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A world full of shock and awe 🌟⚽️🏟️🏆

Groups C and D played their final matches to decide which teams will advance to the knockout stage. Argentina and Denmark were fighting for their lives to survive with many fearing either could be eliminated earlier than first anticipated. France was the only team who didn't have to play their hardest and because of that most of their best players didn't see any minutes. Every match was still competitive and full of intense sequences of play.

I'm taking this World Cup one day at a time. After every match, I've been writing down my thoughts about what I witnessed. Yesterday for instance I wrote about...

Netherlands🇳🇱 vs Qatar🇶🇦
Ecuador🇪🇨 vs Senegal🇸🇳
Wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 vs England🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Iran🇮🇷 vs United States🇺🇸

^{You can click here to go back and see that article if you missed it.}

It's without a doubt that the last match of the group stage is usually the most important. Losing your first game can allow enough time to make a comeback. If you lose your final group stage match, it is often what sends teams packing and on a plane back home. If you thought the World Cup has been vigorous up until this point, you may not be ready for what comes next.

Let's recap four more games from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar...

Australia🇦🇺 vs Denmark🇩🇰

^{My Prediction: Denmark}

Denmark started this tournament ranked #10 and many believed them to possibly be a dark horse that could make a deep run into this tournament. Australia on the other hand was ranked #38 and was relying more on team spirit than player quality. Denmark had struggled to win up until this point, while Australia managed to defeat Tunisia. This made the final match of the group stage a must-win for Denmark. Their play showed just how badly they did not want to lose. Australia was stuck defending a relentless Danish squad for most of the match. By the end of the first 45, neither team had managed to score yet. It wasn't until the 60th minute that Australia's Mathew Leckie nailed a lovely ball into the lower far corner and Kasper Schmeichel just had no chance to save it.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1597989197096394752?s=20&t=5wWMicx14oiqBIjp6AmQvg
- FOXSoccer

The single goal was enough to carry the Aussies to victory. This has pushed them through to the knockout stage where they will play Argentina. Denmark has officially been eliminated.

Result: 1-0 in favor of Australia

Tunisia🇹🇳 vs France🇫🇷

^{My Prediction: France}

France has been the best-looking team throughout this World Cup thus far. Even with multiple stars being out due to injury, they have still managed to dominate and knew they would be through the group stage and the result of the match against Tunisia wasn't a major concern for the French. Tunisia though, they were dying to win so that they might still have a chance to advance if Australia were to lose against Denmark. Lucky for France, there is talk that Karim Benzema may be back on the pitch for the knockout stage. This would give them even more of an advantage. Especially since they were able to rest most of their starters in this match against Tunisia. That means no Mbappé to start this one. Through the first half it remained scoreless. To my surprise, it was Tunisia that was first to score when Khazri added one in the 58th minute.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1597988487784972288?s=20&t=5wWMicx14oiqBIjp6AmQvg
- FOXSoccer

Tunisia looked to upset France, but that was until Griezmann scored for the French in the final seconds of added time. However, the goal was taken away when the ref had a look at VAR.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1597999174565371904?s=20&t=rnBWrMJ_eBs_6lcpL7KH1Q
- FOXSoccer

Although Tunisia did win this one, they still will not move on to the knockout stage. France on the other hand was already confirmed to proceed and will face Poland next.

Result: 1-0 in favor of Tunisia

Poland🇵🇱 vs Argentina🇦🇷

^{My Prediction: Argentina}

Poland knew they were going to have it rough against Argentina, but not this tough. Through the first half, Argentina had 14 shots while Poland had only one. Possession was heavily in favor of Argentina and this had Polish players running around the pitch nonstop. You could tell they were getting tired by how often they were getting water from the sideline. Despite all of the Argentine shots, none were goals thanks to Polish keeper Wojciech Szczęsny. He came into the match with the most saves of any goalkeeper and Poland shut out both opponents in the tournament so far, but could they do it against Messi and Argentina?

