Lionel Messi fuelled by Argentina destiny as Didier Deschamps costs France their momentum – World Cup hits and misses | Football News

Masterful Messi fuelled by destiny

There was no aim for Lionel Messi in opposition to Poland. That regardless of a complete of seven photographs, one in every of which was a penalty brilliantly saved by Wojciech Szczesny. But this was a efficiency to recommend he might but be destined to hold Argentina to the largest prize of all of them.

The 35-yr-outdated, contemporary from scoring the sensational lengthy-vary strike which helped Lionel Scaloni’s aspect overcome Mexico in their final sport, produced his finest show but on the event, the missed spot kick a blot that finally didn’t matter.

That was largely due to every little thing else he did.

The data will present Messi had no hand within the targets, with Enzo Fernandez and Nahuel Molina the boys to say the assists for Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez. But even when the final move wasn’t at all times his, Messi was concerned in some unspecified time in the future in nearly each assault.

He had struggled to exert his common affect in opposition to Saudi Arabia and Mexico however not this time. Messi had 98 touches, round 50 per cent greater than in both of Argentina’s earlier video games, and that complete included 13 within the Poland field.

It was additional again, although, in between the traces, that Messi produced most of his finest work, placing on a masterclass in distribution as Poland’s discombobulated defenders discovered themselves fully unable to maintain up with him.

Some of his passes have been chic and, along with his seven photographs, the statistics confirmed he was straight chargeable for creating 5 scoring possibilities – two greater than anybody else on the pitch.

There have been even 5 dribbles – greater than twice as many as every other participant on both aspect. At instances, the feints, shimmies and sudden bursts of acceleration harked again to his superb peak.

The query now’s whether or not, at 35, the climax of his extraordinary profession continues to be to return. This Argentina aspect are flawed in some ways. But in addition they have Messi. With him in this sort of temper, fuelled by an irresistible sense of destiny, they’re severe contenders.
Nick Wright

Has Deschamps disrupted France’s momentum?

Winning your first two group video games in a significant event can really trigger extra complications than individuals realise.

Didier Deschamps discovered that out in opposition to Tunisia. Do you retain on rolling by enjoying the identical gamers that acquired you into such a dominant place or relaxation the legs of your star males? You can after all do a little bit of each. That is normally how managers method such a scenario.

Yet, Deschamps took a sledgehammer to his workforce, making 9 adjustments with the hope of his fringe gamers sending him a message very similar to the best way Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden did for England on Tuesday night. Well, France did the other. They froze which resulted in a torpid and wholly imbalanced efficiency that did not come to life till Kylian Mbappe arrived on the scene with 25 minutes to go.

France are fancied to go very shut on this event however in the event you take a look at their key rivals Brazil and England, each these groups have benches with the X-issue. France, on this displaying, are going to must depend on a key core of 4 or 5 gamers so as to double up on this World Cup.
Lewis Jones

Why Poland process won’t fear France

The margins couldn’t have been finer. It got here down to at least one Saudi Arabia aim ultimately, however Poland and Mexico followers alike have been unexpectedly googling yellow playing cards for a 20-minute spell within the last video games of Group C.

Although it ended up being a contented night for Poland in a single respect, in lots of others it was extremely worrying.

They had slightly below 27 per cent of possession in opposition to Argentina and no photographs on course. Poland solely registered 4 photographs general and only one nook, displaying how little they ventured into the opposition half.

In their opener in opposition to Mexico, they failed to seek out the web. However, in opposition to Saudi Arabia, that they had simply 9 photographs, however scored twice. The Middle East nation racked up 16 photographs, however have been stored at bay by a Poland defence that didn’t concede till they confronted Argentina.

In truth, it has been goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who has pushed them to a final-gasp final-16 spot. His save from Lionel Messi’s spot kick – which should not have been a penalty to start with – epitomised the shape he’s in.

But Wednesday’s sport drastically uncovered Poland’s lack of attacking chew with no service to one of many world’s finest forwards in Robert Lewandowski. While Szczesny was very good in aim, Poland gave the ball away far too cheaply and too typically, overran by an Argentina aspect who knew what their aim was and the place it was, for that matter.

Poland face France in their final-16 match on Sunday and nothing the World Cup holders have seen to this point will fear them. Didier Deschamps was afforded the posh of rotating his squad in opposition to Tunisia earlier on Wednesday, giving his beginning gamers a significant further relaxation forward of the knockout rounds.

