ARGENTINA have recovered from their opening day defeat to Saudi Arabia to top Group C.
The South Americans lost 2-1 on the opening day of the group but finished top after consecutive victories against Mexico and Poland.
Robert Lewandowski’s side have joined them in the last-16 despite defeat, finishing above Mexico on goal difference.
And there is a host of games to enjoy next, with both Spain and Germany in action and seeking qualification to the next round while Croatia take on Belgium.
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Stay tuned with all the latest ahead from tournament…
Pochettino praises Rashford
Ex-Tottenham boss has praised Manchester United and England superstar Marcus Rashford.
The Red Devils ace is the World Cup’s top scorer with three goals.
He scored a brace in the 3-0 group win over Wales.
On Rashford, Poch said: “I’ve always liked [Rashford].
“I knew of his process because I was in England, but I think he’s a great player.
“He just needs the confidence and for himself to believe, to put him at the top level. The quality is there for him.”
England using special goal net to practice penalties
England are using a special net for penalty practice every day ahead of the World Cup knockout stages.
Gareth Southgate’s penalty takers are being tasked with trying to get greater accuracy on their spot-kicks.
And that involves the special net being used for extra practice during each session.
And no doubt that will now be increased as the Three Lions prepare to face Senegal in the last-16 on Sunday.
The net has been designed so that players will aim for the corners of the goal.
Credit: EDDIE KEOGH / GETTY Bellingham celebrates Foden’s goal BEFORE it goes in
Jude Bellingham celebrated Phil Foden’s goal against Wales BEFORE the ball had hit the back of the net.
Manchester City ace Foden, 22, scored the second in the 3-0 win over the Dragons.
t might have been his first start of the tournament, but Bellingham clearly wasn’t worried about Foden’s match sharpness.
The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet was so confident Foden would score he raised his arms in celebration before the ball nestled into the back of the net.
Bellingham was then the first to reach Foden as the playmaker wheeled away in jubilation after scoring.
Jude Bellingham celebrated Phil Foden’s goal before it crossed the lineCredit: PA
Saliba slams manager selection
Arsenal defender William Saliba has pointed towards Didier Deschamps’ team selection and set-up as to why France lost 1-0 to Tunisia.
The reigning defending champions are through to the World Cup knockouts but the defeat was embarrassing nonetheless.
Saliba told beIN SPORTS: “It definitely wasn’t an easy game today.
“The team was changed, there were a lot of players who had never played together, so it was a bit difficult.
“It was a bit better in the second half at the start, but then we conceded that goal. We were pushing at the end to try and score but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“I wouldn’t say there was a sense of fear, but we were shaken up a bit at the start of the match. But there were players who weren’t in their usual position, so they weren’t used to it.”
Credit: Getty Bale has LAFC contract break clause
Gareth Bale must decide by the end of February whether he will return to LAFC for the new season in the US.
And that could give a big clue over whether he intends to make himself available to Wales for the Euro 2024 qualifiers which start the following month.
The 33-year-old signed an 18-month deal with the MLS Cup winners in the summer and is due back to start preparing for the 2023 campaign in the New Year.
Senior figures at LA are expecting him to return but it is understood there is a break in his contract at this point – if all parties agree.
Full-time: Saudi Arabia 1 Mexico 2
Heartbreak for Mexico, who had the momentum to pip Poland to second.
Argentina could have stuck more past the Poles, but failed to do so.
Saudi also scored late on to pull Mexico’s goal difference back down.
Full-time: Poland 0 Argentina 2
Wow! Argentina top Group C after getting off to a horrible start with a loss to Saudi Arabia.
They will now play Australia in the round of 16, avoiding reigning champions France.
Poland hang on JUST to come home in second.
Mexico conceded late on to Saudi Arabia, putting their goal difference one below Poland.
Premier League duo Julián Álvarez and Alexis Mac Allister got the goals for the Copa America champs.
Canelo in grovelling apology to Messi
Canelo Alvarez has issued a grovelling apology after his threat to Lionel Messi over the World Cup shirt row.
The Argentine’s foot brushed a Mexico shirt on the dressing room floor which Canelo took as a sign of disrespect, leading to a threat being made.
Canelo has since walked that back.
He wrote: “These last few days I got carried away by the passion and love I feel for my country and made comments that were out of place for which I want to apologise to Messi and the people of Argentina.
“Every day we learn something new and this time it was my turn.
“I wish both teams much success in their matches today and here we will continue supporting Mexico until the end.”
Mendes ruled out for rest of tournament
Nuno Mendes has dealt a huge blow to Portugal’s World Cup hopes after being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender limped off the pitch in tears during the Portuguese’s win over Uruguay on Monday night.
Mendes appeared to suffer a thigh strain, although the severity of the injury wasn’t fully known.
But the full-back’s tournament has come to a premature end after further assessment from team doctors.
Poland 0 Argentina 2
Uh oh….. Mexico and Poland are level on goal difference.
Julian Alvarez has got the goal for Argentina and there are tears in the stands.
The final 20 minutes are going to be a MADNESS and you don’t want to miss it.
Poland are still second.
Stay posted on Mexico HERE.
Argentina can be found HERE.
Saudi Arabia 0 Mexico 2
Poland fans, are you starting to get nervous? If not, you should be, because Mexico have scored AGAIN.
Luis Chávez has just scored an absolute belter of a free-kick.
The wind is in Mexico’s sails…. stay posted HERE.
Saudi Arabia 0 Mexico 1
Group C has sparked into life!
Striker Henry Martín has the goal and Mexico are level on points with second-placed Poland as it stands but remain third.
