Bellingham on up; Ronaldo has doubts before the World Cup

Last Updated on October 2, 2022 by

The countdown begins to the start of the World Cup in Qatar, with the host nation kicking things off on November 20 when they take on Ecuador.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (US)

The 32 finalists are making their closing plans for the tournament, hoping star players will go into the World Cup in top form and not be let down by injuries. Apart from that, there are plenty of players desperately hoping to make their country’s 26-man squad, which must be named by November 13.

– Calendar and schedule of the World Cup finals

Each week, we’ll take a look at the favorites to see how they’re shaping up, and you’ll also catch other nations as their players shine or struggle.

The last friendlies and UEFA Nations League matches have been held before the World Cup. How are the teams and players doing?

Jump to: England | United States | Argentina | Brazil | France | Germany | Spain | Portugal | Netherlands | Belgium | Mexico | Ghana | Cameroon | Morocco | Tunisia | Senegal | Australia | IR Iran | South Korea | Japan | Uruguay

ENGLAND Nations League results: Italy 1-0 England, England 3-3 Germany

Jude Bellingham: The clamor for his inclusion has grown over the past few months, but two brilliant displays against Italy and Germany this international break should have removed any doubt in Gareth Southgate’s mind about whether the 19-year-old starts Qatar. Phil Foden was one of England’s best players but Bukayo Saka’s spirited cameo against Germany leaves Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling up front in Southgate’s 3-4-3 formation. Luke Shaw justified his manager’s faith against Germany and is the favorite to start at left-back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Not starting is one thing. Not being in the matchday squad for England’s second game was another matter. Southgate went on to declare that Kieran Trippier is ahead of the Liverpool defender in the seemingly bottomless list of top-quality England right-backs. That means Alexander-Arnold is fourth choice behind Reece James, Kyle Walker and Trippier, making his place in Qatar look very much in doubt. Harry Maguire continues to enjoy Southgate’s support, but being at fault for two of Germany’s goals will only increase the wider scrutiny on the Manchester United centre-back.

– Olley: England players still believe in Southgate

– Ogden: England not showing they will compete for the World Cup

James Olley explains why he left Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his England World Cup squad.

UNITED STATES International friendly results: Japan 1-0 USA, Saudi Arabia 0-0 USA

Southgate would have made the ‘de-stocking’ section himself were it not for England’s second-half reaction against Germany, in which the players showed they are firmly behind a manager who has presided over a six game winless streak. In any case, the pressure is now on to maximize the talent at his disposal, but perhaps one key factor above the rest explains his approach: England continue to lack a midfield pivot capable of knitting this team together. So whether they can hold the ball sufficiently against the best teams remains the biggest unknown. The improved individual form of several key players over the next couple of months would also help. — James Olley

Matt Turner: The Arsenal goalkeeper was the only American player to improve his standing after a 2-0 loss to Japan and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. Arsenal’s goalie was sharp and did a lot to keep the U.S. in both games. Was it enough to claim the starting goalkeeper position? Manager Gregg Berhalter was lukewarm in his praise and still appears to have a soft spot for Middlesbrough goalkeeper Zack Steffen, but Turner is certainly making the decision difficult with his performances.

Sam Vines: There were plenty of candidates to choose from, but Antwerp’s left-back just overshadows it. Vines struggled in the Japanese game, so much so that Berhalter opted to start Sergiño Dest’s usual left back. Things didn’t go much better with Dest there, but it still represented a missed opportunity for Vines to solidify his position on the US roster.

– Carlisle: USMNT creates little optimism in the tie

ARGENTINA International friendly results: Argentina 3-0 Honduras, Jamaica 0-3 Argentina

It’s not full-blown panic mode, but it’s getting close. The U.S. managed just two shots on goal over the two games, and any optimism surrounding the team’s World Cup prospects has evaporated. Is there any reason for hope? There are, but the focus is on the likes of Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, Valencia’s Yunus Musah, Lille’s Timothy Weah and Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards recovering from injury and getting some minutes with their clubs. — Jeff Carlisle

Julian Alvarez: A forward with plenty to offer in the coming years who scored the second goal of his international career in the win over Jamaica. The Manchester City forward linked up well with second-half substitute Lionel Messi, who scored two late goals that could bode well for the World Cup.

It is now 35 matches unbeaten for Argentina, and one of the most interesting aspects of this latest triumph was that they ended it with a three-man line-up: Lisandro Martínez coming off the bench to play on the left of a trio with Nicolas Otamendi in the middle and Cristian Romero on the right. Manager Lionel Scaloni may have half an eye on a post-Messi future, but his focus is clearly on Qatar, and it was fascinating to watch him experiment with a formation he could use as a surprise at the World Cup. — Tim Vickery

BRAZIL International friendly results: Brazil 3-0 Ghana, Brazil 5-1 Tunisia

– Vickery: South America’s World Cup stars shine

Pedro: There’s always a clamor to see home-grown players in the national team, and in recent months attention has fallen on Flamengo center forward Pedro, the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores. He was called up for September’s friendlies but had to sit on the bench for the game against Ghana and also the first half of Tuesday’s game against Tunisia. It came to half-time with the game already won, Brazil 4-1 ahead and Tunisia a man down. This could have worked in their favor – the game would be played in and around Tunisia’s penalty area, where Pedro is at his strongest. The potential problem was that, with everything decided, the intensity of the match would drop. It certainly was, and Pedro had few opportunities to shine. Had a couple of dangerous headers, but was hardly involved in the formation play. But it had its moment. When the ball came to him, he met it with a characteristically well-taken volley to score a goal that almost certainly sealed his place in Qatar’s squad.

