Failing to score and drawing with newcomers Cape Verde, Spain have put themselves in a difficult position in Group H. Therefore, the match against Saudi Arabia at 11 PM on June 21st is of particular importance to the team that won the 2010 World Cup . A victory would not only improve Spain's position in the standings but also create a favorable psychological advantage before their final match against Uruguay.
Overall, despite a disappointing opening match, Spain is still considered one of the top contenders for the championship. Their core group of Rodri, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Ferran Torres still provides superior ball control and attacking creativity.
Spain, in reality, still leaves many in doubt after their unconvincing performance against Cape Verde. Luis de la Fuente's team controlled the game in their usual manner, but their finishing ability lacked sharpness despite 27 shots. Without more incisiveness, they could easily put themselves in a difficult position in a group that is not particularly easy.
Spanish fans are still hoping for a breakout performance from Lamine Yamal and his teammates. Photo: AP
It's no coincidence that many people are reminded of Spain's disappointing journey at the 2022 World Cup. Four years ago in Qatar, the Spanish team had a dream start with a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica, but then only managed a 1-1 draw against Germany, lost 1-2 to Japan, and were finally eliminated by Morocco in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.
This also marks the third consecutive time Spain has failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, demonstrating that dominance doesn't always translate into success. Will coach La Fuente use a true center forward or continue with the ineffective false nine tactic from the first match?
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia entered the match against Spain with considerable confidence after drawing 1-1 with Uruguay in the first match. The Asian representatives even took the lead thanks to a goal from center-back Abdulelah Al-Amri before Maxi Araujo equalized in the final minutes.
Coach Georgios Donis's team continues to place their trust in experienced key players such as Salem Al-Dawsari, Mohamed Kanno, Hassan Al-Tambakti, and goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais. Their tight defensive style combined with quick counter-attacks, which helped Saudi Arabia cause many difficulties for Uruguay, will likely be employed again against Spain.
In their three previous encounters, the European side emerged victorious each time, including a 1-0 win at the 2006 World Cup. Saudi Arabia are capable of causing problems with their tactical discipline and fighting spirit, but if Spain can improve their finishing compared to the match against Cape Verde, they are likely to secure all three points and get back on track to compete for the top spot in Group H.
Getting through the group stage isn't an overly difficult goal for "La Roja". However, to even think about competing for the gold trophy, Spain must solve the "problem" that has plagued them for many years: converting ball control into goals and victories.
Manchester United are counting on Lukaku.
At 2 AM on June 22nd, Belgium will attempt to secure their first World Cup victory since defeating Canada 1-0 in their opening match in Qatar four years ago. Their opponent will be Iran, a team that has lost only once in their last eight matches, if only considering the 90 minutes of regular time.
In their first match of Group G, the "Red Devils" were held to a draw by Egypt on a day when their starting strikers, Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, and Leandro Trossard, lacked sharpness in their finishing. Coming off the bench, Romelu Lukaku's pressure forced Mohamed Hany to score an own goal, securing a crucial point for Belgium.
Lukaku's experience is expected to make a difference for Belgium's struggling attack. Photo: AP
Clearly, Lukaku had a forgettable season at Napoli due to persistent injuries. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, fans didn't expect much from the striker born in 1993. However, the experience of the Belgian national team's top scorer is something the Western European club needs right now.
In his first World Cup start, De Ketelaere played poorly and failed to register a single shot. It's highly likely Lukaku will replace the Atalanta player from the start of the match against Iran. Belgian fans hope the former Manchester United and Inter Milan star will showcase his talent instead of wasting those "half-goal" opportunities!
On the other side of the pitch, "Team Melli" had a relatively difficult start against New Zealand, the team with the lowest FIFA ranking among the 2026 World Cup qualifying spots. The West Asian representatives twice fell behind to their Oceania opponents, only to equalize thanks to a fairly good performance from star player Ramin Rezaeian.
However, this shows that the Iranian team couldn't maintain control of the game throughout the 90 minutes and often had moments of disarray. This will be a major weakness against a team that prioritizes direct, high-intensity attacking play like Belgium.
Belgium had never faced Iran before. However, in the World Cup, "Team Melli" had only won 1 out of 10 times against European opponents.
H. Hiep
Source: https://nld.com.vn/tay-ban-nha-buoc-phai-thang-196260620215007716.htm
