"Final" between Senegal and Iraq. The two teams will face off (10:00 p.m.) at BMO Field in Toronto for the third matchday of Group 9 at the World Cup.

A win is the only way forward for both teams, as they have “zero” points and can only hope to advance as one of the best third-place finishers.
Senegal certainly has the easier task; they need a high-scoring victory, as they currently have a goal difference of -3. Tiao’s team lost 3-1 to France in the first match, and on Tuesday lost 3-2 to Norway. They found themselves down 2-0 in the 48th minute, pulled one back through Sar five minutes later, but conceded to Haaland for the 3-1 score in the 58th minute. Sar scored in stoppage time, and that goal may prove decisive.
Starting goalkeeper Mendy is out; Diao will take his place.

Senegal’s
Roster Goalkeepers: E. Mendy (Al Ahli), M. Diao (Le Havre), G. Diouf (Nice)
Defenders: K. Koulibaly (Al Hilal), K. Diatta (Monaco), M. Niakate (Lyon), I. Jacobs (Galatasaray), A. Seck (Maccabi Haifa), A. Mendy (Nice), M. Sar (Chelsea), I. Kamara (Anderlecht), M. Bou (Paris)
Midfielders: I. Gay (Everton), P. Gay (Villarreal), P. Sar (Tottenham), L. Kamara (Monaco), P. Siss (Vallecano), H. Diarra (Sunderland), M. Endaye
Forwards: S. Mané (Al-Nassr), I. Sar (Crystal Palace), I. Endiaye (Everton), N. Jackson (Bayern), M. Dieng (Lorient), T. Endiaye (Samsunspor), I. Embaye (Paris Saint-Germain), A. Diao (Como).

Iraq’s task is much more difficult, based on the form they’ve shown so far, but mainly because of their -6 goal difference. After losing 4-1 to Norway in their opening match, they were followed by a 3-0 defeat to France.

Starting forward Ayman Hussein, the team’s only scorer in the tournament, is questionable. The good news is that Ali Jassim is back.

Iraq’s
Roster Goalkeepers: F. Talib (Al-Talaba), J. Hassan (Al-Zawraa), A. Basil (Al-Sorta)
Defenders: H. Ali (Pogon), M. Younis (Al-Sorta), Z. Tahsin (Pakhtakor), R. Sulaka (Port), A. Hashem (Al-Zawraa), M. Doski (Viktoria Plzeň), A. Yahya (Al-Sorta), Z. Ismail (Al Talaba), F. Poutros (Persib Bandung), M. Saadoun (Al Shorta)
Midfielders: A. Al Amari (Krakowia), K. Jakob (Aarhus), Z. Iqbal (Utrecht), A. Sher (Sarpborg), I. Bages (Al-Dafra), A. Kasem (Nashville), G. Amin (AEK Larnaca), M. Farzi (Venezia)
Forwards: A. Jassim (Al-Najma), A. Al-Hamadi (Ipswich), A. Youssef (Apollon Limassol), A. Hussein (Al-Karma), M. Ali (Diba).

Group
Standings: France 6 (6-1)
, Norway 6 (7-3)
, Senegal 0 (3-6)
, Iraq 0 (1-7)

Probable lineup
for Senegal (Pape Tiaho): Diao – Diatta, Coulibaly, Niakate, Seck – Sis, I. Gey, P. Gey – Mané, Sar, Jackson
Iraq (Graham Arnold): Hassan, Ali, Tahsin, Hashim, Doski – Ismail, Al-Amari, Bages, Jassim – Al Hamadi, Ali

Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)

*photo source: AP