Gabriel Jesus: It’s hard to think of anyone in the Brazilian national team who isn’t happy with recent developments, apart from, of course, those who were left out. The absence of Jesus was certainly disconcerting. It is very strange that he has been a fixture in the squad, only to be dropped at the very moment when he has found his best form. It will be a shock if the Arsenal striker does not go to the World Cup. But with Richarlison looking so sharp, Jesus can hardly expect to make the starting line-up.

– O’Hanlon: The flaws of the World Cup favourites

Alejandro Moreno explains why Brazil is the clear favorite to win the World Cup in Qatar.

FRANCE Nations League results: France 2-0 Austria, Denmark 2-0 France

Everything is going well in Brazil. Every tactical formation used by coach Tite, he has now used three different formations, seems to work. But truly victorious teams have to overcome the toughest challenges, something Brazil haven’t had to do over the past year. Realizing potential may depend on the team’s emotional control when the going gets tough. — Tim Vickery

Olivier Giroud: Became the oldest player to score for France against Austria at almost 36, and again showed what he could do for this team. Coach Didier Deschamps is still unsure whether to call him up for the World Cup squad, but at least the AC Milan striker has given him plenty to think about, even if he was more disappointing in the defeat against Denmark, as a whole. team

Youssouf Fofana: Despite a difficult second half in Denmark after replacing Eduardo Camavinga, it was a positive 10 days for the Paris-born and bred midfielder. He did well against a very average Austria and showed that he can be a good bench option for Deschamps. If he continues to play well for Monaco, he will be on the plane to Doha.

Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante: They weren’t there and that’s why their shares have risen. Their absence confirmed how difficult it is to replace them and right now Deschamps is praying that they will both be fully fit and ready for the World Cup. Fofana has done well on his debut and Aurelien Tchouameni is also very talented, but they are still not at the same level, as we saw against Denmark.

Dayot Upamecano: The Bayern Munich defender had a great chance to earn his place against Denmark on Sunday and didn’t take it. He had to wait almost a year for his seventh edition, but he missed the first goal and looked very fragile. In a very competitive position, he will now have to be very good with Bayern Munich to convince Deschamps to take him to Qatar.

Eduardo Camavinga: This is similar to Upamecano. He had to wait two years for another cap, but was poor against Denmark. He gave the ball away, looked lost and confirmed the reservations Deschamps and his staff have about him. He is still so young at 19 and will have time to play in the World Cups, but it doesn’t look like it will be in 2022.

Ferland Mendy: With Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez and Lucas Digne all out, Mendy was the first-choice left-back for these two games. Overall, it was too disappointing, both defensively and offensively. He may be due to play in a back five when he is in a back four with Real Madrid, but even so, it was a missed opportunity.

GERMANY Nations League results: Germany 0-1 Hungary, England 3-3 Germany

Deschamps didn’t learn much. The manager has too many players missing through injury and played with two rather experimental teams, both in 3-4-1-2. There have been positives and negatives, but at least Les Bleus have managed to finish third in their group and remain in the top division of the Nations League. — Julien Laurens

Kai Havertz: With his brace against England, Havertz gave manager Hansi Flick something to think about in how to set up his attack at the World Cup. Havertz at center forward could end up being the preferred solution in Qatar.

Jamal Musiala: Continued his trend as a German player with the ability to make exciting things happen.

Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane: There are concerns internally at Bayern Munich about the form of Gnabry and Sane, and this is also influencing the narrative of the national team.

Nico Schlotterbeck: The Borussia Dortmund defender had a shaky moment against England, which may bolster the case for team-mate Mats Hummels.

SPAIN Nations League results: Spain 1-2 Switzerland, Portugal 0-1 Spain

More doubts than positives about this team after a heavy and ineffective night in a home defeat against a Hungarian side with a plan, and then an up-and-down evening at Wembley. Can Germany smooth it all out? The clock is ticking. — Derek Rae

Álvaro Morata: The last international break served to show that Morata remains Spain’s best option at No.9. The Atletico Madrid forward capped a fine performance against Portugal on Tuesday with the only goal in a 1-0 win to take his tally for Spain. to 27 in 57 caps.

Nico Williams: After making his debut in the disappointing defeat to Switzerland, Williams, the younger brother of Athletic Club team-mate Inaki, helped turn the game around from the bench against Portugal. His ability to run at the opposition posed a distinct threat after a one-dimensional performance from Spain in the first 70 minutes. He also set up Morata’s winner with a deft header into the box to claim a place in Qatar in what was his first cap for Spain.

