While all eyes will be locked on the Socceroos, they’ll have to peek over to the other game at times, with France potentially needing to help Australia out.
Plus if the Socceroos do advance into the knockout stage, their round of 16 opponent will be decided from 6am AEDT – and things could get Messi.
Follow the FIFA World Cup including Tunisia v France (2am AEDT), Poland v Argentina (6am AEDT) and Saudi Arabia v Mexico (6am AEDT) in our live blogs below!
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MORE SOCCEROOS v DENMARK
SCENARIOS: What Aussies need to advance – and who they can face in R16
BURNING QUESTIONS: Brutal selection call Arnie MUST make; how Aussies stop Danish ‘magician’
‘IT’S NOT RIGHT’: Arnie drops extraordinary Australian football truth bomb
EXPERT VIEW: ‘Dangerous’ trap Roos must avoid … and how ‘unimaginable’ WC dream can come true
Dutch keep Qatar winless in horror WC | 00:38
TUNISIA v FRANCE [2am AEDT] – Preview (via AFP) and live blog
France coach Didier Deschamps refused to discuss Karim Benzema after the injured Ballon d’Or winner was spotted arriving on holiday on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion following his withdrawal from the World Cup.
The Real Madrid striker pulled out of the France squad with an injured left thigh on the eve of the tournament and departed their team hotel in Qatar soon afterwards.
He arrived on Reunion, a French overseas department, early on Tuesday morning following rumours in Spain that he might return to training with his club.
Sources close to Benzema said the player would stay on the island for a week. Asked about Benzema, who is still officially part of the France squad at the World Cup having not been replaced, Deschamps dismissed the question.
“You are fishing for things there, but these things are not on my mind. I don’t know who is saying what, where or how,” the France coach said at a press conference in Doha ahead of Thursday’s final group game against Tunisia.
“I spoke to Karim after his departure, and you know what his situation is and how long he will be out for.
“I am focusing on the 24 players who are here. I’ll let you talk about that and debate it if you want, but I am not going to talk about things that don’t affect what we are doing here from day to day.”
The French Football Federation said Benzema would be sidelined for three weeks after he picked up the injury, technically meaning he could be fit to return for the end of the World Cup should France go that far.
France have won both Group D games so far at the tournament against Australia and Denmark and a draw against Tunisia will guarantee that they progress to the last 16 as winners of their section.
Even a defeat will suffice so long as Australia do not beat Denmark and manage to overturn France’s advantage on goal difference, which is currently superior by six.
Deschamps is therefore expected to rotate his squad and give some of his fringe players a run-out ahead of a last-16 tie on Saturday or Sunday.
“The fact that we know we are through, like Brazil and Portugal, does give us more room to make changes, but we absolutely must not devalue this third match,” Deschamps said.
“We must try to get the best result possible, without having the obligation to do so. It is a World Cup match and it is important to keep our dynamic going.”
Tunisia — whose squad features 10 French-born players – have to win the game at Education City Stadium to have a chance of advancing, but they have never previously beaten the two-time world champions.
“The message I would like to convey to my players is that nothing is impossible. We are still alive,” said Tunisia coach Jalel Kadri.
Follow Tunisia v France in our live blog below!
Rashford leads England to win over Wales | 01:18
POLAND v ARGENTINA [6am AEDT] – Preview (via AFP) and live blog
Argentina star Lionel Messi is football’s answer to skiing great Alberto Tomba, Poland coach Czeslaw Michniewicz said.
Speaking ahead of Poland’s final World Cup group stage match against Argentina in Doha, Michniewicz said his side would need to surround Messi to stop him.
“Messi on the pitch is like Alberto Tomba on the slope, he’s able to avoid everyone like Tomba can get around everything,” said Michniewicz.
“So we need to put players around Messi because if he can get around (them) easily he will easily score.
“One player cannot stop Messi, we must get players around him.” Even so, Michniewicz says that may not be enough.
“The whole world has been thinking for years about how to stop Lionel Messi and he has made dozens of goals and assists,” he added.
