Karim Benzema will miss the World Cup after the France striker suffered an injury blow on the eve of the tournament.
The Real Madrid captain, who missed Les Bleus’ triumph at Russia 2018 while out of favour amid an ongoing blackmail investigation, was set to play a big part this time for Didier Deschamps’ team.
Benzema won the Ballon d’Or last month after a spectacular 2021-22 season that saw him score 44 goals in 46 games for Madrid, helping the Spanish giants win LaLiga and the Champions League.
However, he has been troubled by physical setbacks this term and the most untimely and crushing of all blows for the 34-year-old came on the day before Qatar 2022 was set to get underway.
Benzema only resumed full training with France on Saturday, after recent muscle trouble, but he could not complete the squad session due to injury.
He underwent tests that produced results ruling him out of the tournament.
The French Football Federation said in a statement: “Karim Benzema has pulled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury. The whole team shares Karim’s disappointment and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Karim @Benzema has pulled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.
The former Lyon frontman was troubled by a knee blow earlier this season before missing further fixtures for Madrid after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps, with Saturday’s blow seemingly a recurrence of that.
World Cup holders France begin their defence on Tuesday against Australia, before also tackling Denmark and Tunisia in Group D on November 26 and 30 respectively.
Benzema’s absence from the tournament is the latest in a line of major setbacks for France, even though coach Deschamps also has the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud as forward options.
RB Leipzig’s prolific Christopher Nkunku was forced to pull out of the squad this week after suffering knee ligament damage in a training collision with Eduardo Camavinga.
They also lost star midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, who would have been central to Deschamps’ plans.
Richarlison says Brazil’splayers “will do everything” they can to win a record-extending sixth World Cup in Qatar.
Brazil are steeped in World Cup history, with more titles than any other country, though their fifth and most recent triumph came in 2002.
Tite’s men head into the tournament in Qatar as one of the favourites having lost just one match since 2019, their Copa America final defeat to Argentina last year.
Richarlison will be playing in his first World Cup, having scored 17 goals in his 38 appearances for the Selecao since his debut in 2018.
The 25-year-old says he and his team-mates will do all they can to bring home the trophy, telling Eurosport: “If we will win? I don’t know, but we will do everything to win the World Cup.
“I prefer that we work in silence, doing our job and doing our best every day. Certainly, Professor Tite [head coach] will prepare us well for a great World Cup.”
The Tottenham forward believes Brazil deserve to be among the most fancied teams and is confident they will make an impression in Qatar, saying: “I think there are a lot of good teams, but we are Brazil.
“We have a lot of history, we’ve never been out of the World Cup and we’re going to the World Cup to honour the shirt. We’re definitely going to get something good for us.”
Despite his belief in Brazil’s prospects, Richarlison acknowledged other sides he feels have a chance, adding: “There are a lot of good teams.
“The defending champions, France. Belgium, for example, and Argentina, which has a good squad and won the Copa America.”
Brazil open their World Cup campaign against Serbia on Thursday, before facing Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.
Gianni Infantino promised that “everyone is welcome” in Qatar, but was adamant the country must not be criticised despite its questionable human rights record.
A World Cup the FIFA president believes will go down as the best in history kicks off on Sunday, with host nation Qatar taking on Ecuador.
The awarding of the tournament to Qatar, which happened in 2010, has drawn much criticism, with the Gulf state’s record on human rights particularly contentious.
Homosexualityis still a crime in Qatar, while the nation’s government does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, while campaigns for LGBTQ+ rights have been quashed.
Infantino, though, assured that people of any sexuality, race or religion are welcome in the country, as in an hour-long monologue at the Main Media Centre in Doha on Saturday, he called out what he sees as the “hypocrisy” of the western world and media, insisting that he must take any criticism, and not Qatar or the players or coaches.
“At the last World Cup I was always getting angry, because I had to deal with questions about doping, which I had nothing to do with,” Infantino said.
“Here I have to deal with other topics. If you want to criticise somebody, don’t criticise the players, the coaches, let them focus on football and making their fans happy.
“If you want to criticise someone, criticise me, I am here, crucify me. Don’t criticise Qatar. Criticise FIFA, criticise me. But let people enjoy this World Cup.
“Do we want to continue to divide, to spit on people because they feel different, or look different? We obtain results, it’s a process. Help us, don’t divide, don’t split.
“We have 32 teams, 33 with the referees, we have a beautiful city that wants to welcome the world. Let’s celebrate and hope we can give some joy around the world.”
Infantino promised he had assurances that people within the LGBTQ+ community will be welcome and secure in Qatar.
“I’ve been speaking about this topic with the highest leadership in the country, several times,” he said.
“I can confirm that everyone is welcome. If you’re a person here or there that says the opposite, well it’s not the opinion of the country, and it’s certainly not the opinion of FIFA.
“This is a clear requirement, everyone has to be welcome. Whatever religion, race, sexual orientation or belief that she or he has, everyone is welcome – this is our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to this.
“Yes, these legislations exist in many countries in the world. These legislations existed when Switzerland organised the World Cup, in 1954. What do you want to do about it?
“Do you want to stay home and criticise, say how bad they are – these Arabs or Muslims or whatever, because it’s not allowed to be publicly gay. Of course, I believe it should be allowed, but I went through a process.
“If I asked the same question to my father, who is not here anymore, he would probably have a different answer than me, and my children will have a different answer than me.
“If somebody thinks by hammering and criticising we achieve anything, it will be exactly the opposite, because it will be provocation and if you provoke me the reaction will be bad, then the doors will be more closed, even though now the door is starting to open.
“Tolerance starts with ourselves, we shouldn’t spread aggression, we have to spread understanding.”
Infantino hopes the tournament will help unite the world, claiming that is FIFA’s aim.
He said: “We are a global organisation, and we want to unite the world. I am still convinced, though not sure how optimistic I still am, that this World Cup will help to open the eyes of people in the western world to the Arab world.
“We have to live together, but we have to understand we have different beliefs, different history and backgrounds, but we are in the same world. It’s why you have to come here and say what you see – when you see something that is wrong, say how it can be rectified, please.
“Maybe we can help everyone to understand how we can help each other a little bit better.”
Bukayo Saka can thrive during England’s World Cup campaign after handling the fallout from his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final “impeccably”, according to Aaron Ramsdale.
Saka’s spot-kick was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma after England’s tense draw with Italy last July, ensuring the Three Lions lost on their first major final appearance since the 1966 World Cup.
The winger then endured further disappointment on the domestic stage as Arsenal failed to secure a top-four finish last term, but he has bounced back in fine fashion this season.
With Arsenalflying high at the top of the Premier League table, only five players have bettered Saka’s tally of 10 goal contributions in the competition this campaign (four goals, six assists), and his Gunners team-mate Ramsdale expects him to impress in Qatar.
Asked by ESPN how Saka handled last year’s disappointment, Ramsdale said: “[I’m] trying to find the right words, impeccably, probably.
“The kid’s a lovely boy, he has time for everyone, he works super hard throughout every week.
“He very, very rarely misses a training session and he used all that motivation of criticism, but also the love that everyone gave him, [it] gave him an extra boost.
“Don’t forget he had the pressure of the whole football club on him last year – him and Emile Smith Rowe were our main guys – and he has dealt with that, he’s dealt with everything else.
“He is thriving and I can’t wait to see him thrive over here.”
“I was just able to reflect that the season before they finished eighth, [last] season we finished fifth, and if we go another step again, we will be in the top four. It’s a game of football and there’s a lot more to it.”
Asked whether Saka had become a stronger character in the last year, he added: “Absolutely. There is no doubt about that, off the pitch and on it. He’s a more complete person.”
Switzerlanddefender Silvan Widmer has suggested that the weather was partly to blame for his side 2-0 defeat to Ghana in pre-World Cup friendly.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
During the game, there were about four stoppages for players to drink some liquids due to the hot weather condition in Abu Dhabi.
“The game was decided by a goal after a corner. We saw an even game between two teams who couldn’t go as fast as they could because of the heat,” Widmer said after the game.
“But we still have to step on the gas. That’s a losing game, bottom line. Playing at two in the afternoon when it’s over 30 degrees is difficult. We did well in terms of positions, especially in the first half. Let’s see what the coach has in store for us in the next few days.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino launched an impassioned defence of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, insisting he feels solidarity with many of the groups seemingly marginalised by taking the event to the Middle East.
The decision to host world football’s showpiece event in Qatar – a country with a chequered past on human rights issues, its treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality – has drawn widespread criticism, but in an extraordinary riposte, Infantino was unrepentant.
He said: “Today I have very strong feelings. Today, I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today, I feel a migrant worker.
“I feel all this because what I have been seeing and what I have been told, since I don’t read, otherwise I will be depressed.
“What I see brings me back to my personal story. I am a son of migrant workers, my parents were working hard in very difficult conditions, not in Qatar but in Switzerland, I remember it very well. I know the rights migrants in Switzerland had.
“I remember as a child how migrant workers were treated when they wanted to enter a country and look for work.
“I remember what happened with their passports, their medical checks, with their accommodation and when I came to Doha for the first time after I was elected FIFA president I went to see some of the accommodation and I was brought back to my childhood.
“I said to the people in Qatar, this is not right, and the same way that Switzerland has become an example of tolerance, inclusion and rights, Qatar has made progress as well.
“Of course, I am not Qatari, I am not Arab, I am not African, I am not gay, I am not disabled, I am not a migrant worker but I feel like them because I know what it feels to be discriminated against by a bully.
“As a foreigner in a foreign county, as a child at school, I was bullied at school because I had red hair and freckles. I was Italian, and didn’t speak good German.
“What do you do? You lock yourself down, go to your room and cry. And then you try to make some friends, to engage, make friends. And then you try to make these friends engage with others. You don’t start fighting, you start engaging and this is what we should be doing.
“I am proud to have this FIFA sign on my jacket. It’s not easy to read all the criticism from a decision taken 12 years ago. Now we have to make the best out of it.
“Qatar is ready and it will be the best World Cup ever. As soon as the ball rolls, people will focus on that.”
Infantino’s “I feel gay” comment immediately prompted accusations of hypocrisy on social media given he heads an organisation that is staging the World Cup in a country with such an oppressive outlook on homosexuality.
He added: “If we were to exclude all these countries, you are playing football with just you and me.
“I think football has to bring people together and I think we have to welcome everybody. Gay people are welcome in Qatar – we need to engage, don’t provoke.
“How many gay people were prosecuted in Europe? It was a process, we went through a process. We seem to forget.
“We shouldn’t take for granted that a country that has not had the same chance for development as we had in Europe.
“We have to have our beliefs, engage and explain. I think provocation is the wrong way. I may be right, may be wrong. I try to engage.”
Accra Hearts of Oak forward, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has implored Ghanaians to support him in prayers ahead of the 2022 World Cup after his impressive performance against Switzerland on Thursday.
Barnieh was named in Black Stars’ starting XI and won the hearts of Ghanaians with his explosive performance.
Speaking after the match in the United Arab Emirates, the former U-20 star said the prayers of Ghanaian fans are crucial to his subsequent performances and that of the team at the World Cup in Qatar.
“The fans should keep on praying and support me,” he told Joy Sports.
The Black Galaxies captain also said he had a good game because he relaxed and executed all the instructions that the coaches gave him.