Rodri: Luis Enrique clearly has his eyes on a Barcelona midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Pedri and Gavi, but Manchester City’s Rodri will give the Spanish manager a headache, and he was one of the best players against Portugal. There is no doubt about his place in the squad, but can he break into the XI? Veteran wingers Dani Carvajal and Jordi Alba also strengthened their cases to go to the World Cup.

Ferran Torres: Barcelona forward Torres remains Spain’s top scorer under Luis Enrique — now tied on 13 with Morata — but is now seven games without a goal for La Roja. Coupled with the fact that he has lost his place at Barca, with Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha preferred alongside Robert Lewandowski, and there are doubts about how big his role will be at the World Cup.

Borja Iglesias: The Real Betis forward is in great form in LaLiga, where he has already scored six goals this season, but has only played 27 minutes against Switzerland and away to Portugal, despite Spain’s need for goals. Although Iglesias will celebrate a first international cap at the age of 29, it looks like he may miss out on the World Cup with this test.

PORTUGAL Nations League results: Czech Republic 0-4 Portugal, Portugal 0-1 Spain

It was a Jekyll and Hyde international break for Spain, who lost at home to Switzerland for the first time, ending an eight-match unbeaten run, before winning for the first time in Portugal to top their UEFA Nations League group and go to the final four These results generated more uncertainty around Luis Enrique’s team heading into the World Cup than before. It is obvious that they will have a lot of possession in Qatar, but they do not have any cutting edge yet. They are also prone to defensive failures. In terms of the squad, there aren’t many players nailed down to start either, although the column is likely to consist of Unai Simon, Pau Torres, Busquets, Pedri and Morata. — Sam Marsden

Diogo Dalot: Scored twice in Portugal’s 4-0 thrashing of the Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League. Dalot will remain second choice to Joao Cancelo, but at least he improved his offensive reputation. Cancelo, who was suspended against the Czechs and returned for the defeat in Spain, has never replicated his club form for Manchester City at international level but is still expected to feature in Qatar.

Ruben Dias: Returned to defense alongside Danilo Pereira against the Czech Republic and Spain. The Man City star was effective and still managed to get the nod in Qatar.

Cristiano Ronaldo: This week he received a lot of criticism in Portugal. The Manchester United striker has missed a number of good chances, including in the closing moments against Spain after coming off the bench. With a whole host of attacking options available to manager Fernando Santos, the discussion has now turned, as it has at club level, to whether Ronaldo is now more of a hindrance than a help.

NETHERLANDS Nations League results: Poland 0-2 Netherlands, Netherlands 1-0 Belgium

Doubts over Santos refuse to go away after Portugal again failed to get the home draw they needed in a final group match. Last November, a stoppage-time goal from Aleksandar Mitrovic sent Serbia through to the World Cup, and this week it was Morata who scored in the 88th minute to end Portugal’s Nations League hopes. With so much talent at his disposal, the fear is that Santos will not be the man to turn Portugal into contenders. — Dale Johnson

Remko Pasveer: Amazingly, manager Louis van Gaal selected the Ajax goalkeeper for both Nations League victories. The 38-year-old, who made his debut against Poland, became the oldest player with at least two caps to play for Holland. He did very well, got two clean sheets and made a couple of good saves. However, Dutch analysts are 100% certain that NEC Nijmegen’s Jasper Cillessen will be Van Gaal’s first choice in Qatar.

Nathan Ake and Jurrien Timber: In the Netherlands, everyone is proud of the number of quality defenders now at Van Gaal’s disposal. Both Ake and Timber did very well and are likely to start at the World Cup.

Cody Gakpo: The PSV Eindhoven star has now shown his ability at international level scoring the opener against Poland and assisting the only goal against Belgium. He is the top scorer in the Eredivisie and has been directly involved in 14 of PSV’s 28 goals.

Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay: The two most prominent Dutch players left the team before suffering hamstring injuries in the game against Poland. De Jong’s injury seems less of a problem than Depay’s. The World Cup, however, should not be a problem for either player.

Bruno Martins Indi: The AZ Alkmaar defender will now miss the World Cup due to an injury sustained in the Eredivisie game against Ajax.

Matthijs de Ligt: He is having a bad time under Van Gaal and didn’t play a single minute. De Ligt has only started six of 15 games since Van Gaal took over, and is unlikely to start in Qatar. There was also bad news for Stefan de Vrij, who played just 25 minutes.

BELGIUM Nations League results: Belgium 2-1 Wales, Netherlands 1-0 Belgium

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic after Holland won their UEFA Nations League group with the most points (16) in League A. But while fans are getting upbeat, pundits saw plenty of weaknesses when Holland didn’t had key players De Jong and Depay against Belgium. Without them, the chances of an Oranje party in Qatar are slim, so they need both to recover from their hamstring problems. — Max Toemen

Kevin De Bruyne: Unsurprisingly, he is once again the most important player in his team. He can’t do it all by himself, unfortunately for Belgium, as we saw in the defeat against Holland and when his magic doesn’t work, it doesn’t work much for the Belgians. He will need support at the World Cup, but if he gets there fit and in form, he will carry this team.

