FIFA World Cup, November 29: Which groups are taking part in in Qatar in the present day?

Ecuador vs Senegal

Ecuador’s younger crew are tantalisingly near a record-equalling final 16 place within the World Cup if they’ll beat or draw with African champions Senegal of their Group A showdown on Tuesday on the Khalifa Worldwide Stadium.

The South People have had an excellent begin to the match, simply beating host Qatar 2-0 earlier than outplaying the Netherlands and being unlucky to not win in a 1-1 draw that made a mockery of the gulf of their world rankings.

The job isn’t carried out, nevertheless, as defeat by African champions Senegal might ship them house moderately than allow them to achieve the knockout spherical for the second time in Ecuador’s historical past.

“We have a bigger battle coming,” coach Gustavo Alvaro shortly warned after the euphoria of the efficiency towards the Dutch, whom he had craftily acknowledged upfront have been a superior aspect.

Up to now, Ecuador have been reliant on their veteran striker Enner Valencia, who has scored all their targets so as to add to his three on the 2014 World Cup.

However he’s solely the spearhead with a wealth of exuberant expertise behind him, not least flourishing younger midfielder Moises Caicedo, 21, who’s on the coronary heart of every thing good that Ecuador do, each shielding his defence and releasing the strikers.

As soon as once more, Ecuador are sweating on Valencia’s health after he was stretchered off late on within the Netherlands recreation with a recurrence of a knee pressure suffered towards Qatar.

Senegal is a much less intimidating opposition with out the injured Sadio Mane and is aware of it has to enhance to beat Ecuador after dropping 2-0 to the Dutch however beating Qatar 3-1 to take a seat in third place in Group A on three factors.

“Our concentration must be better,” stated Senegal coach Aliou Cisse. “We need to win to have a chance to qualify for the last 16.”

One among solely three African nations to have reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup, Senegal know that victory over Ecuador would assist atone for a depressing final match in Russia the place they have been eradicated on disciplinary factors.

Senegal might theoretically nonetheless undergo in the event that they draw, as might Ecuador in the event that they lose, however each these situations would require a win by Qatar over the Netherlands adequate to push the Dutch into third place on aim distinction. 

-AP

Netherlands vs Qatar

The Netherlands is on the verge of reaching the knockout stage on the World Cup and an amazing favourite in its last Group A match on Tuesday towards host nation Qatar.

If the Dutch advance it’ll put extra deal with 71-year-old coach Louis van Gaal, who stepped out of retirement simply over a 12 months in the past to take over the nationwide crew whereas being handled for aggressive prostate most cancers.

Host nation Qatar has misplaced its first two matches and already missed its probability to maneuver on from the group stage.

For the Netherlands a draw will suffice to advance and put the Netherlands into rivalry once more in a World Cup after failing to qualify 4 years in the past. The Dutch might even get by with a loss if Ecuador beats Senegal within the different Group A match.

Within the spherical of 16, the Netherlands would face one of many high two groups from Group B, the place England is the favourite with Iran, Wales, and the USA scrambling for a spot.

-AP

Iran vs USA

Iran and USA will lock horns in a Group B conflict on the Al Thumama stadium in a winner-takes-it-all contest.

Iran’s dramatic 2-0 win over Wales and the U.S. crew’s tense goalless stalemate towards England on Friday arrange a tantalising last spherical of Group B matches.

England, sitting high with 4 factors, face backside aspect Wales, which means the Iran-United States contest will resolve which crew goes by to the spherical of 16.

The eagerly awaited assembly is a rematch of the 1998 World Cup group stage contest, dubbed the “mother of all games”, which Iran gained 2-1. In a symbolic second earlier than that match at Lyon’s Stade Gerland, the Iranian gamers gave white roses, an emblem of peace within the nation, to their American opponents.

Overshadowing Iran’s World Cup build-up this 12 months has been civil unrest at house over the September loss of life in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for flouting the nation’s strict Islamic costume code.

Workforce Melli declined to sing Iran’s nationwide anthem of their first recreation towards England in an obvious present of solidarity with protesters. They sang quietly on Friday on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, the place boos and jeers have been heard from Iran supporters.

Amid rising public stress on gamers to take a stand over a lethal crackdown on protests, Iran rallied late towards Wales to rescue a World Cup marketing campaign that appeared to have flatlined following their 6-2 thrashing by England.

Gregg Berhalter, whose exuberant aspect drew 1-1 with Wales of their group opener, described the match as his crew’s “first knockout game” of the World Cup and was cautious of the menace posed by Iran after their second-half assault towards Wales.

“Now we need to be sure that we are good enough to go to the second round,” Iran coach Carlos Queiroz stated after his crew stored alive their hopes of a primary ever journey to the knockout stage.

“The U.S. is a brilliant team as well, as we saw them against Wales.

“Our preparation starts with a good rest, refresh the minds and put all the complementary and garbage things outside of our minds and focus on our goal, because what we want to do is to give this gift to Iranian fans.” 

-REUTERS

Wales vs England

The chances are closely stacked towards Wales reaching the final 16 forward of their so-called Battle of Britain towards England on Tuesday but when they’re to fly house early they’ll need to accomplish that with pleasure restored.

Wales has waited 64 lengthy years to qualify for a World Cup however after conceding two targets to Iran deep into stoppage on Friday it appears like being solely a quick keep in Center East.

That late defeat left Wales crestfallen and on the backside of group B and needing to beat England for under the 14th time in 104 conferences, a rivalry courting again to 1879.

Even a victory won’t be sufficient to avoid wasting Wales as it will additionally want the opposite remaining group match between Iran and the USA to finish in a draw.

There’s one different state of affairs, one which has by no means occurred earlier than, through which Wales should beat England by 4 targets, through which they case they’d undergo to the final 16, no matter the results of the opposite recreation, on the expense of England.

Whereas the complexities of the maths are head-spinning, Wales will simply need to land a blow on its outdated rival, snap a run of six consecutive defeats towards it and declare a primary win over England since 1984.

For that to occur it’ll require some magic from its talisman Gareth Bale, who scored an equalising penalty within the opening recreation towards the U.S. however who was moderately nameless within the defeat by Iran.

Whereas England is in a much more snug place, main the group, it went from being so-called world beater to being booed by its personal followers within the house of 5 days in Qatar — thrashing Iran 6-2 earlier than being largely outplayed by a youthful U.S. aspect in a 0-0 draw.

Supervisor Gareth Southgate started these video games with an identical beginning line-ups, however might effectively resolve to make some tweaks towards Wales with Manchester Metropolis’s Jack Grealish in line for a begin and maybe a chance for striker Callum Wilson.

Solely a four-goal defeat might ship England crashing out, with bookmakers pricing that as a 400-1 shot, so there is a chance for Southgate to tinker together with his line-up and maybe even shield striker Harry Kane forward of the final 16.

-AP