World Cup Watching Guide - Night 10
29 November, 23:00 Netherlands vs Qatar
November 29, 23:00 Ecuador vs Senegal
November 30, 03:00 Iran vs USA
30 November, 03:00 Wales vs England
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal (right) before a match on November 21. Xinhua News Agency
The Qatar World Cup kicks off the final round of the group stage on matchday 10, with both matches in the same group kicking off at the same time. For Chinese fans, there are no longer games suitable for "dinner" in the evening, only two periods of 23 o'clock and 3 a.m. Entering the third round, some people continue, some stop, and there will be more sadness and joy, laughter and tears after the game.
Group A is tight, with the exception of the host Qatar losing two consecutive games, the Netherlands and Ecuador have four points from one win and one draw, and Senegal have three points from one win and one loss, and all three teams have a chance to qualify.
The Netherlands were held to a draw by Ecuador in the second round, with just two shots on goal in the game, while Ecuador had 15 shots, almost eight times more than the Netherlands. The Dutch team in this World Cup is far less offensive than the Three Stickers era, and this Dutch team is one of the weakest in history.
Hosts Qatar lost 3-1 to Senegal in the second round, with the Asian champions clapping the African champions winning the latter. The hosts suffered two consecutive defeats and were out early.
Dutch player Cody Gakpo (first from left) celebrates a goal during a match on November 21. Xinhua News Agency
In the final round, the Orange-clad team will have to face the hosts who are already out, and the Netherlands can only secure the promotion by winning and getting three points. But Qatar, which has already achieved a "goal", will definitely do its best to "score a point" or even "win a game" and give an explanation to the host fans. Can Gak Po continue to score in this round? Can the Dutch strikers take their chances to score? Can Qatar's attack on the Gemini show the world how powerful they are at the curtain call? The battle between the European shield and the Asian spear is really exciting.
In his pre-match press conference, Van Gaal said of the Netherlands' prospects for the World Cup: "I never said we would win the World Cup, I always said we could win the World Cup and the players believed that. We're unbeaten in 17 consecutive games so far and when you look at the number of goals we've scored and conceded during that period, I think you'll appreciate that. ”
Ecuadorian player Enna Valencia after a match on November 25. Xinhua News Agency
Senegal and Ecuador will face a head-to-head clash in the final round for qualifying rights, with both teams having to win to secure promotion. Valencia scored consecutive goals, helped the team to cut Qatar first and then draw with the Netherlands, and now in a life-and-death battle, will he still be the hero who helped the team score? Senegal lost to the Netherlands in the first round before Qatar kept their hopes of qualifying and will now face powerhouses from the South American plateau. Can Aliu Cisse lead the African champions to the round of 16?
Europe, Africa, South America, which two places will go to the two qualifying places in Group A?
Nandu reporter Tao Xinlei Intern Wu Junjie