Amadou Onana: The Everton midfielder has made a strong start to his Premier League career, and has been given the chance to show his progress with the national team and did so against the Dutch with a very solid performance, despite the defeat. He is still young and has a lot to learn but complements Axel Witsel very well.

Michy Batshuayi: In the absence of Romelu Lukaku and with Dries Mertens and Charles De Ketelaere on the bench, Batshuayi had to make the most of his playing time, and he did so with a goal and an assist against Wales. He was tougher against the Netherlands, and came off at half-time, but had a positive international break.

Eden Hazard: The good news is that he played two games in a row, 65 minutes each time. The bad news is that he is still miles away from his best form. He probably won’t make it for the World Cup, as he won’t play much for Real Madrid between now and mid-November, when the team flies to Qatar.

Thomas Meunier: His first half against the Dutch was very difficult, he was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, who is more attacking. He played the full 90 minutes against Wales, but didn’t create much in that game either. He will be in the squad for the World Cup but is not certain to start.

Youri Tielemans: Started against Wales but dropped to the bench against the Dutch. It might just be rotation, but it doesn’t look good. He has been poor for Leicester this season and hasn’t been much better in these two games for the national team. There are plenty of options for Roberto Martínez in midfield, and his place in the starting eleven is not guaranteed.

MEXICO International friendly results: Mexico 1-0 Peru, Mexico 2-3 Colombia

The win against Wales was expected, but far from convincing. The defeat to the Netherlands had a bigger impact because of the quality of the opposition. Belgium didn’t play badly but also showed their limits. Collectively, outside of De Bruyne, there is not enough on the ball, and defensively, the starting three of Vertonghen (35), Alderweireld (33) and Debast (18) are not comforting at all. — Julien Laurens

Alexis Vega: Although Mexico lost 3-2 to Colombia on Tuesday night, one bright spot is Vega’s inspiring performance on the left wing. Along with his goal, the 24-year-old was brilliant with his movement and passing in the final third, the best individual performance by a Mexican player in the international break. Manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino is also a believer. After slipping up and saying the Guadalajara player “could start at the World Cup”, Martino quickly backtracked to reveal the potential secrets of the final 26-man squad: “Well, that’s if I’m taking him.”

Fernando Beltrán: There is too much depth in midfield for El Tri. In a national team that seems to have no shortage of centre-backs, Beltrán was one of the few called up who didn’t get a single minute during the international break. Of the current squad options who are prime candidates to be left out of the final 26-man squad, the Chivas man is now near or at the top of that list.

– Hernández: The collapse leaves a sour taste for ‘Tata’ Martino’s side

GHANA International friendly results: Brazil 4-0 Ghana, Nicaragua 0-1 Ghana

One step forward, two steps back. After a vital but unconvincing 1-0 win over Peru last Saturday, Mexico shot themselves in the foot as they let a 2-0 lead against Colombia turn into a disastrous 3-2 defeat. Anxiety and pessimism remain for a team that was once aiming for the World Cup quarter-finals, but could now be lucky just to get out of the group stage. — Cesar Hernandez

Inaki Williams: Six years after playing his only international game for Spain, Williams made his Ghana debut as a second-half substitute in their 3-0 loss to Brazil, then started their 1- 0 about Nicaragua. His interaction with Mohammed Kudus was one of the highlights of an international window that brought the Black Stars to earth, and there is now no doubt that the Athletic Club will be a key player in Qatar.

Thomas Partey: Can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front, with the midfielder pulled from the starting XI against Brazil just minutes before kick-off after feeling a knee problem. It remains to be seen whether Partey will be fit to return to action for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in this weekend’s North London derby, but it was a reminder that manager Otto Addo must have taking into account the weaknesses of the 29-year-old player as he ends his World Cup. Cup plans

CAMEROON International friendly results: Cameroon 0-2 Uzbekistan, South Korea 1-0 Cameroon

This international break was a reality check for Ghana, who were thoroughly outplayed by Brazil in the first half of their friendly, then went on to claim a 1-0 victory over lowly Nicaragua, ranked 139th in the world. At least Addo was able to integrate new faces Tariq Lamptey, Mohammed Salisu and Williams, all hopefuls to start against Portugal on November 24. — Ed Dove

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa: His value to this Cameroon side was made even more evident in his absence, with a number of possible replacements for the rested Napoli man only serving to demonstrate how inferior they are . Beveren’s Georges Mandjeck was nervous against Uzbekistan, Hellas Verona’s Martin Hongla struggled to prevail against South Korea, while Mechelen’s Samuel Oum Gouet was constantly bothered by the intense press. Zambo Anguissa should be the first name on coach Rigobert Song’s sheet.

Nicolas Nkoulou: Made his long-awaited return to the international squad, having previously announced his retirement in 2017. However, it was clear that the Aris defender is well below match sharpness, and his error led to Uzbekistan’s opening in Cameroon’s penultimate friendly. before the World Cup. He should also have done better with Son Heung-Min’s winner for South Korea, and unless he can start playing regularly for his club, it would be a gamble for Cameroon to start Nkoulou in Qatar.

