Category: Qatar 2022 World Cup

  • Netherlands beat hosts Qatar to seal last-16 spot

    Netherlands beat hosts Qatar to seal last-16 spot

    In-form Cody Gakpo scored again as the Netherlands finished top of Group A, ending Qatar’s miserable involvement at their home World Cup with a third consecutive defeat.

    Qatar’s dismal showing means they became the first host nation to exit the tournament with three group-stage losses, finishing bottom with no points.

    The Dutch, who failed to qualify four years ago, progress to the last 16 with an unbeaten record and face the team that finishes second in Group B – those games kick-off at 19:00 GMT.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Senegal beat Ecuador 2-1, qualify for next round

    PSV Eindhoven winger Gakpo has now scored the opening goal in all three of the Netherlands’ group games, driving forward and rasping a finish into the bottom corner on this occasion.

    Qatar looked to hit back immediately but Ismaeel Mohammad’s shot on the stretch from outside the area was straight at Andries Noppert.

    But Louis van Gaal’s men scored at the start of the second half to quash any Qatari hopes of a comeback as Frenkie de Jong poked into a open net after Memphis Depay’s shot was saved.

    The Dutch could have won by more, as Steven Berghuis had a goal ruled out and also hit the crossbar.

    BBCSPORTS

  • Qatar 2022: Akanji shines but Brazil edge out Switzerland

    Qatar 2022: Akanji shines but Brazil edge out Switzerland

    Manuel Akanji played the full 90 minutes but couldn’t prevent Switzerland from going down to a 1-0 World Cup defeat to Brazil in Doha, Qatar.

    The South American favourites needed to be patient and had to wait until the 83rd minutes for the all-important winner as Casemiro volleyed home from 10 yards, his shot hitting Akanji on the way in.

    The victory confirmed Brazil’s place in the last 16 while Switzerland’s knockout hopes will now rest on their final Group G game on Friday.

    Both sides were looking to build on victories from their opening fixtures in their campaign with Brazil having downed Serbia 2-0 and the Swiss edging our Cameroon 1-0.

    Akanji was his usual calm, composed presence at the heart of the Swiss defence as Murat Yakin’s side sought to repel the South Americans.

    Read Also; Qatar 2022: Cameroon sends Onana packing for disciplinary conduct

    Vinicius Junior and Raphinha both went close for Brazil in the first half only to find Swiss keeper Yann Sommer in fine form.

    It wasn’t all one-way traffic however with Switzerland putting a Brazil side missing the injured Neymar under pressure at times after the break.

    Brazil did have the ball in the net thanks a cool finish from the dangerous Vinicius Junior on 67 minutes.

    However, the effort was disallowed following a VAR check with Tottenham striker Richarlison deemed offside in the initial build-up.

    But with time running out, Brazil’s patience and persistence was finally rewarded.

    Vinicius Jnr found Rodrygo from the left wing, who laid it off to Manchester United midfielder Casemiro who volleyed home.

    Akanji then made two superb stops to deny Brazil a second in injury time in what proved a tight, hard-fought affair.

    The result leaves Brazil on top of Group G with six points, Switzerland are second on three points with Cameroon and Serbia both having one apiece.

    The group games conclude on Friday with Brazil tackling Cameroon and the Swiss pitted against Serbia.

  • Qatar 2022: Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach W’Cup last 16

    Qatar 2022: Portugal beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach W’Cup last 16

    Portugal secured their place in the last 16 of the World Cup with victory over Uruguay in a scrappy encounter at Lusail Stadium.

    A game short on real quality saw the deadlock broken in the 54th minute when a cross from Bruno Fernandes floated beyond Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet, the goal given to Manchester United’s midfield man despite Cristiano Ronaldo claiming it had glanced off his head.

    Portugal made most of the running until they went ahead but Uruguay, who must now beat Ghana in their final Group H game to have a chance of qualifying, created chances of their own and could have taken a point.

    Read Also: Qatar 2022: Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in dramatic win

    Rodrigo Bentancur’s brilliant first-half run was halted by Portugal keeper Diogo Costa’s save, while substitute Maxi Gomez hit the post as Uruguay went in search of an equaliser.

    Portugal wrapped up the win in stoppage time when Fernandes got his second from the spot after a video assistant referee intervention which adjudged Jose Gimenez had handled.

    Fernandes almost got his hat-trick before the final whistle but saw a low shot strike the post.

    The game was interrupted in the second half by a pitch invader carrying a rainbow flag and wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front and ‘Respect for Iranian woman’ on the back.

    BBC Sport 

  • Casemiro scores against Switzerland as Brazil seal last-16 spot

    Casemiro scores against Switzerland as Brazil seal last-16 spot

    Casemiro scored a stunning winner as five-time champions Brazil edged past Switzerland to reach the World Cup knockout stage.