“It was a good game, there wasn’t pressure and I stick to what the coaches said and everything went well for me,” he added.
Mohammed Salisu and Antione Semenyo scored the goals as Ghana wrapped up their preparations ahead of the Mundial in Qatar.
The Hearts of Oak forward was a surprise inclusion in Otto Addo’s 26-man squad for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Ghana will leave Abu Dhabi for Doha today. The Black Stars have been housed in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay and Barnieh will hope for more game time at the global showpiece.
The 22nd edition of the Mundial has been scheduled to kick off from November 20 to December 1, 2022.
Belgium‘s final warm-up match before the World Cup ended in defeat as Mostafa Mohamed and Trezeguet struck to earn Egypt a 2-1 victory in Kuwait.
Mohamed took advantage of an uncharacteristic mistake from Kevin De Bruyne to fire the Pharaohs into the lead, before Trezeguet scored a minute after half-time to put them two goals to the good.
Lois Openda reduced the deficit with a close-range finish but they could not find an equaliser as Roberto Martinez’s men fell to a second consecutive defeat.
The defeat exposed serious defensive deficiencies for Belgium ahead of their trip to Qatar, where they are hoping to better their run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup.
Belgium hit the bar within 10 minutes when Michy Batshuayi rattled the woodwork, though replays later showed the former Chelsea man was clearly offside.
After Thibaut Courtois twice denied Trezeguet, Arthur Theate sent a long-range curler looping onto the top of the net.
Mohamed gave Egypt the lead, capitalising on De Bruyne’s poor touch before side-footing beautifully into the bottom right corner from outside the box.
Mohamed El Shenawy then made a big stop to save Yannick Carrasco’s fierce drive and preserve his side’s lead heading into the interval.
Egypt doubled their lead moments after the break, Trezeguet latching onto Mohamed Salah’s excellent throughball before rifling home as Belgium continued to look shaky at the back.
Martinez’s men screamed for a penalty when half-time substitute Openda was felled by Ahmed Hegazy but a VAR review decided not to award a spot-kick.
Belgium pressed to pull a goal back but they struggled to break though Egypt’s resolute defence, with Youri Tielemans firing well over from range almost out of frustration.
They did find a goal back through Openda when he was picked out by a superb Carrasco cross but they could not kick on and find an equaliser.
What does it mean? Belgium head to World Cup out of form
Belgium are ranked second in the world by FIFA but they looked a million miles from that against Egypt in both attack and defence.
Martinez’s men rarely threatened and completed the match with just 0.64 xG (expected goals). They also looked a liability at the back despite holding 67.4 per cent of the possession as Egypt finished with a superior 0.76 xG.
Terrific Trezeguet
Trezeguet was a constant threat and could have finished with more than just the one goal had his finishing been more clinical.
The former Aston Villa man finished the game with four shots, all on target, while he ranked highest on his team for touches in Belgium’s box (three) and total xG (0.61).
Rare De Bruyne mistake
Egypt were set on their way to victory by De Bruyne‘s heavy touch when in seemingly no danger just outside his own penalty area, which Mohamed ruthlessly punished.
The Manchester City midfielder was taken off at the break after a poor 45 minutes by his lofty standards, failing to register a shot or a touch in Egypt’s box as his usual attacking output was missing.
What’s next?
Belgium get their World Cup campaign underway against Canada on Wednesday, while Egypt’s absence from the tournament means they will not be back in action until 2023.
This week, Hashir Ali and 11 of his friends will make a long trip – from Kozhikode city in the southern state of Kerala to Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Mr Ali, 55, a football-crazy civil engineer, and his friends are travelling to Doha for the World Cup, where they will stay for 10 days to watch the matches live.
Mr Ali bought tickets for the matches six months ago through a friend in Doha and has been waiting for the “big moment” ever since.
He is among several fans in India, who are gung-ho about football. Along with Kerala, Kolkata city in the eastern state of West Bengal and Kolhapur district in the western state of Maharashtra also have a large number of football fans.
With the world’s second largest population, many feel India is under-represented in the world’s most popular sport – the national team languishes in 106th spot in Fifa’s rankings.
Though India qualified in 1950, they have never actually made it to the World Cup. They refused to participate, partly because it would have meant their normally barefoot team having to wear football boots.
But every time the World Cupis held, India’s football fans do crazy things to express their love for the sport, and their favourite international team.
They save up for months to travel to watch the games; hold mock-matches sporting their favourite team’s jerseys; predict who will win the championship and take out colourful processions to celebrate their team’s victories.
Image source, Arun chandra boseImage caption, Fans erected large cut-outs of their favourite footballers in a river in Kerala
Recently, fans erected a 30ft-tall cut-out of Lionel Messi in a river in Kozhikode. Not to be one-upped, fans of Christiano Ronaldo and Neymar soon erected cut-outs of their idols. These outlandish additions to the river invited a lot of media attention, and even Fifa tweeted about them.
For many Keralites, Qatar is also like a second home, as thousands work or have set up businesses in the middle-eastern country. Several of them have worked for firms who have built stadia for the World Cup.
“It’s a dream come true to watch my favourite players in action,” Mr Ali told the BBC as he was packing for his flight.
Along with sundry items needed for the trip, his bags also contains gifts for his favourite footballers – miniature dhows, or sailing boats.
The dhow, also known as uru in Kerala, has its origins in India’s ancient maritime trade. Craftsmen in Beypore – an ancient port town in Kozhikode – have been engaged in dhow-making for generations and their handcrafted luxury dhows are popular among Qatari millionaires.
A thousand handcrafted miniature dhows made by the traditional shipbuilders of Beypore have been shipped to Qatar as merchandise for the World Cup. A life-sized dhow is also set to be on display.
Image source, ARUN CHANDRA BOSEImage caption, Kerala has a huge number of football fans
Mr Ali is also taking a gift for the organisers – a dhow with flowers of participating countries drawn on its mast.
“We have drawn pictures of all the eight stadiums and flags of the participating countries on a football along with other icons,” Meghna Unnikrishnan, the creator of the artwork, told the BBC.
“It took almost a month for the artisans to build the dhow, carved from teakwood, and I and three other artists finished the drawings in two days,” she adds.
An ardent fan of Lionel Messi, “of course after Diego Maradona”, Mr Ali is going to watch the World Cup matches live for the first time.
“Thank God [the World Cup in being held in] Doha this time and all the eight stadiums are in a 10km (6 miles) radius. Otherwise, I could not even dream of doing so,” he says.
He says he would like to stay back and watch more matches, but “that’s too expensive” for him and it’ll take a “heavy toll” on his work back home.
Last week, Indian fans gathered in large numbers in Doha to cheer the arriving England team by beating drums and blowing horns.
Image source, Hashir Ali / Gudam Art GalleryImage caption, Hashir Ali and Meghna Unnikrishnan with a miniature dhow they are carrying to Doha
TV networks in Kerala have also captured expatriate fans of teams from other countries, celebrating on the street, wearing the team’s colours and waving their national flag.
“Football is in our blood and we make every match a celebration. There’s no permanent loyalty,” Mr Ali says.
In the neighbouring Malappuram district, the World Cup craze started six months ago, with seven football matches representing prominent local teams.
The players donned jerseys of their favourite countries – France, England, Argentina, Brazil, Holland, Germany and Portugal – in the seven-a-side matches.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jerseys on sale in Kolkata city in the state of West Bengal
Abdul Nazar, a footballer from Vengara village in Malappuram is also readying to fly to Doha early next month.
Along with him, around 25 fans from the village are also travelling to Doha to cheer their favourite teams. They’ve arranged for drums to beat and flags to wave whenever their chosen team scores a goal, he says.
“We have fans for all major teams, although Argentina and Brazil are favourites,” Mr Nazar told the BBC.
Pele “had Ghana in mind” when he predicted a team from Africa would eventually win the World Cup, the country’s president said on Friday.
As the Black Stars set off for Qatar, hopes are high at home that the 2010 quarter-finalists can have another strong tournament.
Brazilgreat Pele forecast in the 1970s that a team from Africa would win football’s greatest global title before the end of the century.
That did not come to fruition, and Africa has yet to produce a World Cup semi-finalist. Few would expect that to change in Qatar 2022, and Ghana enter the tournament as long shots.
The opening game for Otto Addo’s team comes on November 24 against Portugal, who should have superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said: “A long time ago, the greatest footballer that’s ever lived, the Brazilian Pele, said that very soon an African country is going to lift that trophy, and I know that he had in mind Ghana.
“Let’s all together rally around the young men and the team and make sure we give them our maximum support.
“They’re going to go a long way away in Doha and Qatar, but they should know the entire nation, without distinction of politics, or religion, or ethnicity; the entire Ghanaian nation are 100 per cent solidly behind them.”
Ghana will also face South Korea and Uruguay in Group H, and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) challenged the team to “hoist the flag of Ghana even higher on global football’s ultimate stage”.
“As the mother body of all professional footballers in the country, the PFAG expects a sterling showing from our gallant warriors to make all Ghanaians proud,” the association said in a statement.
“We wish the playing body the very best as they lace up their boots to do battle on the world stage.
“To the technical bench, we urge you to continue doing your utmost and to leave no stone unturned in mapping out our assured paths to victory.
“Finally, to all teeming and passionate fans of the Black Stars, we ask that you enjoin us in fervent prayer and resounding support for our Stars!
“Let’s chant and sing in one voice to push our team beyond all hurdles in their quest to shine bright in Qatar!”
Barcelona’s 19-year-old full-back Alejandro Balde has been added to Spain’s squad for the World Cup following an injury to Jose Gaya.
Valencia left-back Gaya has won 18 caps for Spain after making his international debut in 2018, and he looked likely to deputise for La Roja’s vice-captain Jordi Alba in Qatar.
However, Gaya suffered an ankle sprain in training on Wednesday, and while initial reports said his injury was not serious, Luis Enrique has opted against taking any risks ahead of the tournament.
Balde had been preparing to represent Spain’s under-21 side against Japan in a friendly on Friday, but he could now win his first senior cap on the grandest stage of all.
Balde made his Barcelona debut in a Champions Leaguedefeat to Bayern Munich last September, and has assumed a prominent role in Xavi’s new-look team this season.
With Barcelona battling a series of injury problems in defence, Balde has made 16 appearances for the Blaugrana this campaign, starting on 13 occasions.
Spain begin their Group E campaign against Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday, before taking on Germany in a huge clash four days later.
Salima Mukansanga, one of the three female referees who will officiate at a men’s World Cup for the first time, said they have been chosen for the tournament in Qatar not simply based on their gender but because they deserve the chance.
Rwanda’s Mukansanga, Yamashita Yoshimi of Japan and Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappart along with three female assistant referees have been selected for the World Cup, which begins on Sunday.
“We are here because we deserve to be here. Back at our confederation, or back at home it is another level, so this is the biggest level of football,” Mukansanga told reporters in Doha on Friday.
“So being here means we deserve to be here, it’s not a change or because we are women.”
Assistant referee Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States said they feel welcome.
“We feel like we are one referee team here, no difference man or woman,” she said.
The sale of beer around stadiums during the World Cup has been banned after talks between FIFA and Qatari tournament chiefs.
It was revealed on Friday by FIFA that alcohol would not be available as expected in the perimeter area of stadiums.
