DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The contest between Ecuador striker Enner Valencia and Netherlands forward Memphis Depay could help decide who wins their match at the World Cup on Friday.

The two forwards have different styles — Valencia is more powerful and direct, Depay more subtle and skilled — but are equally important to their sides. A win for either team would move it onto six points and put it in command of Group A with one game to play.

Valencia scored both of his side’s goals in the first half when it beat tournament host Qatar 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game, taking his international tally to 37 and extending his record as La Tri’s all-time leading scorer.

Although he came off against Qatar after taking a knock to his knee, coach Gustavo Alfaro says “Enner will play against the Netherlands, there is no doubt about that.”

Returning from a nagging hamstring injury, Depay came on in the second half to spark the attack as the Dutch scored two late goals to beat Senegal 2-0.

Although Depay could again be decisive off the bench, he’ll be hoping coach Louis van Gaal gives him a starting place.

After all, the 28-year-old Depay played a massive part in helping his nation qualify, netting 12 goals and six assists. No other European player had more goals and assists combined.

“He is a player who can make the difference,” Van Gaal said. “He will want to play, but I have to assess his form.”

Depay has added incentive to start because he needs one more goal to reach 43 international goals.

That would move him one past striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar — nicknamed “The Hunter” for his ruthless finishing — on the list of all-time leading scorers for the national team. Depay is not far away from Robin van Persie’s record of 50.

The first two of Depay’s international goals came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Valencia also netted twice during the competition. Neither forward played at the last World Cup because their nations failed to qualify.

Heading into this World Cup, their club forms have differed vastly.

Valencia has been in great form with 13 goals in 12 league games for Turkish side Fenerbahce. But Depay’s thigh problem kept him out for two months, and he played only three games for Spanish league leader Barcelona before heading to Qatar.

If Depay isn’t fit enough to start the match at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, then Van Gaal is confident he can rely on Cody Gakpo, who scored against Senegal for his third goal of the year with the Oranje.

He’s done well for PSV Eindhoven this season with 13 goals in 24 games.

“He knows how to score goals and is very agile,” Van Gaal said.

The 71-year-old Van Gaal said before the tournament that he believed his side can finally win the World Cup, after losing three finals. But he expects a better performance on Friday than in the opening victory.

“We can only improve,” he said.

Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert, who plays for unheralded Dutch side Heerenveen, pulled off three saves against Senegal on his international debut.

He will doubtless be called into action again if Enner is on form.

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The head of the Kyiv regional Law enforcement Section, Andriy Nebytov, said this on the air of the telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reviews.

“On the scenario in Vyshgorod. Our officers are there now. The full perimeter is cordoned off. Enable me remind you that, in addition to 4 apartment blocks, a kindergarten and a school ended up also damaged. Home windows were being shattered,” he said.

Nebytov assured that the law enforcement will prevent looting, assure regulation and buy, and that the area authorities, for their aspect, will be certain non permanent resettlement of all those affected.

Read through also: Russians strike residential building in Vyshgorod

According to the police main, as per the guidelines of the head of the Kyiv regional armed forces administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, “Invincibility Factors” have been deployed in a number of districts of Kyiv location, the place legislation enforcement officers are on duty.

“Concerning the liquidation of the effects (of the Russian shelling— ed.), electricity mend groups worked in the course of the evening. As not long ago as yesterday, electricity provides were being remaining restored to some settlements. Sadly, soon after yesterday’s shelling, 1,125 settlements had been still left devoid of ability. But electrical power teams are functioning, and I am certain that we will get over all these outcomes,” said the head of the capital location law enforcement.

“We do the job at all Invincibility Points, guarantee purchase, and assist our citizens,” Nebytov certain.

“On the to start with night time, even right before the shelling, I know that people arrived there — about 100 individuals took benefit of these options. At present, of program, there is much more ,” Nebytov mentioned.

As claimed, the deputy head of the President’s Workplace, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, stated that the dying toll of an enemy missile strike on the Kyiv region has increased to five.

For his portion, Oleksiy Kuleba stated that all the victims – from Vyshgorod, Chabany, Hlevakha, and Ukrainka – are under medical supervision.

Browse also: 6 men and women killed, 36 wounded in Russian strikes on Ukraine

On November 23, Russian troops at the time yet again carried out substantial shelling of Ukraine, concentrating on infrastructure facilities and household buildings. There are lifeless and wounded.

Enemy strikes led to the short term blackout of all nuclear energy crops, most thermal power crops, and hydroelectric ability stations.

