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Matchday 7 Live Blog: Argentina, Mexico under way as France, Australia, Poland emerge victorious
Join us for Matchday 7 as we bring you the key moments and highlights from today's FIFA World Cup fixtures.
Published 26 November 2022 8:22pm
Updated 27 November 2022 8:03am
By SBS Sport
Source: SBS
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Lewandowski off the mark
82' - First-ever World Cup goal!
A mistake from Abdulelah Al-Malki allows Robert Lewandowski to double Poland's lead.
It is the 34-year-old's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
A mistake from Abdulelah Al-Malki allows Robert Lewandowski to double Poland's lead.
It is the 34-year-old's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup.
Second half starts
46' - Saudi Arabia begin second half
The Asian nation restart proceedings looking to get back into the contest.
The Asian nation restart proceedings looking to get back into the contest.
Half-time whistle blows
45' - Referee blows the whistle to end the first half
That's the end of a pulsating first half of this match, a fast start leading to an explosive ending with Poland taking the lead before Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty via VAR, only to have Wojciech Szczęsny make an amazing double save that will be a save of the tournament contender.
It's sure to be a hectic second 45, so make sure you tune in to see how this match turns out.
That's the end of a pulsating first half of this match, a fast start leading to an explosive ending with Poland taking the lead before Saudi Arabia were awarded a penalty via VAR, only to have Wojciech Szczęsny make an amazing double save that will be a save of the tournament contender.
It's sure to be a hectic second 45, so make sure you tune in to see how this match turns out.
Szczęsny says no
45+1' - Szczęsny denies Saudi Arabia... twice!
A brief check from the Video Assistant Referee awards Saudi Arabia a penalty, but Salem Al-Dawsari is unable to beat Wojciech Szczęsny.
The rebound falls to Mohammed Al-Breik and the Poland shot-stopper again saves his effort.
Poland remain in front!
A brief check from the Video Assistant Referee awards Saudi Arabia a penalty, but Salem Al-Dawsari is unable to beat Wojciech Szczęsny.
The rebound falls to Mohammed Al-Breik and the Poland shot-stopper again saves his effort.
Poland remain in front!
Deadlock broken
40' - Zielinski fires Poland in front!
The ball falls to Robert Lewandowski and the Poland striker squares it to Piotr Zielinski who makes no mistake.
The ball falls to Robert Lewandowski and the Poland striker squares it to Piotr Zielinski who makes no mistake.
First half under way
1' - Kick-off
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
We are underway with the start of the first half at Education City Stadium.
Head-to-Head: Poland v Saudi Arabia
· Poland have won all three matches against Saudi Arabia.
· The most recent game between these nations was a friendly in Riyadh on 28 March 2006. Poland won 2-1 courtesy of a double by Lukasz Sosin (7', 63'). Redha Tuker (27') scored for Saudi Arabia.
· The first two matches between Poland and Saudi Arabia were friendlies in 1994. The Poles won 1-0 in Cannes on 13 April (goal by Tomasz Wieszczycki) and 2-1 in Riyadh on 10 December (Sami Al Jaber scored for the hosts, and Henryk Baluszynski and Tomasz Rzasa netted for the visitors).
· Poland have played two World Cup fixtures versus teams from the Asian Football Confederation (both in the group stage): a 2-0 defeat against Korea Republic in Busan in 2002 and a 1-0 victory versus Japan in Volgograd in 2018 (goal by Jan Bednarek).
· Saudi Arabia lost nine of their 10 World Cup matches against UEFA opposition (aggregate score in those 10 games was 31-3). The only exception was a 1-0 win versus Belgium in Washington, DC, in the 1994 group stage (goal by Saeed Owairan).
· Saudi Arabia failed to score in each of their last seven World Cup games versus UEFA opposition, since Fahed Al-Ghesheyan netted in a 3-1 defeat against Sweden in Dallas in the 1994 round of last 16.
· Grzegorz Krychowiak plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al Shabab. He can face his club teammates Hassan Al-Tambakti, Nawaf Al-Abed and Hattan Bahebri.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· The most recent game between these nations was a friendly in Riyadh on 28 March 2006. Poland won 2-1 courtesy of a double by Lukasz Sosin (7', 63'). Redha Tuker (27') scored for Saudi Arabia.
· The first two matches between Poland and Saudi Arabia were friendlies in 1994. The Poles won 1-0 in Cannes on 13 April (goal by Tomasz Wieszczycki) and 2-1 in Riyadh on 10 December (Sami Al Jaber scored for the hosts, and Henryk Baluszynski and Tomasz Rzasa netted for the visitors).
