World Cup updates: Fans distraught after Green Falcons fall short
All the updates from November 30, as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 on Wednesday, November 30.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the World Cup 2022 on Wednesday, November 30.
- Welcome to Day 11 of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
- Lionel Messi’s Argentina beat Poland 2-0 to progress to the knockout stage. In the other Group C decider, Saudi Arabia lost 1-2 to Mexico, but neither side made it to the last 16.
- The day’s action kicked off at 6pm (15:00 GMT) with Tunisia beating France 1-0, but that didn’t guarantee them a spot in the next round. Australia upset Denmark 1-0, with the Socceroos through to the last 16 for the first time since 2006.
Here are the latest updates:
Mexico defeat Saudi Arabia but fail to make World Cup last 16
Henry Martin and Luis Chavez scored for Mexico as they beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a thrilling Group C match but it wasn’t enough for El Tri to qualify for the World Cup knockout stage, with Poland snatching the second qualifying spot in the group behind Argentina.
Two goals in quick succession early in the second half gave Mexico a 2-0 lead on Wednesday as the Saudi defence appeared to collapse. In the other Group C game, Argentina also went up 2-0 against Poland.
Read more here.
Argentina coast past Poland 2-0 to top World Cup Group C
Argentina coasted past Poland in a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night to top Group C and confirm their place in the last 16 of the World Cup, signalling a return to form for the South American giants after a poor start to this year’s tournament.
Read more here.
Arab fans pin hopes on Morocco
Saad from Jeddah says he’s disappointed that three out of four Arab teams are now out of the World Cup.
“I’m praying Morocco qualifies … Everyone in the Arab and Muslim world will be hoping for that,” the 23-year-old says.
No celebrations for either Saudi Arabia or Mexico
Fans of both Saudi Arabia and Mexico are looking to exit the stadium as quickly as possible.
Those loitering around are perhaps contemplating their team’s failure to advance past the group stages.
Sierra Rodriguez puts her hands up in exasperation.
“We were so close … I feel terrible … but in the end, the mathematics was not on our side”, said the 27-year-old Master’s student from Chihuahua.
“I hate that we have to wait for another four years … at least some of it will be in Mexico … for now that’s all I can look forward to,” she says, while looking at her phone to order an Uber.
Fulltime: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Poland move on to the next stage on goal difference at the expense of Mexico despite a 2-0 loss to Argentina.
Goal: Saudi Arabia 1-2
There is a goal. It’s to Saudi Arabia.
Follow live updates here.
Full-time: Poland 0-2 Argentina
That’s it, folks.
Argentina win the group.
They are through and will face Australia in the last 16.
Saudi Arabia fans disappointed as score against Mexico remains 0-2
Saudi Arabia’s fans don’t seem to be into the game any more after those early second-half goals by Mexico.
All of them are seated quietly, seemingly resigned to the high probability that the Green Falcons’ entry into the next round looks impossible at the moment.
Attendance at the stadium was announced at 84,985.
GOAL: Poland 0-2 Argentina
What a goal. Alvarez blasts a rocket into the top corner.
Follow the match’s live blog here.
France-Tunisia rivalry: Passion for football prevails over history
France is already through to the last 16 even though Tunisia beat it 1-0.
Despite the bitter colonial past between the two countries, the love of the game prevails.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports from Paris, France.
Mexican fans hopeful team will advance to next stage
The two goals for Mexico have El Tri supporters on their feet. There are signs of great hope on their faces as they turn up the volume as well.
The Saudis, meanwhile, are in disbelief with the successive goals against them.
El Tri fan Juan Perez says he has been switching his attention between simultaneous games, constantly looking up at what is happening in the Argentina-Poland game, whose score will determine if El Tri will go through to the next stage.
“I’m just thinking so many things right now … I’m thinking of all possibilities that will make Mexico qualify … I might faint.”
Another goal for Mexico
Chavez for Mexico.
Follow the match’s live blog here.
Goal: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Mexico
Striker Henry Martin scores a goal to give Mexico the lead.
Follow the match’s live blog here.
