Philippe Coutinho has some gumption.
Liverpool’s Brazilian wizard tied things up with West Ham United in Tuesday’s FA Cup replay at the Boleyn Ground, and did it in style.
[ MORE: Courtois says FA Cup or Champions League final a must ]
With a free kick from just outside the 18, Coutinho thought West Ham would expect he’d hit a ball that would get up quick before dipping after the wall.
They’d jump, he figured, and he’d roll it under the wall. He was correct (video courtesy Fox Soccer):
The 2022 World Cup is already well underway and through the first matches of the group stage, the tournament has been marked by unpredictability and upsets, including Saudi Arabia toppling Argentina and Japan edging out Germany thanks to a late comeback. While one loss doesn’t necessarily mean these pre-tournament contenders won’t make it to the knockout rounds, it does make the path significantly harder. Read on to see the World Cup tiebreakers that may come into play in determining which teams advance to the next round and continue on the path to soccer’s greatest glory.
Of the 32 teams at the 2022 World Cup, only 16 will advance to the next round of the tournament. The top two teams in each of the eight groups will advance to the Round of 16. From there, the tournament will be a single-elimination competition, with eight teams making it through to the quarterfinals and four to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinal matches will play in the final, while the losers will meet in the third-place playoff.
RELATED: World Cup 2022 schedule – how to watch, groups, calendar, match schedule, brackets, dates
If two or more teams have an equal number of points after the conclusion of group stage matches, FIFA will use the following tiebreakers to determine which nations advance:
If two or more teams are still “tied” after applying these tiebreakers, FIFA moves on to a second round of tiebreakers:
RELATED: PST’s 2022 World Cup predictions: Standings, winner, awards, USMNT fate
The “team conduct” tiebreaker or “fair play” tiebreaker was first used at the 2018 World Cup – Japan and Senegal stood equal after all other tiebreakers were applied but Senegal had more yellow cards and was subsequently eliminated. Japan advanced to the Round of 16.
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Poland and Argentina surely didn’t plan to reach the marquee match of World Cup Group C with their knockout round status in doubt, but it’s been that kind of tournament in Qatar.
Poland remains unbeaten in Qatar after beating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Al Rayyan, adding to the point it earned from a scoreless draw with Mexico In Doha to give it top billing in the group heading into Wednesday’s match.
STREAM LIVE POLAND v ARGENTINA
Argentina, meanwhile, rebounded from a 2-1 tournament-opening loss to Saudi Arabia In Lusail to bear Mexico 2-0 behind a goal and an assist from Lionel Messi.
Saudi Arabia’s three points means it can still advance with a win over Mexico, who itself can add to its one point. So everyone’s alive in Group C.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
Here is everything you need for Poland vs Argentina.
Kick off: 2pm ET, Wednesday, Nov. 30
Stadium: Stadium 974, Doha – 2pm
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez doubles the lead for Argentina!
Poland is now tied with Mexico on points and Goal Differential.
🎥: @TelemundoSportspic.twitter.com/aUiJ2BXCoE
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 30, 2022
Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister gives Argentina a 1-0 advantage!
If this result holds, Argentina wins Group C. #FIFAWorldCup
🎥: @TelemundoSportspic.twitter.com/x28nBzsLeN
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 30, 2022
Messi's penalty is saved!#FIFAWorldCup
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/caCriRkJme— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 30, 2022
The storyline for every Argentina game this tournament from this point forward — and really since the lead-up to the Mexico match — is that any loss means the end of Lionel Messi’s World Cup career (at least according to the living legend). The Albiceleste would be thrilled to get something more out of Lautaro Martinez, while Paulo Dybala’s yet to make his tournament debut.
Robert Lewandowski finally has a World Cup goal on his resume, while Piotr Zielinski has been very good for Poland. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sensational in the win over Saudi Arabia.