“I don’t think we’ll ever find the final answer to this question.”
Poland have their own star striker in Robert Lewandowski, who is following in the Argentine’s footsteps as the darling of Barcelona, where he has scored 18 goals in 19 games this season.
Many have billed this as the clash between Messi and Lewandowski, but Michniewicz does not buy into that.
“It’s not only a match between Lewandowski and Messi, it’s not tennis,” said the coach.
“Robert needs his teammates, the same as Leo needs his. We rely on these great strikers but they cannot win on their own.”
Michniewicz admitted that as a fan he has long supported Argentina but said he would have no conflicting emotions during Thursday’s game.
“Since I was a little boy I’ve always rooted for Argentina. They have great fans, a great team, huge personalities like Mario Kempes in 1978 and other players.
“There have been many ups and downs but I have always rooted for Argentina, although I won’t tomorrow.”
For his part, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted he has a soft spot for bitter rivals and neighbours Brazil, who have already qualified for the knock-out phases.
“I’m South American and I’m happy that Brazil are through. I’m South American football’s top fan,” said Scaloni.
“If it isn’t Argentina, I prefer that a South American team goes through, anyone who thinks otherwise is mistaken.
“They (Brazil) are doing really well and I congratulate them.”
Argentina are at risk of missing out on the knock-out stages following their 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening Group C clash.
They must beat Poland to guarantee a place in the last 16, where there is a chance they could meet reigning champions France, who knocked them out at the same stage four years ago.
However the winner of Poland-Argentina is most likely to face the second-place side in Group D – which would be Australia, if they get at least a point against Denmark.
Asked if he would like to avoid playing France, Scaloni told journalists: “Firstly we have to go through. Then we’ll see who we get.
“Without underestimating anything, there is still a way to go yet.”
Follow Poland v Argentina in our live blog below!
Captain America sends Iran packing | 00:44
SAUDI ARABIA v MEXICO [6am AEDT] – Preview (via AFP) and live blog
Coach Herve Renard called on his Saudi Arabia players to ensure they leave their mark on the World Cup in Qatar and are remembered “forever.”
Frenchman Renard’s rousing half-time team talk in Saudi Arabia’s shock come-from-behind victory over Argentina has gone down in legend.
A short clip of Renard firing up his World Cup minnows when trailing 1-0 at half-time to a Lionel Messi penalty – they bounced back to win 2-1 – proved a viral hit.
He admitted that his team talks don’t always have such a dramatic effect.
“I accepted for the communications department to record one minute (at half-time) so this day I was lucky because it worked,” Renard said at a press conference before Saudi Arabia play Mexico in their final group game.
“But I’m coaching for more than 20 years now and with a lot of humility I can tell you it was not working all the time, unfortunately!”
Given that his team’s comeback was against one of the world’s greatest ever players in Messi, “there is a big impact, it will stay forever,” Renard said. “At least some people will remember me.”
Having beaten Argentina but then lost to Poland, Saudi Arabia need to beat Mexico on Wednesday in their final Group C match to guarantee a place in the knock-out rounds.
He recalled that the last time Saudi Arabia reached the second round was in 1994, 28 years ago.
“For our players, it’s a very good generation but if they want the fans to remember them they have to make history, otherwise everybody will forget in 20 or 30 years,” Renard said.
Getting through to the knockout phase could be extra special for Renard given the possibility his side could face France.
“Of course I know the draw, I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t studied the draw,” he said.
“Let’s concentrate on qualification, putting all our energy into achieving it and if ever tomorrow you’re here and it’s happened, with a big smile I’ll say it will be a great clash.” With Saudi Arabia on the brink of a historic qualification, Renard was asked if the Mexico clash was the biggest match of his life.
But he insisted that winning two finals at the Africa Cup of Nations – with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015 – remained more important.
“Those are meetings that you must not mess up, otherwise you will regret it your whole life.
“Having regrets is the most harmful thing you can have in life, and you must always be positive.”
Follow Saudi Arabia v Mexico in our live blog below!
