The clash between Mbappe (above) and Haaland promises to be very interesting - Photo: AFP
These are all types of matchups that frequently appear in the World Cup . But with the tournament expanding to 48 teams, fans have to wait until the final round of the group stage to enjoy the real big matches.
Mbappe clashes with Haaland
At 2 AM on June 27th (Vietnam time), the French national team will face Norway at Gillette Stadium (USA) in the final match of Group I. This match will see a showdown between two of the world's top strikers, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Both currently have 4 goals after 2 matches.
France is leading Group I thanks to a better goal difference after two convincing victories against Senegal (3-1) and Iraq (3-0). They enter this match with great motivation to pay tribute to and share their grief with coach Didier Deschamps, who has had to temporarily leave the team to attend to the death of his mother. France, with Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Kylian Mbappe in attack, is considered slightly superior to Norway.
On the other side of the battlefield, Norway also secured a full 6 points after two matches. Led by Erling Haaland and playmaker Martin Odegaard, they displayed a direct and extremely free-flowing attacking style. However, Norway still showed worrying weaknesses in their defense, having conceded 3 goals in the two matches against Iraq and Senegal. Against France, the Norwegian defense suffered a further blow with right-back Julian Ryerson sustaining an injury. Therefore, even if Haaland scores, Norway is likely to lose to the reigning runners-up, France.
In the other match played at the same time, Senegal and Iraq, two teams without any points, will face each other in an effort to secure third place and hopefully compete for a play-off spot.
Spain to face Uruguay in a showdown.
The highly anticipated clash in Group H between Spain and Uruguay will take place at 7:00 AM on June 27th. This match will directly determine whether both Spain and Uruguay qualify for the next round.
Despite a somewhat unconvincing start with a draw against Cape Verde, Luis de la Fuente's team quickly asserted their dominance with a resounding 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. With 4 points currently, Spain only needs a draw to secure qualification, while a win would guarantee them first place in Group H.
In this match, Lamine Yamal and striker Mikel Oyarzabal – who scored a brace in the previous match – are expected to start again. Coach De la Fuente may also field Nico Williams from the start to add attacking threat on the wing, alongside a high-performing Dani Olmo in midfield.
Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay is in a difficult position, having only earned 2 points after two consecutive draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. To guarantee qualification for the round of 32, they must beat Spain. The difficulties are compounded by the absence of center-back Ronald Araujo and midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta due to calf injuries. It is likely that Coach Bielsa will make changes to the attack, starting Darwin Nunez as the furthest forward.
In the other match taking place at the same time, the "surprise" team Cape Verde (2 points) will face Saudi Arabia (1 point). The result of this match will directly affect the chances of both Spain and Uruguay advancing to the next round.
Belgium overcomes difficulties.
The final matchday will conclude with the Group G fixtures, starting at 10:00 AM. This group is witnessing a major surprise, with Egypt leading 4 points after a 3-1 victory over New Zealand, thanks to Mohamed Salah's brilliance. Meanwhile, Belgium has been disappointing, only managing 2 points from two consecutive draws against Egypt and Iran. In their final match, Belgium must defeat New Zealand (1 point) to secure their own qualification.
In the other match played at the same time, Egypt (4 points) will face Iran (2 points). A draw would be enough for the North African team to advance, while Iran needs to aim for 3 points to secure their place in the knockout round.
Match schedule for June 27th:
l3h: France - Norway and Senegal - Iraq (Group I)
7:00 AM: Cape Verde - Saudi Arabia and Spain - Uruguay (Group H)
10:00 AM: Belgium vs. New Zealand and Egypt vs. Iran (Group G)
France will likely draw, Spain will win.
Expert Doan Minh Xuong
This is the assessment of expert Doan Minh Xuong in an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper ahead of the two matches in Groups H and I. Here is Mr. Doan Minh Xuong's analysis:
"France and Norway are leading Group I after two wins each and have already secured their places in the next round. Therefore, both will play cautiously to conserve their energy in preparation for the knockout stage, rather than engaging in a do-or-die battle."
However, the match will be tactically tight. That's because neither team wants to lose this game. The French team always plays pragmatically, so I'm leaning towards a 1-1 draw. Mbappe is in great form and could start the match. But then he will likely be substituted by the French coaching staff to conserve his energy for more important upcoming matches.
Meanwhile, the Uruguay-Spain match in Group H promises to be exciting. Both teams need to win to achieve their goals. Despite leading the group, Spain still wants a victory to solidify their top spot. Uruguay also needs to secure all three points to guarantee qualification, as Cape Verde might beat Saudi Arabia to compete for the top spot. Cape Verde's players are very strong and tenacious in their last two matches, preventing both Spain and Uruguay from winning. "Based on what they've shown, I believe this small island nation will advance and continue its memorable journey in its first World Cup appearance."
Uruguay will play defensively and counter-attack, waiting for mistakes from Spain to score. The problem is that Uruguay lacks a strong center forward. This has resulted in draws against weaker opponents like Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in their first two matches. However, a loss to Spain could see Uruguay fail to advance, so they must improve their playing style. If they can't win, they must at least secure one point to have any hope of securing one of the eight spots for the best third-placed teams.
Meanwhile, Spain, with their well-balanced squad and technical skill, should have no difficulty controlling the match. In this must-win game to secure qualification to the next round and top spot in the group, coach Luis de La Fuente will field his strongest lineup.
I think Spain will win 1-0."
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhieu-tran-dai-chien-hap-dan-100260626101831747.htm