    An otherwise drab encounter was brought to life seven minutes from time as Manchester United midfielder Casemiro fired a first time effort into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Yann Sommer standing.

    Brazil backed up their opening victory over Serbia to top the group with maximum points and will guarantee top spot with a point against Cameroon in their final game.

    Read Also: Qatar 2022: Richarlison’s brace secures Brazil winning start

    Tite’s men thought they had broken the deadlock after the hour mark when Vinicius Jr kept his composure to coolly stroke in, but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR.

    Switzerland had sat compact for much of the game and did not offer any attacking threat, failing to get a shot on target in the contest.

    Murat Yakin’s thought they were going to escape with a point, but Casemiro’s moment of inspiration had Brazilian fans bouncing inside Stadium 974.

  • Qatar 2022: Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in dramatic win

    Qatar 2022: Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in dramatic win

    Ghana won an exhilarating match packed with twists and turns against South Korea in front of a vibrant crowd at Education City Stadium in Qatar.

    A 10-minute spell by the African nation in the first half presented them with a 2-0 lead but noisy celebrations by Ghana fans at half time were dampened by a South Korea comeback after the break.

    Read Also: Ghana much better team than Super Eagles – Pere Egbi

    Two stunning headers in three minutes from Cho Gue-sung, top-scorer in his domestic league, levelled the game after 61 minutes.

    But Ajax forward Mohammed Kudus, who had headed in Jordan Ayew’s cross in the first half, added a final twist when he thumped in a third for Ghana to break South Korea’s hearts.

    Chances continued to fall South Korea’s way as they searched for another equaliser but, despite 10 minutes of added time, Ghana held on.

    With Portugal to come next for South Korea, this feels a significant defeat, while Ghana – unfortunate to lose against Portugal – will face Uruguay in good spirits in their final game.

  • Qatar 2022: Cameroon, Serbia share thrilling 3-3 draw

    Qatar 2022: Cameroon, Serbia share thrilling 3-3 draw

    Cameroon kept their hopes alive of reaching the World Cup last 16 after battling back from two goals down to draw a six-goal thriller with Serbia in Group G.

    Cameroon took the lead through Jean-Charles Castelletto but Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic hit back for Serbia before half time.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Japan stun Germany 2-1 in group opener

    Aleksandar Mitrovic added a third for Serbia and they looked to be cruising before the Indomitable Lions roared back thanks to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s equaliser and Vincent Aboubakar’s superb lob.

    Mitrovic curled a shot wide in the closing moments after being teed up by Dusan Tadic.

    Both sides lost their opening match so the result leaves them two points adrift of Brazil and Switzerland, who meet later on Monday (16:00 GMT).

  • Four star Croatia ends Canada dream

    Four star Croatia ends Canada dream

    Croatia got their World Cup campaign back on track as Andrej Kramaric’s double inspired a 4-1 win that eliminated Canada in Sunday’s Group F grudge match in Doha.

    Zlatko Dalic’s side were stunned by Alphonso Davies’s second-minute opener at the Khalifa International Stadium.

    But Hoffenheim forward Kramaric equalised and Marko Livaja put the 2018 World Cup runners-up ahead just before half-time.

    Second-half goals from Kramaric and Lovro Majer ensured Croatia could celebrate their first win of the tournament after a goalless draw with Morocco in their first match.

    Croatia sit top of Group F, above Morocco on goal difference, and a draw in their final game against Belgium on Thursday would guarantee they reach the last 16.

    It was an especially sweet success for Croatia after Canada boss John Herdman irked Dalic’s men with his profane attempt to inspire his players after a 1-0 defeat against Belgium in their group opener.

    In a television interview, Herdman told his players: “They belong here. And we’re going to go and eff Croatia.”

    Dalic had taken exception to Herdman’s rant, insisting on Saturday that his team deserved “respect” from their opponents.

    Croatia’s 24 Sata tabloid ran a full-page photo of a naked man below Herdman’s superimposed head, with maple leaf flags over his mouth and private parts and a headline that translated as “You have the mouth, but do you have the balls as well?”

    The Croatians let their football do the talking yesterday , allowing them to seize control of a group blown wide open by Morocco’s shock 2-0 win against Belgium earlier in the afternoon.

    Canada competed gamely but have now lost all five matches in their World Cup history, with their only previous appearance in 1986 also ending in group-stage elimination.

  • Morocco’s win over Belgium thrills Okocha

    Morocco’s win over Belgium thrills Okocha

    The Atlas Lions of Morocco pulled off a huge shock in a World Cup Group F clash at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday by beating Belgium 2-0 courtesy of goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal.

