Category: Football

DOHA: Cameroon upset much-changed Brazil 1-0 but in vain as Switzerland’s 3-2 victory over bottom-ranked Serbia powered them to progress into the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022.

Switzerland became the last team to qualify for the Round of 16 with leaders Portugal following their nervy 3-2 victory over Serbia that powered them to finish second in Group G.

Xherdan Shaqiri opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Djibril Sow passed the ball to Shaqiri, who smashed home with his left foot to put Switzerland ahead.

Switzerland’s early lead, however, could not last longer as Aleksander Mitrovic soon fired an equalizer to keep Serbia in the hunt.

Serbia then turned things around and took the lead ten minutes later when Shaqiri gave the ball away in midfield and Dusan Tadic slipped the ball to Dusan Vlahovic who fired back across the goal to put Serbia ahead of Switzerland.

Switzerland were quick to respond and equalised a minute before the break as Sow picked out Silvan Widmer in acres of space on the right and Breel Embolo turned in his driven low cross.

Three minutes into the second half, a team effort goal allowed Switzerland to retake the lead when Shaqiri clipped in a delicate ball after Embolo won it back high up, and Ruben Vargas’s cushioned backheel left Remo Freuler to guide in from around the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, in another Group G match, Cameroon stunned much-changed Brazil 1-0 to become the first African side to beat the five-time champions Brazil but to no avail as they finished behind Switzerland with four points.

Vincent Aboubakar connected substitute Jerome Ngom Mbekeli’s cross and executed a scintillating header in the stoppage time to break the deadlock which was enough for Cameroon to seal a historic win.

Cameroon recorded a famous win but Switzerland’s 3-2 win over Serbia at the same time meant the Swiss advanced from Group G along with already-qualified Brazil.

Having won their opening two group stage matches, Brazil topped the group with six points despite enduring an upset defeat from Cameroon and will face South Korea in the last 16 when several of their important players who were rested for this game will return.

The upset defeat against Cameroon marked Brazil’s first defeat in the group stages of a world cup after 1998 when they lost to Norway.

Meanwhile, Switzerland, who finished as the runners-up of Group G will take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on Wednesday.

DOHA: South Korea upset Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-1 to book their spot in the Round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup as they finished above Luis Suarez’s Uruguay despite their 2-0 triumph over Ghana.

Substitute Hwang Hee-chan scored the match-winning goal for South Korea in injury time to rescue them from the brink of elimination in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Portugal, who had already qualified for the knockout stage.

A much-changed Portugal side took the lead in the fifth minute through Ricardo Horta, who received the ball at the edge of the box from Diogo Dalot and shot it on the first touch into the far corner.

Portugal’s early lead left South Korea to intensify their approach to stand a chance in the qualification race and hit back in the 27th minute through Kim Young-gwon after Ronaldo failed to clear the corner and the ball deflected into the path of the defender who did the rest on the volley.

With the scores settled at 1-1, Portugal continued to repeat the process – dominating possession and passing the ball around – but South Korea kept pushing for the tie-breaker.

The Asian side eventually found one in the stoppage time when Hee-chan when Son Heung-min snatched the ball and ran almost 70 yards before perfectly timing his pass to Hee-chan who fired the winner.

Despite stunning Portugal 2-1, the Korean players stood in a huddle on the pitch watching the other Group H encounter between Uruguay and Ghana on a mobile phone as they awaited their place in the last 16 to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, Giorgian De Arrascaeta double led Uruguay to a 2-0 win over Ghana but it turned out to be insufficient for the South American side to book a spot in the knockouts as South Korea’s late winner saw them leapfrog Suarez’s men.

Tasting triumphs in their last group matches, both South Korea and Uruguay finished the initial round with four points each but the former progressed into the Round of 16 on goals scored.

South Korea will now take on Group G winners in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, while Portugal, who topped Group H despite an upset defeat against South Korea, will take on Group H runners-up on Wednesday.

READ: Belgium coach Martinez to leave job after World Cup exit 

DOHA: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said he was leaving his job after his side were eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar following a 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday.

The 49-year-old had been in charge since 2016 and his contract was due to run out after the tournament.

“That was my last game with the national team, I can’t carry on,” Martinez said at his post-match press conference. “It’s the time for me to accept that this is the last game.”

Martinez led Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals last year.

But his ageing side could not replicate that form in Qatar, crashing out after scoring just one goal in three games.

The Spaniard said he was always planning to leave after the World Cup.

“That was the end, whatever would happen, whether we were world champions, whether we went out in the group stage,” he said.

“It’s got nothing to do with being eliminated in the group stage.

“Since 2018 I had many opportunities to leave, take jobs at club level, but I wanted to be loyal. I don’t resign, it’s the end of my contract.”

