Football News, Results & Other Worldwide Articles in General

I watched the 2nd half. Argentina were so weak. Saudi Arabia got stuck right into them. No cheating, just playing a tough tackling game and winning all the 50/50's.
They don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring. They do not like it up 'em. 

World Cup 2022: England captain Harry Kane set to have scan on right ankle on Wednesday..

England captain Harry Kane is set to have a scan on his right ankle before Friday's World Cup game with the United States.

Kane, 29, suffered a blow early in the second half during Monday's 6-2 victory over Iran in Group B.

He was eventually replaced by Callum Wilson and was later seen with light strapping on the ankle.

Kane is set to have the scan on Wednesday to assess the extent of the problem.

The Tottenham striker has scored 51 goals in 76 appearances for the Three Lions.

England boss Gareth Southgate will hope Kane's scan results are positive as he prepares his team for the second game of the group stage.

Midfielder James Maddison missed the Iran match as he recovers from a knee issue, while defender Harry Maguire came off feeling ill on Monday.

Wilson did not train in a light session with the rest of the substitutes at England's Al Wakrah training base on Wednesday but is not considered a fitness doubt.

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Wednesday 23rd Fixtures..

Group E - Germany v Japan - Venue: Khalifa International Stadium - 1pm

Group E - Spain v Costa Rica - Venue: Al Thumama Stadium - 4pm

Group F - Morocco v Croatia - Venue: Al Bayt Stadium - 10am

Group F - Belgium v Canada - Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium - 7pm

Ludwig Van Beethoven
Martin Heidegger
Adolf Eichmann
Heidi Klum
your boys took a hell of a beating.

Thursday 24th November Fixtures..

Group G - Switzerland v Cameroon - Venue: Al Janoub Stadium - 10am

Group G - Brazil v Serbia - Venue: Lusail Iconic Stadium - 7pm

Group H - Uruguay v South Korea - Venue: Education City Stadium - 1pm

Group H - Portugal v Ghana - Venue: Stadium 974 - 4pm

World Cup 2022: Japan's fans clean up stadium after win over Germany..

The magnitude of their win over Germany could have seen them go off into the night in celebration but Japan's fans demonstrated that the best manners and habits are ingrained, no matter the situation.

Come full-time, the stands of sporting stadia are usually littered with used food trays and wrappers and empty drinks cups, left behind for someone else to clean up.

But not when the Samurai Blue are in town.

Their players, fresh from a 2-1 victory over the four-time champions in their World Cup opener, had barely left the pitch when the Japanese in the crowd pressed pause on the party to tidy up after themselves at Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.

They did the same at the World Cup in Russia four years ago, most notably after a 3-2 defeat by Belgium in the last 16, and again in the 2022 tournament opener between hosts Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday - a match their team wasn't involved in.

In Japan, cleanliness is a part of the culture and is drilled into its people from early childhood.

In 2018, Scott North, a professor of sociology at Osaka University, told the BBC that tidying up is a way Japanese people "demonstrate pride in their way of life".

"Cleaning up after football matches is an extension of basic behaviours that are taught in school, where the children clean their school classrooms and hallways," he said.

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Thursday 24th November Results..

Group G - Switzerland 1 (Embolo 48) Cameroon 0

Switzerland's Breel Embolo scored the only goal against Cameroon - the country of his birth - in a hard-fought World Cup Group G opener.

Embolo refused to celebrate when he finished off a slick Swiss attack shortly after half-time.

The Indomitable Lions were unfortunate to lose after an enterprising display at the Al Janoub Stadium in Qatar.

Victory was vital for Switzerland, as both sides still have to face Brazil in the group.

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Group G - Brazil 2 (Richarlison 62, 73) Serbia 0

Richarlison lit up the World Cup with a moment of Brazilian magic as the tournament favourites overcame Serbia's stubborn resistance to open their campaign with an impressive victory.

Brazil had to play a patient game to break down an organised Serbia rearguard but forced the breakthrough after 62 minutes when Tottenham striker Richarlison turned home a close-range finish after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Vinicius Junior's effort.

Richarlison's crowning moment came 11 minutes later, at first mis-controlling a pass from Vinicius but readjusting brilliantly to take the aerial route and fire home an acrobatic right-foot finish.

It was no more than Brazil - backed by the massed ranks of their yellow-clad fans - deserved as they dominated throughout, with Alex Sandro and Casemiro hitting the woodwork and Milinkovic-Savic also saving superbly from Fred.