· Poland have played two World Cup fixtures versus teams from the Asian Football Confederation (both in the group stage): a 2-0 defeat against Korea Republic in Busan in 2002 and a 1-0 victory versus Japan in Volgograd in 2018 (goal by Jan Bednarek).
· Saudi Arabia lost nine of their 10 World Cup matches against UEFA opposition (aggregate score in those 10 games was 31-3). The only exception was a 1-0 win versus Belgium in Washington, DC, in the 1994 group stage (goal by Saeed Owairan).
· Saudi Arabia failed to score in each of their last seven World Cup games versus UEFA opposition, since Fahed Al-Ghesheyan netted in a 3-1 defeat against Sweden in Dallas in the 1994 round of last 16.
· Grzegorz Krychowiak plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al Shabab. He can face his club teammates Hassan Al-Tambakti, Nawaf Al-Abed and Hattan Bahebri.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Poland Stats
· Poland's opening game of this tournament was a 0-0 draw versus Mexico at Stadium 974, the seventh consecutive World Cup appearance the Poles have failed to win their opening match.
· Poland progressed from the (first) group stage in all four World Cups they avoided defeat in their opening match (third in 1974 and 1982, second group stage in 1978, round of last 16 in 1986).
· Poland are guaranteed to have a chance of progressing to the knockout phase in the final round of group stage games even if they lose this match. The Poles were eliminated after two games in each of their last three World Cup appearances (2002, 2006, 2018).
· Poland have not won a World Cup match when they had not already been eliminated since a 1-0 victory against Portugal in their second game of the 1986 tournament. All three of the Poles' World Cup triumphs since were in the final round of group stage fixtures when they had already been knocked out.
· Poland have won all 14 World Cup games they scored the opening goal. Saudi Arabia won 2-1 after conceding the opening goal in both of their last two World Cup matches.
· Robert Lewandowski (76 goals in 135 appearances) is Poland's all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker, but he has failed to net in all four of his World Cup games. Lewandowski had 11 shot attempts in those four matches, including having a penalty saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa in their opening fixture in Qatar.
· Lewandowski can fail to score in four consecutive appearances for club and country for the first time since a run of five from September to October 2018.
· Each of Poland's last three World Cup penalties were saved: Kazimierz Deyna in 1978 (saved by Argentina's Ubaldo Matildo Fillol), Maciej Zurawski in 2002 (saved by USA's Brad Friedel) and Robert Lewandowski in 2022 (saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa).
· Kamil Glik is joint-fourth alongside Grzegorz Lato (both 100) in Poland's all-time leading appearance makers. The top three are Robert Lewandowski (135), Jakub Blaszczykowski (108) and Michal Zewlakow (102).
· Przemyslaw Frankowski is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Poland progressed from the (first) group stage in all four World Cups they avoided defeat in their opening match (third in 1974 and 1982, second group stage in 1978, round of last 16 in 1986).
· Poland are guaranteed to have a chance of progressing to the knockout phase in the final round of group stage games even if they lose this match. The Poles were eliminated after two games in each of their last three World Cup appearances (2002, 2006, 2018).
· Poland have not won a World Cup match when they had not already been eliminated since a 1-0 victory against Portugal in their second game of the 1986 tournament. All three of the Poles' World Cup triumphs since were in the final round of group stage fixtures when they had already been knocked out.
· Poland have won all 14 World Cup games they scored the opening goal. Saudi Arabia won 2-1 after conceding the opening goal in both of their last two World Cup matches.
· Robert Lewandowski (76 goals in 135 appearances) is Poland's all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker, but he has failed to net in all four of his World Cup games. Lewandowski had 11 shot attempts in those four matches, including having a penalty saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa in their opening fixture in Qatar.
· Lewandowski can fail to score in four consecutive appearances for club and country for the first time since a run of five from September to October 2018.
· Each of Poland's last three World Cup penalties were saved: Kazimierz Deyna in 1978 (saved by Argentina's Ubaldo Matildo Fillol), Maciej Zurawski in 2002 (saved by USA's Brad Friedel) and Robert Lewandowski in 2022 (saved by Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa).
· Kamil Glik is joint-fourth alongside Grzegorz Lato (both 100) in Poland's all-time leading appearance makers. The top three are Robert Lewandowski (135), Jakub Blaszczykowski (108) and Michal Zewlakow (102).
· Przemyslaw Frankowski is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Saudi Arabia Stats
· Saudi Arabia will qualify for the knockout phase if they win this match. They will be confirmed as group winners if they win AND Argentina vs Mexico ends in a draw.