Budweiser is a major FIFA sponsor and sales of its product had been expected to be allowed close to the stadiums. However, only its alcohol-free variant will now be available.
The news was swiftly criticised, with England’s Football Supporters’ Association questioning whether such an apparent U-turn could be followed by more promises not being kept.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe (FSE), expressed similar concern, describing the news as an “extremely worrying” development.
FIFA said: “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.
“Host country authorities and FIFA will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and pleasant experience for all fans.”
Referencing Budweiser’s parent company, FIFA added: “The tournament organisers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continuous support to our joint commitment to cater for everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”
Reports said Budweiser posted on Twitter “Well, this is awkward”, before deleting the post.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) said its concern was less about the beer decision but about the prospect of fans being affected by possible further unexpected decisions at the controversial mid-season World Cup.
The FSA said in a statement: “Some fans like a beer at the match, and some don’t, but the real issue is the last-minute U-turn which speaks to a wider problem – the total lack of communication and clarity from the organising committee towards supporters.”
It condemned the lack of explanation and said fans would have “understandable concerns about whether they will fulfil other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues”.
Sadio Mane could face several months on the sidelines after undergoing the surgery that ended his slim hopes of playing for Senegal at the World Cup.
The Bayern Munich forward underwent what his club described as a successful operation on Thursday.
Bayern said in a statement: “During the operation, a tendon was reattached to the head of his right fibula.
“The FC Bayern forward will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup and will begin his rehab in Munich in the next few days.”
According to widespread reports in Germany, Mane’s recovery is unlikely to be a quick one, with the former Liverpool forward said to be facing possibly three to four months out of action.
ℹ️ Sadio Mané underwent successful surgery in Innsbruck on Thursday evening. He will therefore no longer be available to play for Senegal at the World Cup.
African player of the year Mane sustained the leg injury when playing in Bayern’s 6-1 win against Werder Bremen last week.
He was initially judged fit enough to be included in Aliou Cisse’s 26-man Senegal squad for the World Cup, with hopes he could be available by the knockout stages, but subsequent medical checks confirmed the need for surgery.
A short statement from the Senegalese Football Federation read: “The FSF wishes a speedy recovery to its player Sadio Mane.”
Senegal face Netherlands in their Group A opener on Monday before meeting Qatar and Ecuador.
Bayern are due to resume their Bundesliga campaign against RB Leipzig on January 20. They headed into the World Cup break as leaders, chasing an 11th consecutive German league title.
They face a Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain, with games scheduled for February 14 and March 8 in that heavyweight contest.
Black Stars held a recovery training session in Abu Dhabi without players who participated in their 2-0 friendly win over Switzerland on Thursday.
Coach Otto Addo put theses players through their paces in bid to get them ready for the World Cup.
Ghana concluded their 2022 World Cup preparation with a convincing win over Switzerland at the Zayed Sports complex.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
The team has been camping in the United Arab Emirates capital for the past four days as coach Addo look to fine tune his squad for the global showpiece.
Black Stars will leave Abu Dhabi for Doha today for Doha and are expected to arrive this evening to continue with preparations for the World Cup finals
.
Black Stars. who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Ghana left-back Abdul Baba Rahman says their friendly win over Switzerland will lift the mood in camp ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Black Stars concluded their 2022 World Cup preparation with a convincing 2-0 victory at the Zayed Sports complex on Thursday.
Mohammed Salisu and Antoine Serlom Semenyo scored in the second half to ensure the West Africans head into the World Cup on a high note.
“Having a win is always is a positive thing so it will also bring back the morale and confidence in the team for our first,” the on-loan Chelsea defender said after the game.
Black Stars will leave Abu Dhabi for Doha today for Doha and are expected to arrive this evening to continue with preparations for the World Cup finals.
Black Stars. who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
Ghana secured a 4th FIFA World Cup tournament having participated in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil after drawing 1-1 against Nigeria in the return leg of the final play-offs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja to seal qualification on the away goals rule.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fibula injury, the Senegalese Football Federation confirmed on Thursday.
Mane sustained the leg issue while playing in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win over Schalke on Saturday, though he was deemed fit enough to be included in Aliou Cisse’s 26-man squad.
It was announced on Tuesday that Mane would not play any part in Senegal’s opening matches, Cisse’s side saying they “will have to rely on playing the first games without Sadio”.
But Thursday’s update confirms Mane’s injury will need surgery, thus ruling him out of the entire tournament in Qatar.
A short statement from the Senegalese Football Federation read: “The FSF wishes a speedy recovery to its player Sadio Mane.”
It comes as a huge blow for both Mane and Senegal after he played an instrumental part in their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, scoring the winning penalty in the final against Egypt in February.
Senegal face Netherlands in their Group A opener on Monday before meeting Qatar and Ecuador, though they will have to attempt to reach the knockout stages without their star attacker.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains optimistic about Portugal’s chances at the World Cup in Qatar, who he thinks will host a “good tournament” despite ongoing human rights concerns.
Portugal captain Ronaldo missed Fernando Santos’ side cruise past Nigeria 4-0 in their final warm-up game on Thursday before FIFA’s global tournament.
Coach Santos cited illness issues for the 37-year-old amid the furore of his scathing interview on Manchester United with Piers Morgan on TalkTV.
While the former Real Madrid forward hit out at United, their staff and directors, Ronaldo suggested Portugal have a chance at the World Cup, where they face Ghana in their Group H opener next Thursday.
“I am very optimistic. We have a fantastic coach, we have a good generation of football players,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said.
“I’m looking forward to it, we’re going to an amazing World Cup… [It’s] going to be tough. Extremely difficult. But everything is possible, of course we’re going to compete.”
After labelling a host of pre-tournament favourites, such as Argentina, Spain and Brazil, Ronaldo said he would retire immediately if Portugal won the tournament.
The United forward believes England also have a “chance” in Qatar, who came under widespread scrutiny for their human rights treatment after being awarded hosting rights by FIFA.
Captains of 10 European sides will wear heart-adorned armbands, raising awareness for the OneLove campaign against discrimination in a country where same-sex relationships are prohibited.
FIFA has repeatedly called for nations to focus on football, much to the disappointment of many supporters and countries, though Ronaldo feels Qatar will prove a capable host.
“All the national teams, the people will be welcomed in Qatar, and I see a good tournament to be honest,” he added.
“I think Qatar; they are prepared. They are prepared for that [the backlash].
“It will be weird to play at the beginning of the season. But in the same way, it is a challenge. I think it’s good. I feel good and with good energy.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he would be happy to see Arsenal win the Premier League, if Manchester United cannot become champions.
The Portugal star has caught the headlines with an explosive interview aired this week, where he criticised his employers, current manager Erik ten Hag and his former team-mates Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville.
His comments have led to a growing expectation that a swift departure from Old Trafford is on the cards after the World Cup in Qatar when the January transfer window opens for business – and his admission on the Premier League title race will cause a further stir.
United have struggled for stability in the Premier League this season, while Arsenal have lost just once – at Old Trafford – as they look for a first top-flight crown since going unbeaten in the 2004-05 season.
If that were to happen, Ronaldo has conceded he would be happy with the outcome.
“I hope so. Manchester United first, if not, Arsenal. It’s a team I like to see play,” he told Piers Morgan’s Uncensored on TalkTV.
“I like the team, I like the coach. I think they have a good team and if Manchester United don’t win the Premier League, then I will be happy if Arsenal do.”
Arsenal hold a five-point advantage over Manchester City after 14 rounds of Premier League action, with United 11 points adrift of the Gunners.
That was my all-time favourite interview. A sporting icon baring his soul as never before & doing it with such raw honesty & passion, knowing it would attract a lot of heat but believing it was time to speak out. Thanks @Cristiano – you’re a class act, on & off the pitch. pic.twitter.com/4hwTzk7Lhj
Former England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are confident the Three Lions can go “all the way” at the World Cup in Qatar.
England begin their Group B campaign against Iran on Monday, looking to cast aside their poor recent form in the Nations League in a bid for their second World Cup triumph.
Gareth Southgatehas led England to at least the final four in consecutive major tournaments – becoming the first manager to do so since Alf Ramsey in 1966 and 1968 – and Gerrard believes the team can build on their recent near misses in Qatar.
“I’m really optimistic. I’ve got a lot of belief and confidence in the boys, I’m sure they’re extremely excited at the moment,” Gerrard told Sky Sports.
“I’m looking forward to going on a journey with them, now that I’m a fan and an ex-player. I’ve experienced where they are right now and I’m really looking forward to, hopefully, a positive start to build belief.
“They were millimetres away from winning the Euros, to get to a World Cup semi-final is a positive performance.
“I think, collectively, they should have belief, they should have confidence and togetherness. They’re a real tight group with a fantastic manager, there’s a lot of talent.
“I think if we get the right bits of luck and the right breaks, and keep the majority of the squad healthy, I’m confident we can go all the way.”
Everton manager Lampard concurs with his former international team-mate, viewing England as one of the favourites to win the tournament.
“We’ve got a squad that has been building for a couple of years, they’ve had a couple of tournaments where they’ve had relative success and they’re getting stronger, in my opinion,” Lampard said.
“I think we can fairly put England as one of the favourites for the tournament, with the talent they have in the squad.
“I think it’ll be about momentum in the tournament itself, who gets through the group, who builds that confidence and momentum, and then that can take you all the way.”
England are the only European nation to have reached the semi-finals in each of the past two major tournaments.
However, since winning the World Cup on home soil in 1966, England have only progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the competition on two occasions – finishing fourth in 1990 and 2018.
Former England captain Terry Butcher believes the Three Lions could benefit from scaled-back expectations at the World Cup after enduring a torrid Nations League campaign.
Gareth Southgate’s team are the only nation to reach the semi-finals at each of the last two major tournaments, having been beaten by Croatia in the last four at the 2018 World Cup before losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy.
Despite their strong tournament record in recent years, England arrive in Qatar in poor form after being relegated from Nations League Group A3 following a winless campaign in the competition.
However, Butcher believes England may replicate their feats from four years ago by springing a surprise in Qatar.
“I think a lot of people will see them as less looking like winners, because this year has been very disappointing for England,” Butcher told Stats Perform.
“When you look at it and you step back, it’s dropped the expectations. The expectation levels are down now, compared to what they were at the start of the year.
“I think a lot of that is very similar to Russia in 2018, when a lot of people were not expecting them to do particularly well.
“I think there’ll be more determination with the pressure off, like it was in Russia. Then you’ve got the timing of the tournament and English players will be fresh.
“There’s a few injury problems and concerns, but there’s no burnout, and there’s no mental tiredness like there is when it comes to the summer championships. This is unique for the English players as well. So I think that’ll benefit us very much.
“You think well, ‘you’ve had a taste of the semi-finals, you’ve had a taste of the final’, they would have learned a lot from that.”
Despite overseeing two memorable major tournament campaigns since taking charge in 2016, Southgate has been subject to fierce criticism in recent weeks.
However, Butcher believes Southgate’s record cannot be questioned and says the depth of talent at England’s disposal makes them genuine contenders to win the World Cup.
“There aren’t many England managers that have won cups and titles and all that sort of thing,” Butcher said when asked about Southgate.
“He’s got problems in terms of who to leave out as much as who to put in. There is a plethora, if you want to use that word, of talent. It’s about finding the right blend on the day.
