Tag: World Cup 2022

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers

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Randal Kolo Muani of France is passing dejected the world cup trophy after receiving the silver medal during the World Cup match between Argentina v...

France forward Randal Kolo Muani will undoubtedly be thinking about his stoppage-time miss against Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup Final, but the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman – a late-notice injury replacement – shone on the world stage and spoke of his pride at a tournament he didn’t expect to be at. Elsewhere, Morocco duo Sofiane Boufal and Azzedine Ounahi have attracted interest from a host of European clubs: both are now anticipating January transfers. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers” →

Match coverage

Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens): Montiel ends frenzied final in shootout after Mbappe hat-trick

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Lionel Messi of Argentina and team celebrate after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium...

Argentina found themselves just 10 minutes from glory. Kylian Mbappe scored twice in 97 seconds to equalise. Lionel Messi made it 3-2 in extra-time, yet his club teammate completed his hat-trick from the spot during a frantic finish. Into a penalty shootout they went and Sevilla fullback Gonzalo Montiel had the final say: sending Hugo Lloris the wrong way, finishing a remarkable World Cup Final with a dramatic win over the defending champions last night. Continue reading “Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 on pens): Montiel ends frenzied final in shootout after Mbappe hat-trick” →

Analysis, feature pieces

World Cup 2022: Portugal’s Fernando Santos is ninth manager to part ways post-tournament

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Head coach Fernando Santos of Portugal gestures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama...

After Morocco stunned them in the World Cup quarter-finals, the Portuguese federation (FPF) yesterday announced their decision to part ways with head coach Fernando Santos, whose deal ran until 2024. The 68-year-old, who guided them to their first-ever senior international title back at Euro 2016, also led A Seleção to the UEFA Nations League title three years later. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Portugal’s Fernando Santos is ninth manager to part ways post-tournament” →

Match coverage

WC 2022 – France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez, Kolo Muani sink historic Africans, into Sunday’s final

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Randal Kolo Muani of France celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with teammates during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 semi final match...

Theo Hernandez’s early strike and a first international goal for second-half substitute Randal Kolo Muani ensure reigning champions France are back in the World Cup final, where they’ll play Lionel Messi and Argentina on Sunday afternoon. Morocco fought valiantly, but Les Bleus can now become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their crown as world champions.
Continue reading “WC 2022 – France 2-0 Morocco: Hernandez, Kolo Muani sink historic Africans, into Sunday’s final” →

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Messi’s masterful display, Alvarez brace propels Argentina into Sunday’s final

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Josko GVARDIOL of Croatia and Lionel MESSI of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Semi Final match between Argentina and Croatia at...

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates will play defending champions France or African record-breakers Morocco on Sunday afternoon in the World Cup Final after ultimately easing to a 3-0 win over Croatia in the tournament’s first semi-final. Turns out, Nicolas Tagliafico’s pre-match comments on the PSG man’s presence aged well here. Will they again this weekend?
Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Messi’s masterful display, Alvarez brace propels Argentina into Sunday’s final” →

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Nicolas Tagliafico praises Messi’s presence before tonight’s semi-final against Croatia

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Lionel Messi of Argentina during the Argentina Training Session at on December 12, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Ahead of tonight’s World Cup semi-final against Croatia, Lyon left-back Nicolas Tagliafico praised Lionel Messi’s presence as one that will give their Argentina side a special advantage as they prepare to face the tournament’s runners-up from Russia 2018. Who will outlast the other? Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Nicolas Tagliafico praises Messi’s presence before tonight’s semi-final against Croatia” →

Match coverage

France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out

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Olivier Giroud of France celebrates scoring the winning goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between England and France at...

For all the talk of focusing on defending against the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe, it was France’s all-time top goalscorer Olivier Giroud – who spent nine years playing in England’s top-tier – delivering the final blow as Gareth Southgate’s men showed spirit but ultimately crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage with a jarring 2-1 defeat by the defending champions. Continue reading “France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out” →

Match coverage

France 3-1 Poland: Giroud breaks all-time record, Mbappe’s second-half brace puts Poles to the sword

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France's forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal with France's forward Olivier Giroud during the Qatar 2022 World Cup round...

Olivier Giroud surpassed Thierry Henry to top the all-time goalscoring charts for France, scoring against a former teammate in goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny no less, before Kylian Mbappe’s second-half brace ended Poland’s fading hopes of a late comeback. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski scored a retaken penalty late, on what could be his last World Cup appearance. Continue reading “France 3-1 Poland: Giroud breaks all-time record, Mbappe’s second-half brace puts Poles to the sword” →

Analysis, feature pieces, Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Croatia draw sees Belgium crash out and Martinez depart, they must now rebuild

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Croatia's players and teammembers celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Croatia and Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 1, 2022. (Photo by Chandan KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

As good as Croatia were for sustained periods, Belgium had ample opportunity to punish Zlatko Dalic’s side. Instead, they again rued missed goalscoring chances and a startling lack of urgency at times, with their goalless draw on MD3 meaning the golden generation have failed to qualify from the World Cup group stages. Roberto Martinez’s contract expired at the tournament’s end and well, the inquest into their latest underachievement must be thorough. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Croatia draw sees Belgium crash out and Martinez depart, they must now rebuild” →

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Belgium boss Martinez rubbishes negative news before crunch clash vs. Croatia

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DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: Roberto Martinez, Head Coach of Belgium, speaks during the Belgium Press Conference at the Main Media Center on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

Having laboured to a lacklustre 1-0 win over Canada, then being stunned 2-0 by Morocco on MD2, Roberto Martinez’s Belgium enter today’s group stage encounter with Croatia – the World Cup runners-up four years ago – aware tournament progression remains in their hands. As speculation about dwindling team dynamics and squad division persists, the 49-year-old Spaniard insists critics should enjoy what’s left of this golden generation, not inventing stories. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Belgium boss Martinez rubbishes negative news before crunch clash vs. Croatia” →

Match coverage

World Cup 2022 – England 0-0 USA: Berhalter’s boys expose Three Lions in anti-climactic stalemate

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AL KHOR, QATAR - NOVEMBER 25: Mason Mount of England and Tyler Adams of USA and Jude Bellingham of England during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and USA at Al Bayt Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)

Gareth Southgate insisted afterwards that he’s not unhappy and expected a tight game given the strength of their American opponents. His players were frustrated post-match, but can only blame themselves for a ponderous and unsettling display as they – like the Netherlands three hours earlier – failed to secure the World Cup’s first last-16 berth with a group game to spare.
Continue reading “World Cup 2022 – England 0-0 USA: Berhalter’s boys expose Three Lions in anti-climactic stalemate” →

Match coverage

France 4-1 Australia: World champions rally from early scare to earn big win in World Cup opener

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Adrien RABIOT and Olivier GIROUD of France during the FIFA World Cup 2022, Group D match between France and Australia on November 22, 2022 in Al...]

Four of the last five World Cup winners have gone on to crash out in the group stages at the subsequent tournament, a statistic beginning with France themselves back in 2002. For a 20-minute spell in their Group D opener against Australia, you could be forgiven for thinking history would repeat itself. Now though, they’ll be expecting to build on a display highlighting some strengths while lluminating weaknesses with tougher challenges in the days to come.
Continue reading “France 4-1 Australia: World champions rally from early scare to earn big win in World Cup opener” →