MOROCCO International friendly results: Morocco 2-0 Chile, Paraguay 0-0 Morocco

Cameroon never feel too far from crisis, and back-to-back defeats during this international break are likely to prompt a pre-World Cup consultation with FA president Samuel Eto’o. Despite optimistically claiming Cameroon were still aiming to reach the World Cup finals after the Uzbekistan defeat, it has been a bruising week. At least the Indomitable Lions will be stronger when Zambo Anguissa returns. — Ed Dove

Hakim Ziyech: The Chelsea striker had announced his international retirement in February when it became clear that the Moroccan FA planned to stick with then manager Vahid Halilhodzic, with whom he had fallen out. However, a change in the dugout saw the return of Ziyech, who moved straight into a key role. Against Chile, Morocco enjoyed the Ziyech of old: lively, inventive, confident and also made an important defensive contribution. Welcome back!

Youssef En-Nesyri: Fitness issues prevented the Sevilla striker from making his mark at the CAN earlier this year, but the 25-year-old looks no closer to getting his career back on track. Zero goals in five league games so far this term, and he struggled against Chile, with En-Nesyri’s poor control and body language suggesting a player with little confidence.

TUNISIA International friendly results: Comoros 0-1 Tunisia, Brazil 5-1 Tunisia

A win against Chile and a draw with Paraguay is an excellent return to this international window, not to mention the vitality and energy of the team under new coach Walid Regragui. His arrival was always going to freshen things up after Vahid’s dismissal, and his decision to restore Ziyech to the starting eleven for the Chile game paid off. — Ed Dove

Taha Yassine Khenissi: Returned in style in March after more than two years out of the national team, scoring his first international goal against Comoros since July 2019. A former goalscorer in both Tunisia’s top flight com of the CAF Champions League, the 30-year-old Kuwait SC leader should still have something to offer in Qatar.

Dylan Bronn: Lost his head against Brazil in an admittedly stormy atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, and his red card in the 43rd minute for a foul on Neymar reduced the value of this game for both sides. Tunisia’s morale will also be affected by the 5-1 defeat, and Brazil also took their foot off the gas; Bronn’s lack of composure and focus almost cost them even more.

SENEGAL International friendly results: Bolivia 0-2 Senegal, Senegal 1-1 IR Iran

There was such a gulf between Brazil and Tunisia in Tuesday’s friendly that at times it felt like a practice match for the Selecao, who scored four goals in the first 40 minutes. On the one hand, Tunisia are unlikely to face a more rampant team at the World Cup, but how much will this upset affect their confidence? — Ed Dove

Boulaye Dia: He now appears in pole position to lead the line for Senegal at the World Cup after being picked by manager Aliou Cisse for both games during this window. It was Famara Diedhiou who started the Africa Cup of Nations final victory, but as the Turkey striker returns to full form, Dia was given the chance to impress. His goal against Bolivia, coupled with a diligent and proactive display of pressing against Iran, bodes well for his chances of starting against the Netherlands.

Ismaila Sarr: He could have scored several goals in Senegal’s encounter with Iran, but despite creative work from Sadio Mane and Krepin Diatta, the forward was guilty of several glaring misses as the Teranga Lions failed to get two two wins Sarr will still start in Qatar, and has the potential to make a huge impact, but this was an international break to forget for the Watford man.

AUSTRALIA International friendly results: Australia 1-0 New Zealand, New Zealand 0-2 Australia

It has been a successful week for Senegal, with Cisse making debuts, evaluating some of the fringe members of his squad and overseeing two clean sheets despite the absence of first-choice Edouard Mendy. Even Nampalys Mendy, without a minute of league action to his name at Leicester City this season, was influential against Bolivia and will form a strong midfield unit alongside Idrissa Gueye. — Ed Dove

Jason Cummings: The Scotland striker made his long-awaited and deserved debut for the national team as a second-half substitute in the Socceroos’ 2-0 win against New Zealand in Auckland. He then quickly showed why the masses had been clamoring for manager Graham Arnold to give him his chance by winning and scoring a penalty on 17 minutes. Cummings and fellow bowler Garang Kuol, the Central Coast Mariners, will only face a team that finished above them in the first six games of the men’s A-League season before the squad was named, giving attackers plenty of opportunities to make their case.

Thomas Deng: The Australia Under-23 captain put in a man-of-the-match performance in Auckland, providing a reminder of the talent that would have cost the 25-year-old far more than his two international caps otherwise . for a series of injury battles in recent years. Set to return to a month of action with promoted J2 League side Albirex Niigata before naming the squad, Deng will benefit not only from Arnold’s desire to foster a path from the Olyroos in the senior team during deliberations, but also of his ability. play both central and right back.

Trent Sainsbury: As a veteran leader who has started for the Socceroos at previous World Cups and been a sought-after contributor during qualification, Sainsbury will almost certainly be picked by Arnold for the World Cup. His performance against New Zealand in Brisbane, however, where he made a series of errors that on another day could easily have led to a Kiwi opener, would have done little to ease fears about the amount or level of competition which he has had since he signed. Al-Wakrah in Qatar. The 30-year-old is still a starter alongside Harry Souttar, if the latter can get fit come the Socceroos’ first game against France, but nothing is certain.