“But it’s a lovely position to be in. I just hope now that England can take the shackles off and have that belief that they can win it. That’d be really nice if they could do that.
“There’s no doubt the talents there. Fitness will be there. The mental strength will be there, which I hope has been even made more acute by the failure last year to win the final.”
Sven-Goran Eriksson believes England’s current squad is not only another “golden generation”, but might even be better than the teams he managed.
Eriksson was in charge of the Three Lions between 2001 and 2006, a period during which England’s selection of players was labelled a “golden generation”.
Despite managing the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, Eriksson could only reach the quarter-finals of both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, as well as being eliminated at the same stage of Euro 2004.
Ahead of the 2022 World Cupin Qatar, the Swede has praised the talent available to current manager Gareth Southgate, who he suggested might have even better options at his disposal.
“I think the squad here with England, that’s a golden generation as well,” Eriksson told The Mirror. “Some of these players maybe will not play in the next World Cup, so they have a lot of experience, and they are really, really good.
“They have a born goalscorer [Harry Kane], they have experience, and they have pace, a lot of pace in the squad. That’s important in modern football. I think we talk in the past here, 2006, England had a really, really strong squad.
“A little bit unlucky that Rooney was coming from injury, so at that time I thought England could have reached the final and won it. I think it’s the same now. But now, I think that England has more options, very, very strong, good options.
“Maybe it’s even more difficult for Southgate because he has even more options than we had I think, good options… the team I picked was very, very strong and once again, 2006, we should have done better.”
England lost to Portugal on penalties in the last eight at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and Eriksson admitted he should have planned more for the eventuality of spot kicks.
“In 2006, I should have taken in sports psychologists to mentally coach for penalty shoot-outs,” he said. “I thought about it, we talked about it, but I thought the squad was so experienced and they had done these big tournaments before.
“So I thought it was not necessary. That was a mistake.”
Southgate’s men get their 2022 World Cup campaign underway against Iran on Monday.
Black Stars forward Daniel Afriyie Barnieh believes that his incredible performance against Switzerland was due to his application of the teachings of coach Otto Addo and his technical team.
Barnieh, in a Joy FM interview, discounted perceived pressure on him to excel, stating that he enjoyed the match against Switzerland on November 17, 2022.
“I feel good with my debut. It was a good game and there was no pressure. I stuck to what the coaches said and everything went well for me”, he said.
Barnieh’s performance caught the eye of Mohammed Kudus who showered praises on him for delivering an excellent performance.
“Chaley, today you did well. I really enjoyed your performance” he said while patting the back of Afriyie Barnieh who was granting an interview to Joy FM.
The Black Stars wrapped up preparations for the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Switzerland on November 17, 2022.
Centre back Mohammed Salisu and forward Antoine scored in the second half to give Otto Addo’s side a big victory over the Swiss.
Barnieh and his Black Stars teammates will hope to have a great tournament when the World Cup kicks off on November 20, 2022.
The Black Stars begin their journey against Portugal before facing South Korea and Uruguay in Group H.
The French Football Federation have condemned racist messages directed towards Eduardo Camavinga on social media after Christopher Nkunku was injured ahead of the World Cup.
Nkunku was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar after suffering a knee sprain in training on Tuesday and is reportedly facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Video footage circulated on social media purporting to show Nkunku sustaining the injury in a challenge with Camavinga, which led to the Real Madrid midfielder receiving discriminatory messages.
A statement released by the FFF on Thursday read: “Following Christopher Nkunku’s injury, Eduardo Camavinga was the victim of racist messages on social media.
“The FFF condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms and is in full support of Eduardo.”
Nkunku also defended Camavinga when addressing his social media followers on Wednesday, saying the 20-year-old had been “unfairly targeted” and calling for unity from supporters.
“Yesterday evening, following the medical examinations, I had to leave Les Bleus and forfeit the World Cup,” Nkunku wrote on Twitter.
“Now, let’s get to work with one and only objective, to come back even stronger.
“A thought for my team-mate Eduardo Camavinga, who was unfairly targeted. The World Cup must be a moment of togetherness and not of division.”
France begin their Group D campaign against Australia on Tuesday, having suffered several injury blows ahead of their bid to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante will both join Nkunku in missing the tournament, as will Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, who withdrew from their squad on Monday.
Costa Rica cancelled their World Cupwarm-up match against Iraq due to an issue over passports.
Luis Fernando Suarez’s side were set for one final test before they begin their Group E campaign against Spain in Qatar next Wednesday.
Ahead of travelling to the Gulf State on Friday, Costa Ricahad been staying in Kuwait, with the intention to cross into Iraq for Thursday’s friendly.
But having travelled to the border on Wednesday, a request to have their passports not stamped was not honoured by local authorities, forcing them to return to their camp.
“The match against Iraq was suspended,” Costa Rica’s Football Federation stated.
“An agreement that was made with the non-stamping of passports was not respected and for this reason it was decided not to enter Iraq and cancel the match.”
🔴 En minutos conferencia de prensa con los detalles de suspensión del juego amistoso ante Iraq.🔴
Costa Rica are competing in their third consecutive tournament, having reached a best-ever finish at Brazil 2014 by progressing to the quarter-finals.
A dismal Russia 2018 campaign saw them eliminated in the group stages, with Suarez’s side likely to face a tough test in a group that also contains Japan and Germany.
Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu bagged his first goal for Ghana in their 2-0 win over Switzerland in Abu Dhabi in an international friendly.
Salisu headed in from close range to the top right corner following a corner in the 69th minute of the game to give Black Stars a 1-0 lead before Antoine Semenyo doubled the lead four minutes later.
The friendly concludes Black Stars’ 2022 World Cup preparation in Abu Dhabi before travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.
Black Stars. who are the lowest-ranked team at the tournament have been drawn in Group H alongside Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Ghana will take on Portugal in their first game on November 24 before playing South Korea and Uruguay on November 28 and December 2 respectively.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be looking to make it out of the group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be able to play in Portugal’s World Cup warm-up game against Nigeria on Thursday, according to head coach Fernando Santos.
Speaking at a press conference, Santos said: “Ronaldo has gastritis and did not train today in order to recover and rest.
“It’s a condition that doesn’t help much as it affects the players a lot, they lose a lot of liquid, they weaken. He won’t be ready for tomorrow, for sure.”
The Portugal boss also dismissed concerns about Ronaldo’s interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised his club, Manchester United.
“[Ronaldo] didn’t have to inform us about the interview. Isn’t he free [to make his decisions]?
“What I’m interested in is what is being spoken about in our camp and not what is being said outside. We have to respect his decision.
“We have to respect the interview he gave. It has nothing to do with the national team,” he said.
Portugal begin their World Cup campaign against Ghana on November 24, before also taking on Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
James Maddison is hopeful of being fit enough to play in England’s opener against Iran next Monday after picking up a knockFifa World CupHost nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings – Full coverage details
James Maddison said he never gave up hope of being part of the England squad for the Fifa World Cup despite his three-year absence from the international picture.
The Leicester midfielder, 25, made his England debut in November 2019 – still his only cap for his country.
But Maddison’s excellent club form this season earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar.
“I didn’t think it was a closed door and the opportunity had gone,” he said.
“It was just about staying hungry and almost using the rejection as not being called as motivation.”
I never thought England was a closed door – Maddison
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Maddison’s one and only England appearance came in a 7-0 Euro 2020 qualifier win against Montenegro and he has had to wait patiently for his next international opportunity.
He has been instrumental in Leicester’s rise from bottom of the Premier League table to 13th this season, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 13 games.
However, he was still not certain whether it would be enough to earn a call-up and he admitted it was an emotional moment when he was told he was in the squad.
Watch as England arrive in Qatar for the World Cup
“My dad actually cried and my dad’s not a crier; I don’t think I’ve seen him cry for years,” he added.
“They were happy tears of course because your family and your parents are on this journey with you.
“The disappointment in previous years of not being selected is spread across the family because your family want what’s best for you.
“But on the opposite end, the happiness comes too.”
There was a scare when Maddison limped off in Leicester’s 2-0 win at West Ham last Saturday, but it was soon confirmed that it was just a knock.
And Maddison says he is confident he will be fit for England’s opener against Iran on Monday (13:00 GMT).
“The scan was a good scan and no major problem,” he said. “I’ll have to do a little bit of work with the physios here to get up to full speed.
“It shouldn’t affect me playing in the first game. I might just have to do some separate work with the physios, but I’m hopeful I’ll be fine.”
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Kevin Sheedy (right) scored four goals in 46 games for the Republic of Ireland between 1984 and 1993.
You don’t need to go back to 1958 for the last time a Welsh-born player scored at a World Cup finals.
Terry Medwin’s winning goal in a play-off against Hungary 64 years ago in Sweden was Wales’ last goal scored in the tournament.
But the last goal to be scored by Welsh-born player in the finals was the Republic or Ireland’s first goal on the biggest stage of all.
Kevin Sheedy was born in the mid-Wales market town of Builth Wells, where he lived until the age of four, when the family moved to Hereford.
With a Brecon-born mother and with his father a County Clare native who had moved to the UK at the age of 16, Sheedy was eligible to play for Wales as well as the Republic of Ireland.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW), thanks to the efforts of former under-21 boss Brian Flynn and ex-talent manager Gus Williams, have done so much to identify and embrace Welsh qualified players in recent times.
But in the mid-1970s, an FAW official’s response to a query from a 16-year-old Sheedy would shape the course of his career.
“I was playing for Hereford United and I got a letter from the Irish FA (Football Association) to say I’d be selected for a forthcoming game,” Sheedy recalls.
“I knew I was eligible for both Ireland and Wales so I rang the Welsh FA and asked them if I was going to be in their upcoming squad.
“They gave me the answer that they weren’t in the business of telling people until it was done publicly.
“I would have had a decision to make had they said I was in the squad, but I opted for Ireland.”
Sheedy progressed through the Republic’s youth teams before he was handed his senior debut in 1984, by which time he was with Everton.
The winger with a deft left foot was a pivotal figure in Everton’s unprecedented success under Howard Kendall during the mid-1980s and was known for his trademark free-kicks.
Everton won two Division One titles, one FA Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup and Sheedy’s club-mates included Neville Southall and Kevin Ratcliffe.
But while the Welsh pair enjoyed domestic success with Everton, qualification for major international tournaments eluded them.
“I used to give Kev and Nev a bit of banter that they had just missed out,” recalls Sheedy.
Kevin Sheedy (left) with Everton team-mate and Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe in 1985
“But it was a shame for those two because they were world-class players and they deserved to play at the top tournaments.”
The Republic of Ireland had not figured at any major tournaments until the arrival of England’s 1966 World Cup winner Jack Charlton as manager in 1986.
“Jack came in and he was a great bloke,” Sheedy said. “He had his own way – it was Jack’s way or the highway and if you didn’t fit into that, he was ruthless.
“He got the rules and knew who was eligible – the likes of John Aldridge and Ray Houghton.
“We already had a decent team but these were just the icing on the cake.
“We just gelled as a team and Jack got a system of play he wanted and the players bought into it.
“All the players were playing for the top teams in the top divisions so, when it came to these big international games, we had that experience to go with us and that helped.”
Charlton’s side delivered the Republic’s first a major-tournament appearance in 1988, qualifying for the European Championship in West Germany.
