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Tag: World cup

  • Qatar 2022: I feel sorry for Sadio Mane – Van Dijk

    Qatar 2022: I feel sorry for Sadio Mane – Van Dijk

    Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has revealed Sadio Mane won’t be able to feature for the Senegal national team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    Van Dijk, who is at the World Cup with the Netherlands, spoke about his old Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane’s fitness.

    The Senegal winger is struggling to recover from a leg injury to ensure he is available for his team’s group-stage games.

    Regarding former team-mate Mane, Van Dijk told reporters: “It’s going to be tough if he plays or not.

    “I don’t think he will play, but Senegal have a fantastic team.

    “Of course (I have spoken to him). I was feeling sad for him, first and foremost. I’m not happy in this case and I’ve been in that situation where I missed the Euros. We as players work so hard to get to this stage and he has been such an important figure for his country.

    “I know for a fact that he will put a brave face on it, but it’s tough and I feel sorry for him. I just want to tell him that whether he plays or not, it’s going to be such a tough game.”

  • Bayern Munich providing more players for Qatar World Cup than others

    Bayern Munich providing more players for Qatar World Cup than others

    Bayern Munich have provided more players to the teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup than any other club side on the planet.

    Bayern Munich’s list of 17 players eclipses the 16 each from Manchester City and FC Barcelona, world governing body FIFA said on Tuesday as the deadline for squad lists closed.

    The Qatar World Cup begins on Sunday.

    The unique November and December timing, plus the fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic, means coaches have been able to nominate 26 players this time instead of 23.

    As for the domestic league with the most World Cup players, England tops the list with 156 ahead of Spain (86), Germany and Italy (70).

  • FIFA chief appeals for Russia, Ukraine ceasefire during World Cup

    FIFA chief appeals for Russia, Ukraine ceasefire during World Cup

    FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has called on Russia and Ukraine to enter into a one month ceasefire during the World Cup in Qatar.

    Infantino told leaders at a summit of the G20 group of major economies in Indonesia the World Cup provided a “unique platform” for peace and unity because the event would be watched by some five billion people on television.

    “So, my plea with all of you is to stay on a temporary ceasefire for one month for the duration of the World Cup,” he said at a lunch with G20 leaders on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

    As an alternative, he proposed some humanitarian corridors “or anything that could lead to the resumption of dialogue as the first step to peace. “You are the world leaders, you have the ability to influence the course of history.”

    The World Cup begins in Qatar on Sunday amid widespread criticism of the country’s human rights record, particularly regarding the workers who built the stadiums.

    Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, urged governments to send athletes to international events based on their sporting merit, not political affiliations.

    “International sports will fall apart if participation is decided on political grounds.

    “We need the participation of all athletes who accept rules even, especially if, their countries are in confrontation,” Bach told the same gathering in Bali.

    Various international sports organisations have imposed sanctions on Russia and its athletes following its invasion of Ukraine.

  • World Cup break a danger for Garnacho – Ten Hag

    World Cup break a danger for Garnacho – Ten Hag

    Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admits the World Cup has not come at a great time for youngster Alejandro Garnacho.

    The youngster came on and scored the winner for United in the 93rd minute against Fulham away from home in the Premier League on Sunday.

    United claimed a 2-1 success to finish off their matches before the World Cup break.

    Asked post-game about what he told Garnacho after the final whistle, ten Hag told reporters: “‘Well done!’ It’s clear, it’s a massive win.

    “Alejandro Garnacho had a big impact in the win, he [finished] also, then the spotlight is on that and that is also justified because it was a great finish, because that is what you expect from subs coming in.

    “I am really happy with his progress. We have an extra player in the squad and I’m happy for the academy that we bring out the player, the coaches, really well done, good work, great. But also, I want to emphasise the way we scored that goal all the way from the back to the front, outplayed, composure and I think it was a massive brilliant assist from Christian Eriksen.”

    “It would be weird if I said I knew before now,” he added of Garnacho’s rise.

    “It’s a little bit, let’s say, the feeling that you have but also you need an eye for it, yes. But sometimes I’m wrong as well.

    “But in this case, we had a discussion with my coaches and I saw his improvement in the last months, you could see his potential and for me, it was the point to bring him in that he had such an impact but you can’t think that before.

    “But he has and this shows what talents can do, but it is still a long way to go. He has to keep his feet on the ground, it’s the whole team now, he has to do much more investment because he will be recognisable for everyone.

    “So it’s much more important to every time confirm it. Big players know that, young players don’t know.

    “Now it’s a four-week break, that’s already a danger for him, because he now has momentum, it’s good in the season and let’s see how he’s coming back (from the interval). We have to manage that, manage that with him, his attitude is good, I’m certain he will have an impact.

