GROUP C
Argentina can seal top spot with a win against Poland and that will be enough to finally make fans forget their shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in their first game.
Their convincing win over Mexico has proven the loss to Saudi Arabia is only a fluke but they have to seal next round progress with a win today to completely silence their critics.
POLAND are the only unbeaten team in the group and face their most difficult test yet, the one that will determine their fate of going to the next round.
Apart from the results, the team hasn’t been convincing and have been second best to their opponents so far. Argentina will not be so kind if Poland are vulnerably setup as they’ve been in their previous games but with the next round ticket at stake, comes the motivation to give it all until the final whistle.
SAUDI ARABIA are arguably the best team in the group. From pulling off one of the greatest upset in FIFA World Cup finals to completely dominating Poland but for the result, they have indeed given their fans more than anticipated in Qatar.
However, more success begs for more success and having fed their fans with so much delicacy, they have as well given them the appetite to get for more.
Sealing next round ticket is now a dream and they can be convinced of achieving it by beating or getting a draw against Mexico.
Not many will be surprised if they progress because they have shown they have all it takes.
MEXICO are up against it after recording just one point heading into their final group game. They might have thought they play the least difficult opposition on day three but will surely have realized the task isn’t any easy
Knowing a win could be enough, they will be looking to make the chance count by putting themselves in the strong position, and wait to learn their fate when full time whistle goes off in the two stadia engaged late this evening.
GROUP D
Fate of teams here will be known before Group C kickoff. France are already through to the next round but need to seal their spot as Group winner, of which a draw in their final game against Tunisia will be enough.
There is no doubt they are favourites heading into the match and many will fancy them making it three from three while Kylian Mbappé will be looking to add to his goal tally, with Olivier Giroud also having a record to overtake.
TUNISIA have let themselves down following their loss to Australia despite holding off Denmark to a goalless draw in their first game.
Now they face France needing only a win to stand any chance of progress into the next round. It won’t be easy but with France already qualified, Didier Deschamps might be looking to rest some of his players, which might give Tunisia the mindset that they can pull an upset.
They can try but it is most likely they have missed the chance to get a next round ticket.
AUSTRALIA earned a massive result to keep themselves in the hunt for a round of 16 ticket with their 1-0 win over Tunisia in their second match, which leave them now needing only a draw against Denmark to pull through.
They face a better side but the pressure on them is minimal compared to their opponent and manager, Graham Arnold will be looking to explore this weakness and pull off another upset.
Australia have scored first in their two World Cup games so far and making it a third time will put them in a comfortable position, to invite pressure and wreck havocs on the counter, which is a good plan but can be very dangerous.
It is shocking that DENMARK are still without a win in the ongoing FIFA World Cup but what will be more shocking is them finishing their final group game against Australia without a win.
Just one point in two games but a win will take them ahead of Australia, and will believe France should beat Tunisia, leaving them sealing knockout round spot without any permutation at full time.
Christian Eriksen and his teammates should help get the job done against Australia and doing that will surely be enough to deliver the ticket.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
