World Cup 2022 updates: England, France to face off in last 8
England and France ease through last-16 games to set up quarter final clash.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Sunday, December 4.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Sunday, December 4.
- Welcome to day 15 of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar and the second day of the Round of 16 knockout matches.
- France beat Poland 3-1, and England thrashed Senegal 3-0.
- The first day of knockouts saw the Netherlands handily defeat the USA 3-1, and Argentina beat Australia 2-1.
- See who is playing, where and when, here.
GOAL! England 3-0 Senegal
Saka makes it three. Follow live updates on the game here.
Lewandowski won’t say if he’s played his last game for Poland
Poland captain Robert Lewandowski has declined to confirm if he had played his last ever game at the World Cup after his team was knocked out of the tournament in Qatar in a 3-1 defeat by France.
Barcelona striker Lewandowski scored a late consolation from the penalty spot for a Poland side who were outclassed by the fearsome French attack in Doha.
He will be almost 38 by the time the next World Cup comes around in North America in 2026, but he suggested that issues beyond his physical condition were more likely to see him end his international career.
“Physically, I’m not afraid of this, but we have so many different things outside of football, whether your happiness is still there and what’s going on around. So, it’s tough to say now,” admitted the former Bayern Munich striker.
GOAL! England 2-0 Senegal
Harry Kane doubles England’s lead. Follow live updates on the match here.
GOAL! England 1-0 Senegal
Midfielder Jordan Henderson has scored to give England the lead against Senegal in their World Cup last 16 clash.
Follow live updates about the match here.
Al Thumama Stadium reflects Qatari identity and heritage
Al Thumama Stadium’s dynamic design celebrates local culture and traditions.
It is the only World Cup 2022 stadium designed by a local architect. Its bold, circular form reflects the gahfiya, the traditional woven cap worn by men and boys all across the Arab world.
Al Jazeera’s Farrah Esmail reports from Al Thumama stadium in Doha.
Fans hold vigil outside hospital where Pele is being treated
Fans of football superstar Pele have congregated outside the Sao Paulo hospital where the 82-year-old Brazilian football legend is being treated for a respiratory infection.
Devotees prayed for the recovery of the man widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time.
The three-time world champion was hospitalised on Tuesday as he also undergoes treatment for colon cancer, a condition first diagnosed in September 2021.
“We are a spiritual force” praying for Pele as he wages “one of the toughest battles of his life”, one fan, Marcos Bispo dos Santos, told the AFP news agency.
Doctors at Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital said Saturday that Pele’s condition remained “stable”.
Photos: Giroud and Mbappe star as France beat Poland
France dominated the game, which saw Giroud become France’s highest scorer with 52 goals.
See more photos here.
England’s Saka back for game against Senegal
England manager Gareth Southgate has recalled Bukayo Saka to his team’s forward line in place of their Qatar top scorer Marcus Rashford for the World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal on Sunday.
Saka – who started England’s first two Group B games and scored twice in the opener against Iran – was preferred to Rashford, who has netted three times so far at the tournament.
Forward Raheem Sterling is not available for selection for “personal reasons”, according to the English Football Association.
Senegal, attempting to become the first African side to beat England at a World Cup, is without defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who is suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the team’s win over Ecuador.
Up next: England vs Senegal
The build-up to England vs Senegal has already begun, with fewer than two hours to kickoff.
You can follow it all here.
France cruise past Poland to book World Cup quarter-final spot
Olivier Giroud becomes France’s record-highest goal scorer with 52 goals, as Les Bleus beat Poland 3-1 in the World Cup’s last 16.
Read our match report here.
GOAL! France 3-1 Poland
Follow live updates of the match here.
With nothing to lose, South Korea eye Brazil upset
Wildcards South Korea say they have nothing to fear and nothing to lose when they take on five-time champions Brazil on Monday, with their sights set on another giant-killing feat in a World Cup where big names have taken a beating.
After an extraordinary group phase that saw former winners, Brazil and Argentina, defeated by low-ranked opponents, plus Belgium and Germany eliminated, South Korea see this tournament as their best chance in decades to make their mark.
