‘My Dad cried!’ – James Maddison on World Cup callup for England
Four years since the last World Cup and 12 since Qatar won a bid to host the 2022 edition of the tournament, the first ever winter world championship begins on Sunday (20 November). As is traditional, the host nation will kick off the World Cup, with Qatar in action against Ecuador at 8pm GMT.
Qatar and Ecuador are joined in Group A by Netherlands and Senegal, who clash on Monday (21 November) afternoon. Before Qatar take on Ecuador, an opening ceremony will take place in the Al Bayt Stadium, where that fixture will be held. Originally, the World Cup was actually due to begin with Senegal vs Netherlands on Sunday, followed by three fixtures on Monday – rounded off by Qatar vs Ecuador and the opening ceremony.
In a late about-turn, however, World Cup organisers are poised to announce that no alcohol will be sold around stadium sites in the tournament in a major last-minute U-turn. Major World Cup sponsor Budweiser was to sell alcoholic beer within the ticketed perimeter surrounding each of the eight stadiums three hours before and one hour after each game.
Elsewhere, England have begun training in Qatar as they prepare for their World Cup-opener against Iran on Monday, having also met migrant workers in a country where thousands have reportedly died during preparations for the tournament. The FA organised for migrant workers to meet England’s squad and coaching staff, though James Maddison was absent – and remained so on Friday – with his role in the clash with Iran in doubt.
In other news, Senegal suffered a major injury blow as Bayern Munich forward Sadio Mane was officially ruled out of the World Cup, and a number of teams involved in the winter tournament took part in friendlies on Thursday night.
Follow all the latest news and squad announcements from the 32 teams below:
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
Here is the main story from Qatar today:
World Cup organisers have banned alcohol around stadium sites at the tournament in a major late U-turn.
The move comes just two days before the start of the World Cup, when hosts Qatar take on Ecuador in Doha.
Budweiser was contracted to sell alcoholic beer within the ticketed perimeter surrounding the eight World Cup venues, in a designated window three hours before each match and one hour afterwards.
Fifa said in a statement: “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.
“There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums. 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.”
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 18:02
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And in the latest incident of that nature, Irish journalist Tony O’Donoghue told RTE how he was stopped by police while filming a piece to camera on Thursday (17 November).
During RTE’s coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly fixture with Norway – a game Ireland lost 2-1 – O’Donoghue explained the moment to the broadcaster.
He did, however, say he believes that the incident had stemmed from poor communication between tournament organisers and security officials – rather than the episode serving as evidence of an ‘oppressive regime’.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 18:57
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
As England flew out to Doha this week, the “buzzing” players immediately got back into old groups, but not cliques. This squad “isn’t built like that”. There’s a real team spirit, and sources both inside and outside the camp sincerely say you’d struggle to find a group more united at this World Cup. It might be England’s best advantage over everyone else.
It might also, however, hint at a growing weakness.
The group’s togetherness comes from the fact a core of the squad have been together for so long, their bonds fortified by the joy of an uplifting journey. This World Cup squad actually only features five names that are different from the original 26 for Euro 2020, before two enforced changes.
It raises two major questions that are going to frame England’s entire World Cup…
Miguel Delaney18 November 2022 18:35
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England and Wales currently plan to keep wearing OneLove armbands at the World Cup, as 11 federations await clarification from Fifa on the issue.
While the governing body says it will respond in “due course”, the squads that plan to wear the armband – intended to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ groups given punitive Qatari laws – expressed surprise that they had not received a response less than 48 hours before the World Cup was due to start, especially since questions went in weeks ago in some cases.
This has led to debate within the federations whether to wear them, especially since it risks a fine.
Some, such as France, are taking it to mean they cannot wear the armbands. Others believe the lack of response so far means they can wear them without punishment.
Players from the Wales and England squads are nevertheless insistent they should wear them.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 18:20
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
Following their 4-0 victory over Nigeria in a friendly fixture last night, the Portugal squad are now making their way from Lisbon to Qatar.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who missed the game with Nigeria, is en route to the World Cup with his teammates and their coaching staff.
The latest news around Ronaldo is that Manchester United have ‘initiated appropriate steps’ in response to the forward’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week.
Ronaldo, 37, hit out at the state of the club while criticising the owners, coach Erik ten Hag, and the mentality of his teammates.
Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portugal squad prepare to fly from Lisbon to Qatar
(AP)
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 17:11
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England’s Harry Kane is set to wear an anti-discrimination captain’s armband at the 2022 World Cup, in a move that could see the Three Lions striker punished in Qatar.
Kane sported a rainbow armband in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in England’s final games before the World Cup, and he is due to wear a OneLove band at the first ever winter World Cup.
The English Football Association has joined nine other European federations, including the Football Association of Wales, in supporting a season-long OneLove campaign against discrimination.
Kane and the captains of the eight other countries who have qualified for the World Cup will wear the OneLove armband in Qatar, where same-sex relationships and the promotion of such relationships are criminalised.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 16:26
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
Our big World Cup predictions article went live today, as our writers each picked their champions, Golden Boot winner, breakout star, and weighed in on how far England and Wales will go in Qatar.
Here are a few examples…
Ben Burrows, editor: Brazil – The best squad in Qatar have a stout defence, midfield versatility and the firepower to blow anyone away. Conditions in the Middle East will play into their hands too and in Neymar they have a talisman who is bang in form.
Richard Jolly, senior football correspondent: Karim Benzema – Partly because he has been the best player in the world over the last 12 months and scored 44 goals for Real Madrid last season. But also, more prosaically, because the easiest way to win the Golden Boot is to be prolific in the group stages and, with two outsiders – Australia and Tunisia – in France’s pool, Benzema stands a chance to get several goals before the knockout stages.
Jack Rathborn, assistant sports editor: Xavi Simons – He has electric pace, trickery and enters the tournament purring after an impressive run of form with PSV. Just the type of player to bring a sterile World Cup game to life, and the Netherlands have a soft group and potential last-16 opponent.
How far will England and Wales go?
Karl Matchett, sports reporter: Both to get through the group, into the knockouts. It will take a big effort from Wales, but USA have looked a disorganised rabble in their last couple of friendlies so, if Gareth Bale and co can avoid defeat in the opener, they have a massive chance. If they finish second it’s presumably Netherlands in the round of 16, so the fun stops there for Wales. As for England, one stage further. Topping the group should give a very favourable last-16 tie regardless of who it’s against from Group A, but the Three Lions haven’t looked capable of beating top teams in the past year, so expect a quarter-final exit when they come up against a notable opponent.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 16:06
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The BBC has announced that former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino has joined the broadcaster’s 2022 World Cup team.
Pochettino, who was sacked by PSG in July after spells with Spurs and Southampton, will join the likes of Didier Drogba, Jurgen Klinsmann, Vincent Kompany and Laura Georges in working for the BBC during this winter’s Qatar tournament.
Pochettino, 50, played at the 2002 World Cup as part of the Argentina team that were eliminated in the group stage.
The former defender has worked with a number of players who will feature at the Qatar World Cup, including England striker Harry Kane, Argentina forward Lionel Messi, Brazil winger Neymar, and France forward Kylian Mbappe.
“The World Cup is a special tournament, and it is a real pleasure to be a part of it with BBC Sport and some great names from world football,” Pochettino said.
“It is a new experience for me and an opportunity to see football from another perspective, before I return to coaching in future.”
Mauricio Pochettino will be part of the BBC’s punditry line-up (Nick Potts/PA)
(PA Archive)
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 15:31
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
And in the latest incident of that nature, Irish journalist Tony O’Donoghue told RTE how he was stopped by police while filming a piece to camera on Thursday (17 November).
During RTE’s coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly fixture with Norway – a game Ireland lost 2-1 – O’Donoghue explained the moment to the broadcaster.
He did, however, say he believes that the incident had stemmed from poor communication between tournament organisers and security officials – rather than the episode serving as evidence of an ‘oppressive regime’.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 15:12
World Cup 2022 news LIVE
“Of the many facts and figures circulated about Qatar’s problems, there is one realisation that should stand above everything. It is a disgrace that, in 2022, a country can host a World Cup where it has lured millions of people from the poorest countries on earth – often under false pretences – and then forced them into what many call ‘modern slavery’.
“And yet this has just been accepted. The World Cup carries on, an end product of a structure that is at once Orwellian and Kafkaesque. A huge underclass of people work in an autocratic surveillance state, amid an interconnected network of issues that make it almost impossible to escape.”
Here is Miguel Delaney on everything wrong with the Qatar World Cup.
Alex Pattle18 November 2022 14:21