Page 8 - Fifa World Cup

Brazil waits for Neymar's return ahead of World Cup match against S Korea

Whether Neymar is in the lineup, on the bench or resting for a third consecutive game will depend on how he performs in Brazil's last training session ahead of the team's match against South Korea on Monday in the round of 16 at the World Cup. The Brazil forward missed two group matches after injuring his right ankle in the team's opening win over Serbia. He was back training with teammates on Saturday, but it remains unclear whether he's fit enough to play against South Korea. He will train this afternoon, and if he trains well, he will play, Brazil coach Tite said ahead of the team's practice session on Sunday. Tite said he planned to use Neymar from the opening whistle instead of as a substitute if he's healthy enough to play. I prefer to use my best player from the start, Tite said. It's the coach who has to make that decision and take on that responsibility. Brazil struggled without the playmaker but still won its group despite a loss to Cameroon in the last match. Obviously

Fifa World Cup: Four things to look out for on Sunday in Qatar 2022

The second day of matches in the last-16 sees England play Senegal while France play Poland. Here are some things to look out for on Sunday in Qatar

Fifa World Cup: Korea resting, Brazil closed doors ahead of knockout meet

South Korea and Brazil, the knockout round opponents at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup, are keeping a low profile, two days before their showdown in Qatar

Messi scores, Argentina beats Australia 2-1 at Fifa World Cup 2022

Lionel Messi marked his 1,000th professional game with his first goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup, leading Argentina into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over Australia on Saturday. With a flourish of his famous left foot in the 34th minute, Messi put Argentina ahead with his third goal at this year's tournament and ninth in total at the World Cup one more than Diego Maradona. Julian Alvarez pounced on a heavy touch by Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to tap into an empty net for the second goal as Argentina set up a meeting with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Australia scored a 77th-minute consolation goal when Craig Goodwin's shot deflected into the net off Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez. For Australia's squad of unheralded players, it was a match too far at a World Cup in which the team has exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage for only the second time. Australia also lost in the last 16 in 2006, to eventual champion Italy. Maybe it's an om

Fifa World Cup: Aboubakar helps Cameroon beat Brazil; Swiss reach last 16

Fifa World Cup Highlights: It's first time since 1994 that no team will enter Round of 16 without having dropped a point. Cameroon made it happen as they beat Brazil 1-0. Switzerland beat Serbia 3-2

Fifa World Cup: Korea through to last 16; Uruguay go out even after winning

Fifa World Cup 2022 Highlights: South Korea would be the biggest story of the night as they repeated the feat of their neighbours Japan after they beat Portugal 2-1, coming from 0-1 down. Uruguay out

World Cup Group stage: A celebration of heart, grit, and the beautiful game

As football's quadrennial carnival heads into the Super-16 stage, all but 4 slots have been filled. The final four matches in Groups G and H will determine the last entrants into the knockout stage

Fifa World Cup: Giant killers Japan scalp Spain, Germany out in group stage

Fifa World Cup 2022 Highlights: Japan stunned Spain 2-1 as they once again came back from 0-1 down in the first half. Germany, even after beating Costa Rica 4-2, would have to bow out at group stage

Fifa World Cup 2022: Belgium crash out; Morocco, Croatia march to last 16

Fifa World Cup 2022 Highlights: Belgium, full of club football stars failed to translate that energy at the national level and crashed out of the World Cup in group stage after 0-0 draw with Croatia

Fifa World Cup: Why are players wearing Batman-style facemasks in Qatar?

Fifa World Cup masked men: Who are these players wearing stylish black masks and why are they wearing the masks? Find out here

Messi and Argentina advance at Fifa World Cup 2022, beat Poland 2-0

Rest easy, soccer fans. Lionel Messi will grace the World Cup stage at least one more time. The Argentina great had a penalty saved but his team still beat Poland 2-0 Wednesday after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez and advanced to the last 16. Argentina finished in first place in Group C to set up a match against Australia, a surprise qualifier for the knockout stage. It's a strong position for Argentina to be in, especially considering the team opened the World Cup with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in one of biggest upsets in the tournament's history. Messi's likely final World Cup rolls onto Saturday. He will be relieved after failing to score a penalty for the second straight World Cup. It was awarded after being hit in the face by the flailing hand of Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made amends by diving to his left to block Messi's kick. Mac Allister converted a cross from Nahuel Molina inside the first minute of the second half a

Leckie takes Australia into knockouts, eliminates Denmark and Tunisia

A second half goal from Mathew Leckie helped Australia pull off a shocking 1-0 win over Denmark and its entry to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years