“Every match, every minute is very valuable and precious. The entire team has great morale, and great teamwork,” said wingback Kim Jinsu.
“We all have truly wanted to get this far and we are all really thirsty for this.”
GOAL! France 3-0 Poland
Follow live updates of the match here.
GOAL! France 2-0 Poland
Follow live updates of the match here.
‘Soccer’ or ‘football’, that is the question
The perennial question of whether it’s “soccer” (as people in the United States call it) or “football” prompted Twitter wisecracks between President Joe Biden and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte this weekend, as the Netherlands sent the United States crashing out of the World Cup.
“It’s called soccer,” Biden said in a video posted on Twitter wishing the US team luck ahead of their last-16 clash against the Dutch side Saturday at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
But the Netherlands soon ended the United States’ World Cup dream, sweeping into the quarter-finals with a ruthless 3-1 victory – and Rutte was quick to respond to Biden’s tweet.
“Sorry Joe, football won,” he wrote, adding a wink emoji.
Sorry Joe, football won. 😉#NEDUSA @OnsOranje https://t.co/v27gYK7niv
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) December 3, 2022
Here, Al Jazeera’s Ali Harb looks into the history of the debate around the name of the game.
Deception-centred card game bonds England players ahead of Senegal match
A card game that relies on deception is strengthening the bond among England’s players ahead of their match against Senegal in the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
Werewolf, a game of role-play and deduction, has become a popular pastime for the squad between matches in Qatar.
“It’s about being the best liar,” England midfielder Declan Rice said. “The villagers have got to snuff out the wolves and the wolves have got to lie and tell everyone why they are not a wolf. There is a lot of teamwork, ganging up.”
Giroud breaks 13-year France record held by Thierry Henry
Olivier Giroud’s score against Poland makes him France’s all-time top scorer with 52 goals.
This puts him one ahead of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, breaking a record that stood for 13 years.
GOAL! France 1-0 Poland
Follow live updates of the match here.
Are Senegal ‘Africa’s best hope’ at World Cup 2022?
Of Africa’s five representatives at the 2022 World Cup, Senegal are the least experienced.
This World Cup was the third that the Lions of Teranga have qualified for, and their first as reigning African champions.
In spite of this, the West African nation occupies a relatively unique position. Only three teams from the continent have reached the last eight at a World Cup, but Senegal reached that milestone in their first-ever appearance.
The other African team to reach the round of 16 was Morocco, who face Spain on Tuesday.
Read our story here.
Thiago Silva insists Brazil ‘very well prepared’ before S Korea clash
Brazil captain Thiago Silva says the defeat to Cameroon in their final group stage game will not play a role in their last 16 tie against South Korea on Monday.
“We know it will be a difficult [match] but I assure you we are very well prepared,” the Chelsea defender told reporters.
“We are aware of the Korean team and their skill. They like to pass the ball so we need to limit their offensive play so we can qualify for the next round. We know that we need to work hard. I must insist that our last game has nothing to do with the round of 16.”
Brazil topped Group G despite that loss with South Korea piping Uruguay to second place in Group H.
How immigration ‘made French football better’
From Polish miners to heroes of Algerian independence, immigrants have greatly influenced French football.
Read our story here.
The France vs Poland match has begun.
Follow the action here.
‘Always Lewan’, Poland supporter says
For Polish fans here at Al Thumama Stadium, Barcelona star and Poland captain Robert Lewandowski will be key to their success against France.
“It’s always Lewan,” Christoff Klatt told Al Jazeera. “… He always performs when it matters, … and today is do or die.”
Klatt said football is a “team game”, so other players like goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny must also be at their best.
Klatt is hesitant to predict what the score may be but hopes for “a good game”.
“As long as they fight … I’m happy.”
Nagatomo wants Japan to evoke samurai spirit in match against Croatia
Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo says he wants his teammates to evoke the spirit of the samurai when they take on Croatia in the Round of 16 on Monday.
“Yes, I am the one, of course, who mentions samurais very often. In Japan, the samurai is very famous. So, we would like to fight like samurais. I think this is a great opportunity to show ourselves how we can fight as samurai. So please keep rooting for us,” Nagatomo said.