    With their victory over the European nation, Morocco only need to avoid suffering a defeat in their final group game against Canada to be sure of progressing to the last sixteen of the tournament.

    The African side thought they had opened the scoring late in the first half through Hakim Ziyech  but the goal was chalked off for offside after a VAR review. Seventeen minutes from time, Sabiri became the first player to score from a direct freekick at the 2022 World Cup, and Aboukhlal sealed the win when he fired into the top corner in stoppage time.

    Three-time World Cupper and Nigeria legend Austin Okocha, who was on punditry duties for SuperSport, revealed shortly after the game that he loved the Atlas Lions’ win because of the way they managed the game after taking the lead.

    Okocha said : “It’s a well-deserved win today and what I love about the win is after they scored they managed the game – the way they defended in numbers, the way they took responsibility to make sure that this Belgium team does not get anything against them today.

    “I am overwhelmed with joy and I think we will  say congratulations to Morocco.”

    Morocco will wrap up group play on Thursday evening with a game against Ike Ugbo’s Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium, Doha.

  • Injured Neymar confident of comeback

    Injured Neymar confident of comeback

    Neymar is undergoing treatment for damaged ligaments in his right ankle after getting hurt in Brazil’s 2-0 opening win over Serbia on Thursday.

    Team doctors said Neymar will miss today’s match against Switzerland but did not elaborate on a timetable for his return — or say whether he will be able to return at all.

    Neymar wrote on Instagram he was enduring “one of the most difficult moments” of his career, but seemed optimistic about his chances of returning. He showed two photos of his swollen ankle in an Instagram story.

    “I’m injured, yes, and it’s a pain, and it will hurt,” he said. “But I’m sure that I’ll have the chance to return, because I’ll do anything possible to help my country, my teammates and myself.”

    He said he’s been waiting too long for this World Cup to go out like this.

    “Nothing in my life was easy or given to me,” Neymar said. “I’ve had always had to go after my dreams and my objectives.”

    Neymar also got hurt at the 2014 World Cup, when a back injury sustained in the quarter-finals against Colombia took him out of the tournament his country hosted. Brazil ended up losing to Germany 7-1 in the semi-finals.

    The Paris Saint-Germain forward has been undergoing physiotherapy treatment since getting injured. He also had a small bone trauma in the same foot after being roughed up by the Serbia defense from the start. He was fouled nine times, the most by any player at the World Cup in the first set of matches in the group stage.

    The 30-year-old Neymar is second on Brazil’s scoring list with 75 goals, two behind Pelé’s record with the national team.

    He helped the Selecao win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, but has yet to win a major title with Brazil.

    Brazil, seeking its first World Cup title in two decades, faces Cameroon in its last group match. It can reach the round of 16 with a win today if Cameroon doesn’t defeat Serbia in the other group match.

  • Messi admits World Cup toll on family

    Messi admits World Cup toll on family

    Lionel Messi has opened up on how his family “suffer” during the World Cup and that his son Mateo has already been left in tears due to the tournament’s emotion.

    Messi and Enzo Fernandez netted superb goals to seal a vital victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side against a passive Mexico on Saturday evening. Had Argentina lost their second game, they would have crashed out of the tournament following their shock opening-match loss against Saudi Arabia.

    It has been a pressure-filled week for Argentina, who are one of the most fervent football nations in the tournament who entered the World Cup with a 36-match unbeaten run and as one of the favourites to win the competition. The emotion was evident on the Argentine bench during the match.

    Messi and his young family are not immune to the emotions of the Argentine population during the World Cup. The superstar and partner Antonela Roccuzzo have three sons: Thiago (born 2012), Mateo (born 2015) and Ciro (born 2018).

    “Mateo left the stadium crying after the first game (against Saudi Arabia) and Thiago came out counting telling me that if we won both games we would qualify,” Messi said after the win against Mexico. “My family suffer the same as all Argentines, but we are happy and we get comfortable again because now our progress depends on us.”

    Against Mexico, it was not until Messi’s moment of magic – finding space 25 yards from goal and nestling the bottom corner of the net with a rasping effort – 20 minutes after the break which lifted the tension to give Argentina the lead.

    Argentina secured the victory late on as substitute Fernandez scored from a Messi assist to further alleviate the pressure, but it will return as Scaloni’s side conclude their group-stage campaign against Poland – and they will likely need a win to seal qualification for the round of 16.

    Messi added: “I am happy with the result and happy because now we will be quiet for a few days.” He acknowledged that the team faced the duel against Mexico “with great anxiety” because of the wait for the game and the need to bounce back from the opening-day defeat by Saudi Arabia.