeat Costa Rica, and even then goal differential might matter.
Costa Rica’s campaign got off to a bad start with a 7-0 loss to Spain, but they showed their mettle with a 1-0 victory over Japan later on and are still in the running for qualification.
Hansi Flick, the coach of Germany, brushed aside claims that he would be fired if his team lost.
You never know what lies ahead, but I am looking forward to Germany hosting the 2024 European Championship, he added.
“My contract is good until 2024. However, it’s still a ways off.”
Spain’s position in the round of 16 is not yet guaranteed; a loss to Japan would send the Japanese through and would let Germany or Costa Rica pass them.
If Belgium loses to Croatia, they would be eliminated from the competition, ending the chances of aging stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Thibaut Courtois in what is undoubtedly their final World Cup.
Although they narrowly defeated Canada in their first game before falling to Morocco in their second, Roberto Martinez’s team has not impressed thus far in Qatar, and there have been rumors of fights in the camp.
Argentina, Australia advance
If Belgium defeats Croatia, they will advance to the round of 16, but if they draw, they will require Morocco to defeat pointless Canada in another Group F match, with goal differential determining their fate.
Playmaker De Bruyne has so far appeared out of sorts, and Romelu Lukaku has only been able to play as a substitute due to injury.
Belgium’s lone goal was scored by Michy Batshuayi, and they will need to up their game against Croatia, who in their most recent match overcame giving up an early goal to demolish Canada 4-1.
European fullback On Wednesday, Timothy Castagne remarked, “Our confidence isn’t as low as people think.
While it’s true that we didn’t play our best in the first two games, we are not in crisis mode as some have said in the press.
Morocco hopes to advance to the round of 16 for the first time since 1986, while Croatia hopes to get closer to a potential second consecutive appearance in the final.
If Wednesday’s events are any indication, Thursday’s group finales may offer even more tense drama.
Argentina, Mexico, Poland, and Saudi Arabia engaged in a tight race for four remaining spots in Group C.
Argentina went into first place in the standings after defeating Poland 2-0, but it wasn’t clear who would face them in the knockout rounds until late in Mexico’s 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia.
Mexico would have advanced to the round of 16 with a third goal, but Poland made it there thanks to a narrowly higher goal differential.
After defying the odds and defeating Denmark 1-0 to finish second in Group D, Australia will now play Argentina in the round of 16.
Coach Didier Deschamps decided to rest the majority of his starting lineup, which resulted in France losing 1-0 to Tunisia despite already having a strong chance of winning the championship.
After the last games in Groups A, B, C, and D, ten teams have now advanced to the round of 16.
Along with France and Portugal, other nations who have qualified for the knockout stages include the Netherlands, Senegal, England, and the United States. After a night of intense drama, they are now joined by the defending champions France, Australia, Argentina, and Poland.
Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez each scored once as Argentina defeated Poland 2-0, but their opponents narrowly lost to them. Mexico defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1, but on goal differential, they came up just short.
Groups E and F are now in play, with Belgium and Germany both currently sitting outside of the qualification spots. If either team wants to advance to the Round of 16 and avoid an embarrassing early exit, they both need to win and hope other outcomes go their way.
Mexico boss losses job despite victory
After Mexico’s World Cup loss, Gerardo Martino declared that his tenure as head coach of the country was finished.
Since January 2019, Mexico’s manager, former Barcelona manager Martino, declared after the game: “The contract finished with the last whistle and there is nothing further to do.
“I am the one to blame for the disappointment and frustration. It is quite awful, and I take full responsibility for this monumental mistake.
Mexico began their World Cup run by drawing 0-0 with Poland before falling to Argentina 2-0. Wednesday night’s 2-0 loss by Poland to Argentina provided Mexico with a chance to overtake Poland and move into the second position. El Tri, however, was aware that they needed to add to the two-goal advantage Henry Martin and Luis Chavez had given them against Saudi Arabia because all tiebreakers were even before Poland had the advantage over Mexico with fewer yellow cards.
Before Salem Al Dawsari’s stoppage-time goal for Saudi Arabia, Poland advanced on goal differential after Mexico had two goals disallowed in the second half.
“We outplayed the opposition, generated more opportunities, and could have scored as many goals as necessary,” stated Martino.
“That is why we introduced two center-forwards at once and went for the third goal. It was crucial because we were leaving and we knew Poland had fewer yellows.
“But we fell short, and I don’t believe it was in the earlier games that we were eliminated. In my opinion, we should examine this more carefully after clearing our heads. The truth is what it is. Because we were eliminated from the World Cup, we are in a precarious position.