Brazil's performance made ominous viewing for their rivals, as did the sight of Gabriel Jesus, Antony and Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench in a powerful show of squad strength, although there was the worrying sight of Neymar going off after taking a knock.

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Group H - Uruguay 0 South Korea 0

Nothing could separate Uruguay and South Korea in their World Cup opener in Group H despite plenty of attacking quality on show in Qatar.

In front of a vibrant crowd at the Education City Stadium, the South Koreans frustrated Uruguay but did not create many clear-cut opportunities.

Their best fell to Hwang Ui-jo, who fired over the bar in the first half, before Uruguay captain Diego Godin headed a corner against the post.

Hwang stood with his head in hands afterwards, while team-mates fell to their knees in disbelief, all in front of a group of South Korean fans behind the goal, who were in fine voice throughout.

South Korea had controlled most of the first half but Uruguay began to dominate as the game wore on and they almost won it in the final minute of normal time when Federico Valverde's long-range effort crashed off the post.

There was one last chance for Tottenham striker Son Heung-min - South Korea's star man - but he dragged his shot wide, much to the relief of the Uruguayan supporters.



Group H - Portugal 3 (Ronaldo 65 pen, Felix 78, Leao 80) Ghana 2 (A.Ayew 73, Bukari 89)

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first man to score at five Fifa World Cups as Portugal began their campaign with a thrilling victory over Ghana.

Ronaldo was playing for the first time since his controversial television interview last week and his subsequent release by Manchester United following the comments.

And the 37-year-old scored the opening goal from the penalty spot, hammering in after being tripped in the box by Ghana's Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu.

Captain Ronaldo had a couple of chances early on but a low shot was smothered by Lawrence Ati-Zigi and he also headed wide at the far post.

The forward had a goal disallowed for a push on Alexander Djiku while at the other end, Ghana did not have a single shot in the opening period.

The Africans improved in the second period as Mohammed Kudus drilled narrowly wide of the far post and got their reward when Andre Ayew equalised from close range.

But Portugal responded with two goals in two minutes to seal the points - Joao Felix converting a delightfully clipped finish and substitute Rafael Leao coolly stroking in just seconds after coming on.

Osman Bukhari headed in a late consolation for Ghana and there could have been real drama in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Diogo Costa put the ball down, seemingly unaware Inaki Williams was behind him, but after racing to intercept the ball, the Ghana forward slipped at the crucial moment and a scuffed shot was cleared off the line.

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Friday 25th November Result..

Group B - Wales 0 (Hennessey sent of 86) Iran 2 (Cheshmi 90'+8, Rezaeian 90'+11)

WOW, WOW AND WOW, What a game that was, i was thinking when the 99th minute came around, that was the best 0-0 i have seen for a long time.

Wales' first World Cup for 64 years looks set to end at the first hurdle after a heartbreaking - but deserved - last-ditch defeat by Iran in Qatar.

Substitute Rouzbeh Cheshmi struck from 20 yards deep into stoppage time, before Ramin Rezaeian finished off a counter-attack to seal victory for a revitalised Iran side, who have renewed hope of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

As they did in their opening draw with the United States, Wales started poorly and had the video assistant referee (VAR) to thank for disallowing a goal from Iran's Ali Gholizadeh for offside.

In one of the most highly charged atmospheres of this World Cup, Iran's players sang their national anthem this time - having declined to do so before their opening loss to England in an apparent show of support for anti-government protests in their country - but their own fans booed the anthem and some could be seen crying in the stands.

Roared on by the fervent and almost entirely Iranian crowd, Carlos Queiroz's side were extremely unlucky not to score early in the second half as Sardar Azmoun and Gholizadeh both struck the post within the space of a few seconds.

Wales were utterly ragged and, as they pushed forward in search of the late winning goal they desperately needed, a long ball over the top left the defence exposed and their onrushing goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off - after a VAR check - for a reckless challenge on Mehdi Taremi.

That set the seal on Wales' fate for this match and, in all likelihood, their hopes of reaching the second round.

While Robert Page's men were just as disjointed as they were against the USA, Iran were unrecognisable from the team thrashed 6-2 by England in their first match and fully deserved this win which breathes new life into their ambitions of progressing to the last 16.

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..after all the Welsh hype of "when we get out of the group"  ....seems they are just not good enough... Gareth Bale.. post match interview.."the sending off changed the game completely" ... well from being outplayed basically to finally getting beaten... he is right!!! ... perhaps he will now wander off into the night