TUESDAY’S GAMES
GROUP D: DENMARK VS. TUNISIA
Where: Education City Stadium
Time: 5 a.m. PST
TV: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock
The buzz: The Danes didn’t surrender a point or a goal in their first eight World Cup qualifiers, and though they have come back to earth a bit this year, they beat reigning world champion France twice in Nations League play. Tunisia advanced to a second consecutive World Cup on an own goal. The presence of midfielder Christian Eriksen, who went into cardiac arrest and nearly died on the field at the start of Denmark’s run to the 2020 Euro semifinals, makes the Danes something of a sentimental favorite.
GROUP C: MEXICO VS. POLAND
Where: Stadium 974
Time: 8 a.m. PST
TV: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock
The buzz: Robert Lewandowski, the two-time reigning world player of the year, is on the short list of best players never to make it beyond World Cup group play as Poland got bounced in the first round four years ago. But a victory over Mexico would give it an inside track at the knockout rounds. This is also a game El Tri can’t afford to lose. It has the second-oldest team in Qatar, one relying on 37-year-old goalkeeper Memo Ochoa, 36-year-old captain Andres Guardado and 31-year-old forward Raúl Jiménez, who has played just 45 minutes since August while dealing with a groin injury.
GROUP D: FRANCE VS. AUSTRALIA
Where: Al Janoub Stadium
Time: 11 a.m. PST
TV: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock
The buzz: France, the defending champion, is missing five players to injury, the latest and most damaging blow coming Saturday when Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema sustained a quadriceps injury in training. History hasn’t been kind to reigning World Cup champions: It has been six decades since a winner has repeated. Australia is playing in its fifth straight World Cup but hasn’t advanced beyond the first round since 2006, winning just twice in 16 games in its history.
GROUP F: MOROCCO VS. CROATIA
Where: Al Bayt Stadium
Time: 2 a.m. PST Wednesday
TV: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock
The buzz: Croatia made it to the final four years ago in Russia, but it will be a challenge just getting out of group play here, which makes its opener against No. 22 Morocco important because a loss would leave it with an uphill climb against Belgium and Canada. Morocco, back in the World Cup for the second time since 1998, did not win a game in Russia but comes here with a roster deep with European players, including Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech, the country’s leading active scorer.
GROUP E: GERMANY VS. JAPAN
Where: Khalifa International Stadium
Time: 5 a.m. PST Wednesday
TV: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock
The buzz: Injuries to RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus have robbed Germany of much of its star power, but of more concern should be the team’s lackluster track record of late, with the team formerly known as Die Mannschaft — the federation has dropped the nickname — winning just three of nine games this year. The biggest decision for coach Hansi Flick is whether to start tall, physical Niclas Fullkrug as the center forward against the smaller Japanese. The Samurai Blue have played a much more robust pretournament schedule that included victories over five World Cup teams, including the United States, since February. Japan plays an attractive possession-style system, especially through the midfield, but it could have trouble here because the midfield remains Germany’s strength.