After famously beating England, Charlton’s men were only denied a place in the semi-finals by a late winner from eventual champions the Netherlands, and two years later qualified for the World Cup in Italy.
“We got great confidence from Euro 88 – we knew we could compete against the best sides in the world,” Sheedy added.
Charlton’s side were in Group D along with Egypt, Netherlands and England, who they played in the opening game. Sheedy scored the Irish equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
“It was a typical derby game because we all knew each other,” Sheedy said of the game, played in Cagliari in June 1990.
Kevin Sheedy beats Romania’s Silviu Lung from the penalty spot in the 990 World Cup Round of 16.
“Gary Stevens and Trevor Steven were team-mates of mine and Gary Lineker was a former team-mate and he scored after about six minutes.
“I just remember trying to play a pass to Tony Cascarino and Steve McMahon, who had just come on as a sub, intercepted it and tried to play a square pass to Gary Stevens.
“But I intercepted it and as soon as it left my boot it passed Peter Shilton’s left hand and went in the back of the net.
“It was Ireland’s first ever goal at the World Cup – a piece of history that I will always have, and it’s got be numerous free pints of Guinness all over the world.”
Draws against Egypt and the Netherlands would ensure the Republic’s place in the last 16 against Romania in Genoa.
The sides could not be separated after 120 minutes of football and so the game required penalties, with Sheedy the first to step up for his team.
“I was the penalty taker for Everton and had taken penalties for Ireland so I had the experience,” Sheedy said.
“It was a long walk but the Irish fans were behind the goal and I just held my nerve, [I was thinking] hit it as hard as I could down the middle and keep it high. I hit it perfectly, to my great relief.”
Both sides had successfully converted four penalties by the time Daniel Timofte stepped up to take Romania’s fifth kick
“You could see he was nervous in his walk,” Sheedy said.
“Packie (goalkeeper Pat Bonner) went the right way and saved. Another piece of Irish history.”
That meant that if Ireland scored their next penalty, they would go through.
But Sheedy remembers: “Nobody offered to take the fifth penalty. David O’Leary said ‘If nobody wants to take then I’ll take it’.
“I said to him as we was walking ‘Dave, just pick your spot and don’t change your mind and hit it as hard as you can’.
“He buried it in the corner and it got us through to the quarter-finals against Italy in Rome.”
But before facing with the hosts in the Olympic Stadium, Charlton’s squad went to meet the Pope.
“The story is when we landed in Italy for the first time, Ray Houghton shouted to Jack ‘what will we do if we get to the quarter finals?’,” Sheedy explains.
“Jack turned around. ‘If we get to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Rome against Italy, I’ll get you an audience with the Pope’.
“A couple of days before the quarter-final, we all jumped on a coach not knowing where we were going and indeed we had an audience with the Pope.
“Jack must have known people in high places, but that was a magic experience.”
The Republic’s World Cup adventure came to an end as Toto Schillaci’s goal sent Italy into the last four.
“It was a tight game and we could have won it 1-0,” Sheedy said.
Jack Charlton and the Republic of Ireland squad with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican
“It was just unfortunate that the ball broke to Schillaci, as he was on fire in that tournament.
“We were bitterly disappointed and Jack said after the game ‘you don’t know how close you’ve come to winning the World Cup’.
“The supporters still come up and talk about those days.”
The Republic would also qualify for the World Cup in the United States four years later and the 2002 finals.
They will not be in Qatar, but Sheedy’s country of birth will be there after ending an absence of 64 years.
“They’ve thoroughly deserved to qualify and hopefully they can get out of the group and put in good performances,” Sheedy says.
“It’s then up to the younger players to want to be in that position, because they have got some good players.
“Hopefully this will then be the start of future tournaments for them and the supporters.”
Stale Solbakken will be without Erling Haaland for Thursday’s trip to DublinInternational friendly: Republic of Ireland v NorwayVenue: Aviva Stadium Dublin Date: Thursday, 17 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMTCoverage: Live text and report on the BBC Sport website
Norway manager Stale Solbakken has said the “world was asleep” when Qatar was awarded the World Cup by Fifa.
Solbakken added that “Fifa has the biggest failing” and made “the biggest mistake” when Qatar was controversially named as host nation in 2010.
The Norwegian boss was speaking before Thursday’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
“The first years after it was given to Qatar, I think the whole world was more or less asleep,” he said.
“I think it’s only in the last years that it’s suddenly, ‘Oh, the World Cup in Qatar’.
“I don’t think football has done enough, I don’t think journalists have done enough. I think you also have been asleep for a long, long time.”
Haaland to miss Republic friendly
Qatar has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, human rights and treatment of migrant workers before the tournament.
Norway, like the Republic of Ireland, did not qualify for the World Cup but Solbakken, when asked if he would have been uncomfortable taking his team to Qatar, added: “I think nobody is comfortable with it.
“But the teams that are going there, obviously the players’ main issue should be to play football and for the coaches to coach the team.
“But I think at the same time, football’s political people have a great responsibility to make a stand that this kind of way of where certain World Cups should go, that you need to act in a certain way and you have to have equal rights for all human beings and that all people are treated well.”
When asked about Solbakken’s remarks, Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said: “It’s a legitimate criticism. I can’t discount that point of view. I personally made that point on the two occasions when we played Qatar.
“I spoke out at that time when we played Qatar in our group home and away, the disparity between rich and poor in Qatar, the deaths of the migrant workers – obviously the numbers have been questioned, different media outlets have given different accounts of what kind of numbers.
“But there’s no doubt that it was distressing and very tragic, really, in those circumstances. It shouldn’t happen, that’s for sure.”
Watch as England arrive in Qatar for the World CupKenny defends Qatar scouting trip
Kenny has defended his decision to spend five days in Qatar as he scouts France and the Netherlands before the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
In contrast, Norway will be sending only one member of staff – an analyst to assess Euro 2024 qualifying opponents Spain.
“I’m just going in and out for five days. I’m going to see France twice – I’ve got to do the job to the best of my ability as Irish manager. I get to see France twice against Tunisia and Denmark, I get to see Holland ahead of the World Cup,” said the 51-year-old.
“Obviously, with the nature of matches only being an hour away, I get the opportunity to go to eight games in five days just to continue learning and to find out about France and Holland particularly before we play them, which is important for us, massive for us.
“Everything has been building towards this European Championship and towards attempting to qualify for the European Championship.
“That’s been a big ambition and it’s important to see the teams at their best in full flight. It gives you a real perspective on the team. That’s the reason I’m going.”
Norway will be without star striker Erling Haaland for the trip to Dublin after the Manchester City forward missed a number of games with a foot injury.
Meanwhile, the Republic could hand a debut to Oxford United’s Mark Sykes and 18-year-old Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.
Barcelona plan to lodge an appeal after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued Robert Lewandowski with a three-match ban following his red card against Osasuna.
Lewandowskiwas shown two yellow cards in the first half of Barca’s 2-1 win at El Sadar last Tuesday, in which goals from Pedri and Raphinha helped Xavi’s men to a comeback victory.
On Wednesday, it was reported the RFEF had given Lewandowski an extended three-match suspension after accusing him of berating referee Gil Manzano following his dismissal.
That would rule Lewandowski, who is LaLiga’s top scorer with 13 goals this campaign, out of the Blaugrana’s fixtures against Espanyol, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis after the World Cup, but his club will attempt to overturn the ruling.
A club statement read: “FC Barcelona will put their case to the Appeals Committee in view of the three-game ban handed out to Robert Lewandowski by the Disciplinary Committee.
“The Polish striker received the suspension after being sent off for a second bookable offence in the 2-1 win over Osasuna in Pamplona in LaLiga.”
Lewandowski is currently preparing to represent Poland at his second World Cup, with Czeslaw Michniewicz’s team set to begin their Group C campaign against Mexico on Tuesday.
Neymarrevealed he and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi joke about a potential World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina in Qatar.
Neymar and Messi, alongside Kylian Mbappe, form a fearsome front three for PSG, one that has fired them to a five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League knockout stages.
But that alliance will be temporarily halted until PSG’s next game on December 28, as the three superstars bid to win the World Cup for their respective countries.
While he was highly complimentary of Messiand Mbappe, Neymar jokingly hinted that he fancies his Brazil side’s chances in a potential match-up with Messi’s Argentina.
“We don’t discuss it very much,” Neymar told The Telegraph. “But sometimes we joke about crossing paths with each other in the final.
“I tell him [Messi] that I’ll be champion and win against him and we have a good laugh.
“Playing with him and Kylian is a huge pleasure. They’re two greats, with Messi long considered the best in the world.
“Kylian is a young player who’s been growing and showing his potential and still has a lot to grow. It’s always great to play alongside the greats, I’ve always preferred that because the chances of winning are higher.”
Neymar feels Brazil are one of the favourites, but also highlighted a number of other teams he believes are capable of making the final on December 18.
“The World Cup is full of surprises,” he explained. “You get teams that unexpectedly get very far even in the competition even if many don’t believe in them.
“But I believe the favourites are Argentina, Germany, Spain and France. I think those four along with Brazil are fully capable of reaching the final.”
At the age of 30, the Qatar World Cup could be Neymar’s last attempt at glory with Brazil, having fallen short in his two previous experiences at international football’s premier tournament.
One of those was particularly painful, when Neymar suffered a back injury in a victorious quarter-final meeting with Colombia at Brazil’s home tournament in 2014.
Neymar was ruled out of the semi-final with Germany, a match Brazil went on to lose by a humiliating 7-1 scoreline.
But the former Barcelona forward says his career would not feel incomplete if he were to never win the World Cup, saying: “No, in my career I’ve achieved things beyond my imagination.
“So, if it ended today, I would still be the happiest person in the world.”
The number 10 jersey that Neymar dons for Brazil is steeped in history, having been worn by Selecao legends like Pele, Ronaldinho and Zico.
Neymar does not experience the pressure that could come with following those Brazilian idols, declaring: “I don’t feel under pressure, quite the opposite.
“I’m happy to be able to wear the number 10 on the Brazilian team and make history. It’s a great pride and honour to be part of the group of players that wore it and I only feel happiness about it.”
Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal has backed fans who have decided to boycott the World Cup in Qatar.
After a 12-year wait loaded with controversy, the first World Cup to be played in the Middle East begins on Sunday when Qatar face Ecuador.
There has been scrutiny on the hosts surrounding human rights issues, the treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality, with FIFA having written to all participating nations and urging them to “focus on the football”.
That seems unlikely to happen, however, with a number of nations already speaking out, and Van Gaal has issued his support to any fans boycotting the tournament.
“I think that they are right to do that because they believe in that and they have to do that, so no problem with that,” he said.
“And I hope that we play so fantastic that at the end of the tournament when we play the final, they shall look for the television how good we are.
“I think that you have to play in football countries, more experience with everything, but also to stimulate that country in another way, in the right way.
“This is also a small country, my family or my friends have a lot of difficulties to find the place, so that’s also a remark.
“The organisation and the pitches and everything, the facilities, these are very good.”
On the field, Van Gaal admits that he does not have the best players at his disposal in the Netherlands squad but still feels they can be successful.
“I believe that we don’t have the best players on earth in our team, but I believe in team building and tactics and I believe that we can come to the end but we need also luck, that is also important,” he explained.