· Saudi Arabia can reach the World Cup knockout phase for the second time, after they achieved this on their tournament debut in 1994. They were eliminated 3-1 by Sweden in the round of last 16 after recording group stage wins against Morocco (2-1) and Belgium (1-0).
· Based on analysis by Gracenote, Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win against Argentina in the opening round of group stage games was the biggest shock result in World Cup history. The Green Falcons had an 8.7% chance of winning, lower than USA's 1-0 victory versus England in 1950 (9.5% chance, the previous biggest shock result at the tournament).
· Saudi Arabia can become the first team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to win both of their opening two matches of a World Cup campaign.
· Saudi Arabia can become the first AFC team to win three successive World Cup matches (Note: games decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw). The Green Falcons' 2-1 win versus Argentina in their opening fixture in Qatar followed a 2-1 victory against Egypt in their final group game in 2018.
· Saudi Arabia conceded multiple goals in only one of their last 18 official matches, in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat versus Japan in Saitama on 1 February 2022.
· Salem Al-Dawsari (2) is one of three players to score multiple World Cup goals for Saudi Arabia, alongside Sami Al Jaber (3) and Fuad Amin (2). Only Amin (2 in 1994) has netted multiple World Cup goals for the Green Falcons at a single edition of the tournament.
· Hervé Renard can become the third French manager to guide a team other than France to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Both of the previous two were in 2002: Bruno Metsu for Senegal (quarter-finals) and Omar Troussier for Japan (round of last 16).
· Abdulelah Al-Malki, Ali Al-Boleahi, Salem Al-Dawsari, Saud Abdulhamid, Nawaf Al-Abed and Mohammed Al-Owais are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Saudi Arabia can reach the World Cup knockout phase for the second time, after they achieved this on their tournament debut in 1994. They were eliminated 3-1 by Sweden in the round of last 16 after recording group stage wins against Morocco (2-1) and Belgium (1-0).
· Based on analysis by Gracenote, Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win against Argentina in the opening round of group stage games was the biggest shock result in World Cup history. The Green Falcons had an 8.7% chance of winning, lower than USA's 1-0 victory versus England in 1950 (9.5% chance, the previous biggest shock result at the tournament).
· Saudi Arabia can become the first team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to win both of their opening two matches of a World Cup campaign.
· Saudi Arabia can become the first AFC team to win three successive World Cup matches (Note: games decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw). The Green Falcons' 2-1 win versus Argentina in their opening fixture in Qatar followed a 2-1 victory against Egypt in their final group game in 2018.
· Saudi Arabia conceded multiple goals in only one of their last 18 official matches, in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat versus Japan in Saitama on 1 February 2022.
· Salem Al-Dawsari (2) is one of three players to score multiple World Cup goals for Saudi Arabia, alongside Sami Al Jaber (3) and Fuad Amin (2). Only Amin (2 in 1994) has netted multiple World Cup goals for the Green Falcons at a single edition of the tournament.
· Hervé Renard can become the third French manager to guide a team other than France to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Both of the previous two were in 2002: Bruno Metsu for Senegal (quarter-finals) and Omar Troussier for Japan (round of last 16).
· Abdulelah Al-Malki, Ali Al-Boleahi, Salem Al-Dawsari, Saud Abdulhamid, Nawaf Al-Abed and Mohammed Al-Owais are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
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FT - Australia have done it!
The Socceroos have held on for a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Tunisia.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Poland v Saudi Arabia shortly!
The Socceroos have held on for a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Tunisia.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Poland v Saudi Arabia shortly!
10 minutes remaining...
80' - It's now or never for Tunisia!
Time is winding down and Tunisia are continuing to mount pressure on the Socceroos!
Time is winding down and Tunisia are continuing to mount pressure on the Socceroos!
Second half starts
46' - Tunisia begin second half
The African nation restart proceedings looking to take control of the contest.
The African nation restart proceedings looking to take control of the contest.
Half-time whistle blows
HT - The referee calls an end to the first half
The players head for the tunnel after an encouraging first 45 minutes from Australia.
Mitch Duke has been immense!
The players head for the tunnel after an encouraging first 45 minutes from Australia.
Mitch Duke has been immense!
It's in! Australia score
23' - Duke heads Australia in front!
It's a wonderful start for the Socceroos as Mitch Duke angles his header past Aymen Dahmen.
Craig Goodwin's cross took a slight deflection and Duke did the rest to stun Tunisia.
It's a wonderful start for the Socceroos as Mitch Duke angles his header past Aymen Dahmen.
Craig Goodwin's cross took a slight deflection and Duke did the rest to stun Tunisia.
First half under way
1' - Kick-off
We are underway with the start of the first half at Al Janoub Stadium.