Belgium went into their final Group F game needing to win to be certain of reaching the last 16 after a 1-0 win over Canada and a 2-0 loss to Morocco.

They were left to rue a string of missed late chances by Romelu Lukaku.

“Today, if we would’ve gone through I think we would’ve seen the real Belgium and we could’ve been very competitive in the next rounds,” insisted Martinez.

“The disappointment was against Morocco. Today we were ourselves, we played a very good opposition… The first two games we weren’t ourselves.”

Martinez took over the Belgian national side months after being sacked by Premier League side Everton.

He has still only won one major trophy in his managerial career — the 2013 FA Cup with unfancied Wigan Athletic.

Croatian counterpart Zlatko Dalic believes Martinez will not struggle for offers of other jobs.

“Martinez is my friend, it was a surprise to me,” said Dalic, who took Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final.

“Belgium have lost a great professional. For four years in a row they were first in the FIFA ranking.

“It was his project, but it’s not an abrupt end for him.”

Martinez consoled his players on the pitch after the game in emotional scenes which could herald the end of an era for Belgian football.

They had reached at least the quarter-finals at the past four major tournaments but struggled in Qatar with a team featuring several key players in their 30s.

“We were surprised, he told us that (he was leaving) while crying,” said striker Michy Batshuayi.

“There are a lot of players who cried, it’s the last for some players. It’s the World Cup, it’s not a friendly match, it’s every four years and it’s normal that there are many regrets.”

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DOHA: England defender Harry Maguire is finally silencing his critics as the much-maligned Manchester United defender enjoys a welcome renaissance at the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate’s side head into Sunday’s last 16 showdown against Senegal with Maguire reestablished as a vital piece of their defence.

That scenario seemed improbable when Maguire arrived in Qatar with his reputation at a low ebb after a wretched run of form for both United and England.

The 29-year-old has started just five games in all competitions for United this season, with his handful of appearances often marred by more mistakes and miscues.

Maguire’s England displays were hardly any more convincing this year and there were calls for Southgate to leave him out of the World Cup squad.

But Maguire has always been one of Southgate’s most trusted players and the England manager’s decision to keep faith with his centre-back paid dividends as they finished top of Group B.

Maguire was in commanding form as England kept clean sheets in a 3-0 victory against Wales and a goalless draw with the United States, while he also provided a threat with his aerial prowess in the 6-2 win against Iran.

Former United and England defender Gary Neville was always confident Maguire would rediscover his best form at the World Cup because he seems most comfortable wearing the Three Lions shirt.

“I don’t think I can think of a player playing better for their country than their club in my career. Harry Maguire plays better for his country than his club,” Neville told Sky Sports.

“He feels better, feels at home, they’ve got a good group and a manager who believes in them and has selected them regularly.”

As well as a barrage of abuse from frustrated United fans, Maguire even found himself out of favour with England supporters during his troubled spell.

He was booed ahead of a friendly against the Ivory Coast in March and again prior to the Nations League meeting with Germany in September.

That was an especially painful blow for a passionate England fan who once travelled to support his country at Euro 2016.

Maguire has also had the distraction of an appeal against a guilty verdict in a Greek court which will be heard on June 7 next year.

He was given a suspended jail sentence of 21 months and 10 days in 2020 after he was arrested following an alleged altercation in Mykonos.

In accordance with Greek law, the appeal nullified Maguire’s conviction.

Yet, while the pressure of playing for United has sometimes seemed to weigh heavily on Maguire, for England he has largely been a reliable presence.

At Euro 2020, England kept five successive clean sheets with Maguire at the heart of the defence.

Maguire was voted into the team of the tournament for his imposing displays during England’s run to the final, where they suffered a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat against Italy.

Neville is hopeful Maguire’s return to form in Doha can help him get back in favour with United manager Erik ten Hag when the Premier League resumes on December 26.

“Harry is a good player and a good centre-back who has been brilliant at the last two tournaments. He’s just had an awful time at United in the last 12 months,” Neville said.

“United is a very unforgiving place, I know that from being there for 20 years. If something isn’t right, that place can eat you alive, and Harry is just getting that at the moment. But I think he will come through it at United.”

For now, Maguire’s only focus is on writing an even more uplifting chapter in his redemption story as England aim to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966.

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DOHA: Japan produced yet another scintillating outcome as they downed 2010 champions Spain 2-1, who still managed to make it to the knockouts as Germany failed to improvise their goal difference despite a dominating 4-2 triumph over Costa Rica.

The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 “group of death” had an astounding outcome as Japan emerged as the leader by beating two former champions Spain and Germany, while the 2014 champions failed to make it to the knockouts.