“And because of that and because I believe in imagination, I speak about to be the world champion at the end of the tournament because when you can imagine that, you can do it also on the pitch, because we have players who can execute the tactics of the coaches of the Netherlands.”
The Netherlands begin their campaign against Senegal on November 22, before facing Ecuador and hosts Qatar in Group A.
Lionel Messi is unsure how much longer he will continue playing, but is enjoying his football following a tough period of adaptation at Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi endured a difficult first season after swapping Barcelona for PSG last August, scoring 11 goals in 34 appearances – his lowest scoring campaign since 2005-06, when he was 18 years old.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has looked rejuvenated this season, though, already hitting the net 12 times as well as laying on 14 assists.
PSG team-mate Neymar and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland are the only players in Europe’s top five leagues to have matched his total of 26 goal involvements this term.
However, speaking to Movistar ahead of Argentina’s World Cup campaign, the 35-year-old hinted the end of his playing career may not be too far away, though he expects to stay in football when he does retire.
“I love playing and I enjoy it, the only thing I’ve done all my life is play football and I’m sure it [a future role] will be related, although I don’t know what,” Messi said.
“I don’t think I’ll play much more. I don’t know, so many things happen. It was a dream that I always had as a child, to be able to play for Argentina.
“But today it depends on many things. I have my family, three children, I just had a very big change in my life that cost me and my whole family a lot. Today I got over it, and we feel spectacular.”
Asked whether he feels more comfortable on the pitch after spending a year bedding in at the Parc des Princes, Messi said: “That’s true, I am enjoying it much more, I am discovering the city and I think it’s beautiful.
“The first year was a huge change for me, everything went wrong because it all came out of the blue and it was not a decision I was aiming for, leaving Barcelona was sudden.
“After this long process and tough moments, today I’m happy to be living where I live, and me and my family are enjoying Paris.”
Recalling his first season in Ligue 1, Messi said: “It was hard, we had been in the same place all our lives. I had never moved and I didn’t know how it would be, plus it was not a decision we made.
“It came all of a sudden. We had to leave Barcelona overnight and found ourselves where everything was new.
“We had our lives in Barcelona with friends, places and people, and you have to get to know other places, with another language, other football, other weather.
“I suffered a lot, it was hard. But today I am enjoying everything, including football.”
Former Ghana midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari has expressed his delight about the Black Stars return to the World Cup.
Ghana is returning to the global showpiece after missing out in Russia 2018, where France emerged as winners.
The West African powerhouse has been housed in Group H against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.
According to the former Inter and AC Milan star, he is overly excited about the Black Stars return to the global showpiece considering the four-time African champions pedigree in the game.
“With Ghana, everyone expects us to always be at the World Cup so if you don’t make it to the World Cup they are not happy, not only here but the whole part of the World”
“So we are really happy that we are in the World Cup now and we just pray these guys will go and really do well for us” he said.
Ghana will open their campaign against Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.
Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash with South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Ghana will wrap up their group stage adventure with their much-anticipated encounter with Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.
The Black Stars having missed out in the last edition hosted in Russia in 2018 will be hoping to improve their performance in Qatar after exiting the group phase during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Only three sides from the continent have ever progressed to the quarter-finals; Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002, and Ghana in 2010.
Ghana will be hoping to progress from the group stage at this year’s tournament.
Heung-Min Son says he is willing to risk his health to bring joy to South Korea’s fans at the World Cup after being pictured training in a protective mask.
Son’s participation in Qatar was in doubt when he suffered a fracture around his left eye in Tottenham’s Champions League win at Marseille earlier this month, causing him to miss Spurs’ last three pre-World Cup fixtures.
However, Son was named in Paulo Bento’s 26-man World Cup squad and subsequently declared he would not miss the tournament “for the world”.
On Wednesday, Son participated in South Korea’s training session in Doha while donning a protective mask, and the forward is prepared to take risks in order to feature.
“I am not a doctor, it’s difficult for me to say when I can play. I will do the best I can under the circumstances,” Son said.
“From the fans’ perspective, I may be pushing this too far, but football players always compete under such risks.
“I just want to give our fans joy and hope. I am more than willing to bear those risks.
“Everyone who comes to the World Cup wants to play well, but it takes more than that. Speaking realistically, it’s more important to be prepared for matches than to just have the desire to play well.
“I can’t predict the future, but I want to make this a special World Cup, using every last ounce of energy that I have.”
While Son’s participation in his team’s Group H opener against Uruguay on November 24 remains uncertain, the Spurs star already feels at ease wearing his mask.
“I was surprised at first how comfortable the mask was,” Son added. “It feels a little different here than in England, because it’s hotter here and I sweated a lot today.
“These carbon masks are really light, and they likely won’t break. If a mask breaks, it means something has happened to my face, so I hope it doesn’t come to that!”
Dua Lipa has denied reports she will perform at the Fifa Men’s World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar on Sunday.
The singer said she will “look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made” when it became host.
Qatar has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers.
Other acts including Robbie Williams and BTS’s Jung Kook are set to perform.
In February 2021, the Guardian said 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka had died in Qatar since it won its World Cup bid.
However, the Qatar government has said the total is misleading, because not all the deaths recorded were of people working on World Cup-related projects.
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Lipa posted an Instagram story on Sunday, which read: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar.
“I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform.
“I will be cheering England on from afar… One love, Dua.”
Lipa, born in London to Kosovar-Albanian parents, is not the first major name to make a point of not playing in Qatar.
Sir Rod Stewart recently revealed he turned down the opportunity.
“I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1m, to play there 15 months ago. I turned it down. It’s not right to go,” he told the Sunday Times.
“And the Iranians [football team] should be out [of the World Cup] too for supplying arms”, he added, in reference to Iran’s supply of explosive drones to Russia, which Iran has denied.
Russia was suspended from all competitions by Fifa and Uefa in February, after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
US pop group Black Eyed Peas and Colombian singer J Balvin, however, are set to perform at events in Qatar during the tournament.
Image caption,Joe Lycett holds on to £10,000 in cash
Comedian Joe Lycett, meanwhile, has issued an ultimatum to Qatar World Cup ambassador David Beckham.
Lycett has promised to donate £10,000 of his own money to charity, if Beckham ends his reported multimillion-pound deal with Qatar.
Homosexuality is illegal in the country, where same-sex relationships can be punishable by the death sentence.
If the former footballer refuses, then Lycett has threatened to shred the £10,000 – just before the World Cup opening ceremony.
Lycett says Beckham’s “status as a gay icon” will also be shredded if he doesn’t end his relationship with Qatar.
The BBC has contacted David Beckham for comment, and his management responded: “We aren’t commenting at this time.”
Image caption,David Beckham represented England at three World Cups as a player
Beckham has been urged to speak out on the criminalisation of same-sex relations in Qatar.
Speaking to the BBC last year, a source close to the star said: “Of course David wanted to ensure that he was informed about the facts and any concerns that he might have for his gay friends, football supporters and fans.
“Some of the laws and beliefs in the region differ to his own but the Qataris have always said that everyone will be safe and welcome at the World Cup in 2022 and he believes that commitment is sincere and has seen evidence of proactive engagement with the international LBGTQ community by the World Cup organisers.”
Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman made headlines last week after it emerged he had referred to homosexuality as “damage in the mind”.
Human Rights Watch called the former Qatar international’s comments “harmful and unacceptable”.
Rasha Younes, LGBT rights senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: “The failure of the Qatari government to counter this false information has a significant impact on the lives of LGBT residents of Qatar, ranging from fuelling discrimination and violence against them to justifying subjecting them to state-sponsored conversion practices.”
Organisers have said no-one coming to watch the tournament will be discriminated against.
‘Not a very good defence’
Beckham’s former England and Manchester United teammate Gary Neville recently appeared as a guest presenter of Have I Got News For You, and was quizzed by team captain Ian Hislop over his decision to travel to Qatar to commentate on the World Cup.
“My view always has been that you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries and speak about them, or you don’t say anything and you stay back home and don’t go,” said Neville “I’ve always said we should challenge them.”
To which Hislop replied: “There’s another option – you stay at home and highlight the abuses.
“You don’t have to go and take the Qataris’ money. I’m not trying to be tiresome, but it is just not a very good defence.”
Cafu is confident Brazil can end a 20-year wait for World Cup glory, backing Neymar to help “break Europe’s dominance”.
The former defender lifted the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, a triumph that marked the culmination of a prosperous period for the national side who won the tournament in 1994 and lost in the final to France four years later.
Since then, however, Brazil have fallen short of expectations and have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in three of the past four tournaments – with the exception seeing them hammered 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals on home soil in 2014.
Brazil head to Qatar in excellent form, though, having stood undefeated across their 17 matches in qualifying, winning 14, and Cafu believes this is the ideal opportunity for the national side.
“It’s a great opportunity to break Europe’s dominance. It’s the perfect time for Brazil to break the curse and win the title,” he told AFP.
“Argentina and the Selecao are the two favourites. On the one hand, Brazil is coming off a very good season with great performances, on the other hand, Argentina also has a very good team. These two countries have great potential to win the World Cup.
“The fact that Brazil has not won the title for twenty years, it affects the fans a little bit and takes away a little credibility from the national team. But this year I think Brazil is back.
“With Neymar fit, we have a very good chance of winning the World Cup, because he is a player who really makes the difference on the pitch. We pin our hopes on his talent, but he doesn’t play alone.
“By playing well, by being motivated, I’m sure he will motivate the other players and make them feel that they are important so that they can win.”
Who will win the 2022 World Cup? 🏆
Our final pre-tournament predictions are in from the famous supercomputer….who is our favourite to win based on the data?
Cafu is aware that a threat is posed by some European nations, however, identifying defending champions France and Brazil’s Group G opponents Serbia as hurdles to overcome.
“Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Serbia, as incredible as it may seem. Serbia qualified in first place in its group. They played very well in the World Cup qualifiers,” he added.
“They have a strong team and are not afraid to play football against any opponent.
“France, too, will be very strong, as it was at the last World Cup. They will arrive with the label of reigning world champions and fight for the double. They will be one of the great teams to beat.”
Brazil commence their World Cup campaign on November 24 against Serbia, before facing Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.
Former Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has noted how several false allegations were made against him following Ghana’s participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil.
Mr Afriyie Ankrah shared some of the outrageous allegations leveled against him with GhanaWeb’s Edward Smith Anamale on the Election Desk program.
According to him, he was alleged to have put his mother in charge of the sale of replica jerseys, but stated that his mother had absolutely no knowledge of football.
“There were all manner of wild stories. I’d give you just a few. There’s this story that my wife was a caterer… I mean, my wife has absolutely nothing to do with cooking. The only reason she went was because we had buried her mother three weeks earlier. So, I took my wife and my two kids because the other one was in boarding school, and I bought the tickets myself – Air Portugal, and took them. It was not at government expense, but there was the story out there. They said my mother was in charge of replica jerseys. What they didn’t know is that my mother doesn’t live in Ghana; my mother has never lived in Ghana since I was six months old. She doesn’t know the difference between a corner kick and a penalty. She has no idea, so when I told her, ‘Mummy, they said you are in charge of replica jerseys, she said, what is that?’ “She has no idea,” he said.
He shared other allegations made against him but expressed happiness about the report of the Dzamefe Commission, which, according to him, vindicated him.
