Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

People are complicated. Love is not.

The US Supreme Court is on the ballot in november.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

When we show up, we win.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Fight them, without becoming them!

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

When they say they’re pro-life, they don’t mean yours.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Please don’t feed the bears.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Republicans don’t trust women.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

You are here: Home / Sports / Wednesday Afternoon World Cup Open Thread: Poland vs Argentina / Saudi Arabia vs Mexico

Wednesday Afternoon World Cup Open Thread: Poland vs Argentina / Saudi Arabia vs Mexico

by | 30 Comments

This post is in: ,

========

Poland vs Argentina


SportsMole:

Argentina will be looking to leapfrog Poland to the top of Group C and qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup when they do battle at Stadium 974 on Wednesday.

The two-time world champions currently sit level on three points with Saudi Arabia, just one point behind Poland at the summit heading into their final group fixture…

Poland’s strengths at the back have been evident in Qatar, as they are one of only two nations who are yet to concede a goal after their first two group matches at the time of writing. Indeed, the Eagles have now kept a clean sheet in each of their last four internationals.

However, keeping Argentina quiet could prove challenging for Poland, as they have conceded in each of their 11 previous meetings with the two-time world champions. Their last encounter against La Albiceleste was successful, though, as they secured a 2-1 friendly win back in 2011.

Victory for Poland on Wednesday would secure top spot in Group C and guarantee their place in the last 16, while a draw could also be enough to finish at the summit if Saudi Arabia fail to beat Mexico. However, defeat will end their World Cup journey if Saudi Arabia claim maximum points…

======

Saudi Arabia vs Mexico

SportsMole:

The race to qualify from World Cup 2022 Group C is set to go right down to the wire, as Saudi Arabia and Mexico prepare to face off in Wednesday’s clash at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.

With at least one of Argentina and Poland set to drop points in their top-two battle, all four sides are still in with a shot of progressing to the last-16 stage.

From the highs of defeating tournament favourites Argentina to the lows of a 2-0 loss to Poland, Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia were brought crashing back down to earth at the weekend and missed the opportunity to seal a historic knockout place.

An inspired performance from Wojciech Szczesny helped get Poland over the line, with the Juventus man saving from Salem Al-Dawsari’s penalty either side of goals from Piotr Zielinski and Robert Lewandowski, the latter’s first at the World Cup at the age of 34…

Reader Interactions

30Comments

  7. 7.

    Kent

    Mexico just scored too.  It will be Argentina and Mexico advancing if this holds up (I think).

    I don’t dislike Poland, but I generally root against Euro teams when playing the rest of the world because there are just too damn many Euro teams out there.  Unless they are playing some egregious horror of country like Saudi Arabia or Iran.

  8. 8.

    Barbara

    @Kent: It might depend on the over/under for the goals.  I think if Mexico wins and Poland loses, they will both have 4 points. Mexico needs to win by a lot in order to overcome Poland on net goals relative other teams.

  9. 9.

    Kent

    @Barbara: Mexico just scored again.  According to the real time standings on Google, Poland has a +1 goal differential and Mexico’s is zero.  So if either Mexico or Argentina score again they will be tied on goal differential.  I don’t know what the next tie breaker is after that.  I think goals scored.  As of right now they both have 2 goals scored so if Mexico scores again they will be head on goals scored.  If Argentina scores again then I think they will be tied for the first 3 tie breakers.  The 4th and 5th tie breakers are head to head competition but they tied 0-0 so all the head to head stuff will leave them tied to the 7th tie breaker which is drawing lots.

  10. 10.

    Kent

    That long distance free kick goal by Mexico was impressive.  Both of their goals have come on set piece, a corner and a very long distance free kick that must have been 30 yards at least.

    I was watching Argentina but now I’ve switched over to Mexico.

  13. 13.

    Kent

    @phdesmond: If this results hold up then by my calculation Mexico and Poland are tied down to the 6th tiebreaker which means the would draw lots to determine who advances.

    Right now they are tied on points (4), goal differential (0), goals scored (2), and on all the head to head metrics since that game ended 0-0.

  15. 15.

    Kent

    @Alison Rose:

     Total Points
    Goal differential
    Total goals
    Points in head-to-head competition
    Goal differential in head-to-head competition
    total goals in head to head competition
    Fair play system (fewest number of yellow and red cards)
    If still tied they draw lots.

    Right now it looks like the are tied through #6 if these two results hold up.

  16. 16.

    Mike E

    SA (& their quite good keeper) are doing everything they can to deny Mexico a 3rd goal and passage into the rd of 16.

  23. 23.

    JML

    Unbelievable late goal by SA. Basically their only attack in the second half and they get a nifty little goal in the 95th minute, crushing Mexican hopes.

  25. 25.

    Kent

    @JML: They would have still gone out absent another goal by Mexico or another goal by Argentina because I think Mexico had more yellow cards than Poland.

  27. 27.

    Alison Rose

    Dang, so if we manage to beat the Netherlands, our quarterfinal opponent would probably be Argentina, barring a massive upset by Australia. Honestly, though, if we make it to that far again, I’d die happy even if we get our asses kicked.

  29. 29.

    JML

    @Kent: They did, but once they gave up the goal even another score wouldn’t have helped.

    I guess it’s better to go out on goal-differential than fair play points? the idiots suggesting that xga (expected goals) by the 7th tie-breaker have lost their minds, though. a) how often does it get to the 7th tie-breaker, and b) how can you have it go on a stat that isn’t officially recorded in the game?

  30. 30.

    Kent

    @Alison Rose:Dang, so if we manage to beat the Netherlands, our quarterfinal opponent would probably be Argentina, barring a massive upset by Australia. Honestly, though, if we make it to that far again, I’d die happy even if we get our asses kicked.

    You can’t expect to have an easy match if you qualify as #2 from your group.  That means you will meet a #1 in the first round.  In fact there are no easy matches from the quarterfinals onwards.  By definition you are down to the final 8 at that point.  Just be thankful it isn’t Brazil.  I guess Argentina is currently ranked #3 in the world behind Brazil and Belgium.  But I don’t think they are necessarily a harder matchup than say Germany or France or Spain or a rematch against England.

Comments are closed.