📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup | OneFootball

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Padraig Whelan·26 November 2022

📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

Just like that, we’ve now completed a week of action at the 2022 World Cup.

This is how matchday seven looked.


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In the early kick-off, Australia took on Tunisia in group D in a vital clash.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

In a tight contest, Mitchell Duke headed in the only goal for a deserved Socceroos success.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

At the back, Harry Souttar put in a heroic performance which was summed up by the tackle of the tournament so far. It deserves a statue in Sydney harbour.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

And coach Graham Arnold showed his class by ensuring Martin Boyle, who was ruled out on the eve of the competition with an ACL issue, was in the centre of their celebratory post-match huddle.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

In Group C, Piotr Zielinski got Poland off the mark for the tournament with an emphatic close range finish against Saudi Arabia.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

But it was his goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny who made himself the hero with a fantastic penalty double save shortly before half-time.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

These Saudi Arabia fans cheekily made the mistake of tempting fate before kick-off …

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

And were made to pay as Robert Lewandowski wrapped up the win with his first ever World Cup goal as emotional scenes followed.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

In game three, France took on Denmark in an all-European affair from Stadium 974 and the underdogs had to resort to any means necessary in their bid to stop Kylian Mbappé.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

But he wouldn’t be denied forever and on the hour mark,  got his goal after a neat cut-back from Theo Hernández.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

At 23, he is already on seven World Cup goals after he netted again for what proved to be the winner.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

The final game of the day between Argentina and Mexico produced perhaps the most disappointing first half so far. The image below summed up a 45 minutes which featured four shots but 16 fouls.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

But back in Buenos Aires, the fans had their back with a tribute to the side’s captain.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

And he delivered for them as only he can with a sublime strike to breathe new life into Argentina’s hopes.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

It says it all about his standing in the game that even some Mexican fans took time out of their disappointment to capture a photo of the Argentine icon as he celebrated.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

But even Messi was usurped for goal of the game honours when Enzo Fernández netted one of the best we’ve witnessed yet in Qatar.

Article image:📸 Picture perfect: The story of matchday seven at the World Cup

What can day eight bring to follow that?