World Cup 2022 updates: Protester with rainbow flag invades pitch
All the updates from November 28, as they happened.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Monday, November 28.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Monday, November 28.
- It is day nine of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
- A man ran onto the pitch during the Portugal vs Uruguay game with a rainbow flag.
- Brazil won against Switzerland 1-0 thanks to a thunderous strike from Casemiro.
- Ghana held off South Korea for a nerve-racking 3-2 win.
- Cameroon fought back to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Serbia.
- New to football? Check out our explainers on the basics of the beautiful game here and this year’s tournament here.
Football: World Cup leading scorers
World Cup leading scorers after Monday’s matches:
Three goals: Kylian Mbappe (France), Enner Valencia (Ecuador)
Two goals: Bruno Fernandes (Portugal), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Alvaro Morata (Spain), Mehdi Taremi (Iran), Cho Gue-sung (South Korea), Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Olivier Giroud (France), Andrej Kramaric (Croatia), Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Richarlison (Brazil), Bukayo Saka (England), Ferran Torres (Spain)
On a day when two African teams lit up the World Cup with their performance on the pitch, ecstatic fans are out partying at the FIFA Fan Festival in Doha. Keeping with the theme of the day, the lineup of musicians is African as well.
Ghana pulled out all the stops to beat South Korea in the thriller, and their fans are still shaking from the experience.
Ekaw and Simone have flown in from the United States to support their team and they said the atmosphere inside the stadium was “everything a World Cup game should be”.
“We cheered, we danced, we cried, we held our breath, and then, at full-time, we let it all go. I am still shaking from the experience.”
School’s out, football’s in
It is past 11:00pm in Qatar (20:00 GMT), but not late enough for children to miss out on some football.
Children of all ages are out for a late-night party at the FIFA Fan Festival. From newborns wrapped in multiple layers to teenagers flexing dance moves to the music, it is clear that there is no curfew while the World Cup is on.
Schools in Qatar have been shut since the beginning of the tournament to help ease the management of the tournament. It has given the opportunity for the little ones to be part of the festivities without having to worry about an early morning start.
Yousuf, a four-year-old Brazil fan is delighted that his favourite team is in the next round and that he was able to watch the match with other Brazil fans.
“I went to their first game but couldn’t go today, so my dad brought me here,” he said.
“Now, I want to come here every day.”
Portugal double their lead
Bruno Fernandes scores his second goal from the penalty spot after the referee judged Uruguay’s Jose Maria Gimenez to have handled the ball.
Read more updates here.
Man with rainbow flag invades pitch
A man with a rainbow flag invaded the pitch during the Portugal vs Uruguay match at Lusail Stadium.
The man was briefly on the field during the second half of the game before being escorted off by security.
Photos published on social media show that the front of the man’s shirt read, “Save Ukraine,” and the back read, “Respect for Iranian Women.”
A pitch invader in the Portugal vs Uruguay #FIFAWorldCupQatar2022 match in a Spiderman T-shirt reading "Save Ukraine" and a rainbow flag. #FIFAWorldCuplive | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/68QCvRt6ON
— Sober Seth (@SethObiero) November 28, 2022
Bruno Fernandes scores against Uruguay
Portugal’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes delivers a great cross in the direction of Cristiano Ronaldo, who barely gets a touch as the ball found the back of Uruguay’s Sergio Rochet’s net.
Follow here for more updates.
Portugal dominate, Uruguay miss golden chance in goalless first half
Portugal dominated with close to 70 percent possession against Uruguay in the first half of their World Cup Group H match, but it was the South Americans who came closest to scoring in the encounter that remained goalless at half-time.
Rodrigo Bentancur charged through but saw his 32nd-minute shot blocked by keeper Diogo Costa.
Read our live updates of the match here.
FIFA charges Serbian Football Federation for offensive flag
The Football Federation of Serbia has been charged by FIFA for hanging a political banner about neighbouring independent state Kosovo in the changing room before playing Brazil at the World Cup.
It showed a map of Serbia that included the territory of its former province, which has been an independent state for nearly 15 years, and the slogan “No Surrender”.