Simply put, in simply three days, Poland must discover a manner of subduing a gifted France frontline and additionally getting service into their most gifted participant. It’s not a straightforward process, however the one manner you possibly can see Poland having an opportunity of reaching the quarter-finals primarily based on their efficiency in opposition to Argentina.
Charlotte Marsh

Saudi Arabia exit World Cup as heroes

Saudi Arabia will at all times have that exceptional victory over Argentina. Those unimaginable 5 second-half minutes when Herve Renard’s aspect turned the sport on its head to stun Lionel Messi and the world.

Who scored the profitable aim for Saudi Arabia in their shock win in opposition to Argentina? Salem Al-Dawsari shall be a pub quiz reply for many years to return.

It was at all times going to be the hardest act to comply with. We by no means noticed Saudi Arabia attain these heights once more in Qatar.

Al-Dawsari was the point of interest of their World Cup hopes but he’ll endlessly surprise what might need been had his penalty not been saved in their defeat to Poland – however he had the final giggle in opposition to Mexico.

Saudi Arabia appeared drained within the Group C finale, stifled by a Mexico aspect whose goal was clear: should-win. They nonetheless confirmed hallmarks of their well-known Argentina success, although, defending with every little thing they needed to repel wave after wave of assaults.

Saudi Arabia’s spirit was by no means damaged. Al-Dawsari ran the ball again to the centre circle after scoring his late aim despite the fact that their qualification hopes had ended lengthy earlier than.

Renard’s workforce will return to their nation as heroes – and that’s the actual victory of their memorable World Cup.
David Richardson

Leckie punishes Denmark and avoids undesirable file

The method of Australia’s win over Denmark, sealing their development to the knockout levels of the World Cup for simply the second time in their historical past, nearly summed up each groups.

Despite heading into this World Cup with the most effective qualifying file of all European nations, all of the dialogue round Denmark within the construct-as much as their Group D decider centred on whether or not they have been capable of end their possibilities off.

The reply ended up being a powerful no, with former Middlesbrough and Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite – who was one in every of three gamers introduced into the beginning line-up – slicing a very nameless determine up entrance.

By distinction, Australia, who appeared on the ropes early on as they soaked up wave after wave of Denmark strain, made probably the most of their alternatives, registering extra photographs on course than the Danes, regardless of mustering barely 30 per cent of the possession.

Mathew Leckie’s aim epitomised the idea, togetherness and the tenacity of this Australian aspect, who struggled within the second half of their World Cup qualifcation marketing campaign, needing to play and win two rounds of play-offs simply to achieve Qatar.

Leckie’s first apearance at a World Cup was again in 2014, and his expertly taken aim to spherical off a precision Australia counter-assault noticed him keep away from claiming an undesirable file – he had taken the joint most photographs on aim for a participant by no means to have scored at a World Cup (16) earlier than his winner in opposition to Denmark.

Australia had misplaced eight of their 11 matches in opposition to European opposition heading into the sport, however they gained this one, and will show difficult opposition in their final-16 tie with Argentina on Sunday if they will replicate the disciplined efficiency they put in in opposition to Denmark.
Dev Trehan

Tunisia be taught their lesson too late

When Antoine Griezmann’s 98th-minute equaliser was dominated out after the newest of VAR calls on the Education City Stadium, there have been a swell of combined feelings for Tunisia.

It was a bittersweet second.

The North African nation had, on the fifth try, registered their first-ever win in opposition to France – the reigning world champions – and deservedly so. But it additionally didn’t matter one bit within the context of the 2022 World Cup.

Jalel Kadri’s males did as a lot as they may on the day, however development to the final 16 was depending on Australia failing to beat Denmark within the different Group D conflict. Matthew Leckie’s strike ensured that may not be the case.

Truthfully, had they been stronger in assault in their earlier two matches, Tunisia may not have discovered themselves in such a precarious place. They defended admirably in opposition to Denmark, but had only one shot on course, and misplaced out to Australia by a single aim in a sport they, arguably, had the higher of.

They acquired practically every little thing proper in opposition to France and even stored simply their third clear sheet in World Cup historical past. Perhaps that they had a spring in their step after they found Didier Deschamps made an unimaginable 9 adjustments to the workforce that beat the Danes on Saturday.

Drama within the dying embers nearly robbed them of a well-known win, however although they did ultimately get it, it was not sufficient to see them crash out on the group stage for the sixth time in six appearances on the world stage.
Dan Long