Chinanews.com, Beijing, November 18 (Reporter Bian Liqun) At 0:00 on November 21, Beijing time, the quadrennial World Cup will officially open at the Gulf Stadium in Qatar.
Spain vs Germany, Portugal vs Uruguay... In the group stage, there are too many blockbuster matchups not to be missed.
In view of the expansion of the next World Cup to 48 teams, this group stage is likely to become a swan song.
In last year's European Cup, the England team regrettably won the runner-up.
England vs Iran
November 21 at 21:00
On the first match day Beijing time after the opening of the World Cup, England, a traditional European team, will play against Iran, the highest-ranked Asian football team.
The latter, with its solid defense, even made the Portuguese team led by Ronaldo helpless in the last World Cup.
It is worth mentioning that the England team was in poor form before this World Cup. The UEFA Europa League only achieved 3 draws and 3 losses and was relegated.
Whether the star-studded England team can regain its championship status, this game can give a clue.
On the evening of January 27, Beijing time, in the top 12 of the world preliminaries, the national football team lost 0:2 to Japan in an away game, basically declaring that they would miss the World Cup.
Image source: ICphoto
germany vs japan
November 23 at 21:00
In the last World Cup, the German team, as the defending champion, lost to the South Korean team in the final round of the group stage, and missed the promotion to the knockout round in a very dismal way.
The German team, which has undergone a coaching change and renewal, has made a comeback. Facing the Japanese team, which almost defeated Belgium in the 1/8 finals of the last World Cup, can they get off to a good start?
In the top 12 stage of the world preliminaries, the national football team had two confrontations with the Japanese team, showing a huge gap.
Taking the Japanese team as a reference coordinate, you can also indirectly see how far the distance between Chinese football and world-class teams is.
As far as watching time is concerned, it is also very suitable for Chinese fans.
In the 1/8 finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the French team eliminated Argentina 4:3 to advance to the top 8, while Argentina was eliminated.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Bochuan
argentina vs mexico
November 27 at 3:00
The Argentina team led by Messi in this World Cup has good luck in signing.
In comparison, the second match against Mexico in the group stage will have a certain test, and will also have a high probability of determining whether they can advance to the knockout round as the first in the group. It will also be a good test for the strength of the Argentine team.
In the final round of Group F of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, South Korea beat Germany 2-0.
Defending champions Germany unfortunately out.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tian Bochuan
spain
vs
germany
November 28 at 3:00
The two traditional European teams will meet in the group stage. There is no doubt that this is the most important matchup in the group stage, which is related to the battle for the top spot in the group.
The performance of the two teams in the last World Cup was relatively flat. The Spanish team was eliminated by the host Russia in the 1/8 finals, and the German team failed to even qualify for the group stage.
Now that the two teams are in the "death group", there is also a Japanese team in the same group that may counterattack. The importance of this game is self-evident.
Brazil players celebrate winning the Copa America.
Brazil vs Switzerland
November 29 at 0:00
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world, the Brazilian team is one of the well-deserved favorites to win the championship. Compared with other favorite teams to win the championship, the difficulty of the group stage of the Brazilian team will be slightly higher.
In the same group, Switzerland, ranked 15th in the world, and Serbia, ranked 21st, are not opponents that can be easily defeated.
In particular, the Swiss team had consecutive victories over Portugal and Spain in the previous UEFA Europa League matches.
In the European Cup last year, the Swiss team also eliminated the French team to advance to the top 8, and their strength should not be underestimated.
Portugal in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Mao Jianjun
Portugal vs Uruguay
November 29 at 3:00
European traditional strong teams meet South American strong teams. From the perspective of strength and stars, this matchup is second only to Germany vs. Spain.
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, has completed the renewal. core players.
Uruguay is also full of "star flavor". Suarez, Cavani, and the new star Nunez who joined Liverpool for 80 million pounds... In the last World Cup, the two teams met in the 1/8 finals. Uruguay defeated Portugal 2:1 to advance , This campaign also has a little "revenge" meaning.
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