We are underway with the start of the first half at Al Janoub Stadium.
Australia Stats
· Australia will be eliminated from the World Cup if they lose this match.
· Australia were eliminated in the group stage in four of their five World Cup appearances. The only exception was when Guus Hiddink guided the Socceroos to the round of last 16 in 2006 (lost 1-0 against Italy to a 95th-minute penalty scored by Francesco Totti).
· Australia lost 4-1 against France in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup, despite taking a ninth-minute lead through Craig Goodwin. It was the fifth time in six World Cup appearances the Socceroos lost their opening match.
· Australia lost six of their last seven World Cup matches (W0-D1-L6), only avoiding defeat in that run in a 1-1 draw versus Denmark in Samara in the 2018 group stage.
· Australia won two of their 17 World Cup fixtures (W2-D4-L11): 3-1 against Japan in the 2006 group stage (opening round of group games) and 2-1 versus Serbia in the 2010 group stage (final round of group games).
· Australia kept only one clean sheet in their 17 World Cup games, in a 0-0 draw versus Chile in the 1974 group stage.
· The players to make the most World Cup appearances for Australia are Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano (both 9). Two players have a chance to equal that tally in the group stage: Mathew Ryan and Mathew Leckie (both currently on seven).
· No player under the age of 26 has scored a World Cup goal for Australia. The Socceroos have 10 outfielders aged under 26 in their current squad, including Garang Kuol who at age 18 years and 68 days old against France became the youngest player to make a World Cup appearance for Australia.
· Craig Goodwin has scored in each of his last four appearances for club and country. His goal against France followed netting in three successive A-League games for Adelaide United.
· Aaron Mooy, Mitchell Duke and Jackson Irvine are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Australia were eliminated in the group stage in four of their five World Cup appearances. The only exception was when Guus Hiddink guided the Socceroos to the round of last 16 in 2006 (lost 1-0 against Italy to a 95th-minute penalty scored by Francesco Totti).
· Australia lost 4-1 against France in their opening game of the 2022 World Cup, despite taking a ninth-minute lead through Craig Goodwin. It was the fifth time in six World Cup appearances the Socceroos lost their opening match.
· Australia lost six of their last seven World Cup matches (W0-D1-L6), only avoiding defeat in that run in a 1-1 draw versus Denmark in Samara in the 2018 group stage.
· Australia won two of their 17 World Cup fixtures (W2-D4-L11): 3-1 against Japan in the 2006 group stage (opening round of group games) and 2-1 versus Serbia in the 2010 group stage (final round of group games).
· Australia kept only one clean sheet in their 17 World Cup games, in a 0-0 draw versus Chile in the 1974 group stage.
· The players to make the most World Cup appearances for Australia are Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano (both 9). Two players have a chance to equal that tally in the group stage: Mathew Ryan and Mathew Leckie (both currently on seven).
· No player under the age of 26 has scored a World Cup goal for Australia. The Socceroos have 10 outfielders aged under 26 in their current squad, including Garang Kuol who at age 18 years and 68 days old against France became the youngest player to make a World Cup appearance for Australia.
· Craig Goodwin has scored in each of his last four appearances for club and country. His goal against France followed netting in three successive A-League games for Adelaide United.
· Aaron Mooy, Mitchell Duke and Jackson Irvine are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Tunisia Stats
· Two teams at the 2022 edition have competed in multiple World Cups and never progressed to the knockout phase: Tunisia and IR Iran (both 5). The only team to make more World Cup appearances without ever reaching the knockout phase are Scotland (8).
· Tunisia have remained unbeaten in consecutive World Cup matches for the first time. They won 2-1 against Panama in their final game of 2018 and drew 0-0 versus Denmark in their opening fixture of 2022.
· Tunisia can avoid defeat in multiple games in a single World Cup campaign for the second time, after 1978 (W1-D1-L1).
· Tunisia are winless in all three World Cup matches they scored the opening goal (W0-D2-L1). Both of their two World Cup victories were in games they conceded the opening goal (3-1 versus Mexico in 1978 and 2-1 versus Panama in 2018).
· Tunisia kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 10 matches. The only exception in that run was a 5-1 friendly defeat versus Brazil in Paris on 27 September.
· Only Issam Jemaa (36) has scored as many goals for Tunisia as Wahbi Khazri (24). Youssef Msakni (17) is joint-sixth on the list, one behind fifth-place Faouzi Rouissi (18).
· Wahbi Khazri (2) is the only player to score multiple World Cup goals for Tunisia. Other players in the current squad to have netted a World Cup goal are Ferjani Sassi and Dylan Bronn (both 1). No player has scored for Tunisia at multiple World Cups.
