Qatar World Cup 2022 Day 7: France beat Denmark after Saudi Arabia & Tunisia lose

Follow our live blog here for the latest from Qatar.
5 min read
26 November, 2022

Saturday marks the first full week of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, and what a week it has been. 

The past seven days have seen Saudi Arabia stun Argentina, Iran trounce Wales, and on Friday hosts Qatar became the first team to face elimination after losing to Senegal 3-1.

After Tunisia slid to defeat against Australia, and Poland sidestep to victory past Saudi Arabia; France face off with Denmark, and then Argentina will take on Mexico for the final game of the day.

Follow our live blog here for the latest from Qatar.

5:53 PM
The New Arab Staff

That's all from us for today's games - join us again tomorrow when Morocco face Belgium in their pursuit of the knockouts, as well as the heavyweight clash of Germany and Spain. 

 

3:04 PM
The New Arab Staff

FULL TIME: Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia

Heartbreak for Arab football fans as Saudi Arabia slip to a 2-0 defeat which really flattered Poland's performance. Saudi Arabia could - and perhaps should - have done better here. 

They're still not out of the running though. More details to follow very shortly. 

Saudi mistakes took away from a gutsy performance by the Green Falcons [Getty images]
2:48 PM
The New Arab Staff

2-0 Poland! 

Terrible, terrible mistake at the back allows Robert Lewandowski an absolute gift of a tap-in to take the game further away from Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi supporters are stunned and silent after so much pressure leads to another Polish goal. 

Less than 10 minutes left now. 

2:18 PM
The New Arab Staff

Five minutes into the second half and it's still all Saudi Arabia at the Education city stadium.

The drummers in the crowd are really getting going and trying to give the Green Falcons that 12th-man advantage. 

Still that crucial goal missing, though. 

2:00 PM
The New Arab Staff

Phew. It's half time after a helter-skelter half of excellent football from Saudi Arabia - just lacking that final finish to pull level with Poland who must feel lucky to be in the lead. 

There's a lot of time left in this game, and it seems a matter of time before Saudi Arabia score. 

 

1:48 PM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

Heartbreak for Saudi Arabia as Salem Al Dawsari fails to capitalise on a penalty awarded for bringing Al Shehri down in the box

Penalty missed. Only stoppage time remaining in this half. 

1:41 PM
The New Arab Staff

Poland are ahead!

Despite precious few chances, Poland smuggle the ball into the net through Piotr Zielinski.

Saudi Arabia came back against Argentina - can they do it here? 

1-0 Poland. Game on. 

1:14 PM
The New Arab Staff

What a whirlwind start from the Green Falcons looking to blow Poland away and keep this crowd singing. 

Blistering pace and deft passes are carving apart the Polish defence, with Wojciech Szczesny saving Poland in the goal.

Polish tackles are getting a bit desperate - already picking up two yellow cards.

12:59 PM
The New Arab Staff

Here's a full run-down of the teams lining up for kick-off: 

Poland:

Wojciech Szczesny, Kamil Glik, Jakub Kiwior, Matty Cash, Bartosz Bereszynski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Piotr Zielinski, Krystian Bielik, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Robert Lewandowski

Saudi Arabia:

Mohamed Al-Owais, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Al-Bulaihi, Mohammed Al-Breik, Mohamed Kanno, Saud Abdulhamid, Abdulelah Al-Malki, Saleh Al-Shehri, Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan, Sami Al-Najei. 

Reporting from Reuters

12:52 PM

The Education city stadium is already rocking as Saudi fans - hugely outnumbering the Polish supporters - cheer their players out of the tunnel. 

Largely unchanged since their historic victory against Argentina, the Green Falcons are belting out the Kingdom's national anthem - "Hasten to glory and supremacy, Glorify the Creator of the heavens!"

Kick-off in five minutes.

12:20 PM
The New Arab Staff

Here's some more in-depth analysis of Tunisia's devastating marginal defeat to the gutsy Australian Socceroos. 

Sports
Live Story

We'll be back for Saudi Arabia's next match in just over half an hour. 

11:59 AM
The New Arab Staff

It's heartbreak for Tunisia as Australia hang on by their fingertips to maintain their 1-0 despite being camped out in their own box for the late stages of the game.

Relentless positivity throughout the second half wasn't enough to earn Tunisia what would have been a well-deserved point. 

If Tunisia are to have a hope of progressing after this, they'll have to pull off a victory against the odds when they face cup holders France next week. More details to follow. 

Next up - Saudi Arabia, riding high after their shock victory over Argentina, take on Poland. 

 

Australian players celebrate their hard-fought victory [Getty images]
11:42 AM
The New Arab Staff

We're into the last ten minutes of normal time at Al Janoub and somehow - somehow - Australia are holding onto their slender lead. 

Tunisia are throwing everyone forward to try and save a precious point from this crucial group game. 

11:17 AM
The New Arab Staff

 ten minutes into the second half - and waves of Tunisian intent are pouring towards the Australian goal. 

Everything seems to be falling for the North Africans in this second half so far - but they'll have to be wary of Australian counter attacks. 

10:54 AM
The New Arab Staff

It's half time at Al Janoub, and Australia still have their noses in front despite a resurgent Tunisia carving out some towards the end of the half. 

Arguably, Tunisian captain Youssef Mekni should have levelled in injury time but put his six-yard effort marginally wide. 

Tunisia will be ruing missed chances in the first half [Getty images]
10:43 AM
The New Arab Staff

Tunisia are finishing this half with their tails wagging as they carve out some clear-cut chances in front of the Australian goal.

Can they give their fans something to cheer about before the whistle goes for half-time? 

10:21 AM
The New Arab Staff

Australia are ahead! 

Mitchell Duke draws first blood with a lofted header into the far corner after a lucky deflection from Craig Goodwin's cross put him in on goal. 

Tunisia will have to change the run of play now, and try and get a foothold in these early stages. 

10:16 AM
The New Arab Staff

Australia have come out of the blocks quickly, trying to silence those rousing Tunisian chants. The back three of Ali Abdi, Montassar Talbi and Yassine Meriah have managed to snuff out most of the attacks for now. 

It's been a free-flowing first 20 minutes of football at Al Janoub. 

9:58 AM
The New Arab Staff & Agencies

The Tunisian fans sound in full-throated mood as swathes of red around Al Janoub stadium belt out the national anthem, Humat al-Huma - defenders of the homeland. 

Just a few moments until kick-off now. 

Tunisia's fans are out in force today [Getty images]
9:31 AM
The New Arab Staff

Tunisia will take on Australia at Al Janoub stadium for the first game of today.