Toward the end of the first half, Messi was awarded a penalty kick after the ref checked with VAR to confirm. Messi vs Szczęsny. Most would predict Messi to prevail, but it was Szczęsny who came through with a clutch save (he had 9 saves in the first half) to keep the game scoreless going into halftime. This makes Lionel Messi the first player in history to have 2 penalties saved in the World Cup.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598039123809472519?s=20&t=P0voh8E91JAfiBSDoqkVEA
- FOXSoccer

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598039435962159145?s=20&t=P0voh8E91JAfiBSDoqkVEA
- FOXSoccer

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598040065514606598?s=20&t=P0voh8E91JAfiBSDoqkVEA
- FOXSoccer

Another save worth noting was this curved corner kick from Ángel Di María. It was nearly in, but not on Szczęsny's watch.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598037854382395410?s=20&t=P0voh8E91JAfiBSDoqkVEA
- FOXSoccer

Going into the final 45 minutes Argentina was dying to score a goal and solidify their advancement toward the knockout stage. They didn't wait long to make that happen when Alexis Mac Allister accepted a cross during the 47th minute which resulted in a one-time strike into an unreachable corner of the goal. Szczęsny had officially conceded for the first time during this World Cup.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598046049737838630?s=20&t=kHgl5gaofwXelBiuvsBfqA
- FOXSoccer

Soon after in the 68th minute, Argentina scored another one when Julián Álvarez landed a beautiful shot past Szczęsny. This pushed Poland one goal closer to being eliminated despite starting this match at the top of C.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598051425342423052?s=20&t=lm0uFwoC81CgnipXwszE8w
- FOXSoccer

Argentina continued their dominance and had a blistering 24 shots while Poland had a mere 3 total. There were many close calls towards the end where Argentina could have easily had a 4th or 5th goal but to no avail. Argentina advances to the knockout stage and will face Australia. Poland scathes by despite getting trounced and will move on to the next stage where they go up against France.

Result: 0-2 in favor of Argentina

Saudi Arabia🇸🇦 vs Mexico🇲🇽

^{My Prediction: Mexico}

Both of these teams had a chance to advance to the next stage, although it was going to be a lot less likely for Mexico. The fact that either side knew they could possibly advance with a win, meant they would bring their best game. Saudi Arabia did a solid job of holding off a frenetic Mexican squad. Mexico had double the possession of that of Saudi Arabia, but even with 11 shots were unable to score during the first half.

Going into the second half Mexico was starving for their first goal of this World Cup. Much like Argentina, Mexico did not take long to claim that first goal when Henry Martín knocked one in off a Mexican corner in the 48th minute.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598047100759117864?s=20&t=PNLGnJDkElcXsY_bv-_Mdw
- FOXSoccer

Even with that first goal, they still needed more since goal difference with Poland would likely come into play. Mexico found a way to score yet again with a flawless free kick just outside of the box in the 52nd minute. Luis Chávez blitzed one over the Saudi Arabian wall that landed in the top corner of the goal. This is one of the top goals of the World Cup so far.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598048165273473045?s=20&t=UB8YJCSDZ3oO0hs_LCxh9A
- FOXSoccer

Mexico had many chances to score the third goal that they needed to beat out Poland with goal differential. Despite all of the chances, they were unable to score that must-have goal. Saudi Arabia managed to score a goal in added time, but it meant little to nothing other than a stat bump for Salem Al-Dawsari.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598059146640871424?s=20&t=pvJD17H3e18DkWt4-Gt1AQ
- FOXSoccer

Saudi Arabia and Mexico both were eliminated and this now concludes Group C.

Result: 1-2 in favor of Mexico

Moving along to what is next 🥇🥈

Group C was the closest of them all so far. Mexico nearly made the unthinkable happen, while Poland didn't even look like it deserved to move on. Then over in Group D, we had Australia surprise everyone and upset Denmark. France may have lost, but trust me when I say it was a fluke and it'll be tough for any of their next opponents to beat them, especially when a draw will no longer be an option moving forward.