“I woke up one day and there was one of the papers with me sitting with some ministers, with coconut in front of us. They said coconut was $200, $2000. There was nothing about coconut. I always drink coconut because I’m a health-conscious person, and at the camp, coconut was virtually free. And even if you buy it, it’s less than $1. Nothing; it was all manufactured.”
“It was later that I found out that there were some unseen hands behind it, but I keep saying that if those things hadn’t happened, and especially if the commission hadn’t been put in place and a report officially there, which clearly shows that I was audited by Ernst and Young,… by the time I was leaving office, the World Cup money itself, which the government gave to us, was still in the account,” Afriyie Ankrah, who is vying for
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw Ghana get eliminated at the group stage of the competition, but it also came with several camp-related stories, among other stories of corruption allegations.
Ecuador have left Byron Castillo out of their World Cup squad to avoid “unfair sanctions”, despite the defender being cleared to play by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Castillo was the subject of a long-running dispute after Chile and Peru complained to FIFA that he was ineligible to play for Ecuador in their successful qualifying campaign.
The Federacion de Futbol de Chile provided proof that Castillo was born in Colombia and not Ecuador, as stated on his official documents.
FIFAdismissed all charges in June and again in September when the fresh evidence came to light, but Chile and Peru took the case to CAS with a further appeal.
However, this month’s hearing adjudged “no violation of the rules on eligibility has occurred”, leaving Ecuador and Castillo free to compete in Qatar.
But Ecuador, who face host nation Qatar in the opening game of the tournament on Sunday, did not include Castillo in their 26-man squad on Tuesday.
The Ecuadorian Football Federation said in a statement: “The process we’ve had to endure has not been easy to navigate, much less for the player, who is part of our family.
“In order to avoid further unfair sanctions, the Ecuadorian Football Federation feels obligated to not include Byron Castillo Segura in the final list that was submitted to FIFA.”
Castillo appeared eight times in qualifying for Ecuador, who finished in the fourth and final automatic qualification spot.
Peru finished fifth and were beaten 5-4 on penalties by Australia following a goalless draw in the intercontinental play-offs, while seventh-placed Chile missed out entirely.
Ecuador follow up their curtain-raising showdown against Qatar with games against the Netherlands and Senegal in Group A.
Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga says KarimBenzema is “doing so much better” as he battles to be 100 per cent fit for France’s World Cup campaign, according to his
Benzema won his first Ballon d’Or last month after leading Real Madrid to glory in LaLiga and the Champions League in the 2021-22 season, but has endured an injury-hit campaign to date.
The striker has started 11 games in all competitions this season, scoring six goals, but he spent time on the sidelines with a knee injury before missing further fixtures after suffering from muscular fatigue in his left quadriceps.
However, with less than a week remaining until France begin their Group D campaign against Australia, Camavinga is enthused by his team-mate’s recovery.
“He’s getting better. He’s doing so much better,” Camavinga told RMC Sport. “I have a very good relationship with him, he helps me a lot at Real Madrid.
“He is a very great player who deserves what is happening to him. I hope he will be ready for the World Cup.
“Sometimes in a match he comes to see me and tells me, ‘If I have the ball you are going to do this run or this run’, so he gives me advice at the right moment.
“He also tells me when to stay in position. He is very good at communicating, he is a leader.”
France are looking to become the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, but Didier Deschamps’ team have been beset by bad luck on the injury front, with N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba missing the tournament.
With those two veterans of the 2018 World Cup win absent, Camavinga could partner Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni in a new-look France midfield, but he has no reservations over their lack of experience.
“Critics are part of life. We don’t have the same experience, but we are keen to show what we are worth,” Camavinga added.
“With our enthusiasm and the experience of the elders, it can make a good mix.”
Meanwhile, Deschamps has called up Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani after Christopher Nkunku suffered an injury on Tuesday.
Nkunku was ruled out of the World Cup after limping out of training with a leg injury, but his absence has given Muani – the scorer of eight goals for Eintracht this term – the opportunity to feature at his first major tournament.
South Korea, Ghana’s World Cup opponent, have arrived in Qatar ahead of the global showpiece.
South Korea touched down in the Arab country on Monday at Hamad International Airport, with many fans welcoming the Asian giants ahead of their 11th FIFA World Cup appearance.
18 of 26 players arrived in Doha and will be joined by eight players flying in from across Europe over the next few days.
The Taegeuk Warriors, who are staying at Le Meridien City Centre, face Uruguay in their opening match on November 24, before taking on Portugal and Ghana in Group H.
All three South Korea matches will be played at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, just west of Doha.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup takes place between November 20 and December 18, 2022.
South Korea squad for World Cup
Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab), Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Motors)
Defenders: Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Motors), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Motors), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Cho Yu-min (Daejon Citizen)
Midfielders: Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Motors), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Lee Kang-in (Real Mallorca)
Forwards: Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Cristiano Ronaldo says the death of his baby son was “the most difficult moment I had in my life.”
As part of a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan for TalkTV, which will be released in full on Wednesday, Ronaldo has hit out at Manchester United and criticised his manager Erik ten Hag, among others.
In a further snippet of the interview released on Tuesday, Ronaldo spoke of the tragic moment in April when he and his partner Georgina Rodriguez lost their son during childbirth.
“It was probably the worst moment that I passed through in my life since my father died,” Ronaldo said.
“When you have a kid you expect that everything will be normal, and you have that problem, it’s hard. As a human being, me and Georgina had quite difficult moments because we didn’t understand why it happened to us.
“It was difficult, to be honest, it was very difficult to understand what is going on in that period of our life.
“As you know, the football carries on, it’s so fast, there are so many competitions… and passing through that is probably the most difficult moment that I had in my life, for me and my family, especially Geo. That was tough.”
Rodriguez gave birth to a baby girl, who is about to turn seven months old, and Portugal captain Ronaldo – who is currently preparing for the World Cup in Qatar – says he did not know how to react at the time.
“I tried to explain to my family and close friends: ‘I never felt to be so happy and sad in the same moment’,” he added. “It’s hard to explain, so difficult. You don’t know if you [should] cry or smile, because it’s something [where] you don’t know how to react.
Christopher Nkunkuhas been ruled out of the World Cup after the France striker suffered a knee injury in training on Tuesday.
The RB Leipzig frontman took a knock in a challenge with Eduardo Camavinga as they contested a 50-50 ball and he had to be helped off the field.
It was later confirmed Nkunku will not travel to Qatar after tests revealed he had sprained his left knee.
The French Football Federation sent Nkunku’s medical file to FIFA in order for the defending champions to call up a replacement.
He is expected to be replaced by either Wissam Ben Yedder, Moussa Diaby, Morgan Terrier or Randal Kolo Muani.
Head coach Didier Deschamps and the squad are due to depart for their Doha base on Wednesday.
Les Bleus begin their World Cup Group D campaign against Australia on November 22, before tackling Denmark and Tunisia.
Injured in training, Christopher Nkunku drops out of the World Cup. The whole group shares Christopher’s sadness and wishes him a speedy recovery 💙 @c_nk97 #FiersdetreBleuspic.twitter.com/cnpEtH4476
Among players from Europe’s top five leagues – the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A – only France team-mate Kylian Mbappe has managed more combined goals and assists since the beginning of 2022 than Nkunku.
The 25-year-old has achieved a total of 48 goal involvements (37 goals and 11 assists) in the calendar year, with Mbappe leading the way on 57 (43 goals and 14 assists).
British football fans have revealed they will not be able to resist taking a cheeky look at the scores while at work during the World Cup.
As we all know, there is nothing worse than the thought of goals flying in when you cannot keep an eye on proceedings.
That is precisely why LiveScore commissioned a survey to see the lengths people go to to keep up with what is happening when their minds really should be elsewhere.
And it seems FOMS, the fear of missing scores, is only too real. From weddings to hospital appointments, some supporters will do whatever is necessary to find out how their team is getting on — regardless of where they are.
Even World Cupwinner Emmanuel Petit, ambassador for our FOMS campaign, will have a sly look at how the action is playing out when his attention should be elsewhere.
Petit, 52, who netted the third goal as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 to lift the trophy on home soil in 1998, said: “It’s happened to me many times.
“Even when I’m working on TV, on live, I just have a quick look at my mobile. I try to avoid anybody looking at me.”
The data collected shows many fans have a one-track mind when it comes to the world’s most popular sport, with 36% of the 2,000 Brits we spoke to claiming they cannot think of anything else if a match is on and they are unable to watch it.
That means they have to get creative to keep up with what is happening when social plans clash with the football.
And 54% of respondents said their partners tell them off for looking at scores on their phones, while 37% confess to sneaking to the toilet to keep track while out and about.
With England’s World Cup campaign kicking off against Iran at 1pm on Monday, 52% of fans told us the match times in Qatar are inconvenient because of work commitments, while 19% revealed their bosses are not flexible when it comes to letting them watch games during working hours.
The opening two rounds of group fixtures in the first mid-season tournament will also see kick-offs off at 10am, 4pm and 7pm in the UK, while the final group matches and knockout ties will take place at 3pm and 7pm.
Last but by no means least, the final gets under way at the Lusail Iconic Stadium at 3pm on December 18.
Commenting on the FOMS findings, LiveScore marketing director Ric Leask said: “This year’s tournament is going to be like no other in history.
“With work, childcare responsibilities and festive social plans, it’s going to be even harder for football fans to juggle the fixtures around their daily lives.
“While our data shows many supporters have a real fear of missing Scores when they’re unable to watch games, the good news is that regardless of whether it’s for league fixtures during the season or major tournaments, LiveScore can keep them close to the action with real-time score updates throughout.”
Top 20 places football fans have checked scores
1. As a passenger in a car
2. During work
3. In the supermarket
4. On the toilet
5. At a family meal
6. At another football match
7. On a sun lounger while on holiday
8. Visiting the in-laws
9. During a birthday party
10. In hospital
11. A wedding
12. While seeing a doctor
13. During a work meeting
14. At a gig
15. While trying to get the kids to sleep
16. When the children are in the bath
17. At the dentist
18. Helping kids with their homework
19. Immediately before/after sex
20. On a plane, having paid for Wi-Fi to do so
Where is the wildest place you’ve ever checked the football scores? 📱👀
Black Stars held their first training session in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with 25 players taking part as they prepare for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
According to 3Sports’ Yaw Ofosu Larbi, the only player yet to report to the Black Stars camp is Celta Vigo defender Joseph Aidoo. He is expected later on Tuesday.
Freiburg midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh trained normally with the group, confirming his recovery from a fever that forced him to miss the German club’s last three games before the World Cup break.
The training took place at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Complex under the supervision of head coach Otto Addo, who was assisted by other members of the Black Stars technical team.
Ghana Football Association officials, including president Kurt Okraku and Black Stars management committee member Sammy Kuffour, were spotted at the training session.
Black Stars will train again on Wednesday before facing Switzerland in an international friendly on Thursday.
Ghana’s first World Cup match will be against Portugal on November 24, followed by other group games against South Korea and Uruguay.
Prince Williamwas the surprise guest at a ceremony to hand out team jerseys at the England soccer HQ on Monday evening.
Prince William is the England soccer team’s number one fan!
The Prince of Wales, 40, was a surprise guest at the team’s HQ Monday evening ahead of the 2022 men’s World Cup and helped hand out new jerseys to the 26-player squad.