    “The danger is four weeks, no games, lose focus, less investment. It’s only when he stays on the same attitude that he’s working the last three, four or five weeks the process will keep going and his progress will keep going. If not it goes the other way around.”

  • World Cup: Fati in, Thiago and De Gea out of Spain’s squad

    World Cup: Fati in, Thiago and De Gea out of Spain’s squad

    Spain included FC Barcelona’s Ansu Fati but left out Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea from their 26-man FIFA World Cup squad announced on Friday.

    The 20-year-old Fati made his international debut in 2020 at 17.

    In his second game he became the youngest player to score for Spain, breaking a record held since 1925 by Juan Errazquien.

    But the forward is fighting his way back from four surgeries to repair an injury to his left knee, suffered in November 2020.

    “He was one of our last question marks. I doubted until the last minute.

    ”But I decided for him because his technical qualities are amazing and being here with us could work as a big motivation for him as he’s still working to get back to peak form,” Spain coach Luis Enrique told a news conference.

    “It’s a process that he’s going through, to become the Ansu Fati that he was before the injury.

    “Surely it could be assessed when he will recover his previous level. It is one of the things we all look for.”

    Enrique declined to comment on the players who were left out.

    But the absence of veterans like De Gea, Thiago, and FC Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso points to the manager’s preference to go all-in with Spain’s new generation of talent.

    De Gea has fallen out of favour with Enrique who said in March he “wanted to test other goalkeepers”.

    Also, Thiago saw his role diminish with the rise of Barca teenagers Pedri, 19, and 18-year-old Gavi.

    “Youth gives you freedom because you are not yet aware of the consequences,” Enrique said. “Yet, most of the youngsters that are with us are already in high-level teams.

    “The bar that I’m setting is infinity. My goal is to compete in every game.

    “There’s no one outside of Spain who rules out Spain as a candidate to be among the best. We are going to give war, there is no doubt.”

    Spain have been drawn in Group E with Costa Rica, Germany and Japan.

    Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion), David Raya (Brentford).

    Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Eric Garcia (FC Barcelona), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona), Jose Gaya (Valencia).

    Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona), Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City), Gavi (FC Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Paris St-Germain), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pedri Gonzalez (FC Barcelona), Koke Resurreccion (Atletico Madrid).

    Forwards: Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremi Pino (Villarreal), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (Paris St-Germain), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona)

  • Mane’s injury: Bayern Munich coach reacts over ‘witch doctor’ option for Senegalese treatment

    Mane’s injury: Bayern Munich coach reacts over ‘witch doctor’ option for Senegalese treatment

    Senegal striker Sadio Mane will undergo medical checks in Munich in 10 days to monitor his recovery from an injury.

    It is an injury that can rule him out of the entire FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in spite of his being named in his country’s squad on Friday.

    Mane was named in Senegal’s squad for the World Cup starting on Nov. 20 in spite of suffering an injury playing for Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

    The 30-year-old striker’s decisive penalty kicks won both the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualification for his country this year.

    But he suffered an injury to his right fibula in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win against Werder Bremen.

    “I don’t even know what a witch doctor is,” Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Friday.

    His comment was in response to FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura’s suggestion that compatriot Mane could be treated by ‘witch doctors’ to get him fit in time.

    “In 10 days we will do a check on him again to see how his recovery and progress has gone and we will take it from there,” Nagelsmann told a news conference.

    “Obviously (Senegal) really want him to play but we have to wait and see how the medical situation is. If he can’t play he can’t play, whether the FA wants him or not.

    “These are the types of situations that go beyond just the sporting aspect.”

    Senegal face Netherlands on Nov. 21 in their opening Group A match before taking on hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

    Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said earlier on Friday he was confident Mane could recover in time to play at the tournament.

  • Qatar 2022: Mane named in Senegal’s World Cup squad

    Qatar 2022: Mane named in Senegal’s World Cup squad

    Sadio Mane has been named in Senegal’s squad for this month’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar in spite of injury concerns after he was hurt playing for his German club.

    The 30-year-old striker’s decisive penalty kicks won both the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification for his country this year.

    He suffered an injury to his right fibula in Bayern Munich’s 6-1 win against Werder Bremen last weekend and misses this weekend’s clash against Schalke 04.

    But coach Aliou Cisse included the team’s talisman when he named his 26-man squad at a news conference in Dakar on Friday.

    He said he was confident Mane could recover in time to play at the tournament.

    The coach ,said Senegal had sent the Senegalese federation’s doctor to examine Mane on Thursday and had been told he would not require surgery.

    “That’s very good news and we now have the chance to try and get him fit for the tournament. We now have two weeks to observe and see how the injury reacts to treatment,” Cisse said.