Fifa World Cup: Australia beat Denmark reach Round of 16, Tunisia shock FRA

Fifa World Cup 2022 Highlights: Historic day for Australia as they qualified for the Round of 16 for only the second time in their World Cup history. They beat Denmark 1-0. Tunisia shocked France 1-0

Fifa World Cup Day 10: England win 3-0, USA squeeze IRN to head to last 16

Fifa World Cup Qatar, Group B Highlights: The USA held on to their1-0 lead against Iran that came courtesy of Christian Pulisic in the 38th minute while Rashford's brace sailed England past Wales 3-0

Fifa World Cup: Koulibaly sends Senegal to Round of 16, Dutch through too

Fifa World Cup 2022 Qatar, Live Updates: In the last round of group games, to make sure that no team has an undue advantage over the other, all matches of one group are played at the same time

Worker deaths for Fifa world cup between 400 and 500: Qatar official

During an interview with a British journalist, a top official of Qatar involved in the courtry's World Cup organization has put the number of worker deaths for the tournament between 400 and 500

Fifa 2022: Iran-US World Cup clashes remain rife with political tension

The last World Cup clash between the United States and Iran 24 years ago is considered one of the most politically charged matches in soccer history. This time, the political overtones are just as strong and relations perhaps even more fraught as the U.S. and Iran face off once again on Tuesday in Qatar. Iran's nationwide protests, its expanding nuclear program and regional and international attacks linked back to Tehran have pushed the match beyond the stadium and into geopolitics. No matter the outcome, tensions are likely only to worsen in the coming months. When relations soured between the U.S. and Iran depends on who you ask. Iranians point to the 1953 CIA-backed coup that cemented Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's power. Americans remember the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and 444-day hostage crisis during the Iranian Revolution. In soccer, however, the timeline is much simpler as this will be only the second time Iran and the U.S. have played each other in the World Cup. The last

Switzerland's loss sets up enticing rematch with Serbia at World Cup

Switzerland's loss made its upcoming World Cup rematch all the more enticing, and with a lot more on the line. Ever since the match schedule was made in April, the Group G game between Switzerland and Serbia has been one to keep an eye on. Not just because of the talented players on both teams, but because of the political tensions they brought on the field when they met at the last World Cup. Four years ago in Russia, Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka celebrated his goal against Serbia by making a double-headed eagle with his hands thumbs representing the heads of the two eagles, fingers fanned to look like feathers. The figure is considered to be an Albanian nationalist symbol. Xherdan Shaqiri added another goal in the final minute of the game, and did the same thing with his hands as the Swiss won 2-1 in the second of the three group matches. Xhaka and Shaqiri both have ethnic Albanian heritage and family ties to Kosovo. They were teenagers growing up in Switzerland when Kosovo

FIFA World Cup 2022: Substitute Vincent Aboubakar saves Cameroon in 3-3 tie

Substitute Vincent Aboubakar scored one goal and created another as Cameroon rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Serbia at the World Cup on Monday. He lobbed goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the 64th minute and then set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting two minutes later. The thrilling draw was the first game at the World Cup in Qatar in which both teams gave up a lead. But the result suited neither side. They each have one point after two Group G matches and either Brazil or Switzerland can qualify with a win when they meet later Monday. Cameroon led through central defender Jean-Charles Castelletto's 29th minute tap-in but also conceded twice in quick succession. Strahinja Pavlovic scored the equalizer on a header in the first minute of first-half stoppage time and, two minutes later, midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic struck from 20 meters. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic made it 3-1 in the 53rd at Al Janoub Stadium. Cameroon coach Rigobert Song dropped goalkeeper Andre

Kudus scores 2, Ghana beats South Korea 3-2 at FIFA World Cup 2022

Mohammed Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead goal after South Korea evened the match in the second half, and Ghana staved off elimination at the World Cup with a 3-2 victory on Monday. Mohammed Salisu also scored for the Black Stars, who lost their opening match against Portugal and were in need of points for a chance to reach the knockout round in Qatar. Down 2-0, Cho Geu-sung scored both of South Korea's goals about three minutes apart early in the second half to even the game at 2-2. But Kudus' low left-footed goal in the 68th minute sailed out of the reach of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to give the Black Stars back the lead. Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi preserved the victory with a leaping save off Cho's attempt in stoppage time. South Korea forward Son Heung-min remained without a goal in Qatar. The Tottenham forward wore a mask to protect a broken left eye socket he sustained in a Champions League game against Marseille earlier this month. South Korea coach Paulo Bento w