– Lynch: Who will fulfill Arnold’s vision?

IRAN International friendly results: IR Iran 1-0 Uruguay, Senegal 1-1 IR Iran

Two wins from two against New Zealand means the Socceroos head to Qatar on a five-match winning streak. However, as this same team that set a new world record for consecutive wins in qualifying, only to later suffer a skid that forced them through the playoffs, has shown, such runs can be deceptive. Three out of four halves against New Zealand, including two that featured the likely forms of Arnold’s starting XI against France on November 23, suggest all the weaknesses remain, particularly in possession where results fell . Arnold will make them believe going into the tournament and they will be suitable to play against teams with more desire on the counter, but it will be very, very difficult. — Joey Lynch

Ehsan Hajsafi: The only player to feature for the full 180 minutes against Uruguay and Senegal, Hajsafi looks set to once again play a pivotal role for Iran now that Carlos Queiroz is back in charge, after a fractured relationship with previous coach Dragan Skocic. . AEK Athens’ versatility will come in handy for Melli’s team, who was deployed in midfield against the Uruguayans before deputizing at left-back against the Senegalese.

Morteza Pouraliganji: After being one of Iran’s two first-choice centre-backs at the last World Cup, it looks increasingly likely that Pouraliganji will have to settle for a reserve role this year, especially after his own goal after substituting him. against Senegal. Hossein Kanaanizadegan and Majid Hosseini started at the heart of the defense in both games and did decent enough jobs, with Queiroz notoriously loathe to overplay once he’s settled on something that works.

SOUTH KOREA International friendly results: South Korea 2-2 Costa Rica, South Korea 1-0 Cameroon

A 1-0 win over a Uruguay side featuring Luis Suarez and Darwin Núñez will be a huge confidence boost, as will their 1-1 draw with a Sadio Mane-led Senegal. Iran have every reason to believe they can reach the knockout round of the World Cup for the first time this year. — Gabriel Tan

Hwang Hee-Chan: While Son Heung-Min stole the show with a stunning effort in a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, the fact that Hwang was also on the scoresheet would have delighted the South Korean coach , Paulo Bento. Hwang has faced a real battle to break into Wolves’ starting eleven and is yet to score for his club this season, so it was pertinent that he showed he hasn’t lost his goalscoring touch for the Taegeuk Warriors.

Lee Kang-In: Ballon d’Or winner at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Lee was heralded as the next big thing in South Korean football, with some even suggesting he had the potential to overcome Son. The fact that Lee is still plying his trade in LaLiga suggests he’s not doing too badly, but his failure to feature for a single minute against Costa Rica and Cameroon highlights just how far down the pecking order he remains Bento in midfield.

JAPAN International friendly results: Japan 2-0 United States, Japan 0-0 Ecuador

Getting two wins out of two tends to be a satisfying international window, especially considering both came against opponents who will also be participating in the World Cup. Tougher tests may lie ahead for South Korea in Qatar, but they are traveling well for now. — Gabriel Tan

Daichi Kamada: With Japan clamoring for a chief game director since Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa left the international scene, Kamada is slowly establishing himself as a genuine option. Already with four goals in just five starts for Eintracht Frankfurt in the new Bundesliga season, the 26-year-old continued his free-scoring form with the opener in a 2-0 win in the United States and it could become his position number 10. when the World Cup comes around.

Takumi Minamino: Speaking of heirs to Honda and Kagawa, the leading candidate a few years ago was Minamino after an impressive spell with FC Salzburg led to a dream move to Liverpool, which didn’t work out. Minamino remains a favorite of Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu but has underwhelmed since his summer move to AS Monaco, featuring for just 67 minutes in the Samurai Blue’s two games.

URUGUAY International friendly results: IR Iran 1-0 Uruguay, Canada 0-2 Uruguay

A 2-0 win over the United States, albeit with the Americans looking completely bewildered, has to be seen as a positive result, especially as the Japanese press seemed to work to good effect. The 0-0 draw with Ecuador that followed gave less to write home about, but back-to-back clean sheets bode well for a team that will face both Spain and Germany in Qatar. — Gabriel Tan

Nicolas De La Cruz: River Plate’s attacking midfielder made good on his chances with a wonderful free-kick that set Uruguay on the way to a comfortable win over Canada. De La Cruz has not had an easy year, with fitness issues and loss of form. But he seems to have found his game at the best possible time.

Ronald Araujo: Stopped in the first 20 seconds of last Friday’s game against Iran. The diagnosis: a thigh muscle problem that requires surgery and leaves him racing against time to be fit for the World Cup. It leaves Uruguay with a central crisis. Captain Diego Godin is also out, hoping to recover in time for Qatar. His usual defensive partner José María Giménez is injury-prone, and has been forced out of games this month along with the next in line, Sebastian Coates.

What are the 2022 World Cup dates?

The standard formation in recent years has been the 4-4-2, with Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani spearheading the attack. Now that they are getting older, it is unlikely that the pair will be used together. But even if they were firing on all cylinders, there is pressure in the ranks to try something else. What to do? Can a team with Suárez, Darwin Núñez and Cavani really play just one up front? Is side balance better that way? Or will they go with the tried and trusted attack of two? The day of decision is approaching for Alonso. — Tim Vickery

What countries are in the World Cup 2022?

