Arlo White and Lee Dixon break down a big, pressure-venting win for David Moyes’ team, the 2-0 victory over Swansea at Old Trafford:
.
Watch: NBC broadcast team breaks down Manchester United win over Swansea
World Cup 2022 Group A: Qatar, Senegal, Netherlands, Ecuador, final table, fixtures, rankings
Group A in the 2022 World Cup was intriguing, as hosts Qatar were dumped out, while Ecuador started well but faded as African champs Senegal finished second in the group and the Netherlands finished top.
[ MORE: Full schedule for 2022 World Cup ]
Even thought Senegal were missing main man Sadio Mane through injury, they rallied to win their final two group games including an intense finale against Ecuador.
The Netherlands were unbeaten throughout the group stage and took care of business with minimum fuss.
[ MORE: Ranking every World Cup team, 32-1 ]
Below is everything you need for 2022 World Cup Group A.
Group A schedule (all kick off times ET)
Recap/highlights: Qatar 0-2 Ecuador – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Recap/highlights: Senegal 0-2 Netherlands – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor – 5am
Recap/highlights: Qatar 1-3 Senegal – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
Recap/highlights: Netherlands 1-1 Ecuador – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Recap/highlights: Netherlands 2-0 Qatar – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Recap/highlights: Ecuador 1-2 Senegal – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
How To Watch Group A matches live
- When: November 20-29, 2022
- Group stage game kick-off times: 5am, 8am, 10am, 11am (all ET)
- Location: Qatar
- TV channels en Español: Telemundo, Universo, Peacock
- Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
Follow along with ProSoccerTalk for the latest news, scores, storylines, and updates surrounding the 2022 World Cup, and be sure to subscribe to NBC Sports on YouTube!
Group A table
1. Netherlands — 7 points (+9)
2. Senegal — 6 points (+1)
3. Ecuador — 4 points (+1)
4. Qatar — 0 (-4) – ELIMINATED
Qatar
Current FIFA world ranking: 49
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 0
How they qualified: As hosts
Coach: Felix Sanchez
Key players: Abdelkarim Hassan, Almoez Ali, Hassan Al-Haydos
Senegal
Current FIFA world ranking: 18
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 2
How they qualified: Beat Egypt in CAF playoff
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Key players: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly
Netherlands
Current FIFA world ranking: 8
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 10
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from UEFA (Won Group G)
Coach: Louis van Gaal
Key players: Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong
Ecuador
Current FIFA world ranking: 44
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 3
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from CONMEBOL (4th place)
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Key players: Enner Valencia, Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan
Senegal edges epic battle with Ecuador to clinch last 16 spot
Senegal beat Ecuador to reach the last 16 of the World Cup, as the Lions of Terranga rallied to knock out the South Americans.
Ismaila Sarr put Senegal ahead from the penalty spot but Moises Caicedo equalized in the second half and a draw would have been enough to send Ecuador through at Senegal’s expense.
[ MORE: Group A – Table, rankings, results, schedule ]
Cometh the hour, cometh the man as Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winner to send his country through to the knockout rounds for just the second time in their history.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
Stars of the show
Kalidou Koulibaly: Scored the famous goal to send Senegal through and was dominant at the back. Led by example.
Ismaila Sarr: Another of one Senegal’s stars stood tall as he scored the opener and gave them an outlet. Sadio Mane would be proud of this display.
How to watch Ecuador vs Senegal live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET – Tuesday, November 29
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
GOAL! Moments later Koulibaly puts Senegal back in front. What drama. Now Senegal are going through instead of Ecuador.
😱 ¡OTRA VEZ SENEGAL ARRIBA! 🇸🇳
🫣 ¡No dejaron ni celebrar a Ecuador! Nuevamente abajo en el marcador 🥲
⚽️ Marcó Koulibaly, defensa de @ChelseaFC ⚽️#ECU 1-2 #SEN#ElMundialLoEsTodo #ECUvsSEN pic.twitter.com/JhaowNvgQ9
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) November 29, 2022
GOAL! Ecuador equalize. Brighton’s Moises Caicedo slots home after a flick on. As it stands, Ecuador going through ahead of Senegal.
🇪🇨 ¡GOL DE ECUADOR! ¡GOL DE ECUADOR! ¡GOL DE ECUADOR! 🇪🇨
⚽️ Moisés Caicedo marca: ¡@LaTri sueña con la calificación en #FIFAWorldCup!#ECU 1-1 #SEN#ElMundialLoEsTodo #ECUvsSEN pic.twitter.com/i2lRKDg5NG
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) November 29, 2022
GOAL! Hincapie clatters into Ismaila Sarr and he slots home the resulting spot kick. Senegal lead.
🇸🇳 ¡GOOOOOOL DE SENEGAL Y YA GANAN EL PARTIDO! 😱
⚽️ Ismaila Sarr cobra de gran manera la pena máxima y marca el primero del partido.#ECU 0-1 #SEN#ElMundialLoEsTodo #ECUvsSEN pic.twitter.com/BtNf7m6m49
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) November 29, 2022
What a start from Senegal! Idrissa Gana Gueye slams a shot wide and Ismaila Sarr sees a deflected effort fly just wide. Ecuador have yet to get going.
