What do soccer’s stars have in store for us on Monday after their stellar World Cup starts?
Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland each scored twice before Lionel Messi bested them both on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know ahead of Monday’s games.
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Monday, June 22 | 1 p.m. ET | Arlington, Texas | Fox
Odds: Argentina (-190), Austria (+500), Tie (+310)
What does Lionel Messi have in store after his first World Cup hat trick?
Messi had two second-half goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria to open group play and they all came in different ways. He showed once again why he’s still one of the most valuable players in soccer and how his individual excellence is paramount to Argentina’s hopes of winning back-to-back World Cups.
Austria got a 3-1 win over Jordan and will assuredly be happy with a draw. Four points would likely be enough to get through to the Round of 32 and could even be enough for second in the group. After Ali Olwan tied the game for Jordan in the 50th minute, Austria took the lead on an own goal 26 minutes later.
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France vs. Iraq
Monday, June 22 | 5 p.m. ET | Philadelphia | Fox
Odds: France (-1200), Iraq (+2500), Tie (+1100)
Kylian Mbappé will be eyeing the Golden Boot standings after seeing Iraq give up four goals to Norway in its World Cup opener. Mbappé scored twice against Senegal and his second goal put the game away after the lead was cut to one late. France’s second-half push was sparked by Michael Olise‘s move to the middle of the park. Olise started on the wing in the first half, and it’s not a coincidence that the 2018 World Cup champions were much better in the second half.
Aymen Hussein‘s goal in the 39th minute was the only shot on target Iraq had against the Norwegians. At the risk of sounding incredibly, incredibly obvious, that’s not going to be enough to get it done against a team that could have the best set of attackers in the world.
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Norway vs. Senegal
Monday, June 22 | 8 p.m. ET | East Rutherford, New Jersey | Fox
Odds: Norway (+125), Senegal (+200), Tie (+250)
Argentina and France are the two biggest headliners playing on Monday, but this is the most important game of the day. And it should be the best matchup too.
Norway got two goals from Erling Haaland as it took a huge step toward making the knockout rounds against Iraq. Senegal is one of the best sides in Africa and a real threat to win a game — or even two — after the group stage. But the Lions of Teranga absolutely need points Monday night to have a shot at moving on.
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Three points against Iraq in the final group stage game of the day may not be enough to move on. We know how powerful Norway’s attack can be. Will Senegal play for the point, or will it go for all three knowing that six points will be enough for second place in the group because of the head-to-head tiebreaker?
Jordan vs. Algeria
Monday, June 22 | 11 p.m. ET | Santa Clara, California | FS1
Odds: Algeria (-165), Jordan (+450), Tie (+290)
A point doesn’t do much for either team in Monday’s late game. Especially for Jordan since Argentina awaits in the final group stage game.
Yes, Jordan lost by two goals to Austria, but the go-ahead goal was an own goal and the deficit became two on a penalty kick 12 minutes into added time. There’s positives to take away from the country’s first World Cup game, but that doesn’t really matter much without any points attached.
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Algeria will be eyeing four points over its games against Jordan and Austria in an attempt to cut into the minus-3 goal differential it’s staring in the face. Though there could be a third-place team or two that gets into the knockout rounds on three points, those teams will have a goal differential close to even.