Where is the FIFA World Cup 2022 schedule? FIFA World Cup 2022 will be organized from November 21, 2022 to December 18, 2022 in Qatar as FIFA World Cup 2022 Schedule is updated below.

• The 2022 World Cup will start with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four:
• Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands.
• Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales.
• Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.
• Group D:…
• Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan.

How many teams qualify for the World Cup?

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia.

How many countries will qualify for World Cup 2022 in a group?

From 2026, FIFA will expand the number of teams competing in World Cups from 32 to 48, so more nations that are struggling to qualify will now have a better chance.

What time is the men’s World Cup 2022?

Costa Rica’s 1-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday means the 32 teams to play in the 2022 World Cup have been confirmed.

When was World Cup start 2022?

The third-placed match will be played on 17 December 2022 at the Khalifa International Stadium, and the final will be played on 18 December 2022 at the iconic Lusail Stadium, both at 18:00.

What channel is FIFA World Cup 2022 on?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will begin on Sunday, November 20 when host country Qatar kicks off the tournament.

How many teams in World Cup 2022?

All 64 FIFA World Cup matches will be broadcast on FOX and FS1 for English-language coverage. Telemundo and Universo will also broadcast all the matches with commentary in Spanish. Most of the main matches of the tournament will be broadcast on FOX and Telemundo, including the World Cup final on December 18, 2022.

How many teams have qualified for the World Cup 2022?

The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification was the qualifying process that decided the 31 teams that would join hosts Qatar, who received an automatic place, in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. six FIFA confederations organized parallel tournaments.

How many countries are in the World Cup 2022?

All 32 teams have officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including the host nation.

Where is the World Cup scheduled to be played in 2022?

The 2022 World Cup will begin with 32 teams divided into eight groups of four: Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands. Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales. Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.

FIFA World Cup 2022: Costa Rica vs Qatar fixtures, schedule, match times, where to watch.

What channel is World Cup on UK?

Where will the 2022 World Cup start? The 2022 FIFA World Cup will begin on Sunday, November 20 when host country Qatar kicks off the tournament.

England and Wales’ opening group matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar will be shown live on the BBC.

How can I watch Qatar World Cup in UK?

What channel is the Qatar World Cup on? All 64 matches in Qatar will be shown live and free-to-air, with eight live matches shown simultaneously on SBSSSBSThe Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is a hybrid-funded Australian public service broadcaster. https://en.wikipedia.org ⺠wiki â º Service_de_difusión_especial Special broadcast service – Wikipedia VICELAND.

Where can I watch Qatar World Cup?

How to watch the World Cup in the UK: BBC and ITV. British football fans have a familiar duo of live broadcasters covering the 2022 FIFA World Cup: BBC and ITV. So, all the World Cup 2022 matches can be watched live without paying a single iota.

What channel is the Qatar World Cup on?

Stock Report: The market for Commanders is collapsing. TV Channel: The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast live on FOX Sports (FOX and FS1) in English, as well as Telemundo in Spanish. Live Streaming: You can stream FIFA World Cup 2022 live on Peacock, Fubo, SlingTV and Vidgo.

Where can you watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup?

All 64 matches in Qatar will be shown live and free-to-air, with eight matches live simulcast on SBS VICELAND.

Where can I watch World Cup 2022?

Where to watch the World Cup on television? The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast live on FOX and FS1 (in English) and Telemundo (in Spanish). All matches will also be broadcast live via a variety of legal streaming services, including fubofubo (stylized as fuboTV) is an American live television service serving customers in the United States, Canada and Spain which mainly focuses on channels that distribute live sports. ://en.wikipedia.org ⺠wiki ⺠FuboTVFuboTV – Wikipedia, Vidgo, Sling TV, Peacock TV and YouTube TV.

What TV channel is the World Cup on?

ICC T20 World Cup 2022 – Where to Watch Live Streaming These matches will be telecast on Star Sports Network, DD Sports, Disney Hotstar website and app.

What channel is World Cup on?

As with the 2018 World Cup, Fox Sports has exclusive English-language rights to show all games from the 2022 World Cup. These games will be split between Fox and FS1, with 35 games on Fox and 29 on FS1.

How to watch FIFA World Cup matches?

In the United States, Fox Sports (Fox and FS1) will broadcast the World Cup live. So if you use YouTube TV or any other live TV streaming service that can access these channels, you can watch these games as they happen.

How can I watch World Cup 2022?

The FIFA World Cup will be telecast live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD in India. Where can I live stream Spain’s 2022 FIFA World Cup matches? FIFA World Cup 2022 will be broadcast live on VOOT Select and JioTV.

• How to stream World Cup 2022 for free
• Hulu With Live TV: Fox on air; FS1 available as part of single plan.
• YouTube TV: Fox on air; FS1 available as part of single plan.
• Sling TV: Fox on air; FS1 is available on the Sling Blue plan.

Which country is the first to win World Cup?