Key storylines, players to watch closely
Enner Valencia has obviously been the main man for Ecuador with his three goals so far but Gonzalo Plata and Michael Estrada have been excellent alongside him in attack. Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan have been superb too, while Angelo Preciado has been electric down the right flank.
🔥 ¡Alineación de #LaTri!
🆚 @FootballSenegal
🏟 Estadio Internacional Jalifa
🗓 Fecha # 3
🕚 10h00 (ECU)
🏆 #FIFAWorldCup #HaremosHistoria🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/bjjVyyTn6n— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) November 29, 2022
Senegal’s defense has looked a bit shaky, even with Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly back there. In midfield Idrissa Gana Gueye was much better against Qatar and Ismaila Sarr continues to do his best to fill the huge void left by Sadio Mane.
Le onze de départ | 👌🏾 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/SfbmX6sOxk
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) November 29, 2022
Ecuador quick facts
Current FIFA world ranking: 44
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 3
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from CONMEBOL (4th place)
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Key players: Enner Valencia, Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan
Senegal quick facts
Current FIFA world ranking: 18
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 2
How they qualified: Beat Egypt in CAF playoff
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Key players: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly
Iran vs USA: How to watch live, USMNT stream link, team news
The USA seeks a return to the knockout rounds and that’ll only come with a win over Iran at 2pm ET Tuesday inside Al Thumama Stadium in Al Khor.
It doesn’t matter what Wales does vs England at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan because England already has four points and a draw would give Iran four as well.
The Yanks’ two draws mandate a win-or-go-home mentality on Saturday and there are multiple generations worth of redemption up for grabs after the USMNT was felled by Iran at the 1998 World Cup and failed to qualify for the 2018 tourney in Russia.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
How can Gregg Berhalter unlock the USMNT attack to get the goal or goals he’ll need to reach a date with Group B’s winner or runner-up?
Here is everything you need for Iran vs USA.
How to watch Iran vs USA live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 2pm ET, Tuesday Nov. 29
Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
Key storylines, players to watch closely
For Iran, it’s about riding the momentum of a huge win after finding inspiration in a huge loss. There’s an ocean’s worth of difference in emotion between the 6-2 tournament-opening loss to England in Al Rayyan and the 2-0 triumph over Wales In the same city. Can Mehdi Taremi or Sardar Azmoun succeed where Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling could not and break down the USMNT defense for a goal?
Meanwhile, the Yanks may still be lamenting a 1-1 draw with Wales as much as they are celebrating a strong performance that kept them unbeaten against England at the World Cup after a scoreless draw with Gareth Southgate’s men In Al Khor. Gregg Berhalter has to find a way to unlock the USMNT’s final-third woes when they hit Al Khor on Tuesday.
There has also been some off-field tension brewing between the U.S. and Iran surrounding this game, as Gregg Berhalter and captain Tyler Adams responded to in a tense press conference amid questions from the Iranian press.
🗣 "The players and the staff knew nothing about what was being posted."
USA head coach Gregg Berhalter responds to the social media post by the US Soccer Federation which featured the Iran flag without the islamic republic emblem #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mRzhQW0vNs
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 29, 2022
🗣 "You just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country, it's a process, as long as you see progress that's the most important thing."
Tyler Adams responds to a journalist saying he pronounced Iran wrong and if he feels comfortable representing USA #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/hPIJOfOzf3
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 29, 2022
Iran quick facts
Current FIFA world ranking: 20
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 5
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from AFC (Won Group A)
Coach: Dragan Skocic
Key players: Ehsan Hajsafi, Sardar Azmoun, Mehdi Taremi
USA quick facts
Current FIFA world ranking: 16
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 9
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from CONCACAF (3rd place)
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Key players: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams
USMNT scenarios to advance: How can USA qualify for the World Cup last 16?’
Everyone wants to figure out the USMNT scenarios to reach the knockout rounds.
“How can the USMNT qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup and make it out of the group stage?”
[ LIVE: Watch World Cup en Espanol en Peacock ]
That is the question you will hear time and time again ahead of their Group B finale against Iran on Tuesday, November 29 at 2pm ET.
This is intense.
[ MORE: Group B schedule, rankings, table ]
As the information below tells you, the USMNT scenarios is now very simple for Gregg Berhalter’s young side.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
After their draws against Wales and England to kick off Group B play, it all goes down to the final 90 minutes against Iran to see whether or not they can reach the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
Group B table heading into final group stage game
1. England – 4 points (+4 GD)
2. Iran – 3 points (-2)
3. USA – 2 points (0 GD)
4. Wales – 1 point (-2 GD)
Group B remaining schedule
Tuesday, November 29: Wales vs England – Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan – 2pm
Tuesday November 29: Iran vs USA – Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor – 2pm
How the USA can qualify for the last 16
- Win against Iran
How the USA will not qualify for the last 16
- Draw against Iran
- Lose against Iran