“I’m really here to just kind of point out that the rest of the country’s behind you,” Prince William told the team. “We’re all rooting for you. Enjoy it.”
William, who is President of the Football Association, received an England jersey signed by the entire squad in return.
“What you and Gareth have built here is something special, that’s clear to see,” William added, in reference to the role of England coachGareth Southgate, who steered the team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
“Play for each other, support each other, enjoy it and I’m sure you’ll go far,” he added.
Prince William Highlights Importance of Mental Health in Talk With England Soccer Stars
EDDIE KEOGH – THE FA/THE FA VIA GETTY IMAGES
Southgate described the surprise visit of the Prince of Wales as “a nice moment to be with the group and Prince William, who has been a huge supporter of ours.”
“I know how passionate the players are about their country and it was great to see what it meant to each of them as they came forward,” he added about the players receiving their jerseys from William.
“As staff and players, we are all so privileged to represent England and we are excited to see what’s possible together. We want to make the fans proud again.”
Prince William’s presentation began with captain Harry Kane, who he recently joined for a conversation about mental health.
He also presented the No. 17 shirt to Bukayo Saka, who was one of the players William reached out to after he and others were racially abused on social media for missing crucial penalty kicks in the final of the European Championships in 2021.
Prince William and Jack Grealish. EDDIE KEOGH – THE FA/THE FA VIA GETTY IMAGES
Later, William was pictured with his arm around the shoulders of star forward Jack Grealish as they had a quiet chat. Grealish played for William’s favorite club team, Aston Villa, until he transferred to Manchester City in 2021.
The England team leaves for Qatar on Tuesday in readiness for their first match against Iran on Nov. 21. They then play the USA on Nov. 25.
Football fans travelling to the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be thrown in jail if they travel to Qatar with pork, porn or sex toys.
With less than a week to the start of the tournament, the United Kingdom government has published foreign travel advice pertaining to the World Cup.
The advice urges its nationals to respect all local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times in the Islamic country.
See a list of some dos and donts if you are travelling to Qatar;
Drugs
There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences in Qatar. The penalties for the use of, trafficking, smuggling and possession of drugs (even residual amounts) are severe. Punishment can include lengthy custodial sentences, heavy fines and deportation.
Many people transit via Hamad International Airport on their way to other destinations. The airport makes use of the latest security technology, all bags are scanned and transiting passengers carrying even residual amounts of drugs may be arrested.
Some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled substances in Qatar. If you need to bring in controlled/prescription medication into Qatar, ensure you carry your official doctor’s prescription, hospital note or a letter from your GP, detailing the drug, the quantity prescribed and dosage. This note or letter should also be signed by the doctor/consultant and stamped by the hospital or surgery.
Alcohol
It is an offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. British nationals have been detained under this law, usually when they have come to the attention of the police on a related matter, such as disorderly or offensive behaviour. For example, drinking in a public place could result in a prison sentence of up to 6 months and/or a fine up to QAR3,000. Alcohol is available only at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system. Don’t carry alcohol around with you (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home). The legal drinking age in Qatar is 21, and establishments serving alcohol will ask for original photo ID upon entry.
Offensive behaviour
Swearing and making rude gestures are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed and/or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials.
Photography/media
Be aware of cultural sensitivities when filming or photographing people and religious, military or construction sites. Some visitors attempting to film or photograph in sensitive areas have been arrested. If in doubt, seek permission.
If you’re working as a journalist, you’ll need to get permission from the Qatar News Agency (QNA) to film or photograph as part of your work and enter the country on a visiting press permit. This permit will clear technical equipment like cameras through airport customs and provides other necessary information.
There are strict privacy laws in Qatar. Posting material (including videos and photographs) online that appear to insult, slander or are culturally insensitive, may be considered a crime punishable under Qatari law. Individuals have been detained, prosecuted and/or convicted for posting this type of material.
Importation of Goods
Importing drugs, alcohol, pornography, pork products and religious books and material into Qatar is illegal. All luggage is scanned at Hamad International Airport Arrivals Hall. DVDs and videos may be examined, censored and confiscated.
Qatar law also prohibits the importation, sale and purchase of electronic cigarettes, liquids and other similar products (eg electronic shisha pipes). The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may seize and confiscate any such items found entering the country by any means, including in passengers’ luggage or sent by post.
Dress code
You should dress modestly when in public, including while driving. Women must cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. Both men and women are advised not to wear shorts or sleeveless tops, when going to government buildings, health care facilities or malls. If you do not dress modestly, you may be asked to leave or be denied entry to these locations.
Dressing modestly is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan.
Relationships outside of marriage
Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest.
Living together whilst unmarried is prohibited in Qatar, and sex outside of marriage, regardless of whether this is same sex couples or opposite sex couples, is illegal. This can lead to arrest and a potential court case where the judgement can include a fine, a custodial sentence and deportation once the sentence is complete. This is especially so where the behaviour has caused offence. See Local laws and customs page.
Due to the laws on sex outside marriage, if you become pregnant outside marriage, both you and your partner could face imprisonment and/or deportation. Doctors will ask for proof of marriage during ante-natal checks. An unmarried woman who gives birth in Qatar may also encounter problems when registering the birth of the child in Qatar, and could be arrested, imprisoned or deported. To get a birth certificate from the Qatari authorities, you must provide a marriage certificate and the authorities may compare the date of the marriage against the estimated date of conception.
LGBT
Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
Financial crimes
Financial crimes, including fraud, giving somebody a cheque which bounces (including post-dated and ‘security cheques’) and non-payment of bills (for example hotel bills or car hire) can result in imprisonment and/or a fine and deportation in Qatar. Bank accounts and other assets may also be frozen. You may also be liable for cheques that you have signed on behalf of a company.
If you have unpaid loans or financial commitments you won’t be able to cancel your residence permit, and may find yourself subject to a travel ban which will prevent you from leaving Qatar including to go on holiday. All debts should be settled in full before you leave the country. Ask your bank for a certificate to confirm you have no outstanding debt once you have cleared the balance.
Equally, you may find that there is a block on your sponsorship which will prevent you from transferring to a new sponsor (employer) and any end of service benefits you may be entitled to could be used to offset the outstanding debt.
Deportation
Should you be found guilty of committing an offence, the State of Qatar reserves the right to issue an Administrative Deportation order. This is regardless of whether the judgement included deportation. If you are employed in Qatar this will obviously impact your employment and may affect your ability to return to Qatar in the future.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined a generation of football – but this is likely to be their final chance to win a World Cup.
The pair have won it all at club level but have just one major continental trophy each for Argentina and Portugal respectively.
They are two of the icons facing the prospect of their final World Cup in Qatar this winter.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
You can never rule anything out with Ronaldo but the fact he will be 41 by the time of the next World Cup means it’s likely this will be his last.
In September he said he would not be retiring after Qatar and hoped to play for Portugal “for a few more years” – so who knows?
His club future is also uncertain at the moment, following an interview containing criticisms of Manchester United.
He already has the big individual European Championship records – most tournaments played, most games, most goals – as well as winning Euro 2016. He is also the top-scoring player in men’s international football with 117 goals – including an iconic hat-trick in the last World Cup against Spain.
The 37-year-old forward is one of football’s greats with exactly 700 club goals, more than 30 trophies and five Ballon d’Or titles. But this is surely the last chance to add ‘World Cup winner’ to that incredible CV.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
We could in truth simply copy and paste a lot of the Ronaldo section for Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 during the next World Cup.
Arguably the greatest player of all time, with 695 goals for Barcelona and Paris St-Germain and a record seven Ballons d’Or, Messi finally won the Copa America at the most recent attempt.
But glory in Qatar would finally put the 35-year-old up there with Pele and Diego Maradona for those who hold winning the World Cup as a benchmark for ‘all-time greatest’ status.
Messi comes into the World Cup in some of his best form in recent years, with 11 goals and 14 assists in 18 games for PSG.
He recently said this will “surely” be his final World Cup but nothing has been confirmed yet. And he has retired from Argentina duty in the past before coming back.
Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
Robert Lewandowski failed to score in his maiden World Cup
Robert Lewandowski is heading into only his second World Cup – and it is likely to be last.
The 34-year-old striker – who has scored 18 goals in 19 games for new club Barcelona – failed to score four (and a half) years ago in Russia during Poland’s three group games.
The Bayern Munich legend has enjoyed success at the European Championship, with five goals in 11 games, but this feels like being his last chance to score at a World Cup.
Neymar (Brazil)
Neymar, at 30, is the youngest player in this list but he has already said this could be his last World Cup.
“I think it’s my last World Cup,” he said last year. “I don’t know if I have the strength of mind to deal with football anymore.” He later claimed his quotes had been misinterpreted.
Neymar – who has scored 13 goals and assisted another 11 for PSG this season – will likely leave behind a legacy of ‘what if’ should he quit football soon.
He is one of the most talented footballers of his generation and has scored 75 international goals. But he has played in France with Paris St-Germain for almost all of his peak years – and only featured in about half their league games.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Suarez is 35, so – like his former Barcelona team-mates Messi and Neymar – this could be the end of his World Cup adventures.
The former Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker is a free agent, having recently returned to his first club, Nacional, and won the Uruguayan title.
He is most likely to be remembered for being sent off for a handball on the line that denied Ghana a place in the 2010 World Cup semi-final and then biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 tournament.
He is not the only Uruguay icon nearing the end of his international career – with Valencia striker Edinson Cavani, 35, and Velez Sarsfield defender Diego Godin, 36, also in the squad.
Luka Modric (Croatia)
Real Madrid midfielder Modric is 37 and this will be his eighth major tournament for Croatia. Reports suggest he will retire from international football after the World Cup – although his manager recently claimed he will play on.
He played a key role in helping his country to the 2018 World Cup final, where they lost to France.
He won the Golden Ball award for the tournament’s best player – and the Ballon d’Or.
Karim Benzema (France)
Real Madrid striker Benzema will turn 35 the day after the World Cup final.
He comes into the tournament having won the 2022 Ballon d’Or after scoring 44 goals in 46 games, although he has only netted five times this season.
This will be his second World Cup, having previously played in 2014. He was left out in 2010 while 2018 fell during his near-six-year exile from the national team for his part in a sex tape blackmail case.
Gareth Bale (Wales)
Gareth Bale scored the goal to book Wales’ place in the World Cup in their play-off final against Ukraine
Wales legend Bale is heading into his first World Cup – and it could also be his last.
The 33-year-old has said he does not plan to retire after Qatar but he will be 37 in the summer of the next World Cup.
Bale joined Los Angeles FC in the summer after his Real Madrid contract expired – and helped them to win the MLS Cup. There were suggestions he may have chosen to retire had Wales lost in the play-offs.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Bayern Munich and Germany’s Neuer has been one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.
He won the 2014 World Cup and was named in the team of the tournament.
Neuer will be 40 by the time of the next World Cup in 2026… although six goalkeepers have played at the tournament past that age, so it is possible he could make it.
Sergio Busquets (Spain)
Busquets has been one of the great holding midfielders of the past 20 years – enabling some of his legendary Barcelona and Spain team-mates to do their stuff going forward.
But he is 34 and his legs and influence are not what they once were.
It is hard to see the 2010 World Cup winner featuring again in four years’ time.
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