DirecTV Stream: Fox on the air; FS1 available on all plans.

In the first World Cup final, held on July 30, 1930, 93,000 spectators watched Uruguay defeat Argentina 4-2 in a rematch of the 1928 Olympic gold medal game.

Which country won the most World Cups?

Which country was the first to win the World Cup twice? 1930 to 1978 The first of two countries to win back-to-back World Cups, Italy achieved the feat with a 4-2 win over Hungary. The then Italian manager, Vittorio Pozzo, remains the only manager to have won multiple World Cups.

Which country has won most World Cups?

With five titles, Brazil is the most successful World Cup team and also the only nation to have participated in every World Cup finals tournament. Italy and Germany have four titles. Current champions France, along with former champions Uruguay and Argentina, have two titles each, while England and Spain have one each.

How many countries have won a World Cup?

Brazil’s men’s national soccer team has the most FIFA World Cup wins. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. They are also the only team to have competed in all 21 editions.

Who will host the 2023 World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is football’s most coveted title, with only eight countries winning the trophy in 20 tournaments. The tournament’s history has seen the title reach only two continents so far, with five European countries and three South American countries winning. Brazil is the country that wins the most matches in the world (five).

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will be the 13th edition of the Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be held in India during October and November 2023. This will be the first time that the competition is held entirely in India.

Who is hosting 2027 World Cup?

Who will host the 2023 Men’s World Cup in 2023? The 2023 World Test Championship final will be hosted by The Oval in June 2023, while the 2025 final will be played at Lord’s. The two London venues will succeed Southampton, which hosted the inaugural final between New Zealand and India in 2021.

Which country will host World Cup 2030?

The ICC Board has approved Bangladesh, India, England and Sri Lanka as the four host countries for the ICC Women’s white-ball events from 2024 to 2027. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 it will be hosted by Bangladesh for the second time, and the 2026 edition will go to England for the first time since 2009.

Who is hosting World Cup 2034?

The two countries signed an agreement in 2020 to go ahead with a joint bid to host the tournament and made it official in June. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said on Monday he was confident Spain and Portugal would host the 2030 World Cup.

Which stadiums will host 2023 World Cup?

Zimbabwe. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi has said Zimbabwe will bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

• ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 Stadiums
• Wankhede Stadium – Mumbai.
• MA Chidambaram Stadium – Chennai.
• Chinnaswamy Stadium – Bangalore.
• Narendra Modi Stadium – Ahmedabad.
• Eden Gardens – Kolkata.
• Arun Jaitley Stadium – Delhi.
• Rajiv Gandhi Stadium – Hyderabad.

Who will host 2023 cricket?

Punjab Cricket Stadium – Mohali.	Means of qualification	date
place	host nation	â
India	2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League	July 30, 2020 – May 31, 2023
Various	Qualifying for Cricket World Cup 2023	June 18 to July 9, 2023
Zimbabwe

Who are the teams qualified for World Cup 2022?

total

The 32 countries qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup are Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Uruguay, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, United States, Senegal, Wales, Poland, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Switzerland, Ghana, Republic of Korea, Cameroon, Serbia, Canada, Costa…

How many teams will qualify from each group in Europe?

How many play off teams qualify for the World Cup? The UEFA second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament, also known as the UEFA play-offs, was contested by twelve teams from the UEFA qualification segment.

How many teams qualify for world in each group?

Group stage The teams were divided into ten groups of five or six (the four teams that reached the 2021 UEFA Nations League final – Belgium, France, Italy and Spain – were in the smaller groups). The ten group winners qualified for the World Cup.

How many teams qualify for World Cup 2022 from each continent?

The 16 teams that finished top two from each group will be placed in a bracket, with the group winners facing the runners-up in the Round of 16.

How many teams from each country qualify for the World Cup?

In total, 13 teams from Europe qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022. On the other hand, six teams from Asia, five from Africa, four from North America and South America made it at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

How many teams will qualify for World Cup 2022 from each continent?

After all teams play home and away, the top four teams qualify for the World Cup. The fifth-placed team moves on to an Intercontinental Playoff with a team from the AFC or Asian Football Confederation.

How many teams qualify for World Cup per continent?

In addition to the host country, Qatar, there have been 13 nations from Europe to qualify for the tournament, four from South America, four from Asia, five from Africa, four from North America and Australia, which is a member of the Asian confederation.

How many teams qualify for World Cup per continent?

AFC (Asia) has an allocation of four or five teams* competing in the World Cup finals. CAF (Africa) has five teams allocated, and CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) has three or four. CONEMBOL (South America) has four or five teams competing.

How many teams qualify for World Cup from each groups?

AFC (Asia) has an allocation of four or five teams* competing in the World Cup finals. CAF (Africa) has five teams allocated, and CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) has three or four. CONEMBOL (South America) has four or five teams competing.

How many teams will qualify for World Cup 2022 from each continent?

Since France 1998, the World Cup has been an eight-group, 32-team competition with a knockout group after the group stage. The 2022 World Cup will continue this format, but with the 2026 tournament expanding to 48 teams, Qatar may be the last to follow what has become a familiar roadmap.