Photos circulated of the banner draped over the lockers of Milos Veljkovic and Andrija Zivkovic ahead of the team’s 2-0 loss to Brazil on Thursday in Qatar.
The Football Federation of Kosovo has formally complained to FIFA.
FIFA cited a section of its disciplinary code that covers misconduct including “offensive gestures, signs or language” and “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature”.
Kounde and Veretout praise Griezmann for helping France reach last of 16
Jules Kounde and Jordan Veretout praise teammate Antoine Griezmann for helping France reach the World Cup’s round of 16 in his new midfield role rather than his usual forward position.
Head coach Didier Deschamps moved Griezmann to the new position to compensate for the absence of injured midfielders N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
“A bit surprised because that is not a role he usually plays, but he did it very well,” Kounde said at France’s training ground.
“Antoine is a great player, he is very smart and he’s already showed his ability to defend with Atletico Madrid,” said Veretout of Griezmann, who provided the assist for Kylian Mbappe’s second goal in France’s 2-1 win against Denmark.
France qualified for the knockout stages with one game to spare, giving Deschamps the chance to rotate the squad for Wednesday’s final Group D match against Tunisia.
Fans celebrate as Brazil qualifies for round of 16
Ecstatic over their team’s victory against Switzerland this evening, Brazil fans celebrate outside Stadium 974.
Brazil have qualified for the round of 16, with still a game to play in the group stage of the tournament against Cameroon.
England striker Kane cleared to play against Wales
Harry Kane will be available to start for England in the team’s final World Cup group game against Wales on Tuesday.
The striker took a hit on his ankle in England’s opening game against Iran and looked off the pace in the 0-0 draw with the United States on Friday.
England coach Gareth Southgate said the injury had caused issues with Kane’s foot, but on Monday said the player would be available against Wales.
“With Harry, obviously we are going to pick a team we believe can win the game,” Southgate said. “That is our priority as always.
“He is fine in terms of the knock he had. He’s trained well.”
England only needs a draw against Wales to guarantee advancement from Group B.
Pepe becomes second-oldest World Cup outfield player
Centre-back Pepe becomes the second-oldest outfield player in World Cup history after he was picked to start for Portugal against Uruguay on Monday.
The 39-year-old comes in place of injured Danilo Pereira, as one of three changes made by Portugal coach Fernando Santos.
Cameroon’s Roger Milla remains the oldest outfield player to participate in a World Cup, competing at USA 1994 when he was aged 42.
Brazil edge gritty Switzerland to secure spot in the last 16
A superb finish by Carlos Henrique Casemiro was enough to give Brazil the victory over Switzerland and help it qualify for the knock-out stages of the football World Cup in Qatar.
The defensive midfielder broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute with an audacious strike from the outside of his boot, which took the tiniest of deflections off a defender’s backside.
The result on Monday at Stadium 974 means Brazil, five-time World champions, qualify comfortably for the round of 16, with still a game to play in the group stage of the tournament against Cameroon.
Read more here.
Photos: Ghana fans celebrate 3-2 win over South Korea
Ghanaian fans have been in full celebration mode after a thrilling 3-2 win over South Korea in Group H of the World Cup.
The deafening sound of vuvuzelas and djembe drums mixed with blaring horns across Education City Stadium in Qatar on Monday.
Some fans danced, and others took selfies and pictures with anyone who asked for them, including many of the volunteers and security personnel in the stadium who seemed thrilled by the boisterous mood in the aftermath of the game.
See more photos here.
Maria, a volunteer team leader at Stadium 974, came to Qatar from Russia four months ago. She’s not happy that Russia were kicked out of the qualifiers for World Cup 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine.
“I believe sport should stay separate from everything else out there,” she said. “It’s a uniting factor, something that brings the world together. And that’s what the world needs right now. Football can certainly help. And our players are missing out through no fault of their own.”
Brazil take 1-0 lead against Switzerland
Casemiro puts Brazil in front in the 83rd minute with an audacious strike from the outside of the boot. The defensive midfielder shows his more attacking teammates how it’s done.
Follow live updates here.
