Rog talks with Gillingham FC superfan Chris Willis about the magic of the FA Cup after the League One Gills defeated Premier League Big Boy Cardiff City over the weekend.
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This will be an epic battle in Group D as Australia and Denmark can both reach the last 16 of the World Cup heading into their final group game.
STREAM LIVE AUSTRALIA v DENMARK
After their superb win against Tunisia last time out, Australia know a win against Denmark puts them in the last 16 of the World Cup for just the second time in their history. Graham Arnold has had plenty of criticism for the way his team play but they were totally committed against Tunisia and always carried a threat on the counter. They will have to put in a very similar display against the talented Danes but a point could well be enough as Tunisia would have to beat France in the other game in Group D to complicate matters further for Australia and Denmark.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
As for Denmark, they have had a very poor tournament so far. They were woeful in attack against Tunisia in an opening game stalemate, while they were beaten by France last time out and Kasper Hjulmand has failed to get his team going in attack. Christian Eriksen and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are trying to drive Denmark on from midfield but they just haven’t look dangerous going forward. They have to win against Australia and then hope Tunisia doesn’t beat France and it goes down to goal difference.
[ MORE: Group D standings, schedule, scores ]
Here is everything you need for Australia vs Denmark.
Kick off: 10am ET – Wednesday, November 30
Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
What a goal by Matthew Leckie!
As things stand, Australia will head to the Round of 16!
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/gbcn1dgOHG— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 30, 2022
Australia will set up exactly the same as they did against Tunisia as they will whip in balls to Mitchell Duke who was the hero with his superb flicked header. Both Duke and Arnold pointed to the ‘Aussie Spirit’ getting them the win against Tunisia and there is a real grit and determination about this team.
STARTING XI 🗒️
Presenting our starting side for today's Group D decider against Denmark 👊🇦🇺
⚽ 2am AEDT, 6pm local
📺💻📱: SBS, SBS On Demand#GiveIt100 #Socceroos #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uuMllicH0O— Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 30, 2022
Denmark know they have to win, so they will go for a more attack-minded lineup and they have the quality to beat Australia. They start Braithwaite in attack as they try to get something going offensively and this is basically a knockout game in the group stage.
Vores startopstilling til den altafgørende kamp mod Australien 💪🏼
Kom så drengene!#ForDanmark #worldcup
📸 @fbbillederdk pic.twitter.com/32QDvA5Sgh— Fodboldlandsholdene 🇩🇰 (@dbulandshold) November 30, 2022
Current FIFA world ranking: 38
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 5
How they qualified: Qualified from AFC via the intercontinental playoffs
Coach: Graham Arnold
Key players: Mathew Ryan, Aaron Mooy, Mathew Leckie
Current FIFA world ranking: 10
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 5
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from UEFA (Won Group F)
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
Key players: Kasper Schmeichel, Simon Kjaer, Christian Eriksen
Tunisia need a win and help as they clash with reigning World Cup champions France in their Group D finale.
With France already through to the last 16 of the World Cup courtesy of their two wins so far against Australia and Denmark, Didier Deschamps may rest a few key players for this game. That will give Tunisia hope and after their 0-0 draw against Denmark and their narrow 1-0 defeat to Australia, they’ve been in both games but just can’t find that finishing touch in the final third.
[ MORE: Group D standings, schedule, scores ]
France have an abundance of talent, and that’s just on their bench. Despite losing Nkunku, Benzema, Pogba and Kante to injury before the tournament kicked off, it hasn’t really impacted them as they’ve made light work of their opening two group games. Kylian Mbappe was the difference against Denmark and he already has three goals at this tournament to be the joint top scorer.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
Here is everything you need for Tunisia vs France.
Kick off: 10am ET – Wednesday, November 30
Stadium: Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
TV channels en Español: Telemundo
Streaming en Español: Peacock (all 64 matches)
Wahbi Khazri puts Tunisia on top v. France! #FIFAWorldCup
(via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/GhVHaTBQxQ— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) November 30, 2022
Tunisia think they have taken the lead against France, but the offside flag goes up. Some finish that by Ghandri and a lovely cross from Khazri.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) November 30, 2022
Tunisia need to take more risks in attack and this is all or nothing for them now. They need to win and hope that Australia against Denmark ends in a draw as they have the upperhand over Australia when it comes to goal difference. If they win and Denmark win it will also go down to goal difference to see if they reach the last 16. Khazri starts this game to give them extra quality in attack.
La composition de départ pour notre dernier match de poule 👊
🇹🇳-🇫🇷 à 16h00 sur TF1 📺#TUNFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/G0R8ZVdr9N
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 30, 2022
France now have the luxury of resting some of their key players ahead of the last 16 but Deschamps will be keen to make it three wins from three in the group stage to keep momentum going. Camavinga, Mandanda, Guendouzi and Camavinga all start. France just need a point to guarantee top spot in the group but in reality their huge advantage in goal difference over Australia (6 goals better off) means they’ve already won the group.
Current FIFA world ranking: 30
World Cup titles: 0
World Cup appearances: 5
How they qualified: Qualified via CAF playoffs (Beat Mali)
Coach: Jalel Kadri
Key players: Ferjani Sassi, Wahbi Khazri, Youssef Msakni
Current FIFA world ranking: 4
World Cup titles: 2 (1998, 2018)
World Cup appearances: 15
How they qualified: Qualified automatically from UEFA (Won Group D)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Key players: Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema
Christian Pulisic was injured scoring the lone goal of a 1-0 win over Iran as the United States men’s national team advanced to the World Cup’s Round of 16 on Tuesday.
The Yanks, runners-up in Group B, will play Group A winners Netherlands at 10am ET Saturday.
[ MORE: USMNT player ratings vs Iran ]
Pulisic walked off the field on his power and appeared to have taken a hard shot to the midsection. We’ll update his condition as soon as it becomes available.
WATCH IRAN vs USA FULL MATCH REPLAY
England won the group while Iran bows out along with Wales.
[ LIVE: World Cup 2022 schedule, how to watch, scores, hub ]
It’s difficult not to feel good for Christian Pulisic, no longer the young sparkplug hopeful of reaching his potential.
The next great American player actually became the next great American player, and our enduring World Cup-related memory of him was in qualification; The teenage goal scorer who didn’t find a teammate to also score in Couva as the Yanks crashed out of the tournament.
Now the enduring World Cup image of him, rightly so, is as a gamer. Pulisic scored a round-sealing goal while getting kicked in the nether region.
Then his teammates needed to hold on tight.
They mostly did! The USMNT stayed firm after Gregg Berhalter stopped going for the second goal, removing several attackers in favor of Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore.
It was nervy, but they did it. And the U.S. moves forward…
Christian Pulisic
Antonee Robinson
Tyler Adams
Majid Hosseini
Tim Ream
🇺🇸 ¡¡G⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️L de @USMNT!! 🇺🇸
🥺 @cpulisic_10 rompió el cero tras una ENOOOOOORME jugada de #USA
😭 ¡Dejó todo en la cancha e ilusiona a toda una nación!#ElMundialLoEsTodo #IRNvsUSA pic.twitter.com/rycLGpLVlE
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) November 29, 2022
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)
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
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
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
The youngest starting XI at #Qatar2022 thus far. 🇺🇸
Full Lineup Notes » https://t.co/QTnkPEKnw2 #USMNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/TaaG7eI52N
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022
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.
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!
