While all eyes can be locked on the Socceroos, they’ll need to peek over to the opposite sport at instances, with France doubtlessly needing to assist Australia out.
Plus if the Socceroos do advance into the knockout stage, their spherical of 16 opponent can be determined from 6am AEDT – and issues might get Messi.
Follow the FIFA World Cup together with Tunisia v France (2am AEDT), Poland v Argentina (6am AEDT) and Saudi Arabia v Mexico (6am AEDT) in our stay blogs beneath!
Watch the world’s finest footballers each week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE protection from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MORE SOCCEROOS v DENMARK
SCENARIOS: What Aussies have to advance – and who they’ll face in R16
BURNING QUESTIONS: Brutal choice name Arnie MUST make; how Aussies cease Danish ‘magician’
‘IT’S NOT RIGHT’: Arnie drops extraordinary Australian soccer fact bomb
EXPERT VIEW: ‘Dangerous’ entice Roos should keep away from … and the way ‘unimaginable’ WC dream can come true
Dutch preserve Qatar winless in horror WC | 00:38
TUNISIA v FRANCE [2am AEDT] – Preview (by way of AFP) and stay weblog
France coach Didier Deschamps refused to debate Karim Benzema after the injured Ballon d’Or winner was noticed arriving on vacation on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion following his withdrawal from the World Cup.
The Real Madrid striker pulled out of the France squad with an injured left thigh on the eve of the event and departed their workforce lodge in Qatar quickly afterwards.
He arrived on Reunion, a French abroad division, early on Tuesday morning following rumours in Spain that he would possibly return to coaching along with his membership.
Sources near Benzema mentioned the participant would keep on the island for every week. Asked about Benzema, who remains to be formally a part of the France squad on the World Cup having not been changed, Deschamps dismissed the query.
“You are fishing for issues there, however this stuff are usually not on my thoughts. I don’t know who’s saying what, the place or how,” the France coach mentioned at a press convention in Doha forward of Thursday’s remaining group sport in opposition to Tunisia.
“I spoke to Karim after his departure, and you realize what his scenario is and the way lengthy he can be out for.
“I’m specializing in the 24 gamers who’re right here. I’ll allow you to discuss that and debate it if you would like, however I’m not going to speak about issues that don’t have an effect on what we’re doing right here from day after day.”
The French Football Federation mentioned Benzema can be sidelined for 3 weeks after he picked up the damage, technically which means he could possibly be match to return for the tip of the World Cup ought to France go that far.
France have received each Group D video games thus far on the event in opposition to Australia and Denmark and a draw in opposition to Tunisia will assure that they progress to the final 16 as winners of their part.
Even a defeat will suffice as long as Australia don’t beat Denmark and handle to overturn France’s benefit on purpose distinction, which is at present superior by six.
Deschamps is subsequently anticipated to rotate his squad and provides a few of his fringe gamers a run-out forward of a last-16 tie on Saturday or Sunday.
“The indisputable fact that we all know we’re via, like Brazil and Portugal, does give us extra room to make adjustments, however we completely should not devalue this third match,” Deschamps mentioned.
“We should attempt to get the most effective outcome potential, with out having the duty to take action. It is a World Cup match and it is very important preserve our dynamic going.”
Tunisia — whose squad options 10 French-born gamers – need to win the sport at Education City Stadium to have an opportunity of advancing, however they’ve by no means beforehand crushed the two-time world champions.
“The message I want to convey to my gamers is that nothing is unattainable. We are nonetheless alive,” mentioned Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri.
Follow Tunisia v France in our stay weblog beneath!
Rashford leads England to win over Wales | 01:18
POLAND v ARGENTINA [6am AEDT] – Preview (by way of AFP) and stay weblog
Argentina star Lionel Messi is soccer’s reply to snowboarding nice Alberto Tomba, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz mentioned.
Speaking forward of Poland’s remaining World Cup group stage match in opposition to Argentina in Doha, Michniewicz mentioned his aspect would wish to encompass Messi to cease him.
“Messi on the pitch is like Alberto Tomba on the slope, he’s capable of keep away from everybody like Tomba can get round the whole lot,” mentioned Michniewicz.
“So we have to put gamers round Messi as a result of if he can get round (them) simply he’ll simply rating.
“One participant can’t cease Messi, we should get gamers round him.” Even so, Michniewicz says that might not be sufficient.
“The entire world has been considering for years about the way to cease Lionel Messi and he has made dozens of objectives and assists,” he added.
“I don’t assume we’ll ever discover the ultimate reply to this query.”