    “I prefer to keep him in the squad because he is such an important part of us.”

    The coach used the example of Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr, who had been injured going into last January’s AFCON finals, but was included in the squad.

    “He recovered after the first round to contribute to Senegal’s success in the tournament.

    “We will do all in our power to ensure we can recover Mane in time to play,” Cisse added.

  • Germany pick 2014 hero Götze for Qatar alongside 25 others

    Germany pick 2014 hero Götze for Qatar alongside 25 others

    Teenager Youssoufa Moukoko and fellow striker Niclas Füllkrug were on Thursday named as uncapped players into Germany’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

    The squad also includes recalled 2014 World Cup hero Mario Götze.

    But there was no place for Marco Reus and Mats Hummels among the 26 players named by coach Hansi Flick for the Nov. 20 to Dec. 18 tournament.

    Borussia Dortmund’s Moukoko, who turns 18 next week, and Füllkrug of Werder Bremen had been expected to get the call-up because Timo Werner and Lukas Nmecha are out injured.

    Both have been in fine form lately with plenty of goals and are to give Germany more options upfront as the four-time champions aim to rebound from a group stage exit in 2018.

    Götze scored the winner in the 2014 final against Argentina and now returns in the national team for the first time since 2017 after a strong season with Eintracht Frankfurt.

    Other 2014 winners are goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer and his attacking Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Müller who will both play their fourth World Cup.

    Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich also provide influential midfielders Joshua Gimmich and Leon Goretzka, rising star Jamal Musiala, as well as forwards Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane.

    Reus meanwhile misses a third big event over a recent injury and his Borussia Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels is also left behind because Flick prefers other players in central defence.

    Germany will depart for a short training camp in Oman on Monday with a tune-up game against Oman on Wednesday before moving into their Qatar base camp the next day.

    Their first World Cup game is on Nov. 23 against Japan, with Spain and Costa Rica the other opponents in the group stage.

  • Dani Alves becomes Brazil’s oldest World Cup star

    Dani Alves becomes Brazil’s oldest World Cup star

    Dani Alves will become Brazil’s oldest World Cup star after earning a recall for Qatar 2022, while Roberto Firmino has missed out on Tite’s final squad, with Gabriel Martinelli preferred.

    Alves is now 39 and made his international debut in 2006, but he is heading to his third World Cup this year.

    The former FC Barcelona right-back will make Selecao history, with Djalma Santos —— 37 at the 1966 World Cup —— previously their oldest player at a finals.

    Alves is not necessarily a hugely popular choice, but Tite responded to the veteran’s critics.

    “I didn’t come here to please people on Twitter, which I don’t even know what percentage of the Brazilian people represents,” the coach said.

    “I respect differing opinions and I’m not here to convince everyone. I just want to give information so that people democratically form their own opinion.

    “Now, everyone has their opinion and everyone has my respect.”

    Alves’ inclusion was the standout news from Tite’s squad announcement on Monday, although the coach also had a big call to make in attack.

    Arsenal pair Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus each made the cut, but Liverpool’s Firmino did not due to the wealth of alternative options at Tite’s disposal.

    Firmino does not return after being named in the Brazil squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, although nine members of that group are included again.

    Alisson and Ederson remain among the goalkeepers, while defenders Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Danilo all return.

    Manchester United pair Fred and Casemiro are unsurprising choices in midfield, as Neymar again joins Jesus upfront amid a sensational season with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

    Brazil World Cup squad in full:

    Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremer (Juventus), Dani Alves (UNAM)

    Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Chelsea); Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United)

    Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham); Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

    Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).

  • Manuel Neuer says Qatar 2022 may be his last one

    Manuel Neuer says Qatar 2022 may be his last one

     Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will probably be his last one.

    “You never know, but I assume it will be my last World Cup,” the 36-year-old player said.

    He stressed, however, that “it doesn’t necessarily” has to be his last one.

    Once his name is confirmed on Germany coach Hansi Flick’s squad list, Neuer is to play his fourth tournament, after 2010, 2014 —- when he won the title —- and 2018.

    Flick will announce his squad on Thursday and Germany start their campaign against Japan on Nov. 23.

    “I’m not afraid to say that we want to be world champions,” Neuer said. “We need the right momentum.”

    During the tournament, Neuer will be wearing a “One Love” captain’s armband to set a sign for diversity and freedom.

    Qatar has been widely criticised for the human rights situation in the country.

    Other team captains are also to wear the special armband.

    “With the ‘One Love’ campaign, we aren’t hiding, even though we’ve been accused of doing so because it’s not a rainbow flag,” Neuer said, adding that it is important that players voice their opinion.

    The rainbow flag is a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride and LGBT social movements.

    Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.