Picture: Andriy Nebytov, Telegram

Minister of Overseas Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has explained that Russia is using negotiations as a “smokescreen” to keep on its aggression and terror.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — England scored six goals in its opening World Cup game against Iran, but it was the two it conceded that concern coach Gareth Southgate and provide hope for the United States.

“By the end we looked sloppy,” said Southgate of the 6-2 win over Iran on Monday. He also warned the U.S. would be coming “full-throttle” in Friday’s Group B match.

The tournament has already produced some shocking results, including Saudi Arabia’s win against Argentina and Japan’s upset over Germany.

A win for the U.S. over England would not be on the scale of Saudi Arabia’s win – but Gregg Berhalter’s team is undoubtedly the underdog against one of the tournament favorites.

The two goals conceded against Iran gave Southgate something to focus on in an otherwise encouraging performance.

His message to the players has been clear: They will need to be better against the U.S. team that tied 1-1 with Wales in its opening group game.

“They’re a top nation with a lot of top players who have played in the Premier League and who we’ve come up against,” said England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. “But it’s about us as a squad being 100%. It’s about us taking the result from Iran and going into the U.S. game positive.”

One of those Premier League plays is Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, a point of focus for England’s defense.

“He’s good with both feet, very clinical,” Pickford said. “We’ve got to be wary of him.”

A win for England would see it qualify for the round of the 16 with a game still to play – but the fate of Lionel Messi and Argentina is proof nothing can be taken for granted.

“It’s what World Cup football is all about,” said Pickford. “There are going to be surprises.”

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner is predicting more of them at the World Cup.

“You see that the world of football is levelling out in a lot of ways,” he said. “Teams have game plans. Teams have been investing in their youth academies over a number of years.”

“I think the message is when you have one team that’s bought into the same message, you can beat anyone on any given day.”

If U.S. is to produce the latest surprise of the competition, it will have to contain an England attack that was ruthless in the match against Iran, which featured two goals by Bukayo Saka.

“I think it’s pretty clear he’s one of the young stars of world football,” said his Arsenal teammate Turner. “He’s a top, top player and you don’t need me to tell anybody on our team how much of a threat that he poses in the game. He’s scoring goals in a variety of ways. He’s really developed, matured.”

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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish leaders say that an air-defense system which Germany offered Poland would be best given to Ukraine to help it protect itself against Russian strikes.

Germany said earlier this week that it has offered Warsaw Eurofighter planes and Patriot defense systems to help defend Poland’s airspace after two men were killed when an apparently stray Ukrainian defense projectile fell in Poland near the border with Ukraine.

Poland’s Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak initially said he received Germany’s offer with “satisfaction.”

But following Russia’s heavy barrage of Ukraine on Wednesday, Polish leaders said it would be better if the defense systems were placed in western Ukraine.

The head of Poland’s ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, called Germany’s offer “interesting,” but said he believe “it would be best for Poland’s security if Germany handed the equipment to the Ukrainians, trained Ukrainian teams, with the caveat that the batteries would be placed in Ukraine’s west.”

Ukrainian Ambassador to Warsaw, Vasyl Zvarych, thanked Blaszczak, saying on Twitter that Ukraine needs as many air defense weapons as it can get.

But Poland’s apparent decision not to accept the German Patriot system met with some criticism from the opposition in Poland.

Some critics pointed out that Poland’s populist government was not only refusing military protection but also critical European Union funding, money which has been held up by Poland’s refusal to follow EU guidelines on safeguarding the independence of judges. Poland needs the money as it seeks to absorb large numbers of refugees at a time of inflation of nearly 18%.

Marcin Kierwinski of the opposition Civic Platform party said Kaczynski “has gone mad” for “rejecting” the Patriot missiles and EU funding “during war and crisis.”

Kaczynski’s Law and Justice party has been pursuing policies hostile toward its neighbor Germany, accusing Berlin of blocking Poland’s interests in the EU. Warsaw has also been demanding $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany for World War II losses.

Two Poles were killed Nov. 15 when a missile hit a grain depot in the village of Przewodow, just 6 kilometers (4 miles) from the border with Ukraine, which came under heavy Russian missile attacks that day.

Western officials say it appeared that a Ukrainian air defense missile went astray and landed in Poland. While acknowledging that Russia did not fire the missile, NATO, the United States and Poland say they believe the ultimate blame lies with Russia, which invaded Ukraine and started the onslaught.