Japan coach urges team not to ride World Cup ‘roller-coaster’
With Japan swinging from high to low at the World Cup, coach Hajime Moriyasu warns his players not to “ride the roller-coaster” of emotions as they prepare to face Spain on Thursday.
The Blue Samurais’ shock loss to Costa Rica followed on the heels of their comeback win against Germany, leaving them needing another upset to advance to the last 16.
Although Japan can also qualify with a draw against Spain, depending on other results, a win would guarantee their progress.
“We don’t want to get either too up or too down,” Moriyasu said. “My approach doesn’t change. Of course, when we win, I’m happy, and when we have a defeat like yesterday, I’m frustrated. But we don’t want to be up and down like we’re riding a roller-coaster.”
Vinicius Jr has a goal disallowed
Vinicius Jr looked like he had put Brazil in front with a neat finish, but his strike is ruled out for an offside in the build-up. As you were then.
Follow for more live updates here.
Marieen and Jeanne are rooting for Brazil even though they are not football fans. They are just two of the hundreds of volunteers stationed at the 974 Stadium tonight.
“I’m doing this to give back to Qatar. It gave me work and security. Working here helped me out financially,” said Jeanne who is watching a football match at a stadium for the first time.
For Marieen, who has been in the country just three months, volunteering is “meeting people and stepping out of my comfort zone”.
“I’ve heard a lot about Brazil and how great they are at football. So I’m very lucky to have watched them play,” said Marieen.
Rocco is overjoyed to be able to watch Brazil, his second favourite team, play live for the first time. His favourite players are Vinicius Jr and Silva, who are both in action against Switzerland.
“It’s great. It’s my first time watching them live. My favourite team is Scotland because I’m from there, but to be able to watch these guys in action is just amazing,” the 11-year-old said.
For him, the half-time whistle came all too early.
Wales must give everything they have to beat England: Bale
After being “devastated and heartbroken” over their defeat by Iran, Wales forward Gareth Bale said his team needs to give everything they have to beat England on Tuesday.
Live Blog Updates
To qualify for the last 16, Wales must beat England and hope the US and Iran draw. If there is a winner in the other Group B match, Wales will need to beat England by four goals to proceed.
“At this current moment, we’re not in the greatest of positions, we’ve not had an amazing tournament,” Bale said. “The main thing is that we’ve stuck together as a group like we’ve always done, and we will fight again. We’ll give everything.”
Van Gaal insists Netherlands will improve
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal insisted his team would improve on a lacklustre performance against Ecuador, as he spoke to the media ahead of his side’s final FIFA World Cup group stage match against hosts Qatar on Tuesday.
Van Gaal praised forward Cody Gakpo, who has scored twice at the tournament so far, once in a 2-0 win against Senegal, and another in the 1-1 draw with Ecuador.
“I had more or less expected that he would evolve this way, but I believe that he’s going to evolve even further. Much further,” said the 71-year-old coach.
The Dutchman’s side are taking on already-eliminated Qatar, who suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two games, the earliest exit from a host nation in the 92-year history of the tournament.
A point separates the top three in Group A, with the Netherlands (1st) and Ecuador (2nd) on four points and Senegal (3rd) on three.
Brazil vs Switzerland is about to kick off
Follow our live updates as Brazil plays Switzerland at 16:00 GMT.
South Korean fans ‘very sad’ over close loss
Joon Hee, 25, from the western city of Goyang, South Korea, calls his national team’s loss to Ghana “heartbreaking.”
“We are very sad, … but all we can do is hope for a win in the next game. … I think it will be hard against Portugal, … but you know, last time in 2018, we defeated Germany, so anything can happen.”
Ghana’s supporters were in a different mood. Just check out the video below.
Five African coaches for five African teams. How relevant is this?
For the first time all five African teams playing at the World Cup are being led by African coaches. How significant is this for fans and players?
Join a discussion on AJE Twitter spaces at 17:00 GMT.
For the first time, all 5 African teams are being led by African coaches at #FIFAWorldCup.
How significant is this for fans and players?
Join #AJESpaces discussion with @MezahiMaher, @_SeanJacobs and @AJEPodcasts' @hallamohieddeen & @amalhotra2 👇https://t.co/bIPl9KQzi2
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 28, 2022