Spain and Germany both ended on four points each, but Luis Enrique’s side progressed on goal difference.

Spain took the lead early on thanks to a spectacular header from Alvaro Morata, but Japan dramatically responded at the start of the second half.

Ritsu Doan netted the equalizer for Japan just three minutes after the break as sloppy defending from the former champions allowed Doan to seize the ball at the edge of the box before sending it into the top corner. Ao Tanaka then put Japan into the lead as he struck three minutes after the equalizer to put the European side under immense pressure.

Spain made desperate attempts to fire an equalizer but struggled to create chances against a staunch Japanese defence, who were well aware that conceding another goal would send them crashing.

Meanwhile, the four-time champions Germany, who took the field in a must-win game were also reliant on Japan’s game with Spain to progress, the outcome, however, did not favour them, resulting in them crashing out of the group stage second time in succession.

Germany had a flying start to their last group fixture as a curling strike from Serge Gnarby straight away put them up front Costa Rica.

The two sides then went hard at each other but to no avail as the scoreboard remained intact at half-time.

Costa Rica then neutralized briefly after the break courtesy of Yeltsin Tajeda’s strike and soon took the lead when German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer handed them an own goal in the 70th minute.

Germany responded minutes later, drawing level through Kai Havertz. Havertz scored again in the 86th minute, and Fuellkrug added another in the 89th, bringing the score to 4-2, but the team’s mind remained uneasily fixated on the group’s parallel fixture, and Germany lost on goal difference to second-placed Spain.

Group E winner Japan will take on last world cup’s runners-up Croatia in the Round of 16 on Monday, while Spain will take Group F winner Morocco on Tuesday.

READ: Belgium crashed out as Croatia, Morocco progress to Round of 16

DOHA: Last World Cup’s third Belgium’s goalless draw against then runners-up Croatia sent them crashing out of the ongoing 2022 mega event, while spirited Morocco edged Canada 2-1 to make it to the knockouts.

The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 marked a major upset as the second-ranked Belgium, who finished third in the 2018 World Cup failed to make it to the Round of 16, while 22nd-ranked Morocco topped Group F with seven points above last edition’s runners-up Croatia.

Morocco made it to the knockouts for the first time since 1986 as they downed eliminated Canada 2-1 on Thursday.

The North African side took just four minutes to take the lead in an all-important clash as Hakim Ziyech took advantage of a terribly mixed-up Canada defence to net the second-fastest goal of the ongoing world cup.

Youssef En-Nesyri soon doubled Morocco’s lead in the 23rd minute as he received a simple through-ball from Achraf Hakimi and raced past Canada’s centre-back Kamal Miller before firing it past Milan Borjan and into the nets.

Canada got a rare advantage five minutes before half-time when defender Sam Adekugbe rifled in a low cross and Nayef Aguerd stuck a leg out, causing the ball to deflect and raced past Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to make it 2-1.

John Herdman’s side, however, failed to capitalize on the opportunity and could not fire in an equalizer as the Moroccan defence dropped deeper to bar any further twist and the Atlas Lions escaped the groups as toppers.

Morocco’s 2-1 triumph over Canada meant that last world cup’s third-placed Belgium could only survive in the tournament by defeating Croatia but the goalless draw against Croatia spilt beans on their hopes of making it to the knockouts.

Roberto Matinez’s side came closer to scoring the match-winning goal at the hour mark when Romelu Lukaku hit the woodwork with the goal gaping on the rebound.

Lukaku then botched another chance in the 87th minute, deflecting Thomas Meunier’s shot wide.

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DOHA: Lionel Messi believes Diego Maradona would be “super happy” after he led Argentina into the World Cup last 16 on Wednesday thanks to a 2-0 win over Poland.

Messi became his country’s most capped player at the tournament with a 22nd appearance surpassing his legendary compatriot who died just over two years ago.

“I learned it recently, I didn’t know it. It’s a pleasure to be able to continue to achieve these kinds of records. I think Diego would be super happy for me, because he always showed me a lot of affection, he was always happy when things went well for me,” said Messi.

Despite missing a penalty — his 39th career failure from the spot — the Argentina captain said he was “happy” with this “big match”.

“We achieved our first objective, which was to get out of the group after starting the way we did (a shock 2-1 loss against Saudi Arabia),” said Messi.

“I was really frustrated to have missed the penalty, because I knew that a goal could change the whole match, that it makes you play in a different way. But I think that from the penalty I missed, the team came out stronger.”

Messi, who still needs a World Cup winner’s medal to cement his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest players, believes Argentina are moving up through the gears at precisely the right time.