Current FIFA world ranking: 26
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 8
How they qualified: Qualified from UEFA via playoffs, Path B
Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz
Key players: Robert Lewandowski, Wojciech Szczesny, Piotr Zielinski
POLAND XI 🇵🇱🇦🇷
Poland's confirmed starting line-up for today's #FIFAWorldCup match with Argentina is the following:
1. Szczęsny, 18. Bereszyński, 14. Kiwior, 15. Glik, 2. Cash, 20. Zieliński, 10. Krychowiak, 6. Bielik, 24. Frankowski, 16. Świderski, 9. Lewandowski#POLARG pic.twitter.com/Dkjs5YnQZW
— PSN Futbol (@PSN_Futbol) November 30, 2022
Current FIFA world ranking: 3
World Cup titles: 2 (1978, 1986)
World Cup appearances: 17
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from CONMEBOL (2nd place)
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Key players: Lionel Messi, Angel de Maria, Lautaro Martinez
📋 ¡Once inicial confirmado! ⚽
Así formará @Argentina 🇦🇷 para el encuentro ante #Polonia 🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/9kFiyNCP8c
— Selección Argentina 🇦🇷 (@Argentina) November 30, 2022
Mexico needs a win to have hope of reaching the World Cup knockout rounds, while Saudi Arabia’s hopes of the final 16 may require the same at Stadium 974 in Doha on Wednesday.
The Saudis stunned Argentina 2-1 In Lusail to open the tournament but could not repeat the feat against Poland at Education City in Al Rayyan on Saturday to leave themselves with three points through two matches.
STREAM LIVE SAUDI ARABIA vs MEXICO
Mexico remains without a win after their scoreless draw versus Poland led to a Lionel Messi-inspired loss to Argentina In Lusail.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
Here is everything you need for Saudi Arabia vs Mexico.
Kick off: 2pm ET, Wednesday Nov. 30
Stadium: Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
The Saudis have arguably been the most fun team at the tournament amongst non-powers, always running and getting exceptional goalkeeping. Salem Al-Dawsari was very good in both games but his missed penalty before halftime against Poland looms large of a match that could’ve been 1-1 going to the break and instead ended 2-0.
Mexico has not scored at the tournament so far, and Raul Jimenez has only been used as a super sub. Hirving Lozano and Alexis Vega combined for just three shot attempts before being subbed out of the Poland loss, while Lozano and Henry Martin combined for two versus Poland (Vega attempted five). They need better up top to keep up their streak of making Round of 16 appearances at the World Cup.
Current FIFA world ranking: 51
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 5
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from AFC (Won Group B)
Coach: Herve Renard
Key players: Salem Al-Dawsari, Fahad Al-Muwallad, Mohammed Al-Owais
📋⎪Line-up
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🆚 Mexico 🇲🇽
#GreenFalcons pic.twitter.com/Prf7USrKcS— Saudi National Team (@SaudiNT_EN) November 30, 2022
Current FIFA world ranking: 13
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 16
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from CONCACAF (2nd place)
Coach: Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino
Key players: Guillermo Ochoa, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez
👥 #MEX 👥
Here are tonight’s starters for 🇸🇦🆚🇲🇽. 😤💚#Qatar2022 | #MéxicoDeMiVida pic.twitter.com/u1UOcbmvAx
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) November 30, 2022
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter was a relieved man as he spoke to media after the USA beat Iran 1-0 to clinch a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
After Christian Pulisic’s first half goal the U.S. held on late on as Iran create three good chances but the young American side dug deep.
They will now face the Netherlands in the last 16 on Saturday (kick off, 10am ET) and Berhalter was asked how proud he was of his side.
“Proud. First half we showed what we can do soccer wise. Second half we showed what we could do determination wise. The guys grinded. They gave every single ounce of energy. We are undefeated going into the knockout round,” Berhalter said.
He was then asked about his nerves late on as Iran almost scored in the 99th minute when Mehdi Taremi nearly got on the end of a ball into the box.
“This new injury time, counting every second, it is stressful. I think I have less hair on my head now,” Berhalter smiled. “We will take it and we will move on and we will go battle Holland.”
Pulisic, the goalscoring hero, was subbed out at half time after getting hit in the abdominal area (it looked like a nasty whack to the groin) when he scored the winning goal.
Asked about the status of the USMNT and Chelsea star, here is what Berhalter had to say.
“No update on his status but I’ve been saying all along, ‘it’s a wonderful thing when one of your best players is also one of your hardest working.’ He is certainly that. I can’t say enough positive things about Christian.”
Another update was that Pulisic was taken to the hospital after the injury and Weston McKennie said he had a message from Pulisic saying: “Best believe I’ll be ready on Saturday.”
“He was feeling some dizziness, it was a blow to his abdomen,” Berhalter said. “We FaceTimed him from the hospital and he was in good spirits.”
