This Tuesday, it is the turn of groups C of Argentina and A of France to enter their World Cup.
Ranked among the favorite teams, the Albiceleste led by Lionel Messi opens the ball at 11 a.m. and will be scrutinized against Saudi Arabia led by French coach Hervé Renard.
More balanced, the other Group C match, Mexico - Poland (5 p.m.) is promising.
Moreover, while waiting for France - Australia (8 p.m.), Denmark - Tunisia (2 p.m.) will certainly be rich in lessons for the rest of group A. Find the complete program for Tuesday 22 November.
Times are given in French time.
The program
11 a.m.: Argentina v Saudi Arabia (beIN Sports)
2 p.m.: Denmark - Tunisia (beIN Sports)
5 p.m.: Mexico v Poland (beIN Sports)
8 p.m.: France - Australia (TF1, beIN Sports)
The sentence: "There is nothing to be apprehensive about"
Didier Deschamps tried to relieve the pressure of this first match for the Blues, against Australia.
Despite the recent withdrawal of Ballon d'Or Karim Benzema, and the absence of a manager like Paul Pogba, the coach of the Blues is not afraid of running out of leaders for this first match.
“There are always these executives who are there, who have this ability to express themselves, but leadership is not only in words.
There are still enough players who are made to stimulate in the locker room, in the pre-match warm-up, internally also through discussions, ”assured Deschamps at a press conference on Monday.
“There are more experienced players than others, but the group is in a hurry, insisted “DD”.
There is nothing to be apprehensive about.
We have done everything to ensure that the whole group is at its best for this first match which is not decisive but very important.
The first game in a competition is always very important, there is no need to be anxious or anything.
".
See you at 8 p.m. this Tuesday evening against Australia to find out if we are going to shake or not.
Big game: Argentina v Saudi Arabia
After England and the Netherlands on Monday, Argentina, another great contender for the final victory, comes into action against Saudi Arabia, the most modest opponent in Group C, for its first match.
Of course, most eyes will converge on Lionel Messi, whose 35-year-old is probably the last World Cup.
After the failure in the round of 16 at the 2018 Russian World Cup (eliminated 4-3 by France), Argentina presents serious guarantees for the 2022 edition.
Led by coach Lionel Scaloni, the Albiceleste have not lost a single match since July 2019 (24 wins, 11 draws) and won the Copa America last year.
Moreover, Messi's very good start to the season with PSG suggests that Argentina can go very far in the tournament.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or also relies on experienced and quality players such as Di Maria, Tagliafico or Paredes, well known to French football followers.
For its part, the Saudi selection cannot claim to overthrow the South American giant.
But the team led by Frenchman Hervé Renard since 2019 does not come forward as a victim.
It has indeed finished 1st in its qualifying group, ahead of Japan and Australia, conceding only one defeat.
Coming to neighboring Qatar and composed exclusively of players from the Saudi championship, Saudi Arabia will perhaps benefit from an express adaptation to the environment and conditions of the Qatari World Cup.
It's your moment Messi, make us dream once again with Argentina ❤️
The world of football is behind you ❤️
pic.twitter.com/n1yYD3Tyib
— Messi France 🇦🇷🇵🇸 (@MessiFrance_) November 20, 2022
Player to watch: Christian Eriksen
After the heart attack which almost cost him his life during the inaugural match of the Euros in the summer of 2021, the Danish midfielder, 30, is once again at the rendezvous of a major tournament and enters the track ahead of Tunisia on Tuesday.
After the installation of a defibrillator, which forced him to terminate his contract with Inter Milan (due to Italian regulations for this type of device), he played again in March 2022 and removed all doubts about his skills.
“I think one of the first conversations I had with the doctors in Amsterdam (where he was seen) was about my goal of playing in the World Cup if all goes well.
It was my dream back then,” Eriksen said.
Hired by Brentford, he largely worked to maintain the club in the Premier League last season, before being hired by Manchester United, where he gives satisfaction in a more remote position than in the past.
“How far do we want to go?
We dream of something big, ”said Qatar Eriksen whose team had obtained a 0-0 against France in the group stage in Russia and had been eliminated by Croatia in 1 / 8 2-1 after extra time .
After which, without Eriksen, Denmark had gone to the 1/2 final of the Euro.
But the latter was back among his own when they twice dominated (1-2 and 2-0) the Blues in the League of Nations this year.
The prediction on which not to risk: Mexico - Poland
It is on the result of this Group C match that the identity of the team supposed to accompany Argentina in the 1/8th should depend.
But very clever who can say which is likely to win.
The Poles certainly rely on their goal hunters Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski, the FC Barcelona striker, 34, 76 goals in 134 caps, but still looking for a goal in the World Cup.
In 2018, he remained silent and Poland failed in the 1st round.
The Poles are in search of an 1/8th for the first time since 1986, after three eliminations in the 1st round during their three participations in the World since (2002, 2006 and 2018).
Opposite, Mexico, which is an aging selection and without real stars, arrives at the World Cup without great certainty.
But, unlike their opponents on Tuesday, Tata Martino's team are experts in the art of getting out of the group stage.
The number: 7
Mexico, competing with Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia in Group C, have failed seven times in a row in the Round of 16 of the World Cup.