Poland 0 Argentina 1
Argentina have a breakthrough and it’s the Brighton man who has the goal.
Alexis Mac Allister met a cross and guided his effort into the far corner.
Martin Blackburn half-time assessment: Saudi 0 Mexico 0
Something is going to have to give here – or both these teams are going out of the World Cup tonight.
Nobody can doubt the efforts of the two teams in a frantic first half played out in front of a raucous crowd at the Lusail.
But the busiest man on the park was English ref Michael Oliver who seemed to be blowing for fouls every couple of minutes.
And the North East based ref must have known what to expect from the two teams with the most yellow cards in the competition so far.
Saudi keeper Mohammed Al Owais has made a couple of useful saves – particularly one to deny Alexis Vega early on.
But Mexico are still looking for their first goal of the tournament – two and a half games in.
Herve Renard’s Saudis were well drilled as usual but may need to show more adventure in the second half if they are to reach the knock-out rounds.
Ali Al Hassan’s diving header which zipped across the face of goal was as close as they came to breaking the deadlock.
Martin Lipton half-time assessment: Poland 0 Argentina 0
To be fair to the Argentinian fans, even the Messi spot-kick miss hasn’t stopped them giving it large.
Then again, it feels like virtually the entire half has been played just in front of Szczesny.
Poland haven’t conceded a goal in this tournament so far.
You can see why. Terrific, determined and brave defending.
But can they really keep it up for another 45 minutes – plus, well five, six, seven, eight on top?
That would really be something remarkable.
Poland 0 Argentina 0
PENALTY MISSED!
Lionel Messi misses from the penalty spot with Wojciech Szczęsny denying Argentina the lead.
Just click HERE to follow the minute-by-minute action.
Credit: Getty Poland 0 Argentina 0
Messi has been on the ball a lot in the first half.
Fans flock behind White
Football fans have flocked to support England and Arsenal defender Ben White.
White left England’s World Cup training base and returned home for personal reasons.
The defender missed training on the eve of England’s World Cup clash with Wales through illness and wasn’t in Tuesday’s matchday squad.
One fan said on Twitter: “Thoughts go out to Ben White, wishing him strength with whatever he’s dealing with.”
Another tweeted: “Gutted Ben White has had to be withdraw from the England squad hope all is well with him.”
Arsenal issue statement
Ben White’s club Arsenal have posted a short message of support to their defender.
White left England’s World Cup training base and returned home for personal reasons.
The defender missed training on the eve of England’s World Cup clash with Wales through illness and wasn’t in Tuesday’s matchday squad.
Ronaldo misses Portugal training
Cristiano Ronaldo missed Portugal training today ahead of their final group game amid speculation over his Saudi Arabian transfer.
The 37-year-old has reportedly been offered the chance to become the highest-paid sportsperson of all time by Al-Nassr.
The superstar is a free agent after leaving Manchester United last week.
But SunSport understands Ronaldo is still keen to play Champions League football and has not agreed the offer of a two-and-a-half year contract worth £173 million-a-year with Al-Nassr, despite reports in Marca.
However, his current focus is on trying to fire Portugal to World Cup glory.
Credit: Getty BREAKING: White leaves World Cup camp
Arsenal defender Ben White has left England’s World Cup training base and returned home for personal reasons.
A statement read: “Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons.
“The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament.
“We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time.”
Saliba on France loss
Arsenal’s William Saliba has given his assessment on France’s shock World Cup loss to Tunisia.
The reigning world champs lost 1-0 and were denied an equaliser in added-time by VAR.
Saliba, who started the game, said: “It definitely wasn’t an easy game today. The team was changed, there were a lot of players who had never played together, so it was a bit difficult.
“It was a bit better in the second half at the start, but then we conceded that goal. We were pushing at the end to try and score but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
He continued: “I wouldn’t say there was a sense of fear, but we were shaken up a bit at the start of the match. But there were players who weren’t in their usual position, so they weren’t used to it.”
Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
The line-ups for Saudi vs Mexico are IN and both teams have a chance of making the knockouts.
Danger man Salem Aldawsari starts for the Middle Eastern team.
Mohamed Kanno has also impressed in the middle of the park.
As for Mexico, they’ll need Guillermo Ochoa in fine form.
Ajax’s Edson Álvarez starts in the middle of the park and will need to extinguish any fires.
You know the drill.
Click HERE to follow SunSport’s minute-by-minute coverage of the Saudi-Mexico dust-up.
Last dance?
THIS just might be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup match, with Argentina needing victory over Poland to be certain of qualification for the knock-out stage.
The little maestro, who will turn 39 during the next World Cup in 2026, has scored in both of his side’s matches so far – in the defeat by Saudi Arabia and the victory over Mexico.
Lose and Argentina are out. Win and they will top the group and face Australia.
Draw and it’s either a titanic last-16 clash with France or they’re out, depending on the result of the Saudi-Mexico game.
Poland were buoyed by their talisman and goal machine Robert Lewandowski scoring his first World Cup finals goal in their victory over the Saudis last time out and are bidding to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1986.
Poland vs Argentina
The teamsheets are IN!
Poland are going with two strikers up top in a 4-4-2.
Robert Lewandowski starts and will be hoping to reach the knockouts.
Argentina are shaping up with a 4-2-3-1 with Lionel Messi in behind Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez.
Enzo Fernandez has been rewarded for his goal against Mexico.
The Benfica ace starts alongside Rodrigo de Paul.
Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister also starts.
As ALWAYS, SunSport has you covered with our dedicated live match blog.
Just click HERE to follow the minute-by-minute action.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