“After the first goal, everything went our way. We started doing again what we had been trying to do since the start of the World Cup, but which we hadn’t been able to achieve for various reasons.

“Having been able to do it today, it gives us confidence for the future.”

Next up for Argentina is a last-16 clash against Australia on Saturday.

“We know that now everything will be very difficult. That whoever the opponent, it will be complicated. We have seen recently, at our own expense, that any opponent can play a good game and win.”

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DOHA: Mexico missed out on securing a Round of 16 berth despite their 2-1 triumph over Saudi Arabia as Robert Lewandowski’s Poland progressed despite losing 2-0 to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final round of Group C matches of the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

Mexico concluded group play tied with Poland on four points after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-1, however, they were denied a spot in Qatar’s knockout stages due to an inferior goal difference.

Henry Martin and Luis Chavez’s goals in the second half powered Mexico to the win, but Salem Al-Dawsari’s late goal dropped them to third place behind Poland.

Gerardo Martino’s side frantically sought a third goal to improve their goal deficit as they faced elimination under FIFA fair play regulations.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, pulled off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history when they downed Messi’s Argentina but could not continue the momentum in their remaining group matches and finished the group at the bottom place.

Meanwhile, in another Group C match, Messi had a penalty saved but Argentina still advanced to the last 16 as Alexis Mac Allister’s 46th-minute goal settled Argentina’s nerves after a tense first half, before Julian Alvarez doubled their lead just over 20 minutes later.

Despite a 0-2 defeat, Poland also proceeded into the knockouts as runners-up, but only on the strength of goal difference because Mexico could only defeat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the other group match.

Following their narrow qualification, Poland have a major task ahead of them in the Round of 16 where they will take on defending champions France on Sunday, while Argentina will lock horns with Australia, who made it to the knockouts on the same day.

DOHA: Tunisia’s upset 1-0 victory over defending champions France went in vain as Australia booked a Round of 16 berth following their triumph over bottom-placed Denmark in the final round of Group D matches on Wednesday.

Tunisia put on a remarkable performance in their last group fixture against defending champions and marked another upset in the ongoing world cup. The triumph, however, proved insufficient for them to secure a knockout spot as Australia edged Denmark to finish as runners-up of Group D.

The African side put on a defiant show in the first half of the game to keep a much-changed French attack silent.

Their momentum-filled Tunisian side momentum just 13 minutes into the second half won the ball again and Aissa Laidouni played it forward to Wahbi Khazri, who turned and glide towards the goal, stepped beyond two defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner.

France came close to avoiding the upset defeat when Antoine Griezmann struck in the stoppage time, which was, however, ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Despite failing to qualify for the knockout stage, Tunisia have something to celebrate as their triumph over France was their first win against European opposition at a World Cup and third overall in 18 matches.

Tunisia, however, wanted Australia to drop points in their group fixture against Denmark to allow them to make it to the next round but Mathew Leckie’s second-half strike spilt beans on their hopes as the Socceroos’ 1-0 win over Denmark bolstered them to finish second in Group D standings.

World Champion France will now await Group C runners-up in the Last 16 on Sunday, while Australia will take on Group C winners earlier on the same day.

READ: PCB issues update on commencement of Rawalpindi Test

DOHA: The approaching men’s World Cup will be the first to feature female referees, with three women set to make history in Qatar while hoping that the focus remains on their job rather than their gender.

France’s Stephanie Frappart, Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita were included in the list of 36 referees selected by FIFA, while three more women will head to Qatar as assistant referees.

The trio of referees, as well as assistants Neuza Back of Brazil, Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina and Kathryn Nesbitt of the United States, will go to Qatar having already established themselves as officials in the men’s game.

On announcing the appointments, Pierluigi Collina, the head of FIFA’s Referees Committee, insisted that “we clearly emphasise that it is quality that counts for us and not gender”.

For the 38-year-old Frappart, being selected for the World Cup seemed like a logical next step after a rapid rise to refereeing at the top level in Europe.

She was the first woman to referee in France’s Ligue 1 in 2019, the same year she took charge of the women’s World Cup final in her home country.

Frappart also refereed the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, before officiating in the Champions League in 2020 and then the French Cup final last season.

All that experience means Qatar will not faze her.

“I am really moved because I didn’t necessarily expect this. It doesn’t get bigger than the World Cup,” Frappart said.

Yamashita, who is two years younger than Frappart, has had a similar rise to the top of the men’s game in Japan and became the first woman to referee an Asian Champions League match in 2019.

She turned professional earlier this year, giving up her work as a fitness coach which she had previously continued on a part-time basis.

Yamashita told AFP that refereeing at the World Cup “is a big responsibility but I am happy to have it”, adding that she “never imagined” being handed such an opportunity.

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