· Taha Khenissi (49) is one short of 50 appearances for Tunisia.
· Hannibal Mejbri (19y-305d against Denmark) was the second teenager to make a World Cup appearance for Tunisia when he came on as a substitute in the opening game. The first was Yasin Chikhaoui (19y-265d) in a 2-2 draw versus Saudi Arabia in the 2006 group stage.
· Taha Khenissi is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· Tunisia have remained unbeaten in consecutive World Cup matches for the first time. They won 2-1 against Panama in their final game of 2018 and drew 0-0 versus Denmark in their opening fixture of 2022.
· Tunisia can avoid defeat in multiple games in a single World Cup campaign for the second time, after 1978 (W1-D1-L1).
· Tunisia are winless in all three World Cup matches they scored the opening goal (W0-D2-L1). Both of their two World Cup victories were in games they conceded the opening goal (3-1 versus Mexico in 1978 and 2-1 versus Panama in 2018).
· Tunisia kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 10 matches. The only exception in that run was a 5-1 friendly defeat versus Brazil in Paris on 27 September.
· Only Issam Jemaa (36) has scored as many goals for Tunisia as Wahbi Khazri (24). Youssef Msakni (17) is joint-sixth on the list, one behind fifth-place Faouzi Rouissi (18).
· Wahbi Khazri (2) is the only player to score multiple World Cup goals for Tunisia. Other players in the current squad to have netted a World Cup goal are Ferjani Sassi and Dylan Bronn (both 1). No player has scored for Tunisia at multiple World Cups.
· Taha Khenissi (49) is one short of 50 appearances for Tunisia.
· Hannibal Mejbri (19y-305d against Denmark) was the second teenager to make a World Cup appearance for Tunisia when he came on as a substitute in the opening game. The first was Yasin Chikhaoui (19y-265d) in a 2-2 draw versus Saudi Arabia in the 2006 group stage.
· Taha Khenissi is one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Head-to-Head
· This is the third match between Tunisia and Australia. The previous two resulted in one win each.
· The only competitive game between these nations was in the 2005 Confederations Cup group stage. Tunisia defeated Australia 2-0 in Leipzig through a double by Francileudo Santos (26', 70'). Neither team progressed to the knockout phase.
· The first meeting of these teams was a friendly in Tunis on 1 October 1997. Australia defeated Tunisia 3-0 courtesy of goals by Aurelio Vidmar, Mark Viduka and Matthew Bingley.
· Tony Vidmar (current assistant coach of the Socceroos and younger brother of Aurelio Vidmar) played in both games between Tunisia and Australia.
· This is Tunisia's third World Cup match versus opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Eagles of Carthage lost 2-0 against Japan in Osaka in the 2002 group stage and drew 2-2 versus Saudi Arabia in Munich in the 2006 group stage.
· Australia are winless in each of their last five games against Confederation of African Football (CAF) opposition (W0-D4-L1), including a 1-1 draw versus Ghana in Phokeng in the 2010 World Cup group stage (the Socceroos' only World Cup fixture against a CAF team).
· Australia's most recent win versus CAF opposition was a 1-0 friendly victory against Ghana in Sydney on 23 May 2008 (Mile Sterjovski scored and was sent off).
· Issam Jebali and Joel King are club teammates at OB in Denmark.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· The only competitive game between these nations was in the 2005 Confederations Cup group stage. Tunisia defeated Australia 2-0 in Leipzig through a double by Francileudo Santos (26', 70'). Neither team progressed to the knockout phase.
· The first meeting of these teams was a friendly in Tunis on 1 October 1997. Australia defeated Tunisia 3-0 courtesy of goals by Aurelio Vidmar, Mark Viduka and Matthew Bingley.
· Tony Vidmar (current assistant coach of the Socceroos and younger brother of Aurelio Vidmar) played in both games between Tunisia and Australia.
· This is Tunisia's third World Cup match versus opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Eagles of Carthage lost 2-0 against Japan in Osaka in the 2002 group stage and drew 2-2 versus Saudi Arabia in Munich in the 2006 group stage.
· Australia are winless in each of their last five games against Confederation of African Football (CAF) opposition (W0-D4-L1), including a 1-1 draw versus Ghana in Phokeng in the 2010 World Cup group stage (the Socceroos' only World Cup fixture against a CAF team).
· Australia's most recent win versus CAF opposition was a 1-0 friendly victory against Ghana in Sydney on 23 May 2008 (Mile Sterjovski scored and was sent off).
· Issam Jebali and Joel King are club teammates at OB in Denmark.
Courtesy of Gracenote
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