Photos: Tunisian fans celebrate despite World Cup exit
Tunisia outplayed France 1-0 at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar but the shock victory was not enough for them to make it to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
Despite the loss, Tunisian fans gathered outside the stadium to celebrate the bittersweet loss and historic win at the same time.
See more photos here.Pele in stable condition after admission to Brazil hospital
Brazilian football legend Pele is in a stable condition after he was admitted to hospital on Tuesday to re-evaluate his cancer treatment, the hospital has said in a statement.
“After medical evaluation, the patient was taken to a common room, with no need for admission in a semi-intensive care unit,” the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo said.
Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento had said on Instagram that there was “no surprise or emergency” regarding Pele’s condition.“Lots of alarm in the media today concerning my dad’s health,” Nascimento wrote. “There is no emergency or new dire prediction. I will be there for New Years and promise to post some pictures.”
The 82-year-old had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021 and has since been in and out of hospital for treatment on a regular basis.
Saudi Arabia fans anxious as score with Mexico remains 0-0
As neither team has scored yet, many Saudi football fans are understandably anxious.
Photos: Australia stun Denmark, claim place in World Cup last 16
Australia stunned Denmark 1-0 to secure their place in the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in 16 years, thanks to a second-half goal from Mathew Leckie.
It is Australia’s first time in the knockout stage since 2006, which was the only other time that they advanced out of the group stage.
More photos of the game here.
Defender Ben White leaves England squad in Qatar
Defender Ben White has left the England camp and gone home for personal reasons, the FA said in a statement, adding that he was not expected to return to the tournament.
White, normally a central defender, but who has been operating as right back for Premier League table-topping Arsenal this season, was something of a surprise inclusion in the squad.
He missed training two days ago, with the FA saying he was ill, according to Reuters.
White, who has four caps, was called up as a late replacement for last year’s European Championship, but did not feature.
Who will win? Saudi Arabia or Mexico?
In the other #FIFAWorldCup Group C match, Saudi Arabia play Mexico.
What do you think will be the outcome of this game?
Vote below 👇 #KSAMEX
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) November 30, 2022
Which team are you rooting for?
It’s Poland V Argentina in the Group C evening #FIFAWorldCup kick off.
Make your #POLARG match prediction below 👇
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) November 30, 2022
‘Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar … We are behind all of them’: Palestinian football fans
Palestinian engineers Basil al-Ahmed and Osama, who grew up and work in Kuwait, say they are at the Saudi Arabia versus Mexico game to support the Green Falcons “all the way”.
“We are all Arabs and so we support each other … All around the Middle East we are for Saudi winning today … God willing,” 25-year-old Osama tells Al Jazeera.
“If it’s Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar … We are behind all of them,” he says.
Asked who they would back if Saudi Arabia were to play Morocco, Al Ahmed says, “We will be happy if either of them wins … despite whatever differences their governments may have.
“Politics [doesn’t] matter … we are here for football … we are all brothers under Islam,” adds Osama, who originally comes from Jenin.
Osama says it is heartening to see people carrying Palestine flags “especially Arab fans”, and adds that “it shows we are united.”
Mexican accordionist serenades Saudi fans
Australia fans celebrate win over Denmark
Can you predict who will win?
Al Jazeera’s AI robot Kashef has processed the historical data and performances of all the teams participating to predict the results of each game.
It has been on a roll recently, correctly predicting the outcomes of the last five out of six matches at World Cup 2022.
‘Biting my nails’: Saudi supporter anxious about game against Mexico
Abdul Rahman from Saudi Arabia says he’s been “biting my nails” ahead of the game against Mexico, as he points them out for Al Jazeera.
The self-described “crazy” Green Falcons supporter, draped in the Saudi national colours, says he is “very nervous” about the final outcome and can’t wait for the day to be over.
“This is I think the closest Saudi will come to qualifying out of [the] group stages … before, our teams were not so good, but now we have a chance,” he says.
“Maybe because it’s happening here in [the] Middle East, and so many Saudi supporters are here that the team is giving their best … I don’t know,” says the 27-year-old, who flew in from Riyadh just for the Group C match.
“The car ride take[s] too long … I just want everything [to be] smooth so I’m not too tired for the game.”
Asked about his prediction, he says: “Only god knows … I’m just human.”