Ecuador vs Senegal
Ecuador’s younger group are tantalisingly near a record-equalling final 16 place within the World Cup if they will beat or draw with African champions Senegal of their Group A showdown on Tuesday on the Khalifa International Stadium.
The South Americans have had an excellent begin to the event, 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 completed, nevertheless, as defeat by African champions Senegal may ship them dwelling fairly than allow them to succeed in the knockout spherical for the second time in Ecuador’s historical past.
FIFA World Cup at the moment, Day 10 matches
Ecuador vs Senegal – 8:30pm – Khalifa International stadium
Netherlands vs Qatar – 8:30pm – Al Bayt stadium
Iran vs USA -12:30am – Al Thumama stadium
Wales vs England – 12:30am – Ahmed Bin Ali stadium
Where are you able to watch the matches in India?
All matches of FIFA World Cup shall be telecast reside on Sports18 and Sports18 HD. The event shall be reside streamed on JioCinema on Android and properly as iOS.
“We have a bigger battle coming,” coach Gustavo Alvaro rapidly warned after the euphoria of the efficiency towards the Dutch, whom he had craftily acknowledged upfront had been a superior aspect.
So far, Ecuador have been reliant on their veteran striker Enner Valencia, who has scored all their objectives so as to add to his three on the 2014 World Cup.
But 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 part good that Ecuador do, each shielding his defence and releasing the strikers.
Once 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 sit down 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 of 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 event in Russia the place they had been eradicated on disciplinary factors.
Senegal may theoretically nonetheless undergo in the event that they draw, as may 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 purpose distinction.
-AP
Netherlands vs Qatar
The Netherlands is on the verge of reaching the knockout stage on the World Cup and an awesome favourite in its closing Group A match on Tuesday towards host nation Qatar.
If the Dutch advance it’ll put extra give attention to 71-year-old coach Louis van Gaal, who stepped out of retirement simply over a yr in the past to take over the nationwide group 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 may even get by way of with a loss if Ecuador beats Senegal within the different Group A match.
In 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 United States 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. group’s tense goalless stalemate towards England on Friday arrange a tantalising closing 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 group goes by way of 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, a logo of peace within the nation, to their American opponents.
Overshadowing Iran’s World Cup build-up this yr has been civil unrest at dwelling over the September loss of life in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, arrested for flouting the nation’s strict Islamic gown code.
Team 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 had been heard from Iran supporters.
Amid rising public strain 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 group’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 group saved 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 odds 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 dwelling early they’ll wish to accomplish that with pleasure restored.
Wales has waited 64 lengthy years to qualify for a World Cup however after conceding two objectives to Iran deep into stoppage on Friday it seems like being solely a quick keep in Middle East.
That late defeat left Wales crestfallen and on the backside of group B and needing to beat England for less than the 14th time in 104 conferences, a rivalry courting again to 1879.
Even a victory may not be sufficient to avoid wasting Wales as it will additionally want the opposite remaining group match between Iran and the United States to finish in a draw.
There is one different state of affairs, one which has by no means occurred earlier than, through which Wales should beat England by 4 objectives, through which they case they might undergo to the final 16, no matter the results of the opposite recreation, on the expense of England.
While the complexities of the maths are head-spinning, Wales will simply wish to land a blow on its previous 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 fairly nameless within the defeat by Iran.
While 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 area 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.
Manager Gareth Southgate started these video games with equivalent beginning line-ups, however may properly resolve to make some tweaks towards Wales with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish in line for a begin and maybe a possibility for striker Callum Wilson.
Only a four-goal defeat may ship England crashing out, with bookmakers pricing that as a 400-1 shot, so there is a chance for Southgate to tinker along with his line-up and maybe even defend striker Harry Kane forward of the final 16.
-AP