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Saudi Arabia have nothing to be ashamed about after World Cup elimination

Saudi Arabia have nothing to be ashamed about after being eliminated from the World Cup following a 2–1 loss to Mexico on Wednesday.

The second-lowest ranked team in the tournament at No. 51 – one spot behind host Qatar – and ahead of only 61st-ranked Ghana, Saudi Arabia was competitive from start to finish at the first World Cup in the Middle East.

The Saudis opened with a surprising 2–1 victory over Argentina and also played solidly in a 2–0 loss to Poland before conceding two second-half goals to Mexico to finish last in Group C.

Salem Al-Dawsari, the team's star No. 10, pulled a goal back in added time, before the Saudi players bent over on the field at the final whistle in prayer and then stood up to applaud their fans.

Full-time: Saudi Arabia 1–2 Mexico

It's official, both Saudi Arabia and Mexico are out of the Qatar World Cup. Poland go through on goal difference.

Mexico finish behind them while the Falcons come last in Group C.

GOAL: Saudi Arabia 1–2 Mexico

Saudi Arabian midfielder Salem Aldawsari hits the back of the net, making it 1–2 to Mexico.

Coming in the 95th minute, the Falcons have essentially no chance of reaching the final 16 regardless.

However, their goal also makes it unlikely Mexico will be able to win by enough goals to put themselves through on goal difference.

Saudi Arabia score a goal that will be cheered all over Poland!

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)

Full-time: Poland 0–2 Argentina

Argentina defeat Poland by two goals to nil.

It means Mexico must score again before the seven minutes of stoppage time are up if they're to advance into the final 16 at this World Cup.

OFFSIDE: Saudi Arabia 0–2 Mexico

Mexico's Uriel Antuna almost takes Mexico to 3–0. They need a crucial third goal to advance into the World Cup's last 16.

Unfortunately for El Tri, a linesman's flag denied him.

GOAL: Poland 0–2 Argentina

Another goal for Argentina, this time after striker Julián Álvarez hits the back of the net.

The goal, which takes the score to 2–0, comes in the 67th minute.

GOAL DISALLOWED: Saudi Arabia 0–2 Mexico

Mexico looked like they'd scored a third in the 56th minute thanks to Hirving Lozano, not long after their second, only for it to be disallowed by VAR for offside.

GOAL: Saudi Arabia 0–2 Mexico

Mexico score a second goal in the 52nd after a phenomenal free kick from midfielder Luis Chávez.

The score is now 0–2 to Mexico.

GOAL: Saudi Arabia 0–1 Mexico

Mexico score in the 47th minute thanks to striker Henry Martín.

El Tri now lead by one goal to nil.

GOAL: Poland 0–1 Argentina

Argentina take the lead in the 46th minute thanks to midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

The South American side now leads by one goal to nil.

Deadlock broken! 🔓

A first-ever international goal from Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister gives Argentina the lead against Poland!

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport)

Half-time: Both games 0–0

Both Saudi Arabia v Mexico and Poland v Argentina head into the break with the scores level at 0–0.

El Tri have been the stronger of the two sides in their clash with the Falcons.

In the other match, despite the Argentinians playing better than their Polish opponents, they've not managed to convert that into a goal.

MESSI PENALTY SAVED: Poland 0–0 Argentina

Lionel Messi takes a penalty for Argentina, only for Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny to make the save in the 40th minute.

The score remains 0–0.

MESSI'S PENALTY IS SAVED!

Wojciech Szczesny has saved his second spot-kick of the tournament 🤯🔥 Wow.

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport)

Tunisia coach faces questions about his future at World Cup

Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri failed in his "personal mission" to get the national team through the group stage at the World Cup for the first time in its sixth attempt.

Now he's facing questions about whether he will stay in charge.

"I don't know why you insist that I resign. I have a contract that is based on objectives," Kadri said after his team beat defending champion France 1-0 on Wednesday.

"The objective was not fulfilled but we still have some time before making a final decision. It's up to the Tunisian [football] federation to decide what happens now."

Australia 1 - 0 Denmark

Tunisia loses its chance to progress into the knockout stages after Australia beat Denmark 1-0.

Tunisia beats France 1-0 in historic win... but out of tournament. 

Tunisia beat France in its biggest ever victory at a World Cup game.

Tunisia defeat France but the holders finish top of Group D 👏 |

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)

But despite this, the Carthage Eagles have failed to go through to the knockout stage due to Australia’s 1-0 win over Denmark in Group D’s other final fixture.

France's celebration after their last-minute equaliser was short-lived after VAR disallowed Griezmann's goal. Neverthless, Les Bleus progress onto the next stage.

Australia 1-0 Denmark

Mathew Leckie puts Australia in the lead in its match against Denmark.

TUNISIA SCORES!

Wahbi Khazri scores a goal for Tunisia, leaving the score 1-0 against France in a very decisive game before the knockout stage begins on Saturday.