Poland have their very own star striker in Robert Lewandowski, who’s following within the Argentine’s footsteps because the darling of Barcelona, the place he has scored 18 objectives in 19 video games this season.
Many have billed this because the conflict between Messi and Lewandowski, however Michniewicz doesn’t purchase into that.
“It’s not solely a match between Lewandowski and Messi, it’s not tennis,” mentioned the coach.
“Robert wants his teammates, the identical as Leo wants his. We depend on these nice strikers however they can not win on their very own.”
Michniewicz admitted that as a fan he has lengthy supported Argentina however mentioned he would haven’t any conflicting feelings throughout Thursday’s sport.
“Since I used to be just a little boy I’ve all the time rooted for Argentina. They have nice followers, an awesome workforce, large personalities like Mario Kempes in 1978 and different gamers.
“There have been many ups and downs however I’ve all the time rooted for Argentina, though I received’t tomorrow.”
For his half, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he has a delicate spot for bitter rivals and neighbours Brazil, who’ve already certified for the knock-out phases.
“I’m South American and I’m blissful that Brazil are via. I’m South American soccer’s high fan,” mentioned Scaloni.
“If it isn’t Argentina, I choose {that a} South American workforce goes via, anybody who thinks in any other case is mistaken.
“They (Brazil) are doing very well and I congratulate them.”
Argentina are liable to lacking out on the knock-out levels following their 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia of their opening Group C conflict.
They should beat Poland to ensure a spot within the final 16, the place there’s a probability they may meet reigning champions France, who knocked them out on the identical stage 4 years in the past.
However the winner of Poland-Argentina is almost definitely to face the second-place aspect in Group D – which might be Australia, in the event that they get no less than some extent in opposition to Denmark.
Asked if he want to keep away from enjoying France, Scaloni instructed journalists: “Firstly now we have to undergo. Then we’ll see who we get.
“Without underestimating something, there’s nonetheless a option to go but.”
Follow Poland v Argentina in our stay weblog beneath!
Captain America sends Iran packing | 00:44
SAUDI ARABIA v MEXICO [6am AEDT] – Preview (by way of AFP) and stay weblog
Coach Herve Renard known as on his Saudi Arabia gamers to make sure they go away their mark on the World Cup in Qatar and are remembered “eternally.”
Frenchman Renard’s rousing half-time workforce speak in Saudi Arabia’s shock come-from-behind victory over Argentina has gone down in legend.
A brief clip of Renard firing up his World Cup minnows when trailing 1-0 at half-time to a Lionel Messi penalty – they bounced again to win 2-1 – proved a viral hit.
He admitted that his workforce talks don’t all the time have such a dramatic impact.
“I accepted for the communications division to document one minute (at half-time) so at the present time I used to be fortunate as a result of it labored,” Renard mentioned at a press convention earlier than Saudi Arabia play Mexico of their remaining group sport.
“But I’m teaching for greater than 20 years now and with a whole lot of humility I can inform you it was not working on a regular basis, sadly!”
Given that his workforce’s comeback was in opposition to one of many world’s biggest ever gamers in Messi, “there’s a huge influence, it’s going to keep eternally,” Renard mentioned. “At least some individuals will bear in mind me.”
Having crushed Argentina however then misplaced to Poland, Saudi Arabia have to beat Mexico on Wednesday of their remaining Group C match to ensure a spot within the knock-out rounds.
He recalled that the final time Saudi Arabia reached the second spherical was in 1994, 28 years in the past.
“For our gamers, it’s an excellent era but when they need the followers to recollect them they need to make historical past, in any other case all people will overlook in 20 or 30 years,” Renard mentioned.
Getting via to the knockout part could possibly be further particular for Renard given the chance his aspect might face France.
“Of course I do know the draw, I’d be a liar if I mentioned I hadn’t studied the draw,” he mentioned.
“Let’s consider qualification, placing all our vitality into reaching it and if ever tomorrow you’re right here and it’s occurred, with an enormous smile I’ll say it is going to be an awesome conflict.” With Saudi Arabia on the point of a historic qualification, Renard was requested if the Mexico conflict was the most important match of his life.
But he insisted that profitable two finals on the Africa Cup of Nations – with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015 – remained extra vital.
“Those are conferences that it’s essential to not mess up, in any other case you’ll remorse it your entire life.
“Having regrets is essentially the most dangerous factor you possibly can have in life, and it’s essential to all the time be constructive.”
Follow Saudi Arabia v Mexico in our stay weblog beneath!
