Paullow

Apparently Poland still going through at the moment due to less yellow cards?

All that buzz from the Saudi Argentina match, where in all likelihood the Argies are likely to still finish top, and the Saudi's bottom as you'd have expected at the start of game 1. I haven't been too impressed with Mexico, but think I'd rather they went through than Poland, so hoping there's another goal in their favour.

Quite torn as to what outcome I want here. I'd quite like to see Argentina vs France in the last 16, but at the same time, Poland are so anti football and awful to watch, basically hoping to stay in games and nick a set piece so it would be shit if they got the Aussies in the L16 and be big favourites for the QF. I probably want Argentina to top the group, but that ridiculous penalty did annoy me that I then found myself kind of wanting Poland to win.

Pathetic.

That's a nice kit the Saudi's are wearing...

Saudi's for me, marra.

We'll never know either scenario if the match order was different to be honest, but playing an already qualified France who were 99.9999% sure of topping the group (required a 7 goal swing with the Aussie match), making 9 changes to their last match and no jeopardy on the result is pretty generous, plus, in a group of 4, where only 2 qualify, the matches against the non-France sides were always going to be pretty key. You've kind of half alluded to it, but scoring 0 goals and only gaining 1 point from the sides they were realistically competing with for second, is ultimately what has cost them.

Only 9 changes.

It would have been more of a sickener if Denmark had got the late equaliser. I didn't see it today, but I'd be shocked if they would have beaten France in group match 1 or 2, so likely benefitted from match order. Aussies beat both Tunisia and Denmark in very live matches (for both sides) so thoroughly deserve to go through.

Get in!

It's the worst possible time in Sydney / Melbourne etc. 2am start, 4am finish - only the massively dedicated will have seen this.

I see sense a heartbreaking late late equaliser that will see both of them out.

They'll both obviously want to top it, especially Argentina because a draw will probably see them out, but Poland would probably take a draw if offered now as they would definitely go through, and as group winners if SA don't win, whereas if they lose (most likely), they will probably go out, especially if by a few goals.

Feels like a tournament more just to get Kuol used to the surroundings of tournament football for later down the line than to actually make an impact. Not really sure when the optimal time / situation would be to bring him on, and other forwards are constantly being brought on before him anyway.

It kind of feels a Danish goal is coming. Whether they can score 2 or perhaps 3 (if Tunisia get another) is a different question.

Drama!

That is one hell of a contrast in finishing first or second in Argentina's group. Maybe Argentina and Poland will draw and the Saudi's can top it.

Being already through, can probably afford to lose 0-4 and still top it, and making 9 changes probably had something to do with it. You'd still think their new players would have more quality and want to do a job to maybe keep their place, but it's also quite hard when's there is no jeopardy on the result. It's obviously just the way it is, and nothing you can do, and France have every right to play who they want having done their jobs previously, but it's a bit shit how match order can massively impact a group. I'm pleased the Aussies have scored as Tunisia profiting from a half arsed France wouldn't really sit well.

Yep, most people assume it's a strange shootout between Aus and Den and a draw for Aus would be enough, but if Tunisia win then a draw wouldn't be enough for Australia, likewise a win for Denmark might not be either. Mind Tunisia are still 9/2 to win, so France reserves are still favourites, but it's a less daunting task than if they played them in the first two matches.

Eh? It was just a continuation from a conversation from earlier today when others were 'baffled' that the Netherlands match was on ITV1 and the Senegal match with far more riding on it was on ITV4. If you have access to a TV then pretty much anyone can watch BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV4 etc. but naturally, BBC1 generally does better viewing figures than BBC2, ITV1 more than ITV4 and so on, so it was interesting to see which matches ended up on which channels.

Tempted to switch over to the USA match now. One Iran goal would completely change things. Definitely would have if the Newcastle lads didn't come on.

Similar to today, BBC1 showing France tomorrow whereas BBC2 are showing the much bigger Denmark vs Australia match, and Argentina on BBC1 tomorrow evening (which is more understandable), so I guess they'll automatically just select the 'bigger' nation on the main channels regardless of the circumstances. I'll definitely be watching the Aussie match tomorrow afternoon. I wonder what other nations have done with the England match tonight. Iran vs USA generally had more riding on it so probably should have been prioritised, but probably wouldn't if other countries copy what the UK broadcasters do.

Not guaranteed yet. 1/6 to top the group, 4/1 not to. They certainly should, but maybe not quite as nailed on as you'd hope / expect. Imagine Iran topping the group after losing their first match 2-6 So it's either Netherlands at 3pm on Saturday, or Senegal at 7pm on Sunday.

If there's 15 minutes injury time in the first half like in the Iran-England match, will they delay the re-start of the other group match(es)?