Khazri puts Tunisia into the lead with a superb goal 🇹🇳

🇹🇳 Tunisia 1-0 France 🇫🇷

— FIFA World Cup 2022 (@2022_QatarWC)

Halftime: Australia 0 - 0 Denmark

Both teams failed to net a goal in the first half.

Halftime: France 0 - 0 Tunisia

Neither team managed to score in the first half, days before the kickoff rounds begin.

Tunisia's Nader Ghandri celebrated after scoring a goal which was later disallowed by VAR.

Mbappe, Griezmann on bench for Tunisia game

Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann will be on the bench for France's clash against Tunisia at the World Cup as coach Didier Deschamps rung the changes for their final Group D game on Wednesday.

Forward Mbappe, who has scored three goals in the first two games, is given a breather as is attacking midfielder Griezmann and seven other players who started in the 2-1 win against Denmark last week.

France have already qualified and are almost certain of finishing top of the group while Tunisia will advance if they win and Australia draw against Denmark in the other game.

Arabs wait expectantly for crunch Saudi, Tunisia games

After savouring Saudi Arabia's historic World Cup victory over Argentina, Arab fans are hoping for a Saudi win against Mexico to keep the team in the tournament, while praying for a miracle for Tunisia as it takes on France on Wednesday.

The Qatar World Cup, the first to be hosted in the Middle East, has been a cause for celebration among many Arabs thanks to Saudi Arabia's defeat of two-times champions Argentina and a shock victory for Morocco over Belgium in the group stage.

The performances have generated a shared sense of pride among many Arab fans despite the numerous political tensions that crisscross their volatile region.

Read more about it here.

Make history or you will be forgotten says Saudi coach Renard

Saudi Arabia's players have the chance to write history if they qualify for the World Cup knockout stages, coach Herve Renard said on Tuesday.

🗣 "They have to make history or everybody will forget in 20 or 30 years."

Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard on his side qualifying for the Round of 16

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

Saudi Arabia need to beat Mexico in their last Group C match at 10:00 PM (1900 GMT) on Wednesday to guarantee reaching the last 16 for the second time regardless of the outcome of the Poland versus Argentina game.

Saudi Arabia are third in the group with three points, behind Argentina on goal difference, while Poland have four points and Mexico are bottom with one point.

"Saudi Arabia have a good generation, and the only time the national team qualified for the last 16 was in 1994, so if the players want the fans to remember them, they should write history or they will be forgotten within 30 years," Renard told a news conference.

"All teams are strong, and we still have a chance in the third match. Mexico have a lot of experience in the World Cup and we have to fight to stay in the tournament."

Read more about it here.

Match against Argentina not a Lewandowski v Messi clash, Poland coach says

The clash between Poland and Argentina will be a duel of the two teams, not strikers Robert Lewandowski and Lionel Messi, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said on Tuesday before their decisive final World Cup Group C match on Wednesday at 10:00 PM (1900 GMT).

Poland top the standings on four points and will advance with a win or a draw. But they would be knocked out by a defeat coupled with a victory by Saudi Arabia over Mexico.

"Ever since the groups were drawn, the whole world has been waiting to see this match," Michniewicz told a news conference.

"It's a match between Poland and Argentina, not between Lewandowski and Messi."

"This match is not friendly," Michniewicz said. "It's going to be a fight between two teams who both can still progress."

Qataris hold up large Palestinian flag during Netherlands match

Fans attending the Qatar v Netherlands match on Tuesday - which saw the Oranjes beat the Maroons 2-0 - held up a large Palestinian flag, as Arabs from across the region have continued to express solidarity with the Palestinian people throughout the tournament.

A group of Qatar football fans hoisted a banner featuring the Qatari and Palestinian flag motifs with “Free Palestine” on it during the Netherlands vs Qatar match at the 2022 on Tuesday.

More:

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen)

The World Cup - being hosted in an Arab country for the first time - has brought to the forefront the controversial subject of Arab normalisation with the Israeli regime, which has come as a stark reminder to the Israelis that the decisions taken by governments are not always a reflection of the will of the people.

Read more about it here.

FIFA names first female refereeing trio for a men's World Cup

Stephanie Frappart, Neuza Back and Karen Diaz will become the first all-female refereeing team for a men's World Cup match as they have been named to take charge of the Costa Rica-Germany Group E match on Thursday, FIFA announced on Tuesday.

History is set to be made on Thursday! 🤩

There will be an all-female refereeing trio taking charge for the first time at a men's in the match between Costa Rica and Germany.

Referee Stéphanie Frappart will be joined by assistants Neuza Back and Karen Diaz. 👏

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)

Frappart, the fourth official for the Poland-Mexico Group C clash last week, will be the main referee as she reaches another milestone after being the first female to officiate at a men's World Cup qualifier in March and Champions League match in 2020.

The 38-year-old Frenchwoman will be joined by Brazilian Neuza and Mexican Diaz as assistants.

(Reuters)