| Fifa. World Cup |
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| Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full coverage details |
A historic World Cup victory is being chased by Wales on Friday, while England are looking for three points which would safe their place in the knockout stages
Both. nations got off to a steady start in Qatar: Wales drawing with the United States and England easily beating Iran
And. as Wales take to the field for their essential Group B match with Iran on Friday (10:00 GMT on BBC One), they know a first World Cup victory in 64 years will significantly help their chances of progressing
Group. B rivals and present leaders England also desire a win towards the USA (19:00 GMT), which will assure them of a place in the last 16 if they can achieve it
Schools. cancel lessons to cheers Wales on
The entire kingdom will have their eyes mounted on Wales’ second group online game – even those meant to be in class
Schools. in Wales are allowed to cancel lessons to let pupils watch Robert Page’s side take on Iran, with extra than 1,000 schools expected to take half in “Cymru Football Friday”
Instead. of being in Maths classes, children across the nation will be hoping to see Gareth Bale overtake team-mate Chris Gunter as Wales’ most-capped man in what may be their decisive match in Group B
With. a level on the board, and leaders England as their final group opponents, Wales know victory will be crucial if they desire to make it via to the knockout stages
Captain. Bale, who has 109 caps for Wales, pronounced it was an “honour” to characterize them as he closes in on a milestone appearance
“But. it really is extra crucial we try out and get the victory,” he added. “Hopefully we can and it’s going to make it even extra special
“It. will be a tricky online game versus Iran – they are a very good staff. They are the following for a reason, however of course we believe we can beat them”
Can. England get the job accomplished early?
Much the identical from England?
That is what many supporters will be hoping to see after a strong start to the match by Gareth Southgate’s males when they beat Iran 6-2 in their opener
The. USA are up subsequent and England have been given a enhance after it was revealed captain Harry Kane will be healthy to play despite an harm scare, which involved a scan on his ankle
As. the solely staff to pick up three points so far in Group B, England know a second victory on Friday will see them progress with a online game to spare
But. is there extra at stake? Southgate pronounced on Thursday it had been a “good interval for English football” and the nation have been “regaining our respectability” on the soccer stage
“At. junior level, at senior level, with our women’s team, there’s lots of confident things going on,” he added
“We. feel we can be competitive for many years to come and that is the intention – to have a sustained problem in the later stages of the huge competitions and we have not accomplished that for years and years
“These. gamers are putting the kingdom on the map and regaining our respectability on the world stage – we want to hold doing that”
‘Wales. want to seize their chance’ – analysis
BBC Sport Wales’ Dafydd Pritchard in Doha
Bale and Page did not go as far as saying it, however Wales know this online game towards Iran is basically must-win
They. have been woefully off the pace in the first half towards the USA but, thanks to Bale’s late penalty, they at least have a level to construct on
With. group favourites England looming on Tuesday – and with the USA facing Iran on the identical day – Wales do not desire to depart it till the last match to declare their first win at a World Cup since 1958
So. they find themselves in a comparable position to the one they discovered themselves at Euro 2020 last year where, after an opening 1-1 draw towards Switzerland, Wales beat Turkey 2-0 to safe their passage to the second round despite a 1-0 loss to Italy in their final group game
Wales. would gladly take a repeat if it meant reaching the last 16, even if your ordinary Welsh individual would be less keen on England emulating Italy and going on to raise the trophy
Kane’s. health a substantial aid – analysis
BBC Sport chief soccer writer Phil McNulty in Doha
England manager Gareth Southgate is happy with Kane’s health and made all the right noises about playing his captain from the start.
Southgate’s priority is qualifying for the knockout part as quickly as possible and victory would assure that, opening up the chance of some squad rotation in the final online game towards Wales – notwithstanding each member of England’s squad will be desperate to determine in that one.
England’s 6-1 win over Iran has been positioned into context by the embarrassments suffered by Argentina and Germany and early indications are this may be a very open World Cup.
Kane’s health is key to England’s plans given his outstanding record at this stage which leaves him solely three targets brief of overtaking Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 and changing into his country’s record goalscorer.
And even although Kane was not on the scoresheet towards Iran, he was nonetheless a massively influential determine so the information he has not suffered any serious harm to his foot will have been a substantial aid to Southgate and England.
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