World Cup updates: Cameroon knocked out despite beating Brazil
Cameroon and Serbia eliminated from World Cup as Switzerland and Brazil advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Friday, December 2.
This blog is now closed. Thanks for joining us. These were the updates on World Cup 2022 on Friday, December 2.
- Welcome to Day 13 of the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
- Final matches of the day ended with Cameroon and Serbia knocked out of the tournament, while Brazil and Switzerland advance to the Round of 16.
- South Korea book a place in the last 16 after beating Portugal 2-1 at Education City Stadium on Friday night.
- Portugal had already qualified for the knockout stages.
- Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0, but both are eliminated from the World Cup.
List of teams that advanced to the Round of 16
Tune in on Saturday for the start of the knockout stages! Here’s what the Round of 16 fixtures are:
Netherlands vs USA
Argentina vs Australia
France vs Poland
England vs Senegal
Japan vs Croatia
Brazil vs South Korea
Morocco vs Spain
Portugal vs Switzerland
Cameroon fan happy team ‘took out Brazil’
“There will still be a party back in Cameroon,” Caleb Williams told Al Jazeera after Cameroon beat Brazil 1-0.
The 42-year-old said his national team might have not won [to the Round of 16] but it “took out brazil”.
“That’s huge,” he said.
Cameroon close to World Cup exit after scoreless first half with Brazil
Cameroon’s World Cup hopes were hanging by a thread as they were drawing 0-0 with Brazil at half-time of their World Cup Group G match at the Lusail Stadium – a game the Indomitable Lions must win to have any chance of progressing.
Already certain of their place in the last 16 where they are likely to meet Group H runners-up South Korea, Brazil made nine changes to the side that started the 1-0 win over Switzerland.
Gabriel Martinelli, Fred and Antony all came close to breaking the deadlock in a first half in which Brazil’s reserves coasted as Cameroon struggled to mount any meaningful attacks.
Rigobert Song’s side must beat Brazil and hope that Serbia sneak at least a point off Switzerland if they are to have any hope of making the knockout phase.
Fans strategise over upcoming matches: AJ correspondent
Al Jazeera’s Katia Lopez-Hodoyan, reporting from Souq Waqif in Doha, says she is noticing “a change in the conversation” among spectators.
“Before it was an ongoing party,” she said. “Fans were just cheering and celebrating, … and now the conversation is more strategic.
“We hear fans talking about what the next strategy would be, what the coaches need to do in order to get their teams to the next round.”
Brazilian fans wish Pele a speedy recovery
A huge Pele banner was unveiled by Brazilian fans at Lusail Stadium, wishing one of the greatest football players in the world to “Get Well Soon”.
The 82-year-old was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia after being hospitalised earlier this week.
Brazil’s Pele has respiratory infection, but remains stable
Brazilian football legend Pele, who was hospitalised this week amid continuing cancer treatments, has developed a respiratory infection, but is in stable condition and “showing general improvement,” his doctors have said.
The 82-year-old icon, who has been in fragile health in recent years, was hospitalised on Tuesday in Sao Paulo for what doctors said was a “reevaluation” of the chemotherapy he has been undergoing since surgery to remove a colon tumour in September 2021.
“The medical team diagnosed him with a respiratory infection, which is being treated with antibiotics,” the hospital said in a statement.
“The patient’s response has been adequate, and he remains in a standard room,” not intensive care, it said. “He is stable and his health is showing general improvement. [He] will remain in the hospital in the coming days to continue treatment.”
Cameroon vs Brazil
The Group G match between Cameroon and Brazil is about to start. Who will win?
Take part in our poll here:
Cameroon play Brazil in the other #FIFAWorldCup final Group G game.
Make your #CANMAR match prediction below 👇
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) December 2, 2022
Serbia vs Switzerland
The Group G match between Serbia and Switzerland is about to start. Who will win?
Take part in our poll here:
It’s Serbia V Switzerland in the evening #FIFAWorldCup final Group G kick off.
Make your #SRBSUI match prediction below 👇
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) December 2, 2022
Fans arrive at Lusail Stadium before Brazil vs Cameroon
Cameroon ‘brings it’ when it matters, fan says
Bernard le Fange – who lives in Dallas, Texas, but was raised in Lembe, Cameroon – believes his native country will shut out the world’s top-ranked team, Brazil, 1-0.
“Cameroon brings it when it matters,” said le Fange, 48, who is in Qatar with his wife, Joyce, and their two children. “… Today, it very much matters. … We are the Indomitable Lions.”
“Brazil may take it easy since they have qualified, … but it doesn’t matter. We will take it,” he said.
In case Cameroon doesn’t qualify, the le Fange family emphatically said it is “fully behind” the United States.
Neymar joins teammates to watch Brazil’s game
Injured star Neymar will be at Lusail Stadium to watch Brazil’s match against Cameroon.
It will be the first time Neymar joins his teammates at a match since injuring his right ankle in Brazil’s opener against Serbia last week.
Neymar was the only player who remained at the team’s hotel during the match against Switzerland on Monday. He stayed behind to undergo treatment for damaged ligaments on his foot.
Brazil, which has already qualified for the round of 16, needs a draw against Cameroon to finish first in Group G and set up a last-16 matchup against South Korea.
Doctors have yet to say when Neymar is expected to return. The team said the Paris Saint-Germain player will be re-evaluated on Saturday.
South Korea reach World Cup last 16 as Uruguay crash out
Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0 in the Group H match, but both are knocked out from advancing further.
Meanwhile, South Korea beat Portugal 2-1, pushing South Korea through to the next round to qualify for the World Cup last 16 at Uruguay’s expense.
Hwang Heechan’s goal in stoppage time was enough to put the Koreans through to the knockout phase on goals scored.
Brazil fans have mixed feeling for tonight
A pilot with Qatar Airways, Flavio Soares says he is a bit “worried” about today’s game as it’s a do-or-die situation for Cameroon, who must win to qualify to the round of 16.
“The Cameroonians will be throwing everything at Brazil … they are a good team,” the 53-year-old, here with his wife Sandra and their two nieces who flew in from Brazil, told Al Jazeera.
Sandra, 51, says she is not worried about the result.
“We have won every game … so I’m confident … but especially because it’s our first game of the tournament,” she added.
The couple said the win is also important so Brazil avoids facing Portugal in the next round.
“Also, I am half Portuguese … so I have a bit of divided loyalty,” Sandra said.
Home game atmosphere for Brazil
It looks like the game between Brazil and Cameroon is being played at the Estadio de Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
It’s a sea of Brazilian flags, shirts and scarves here at Lusail Stadium in Qatar with almost a carnival-like atmosphere. People are donning funky and exuberant costumes to help boost their beloved football team.
It helps that Brazil have millions of fans outside the sixth most populous nation in the world with dedicated fan groups in many countries.
This does not mean, however, that the Cameroonian fans are not making their presence felt at the stadium, which has a capacity of nearly 90,000 people.
They too are dressed in colourful clothing and have brought trumpets, vuvuzelas, drums and at least one accordion to provide relentless support for the Indomitable Lions, who need to do a lot of work in their final group match to qualify for the next stage.
Miracle in Doha: Japan revels in stunning World Cup progress
Japan erupted in cheers and tears after the national team’s 2-1 win over Spain. Crowds packed public viewing areas in the pre-dawn cold, shrieking with joy as they stunned another global football powerhouse at the World Cup.
They will now play 2018 runners-up Croatia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Read more here.
Uruguay lead Ghana 2-0 at halftime after Ayew misses penalty
Uruguay broke their scoring duck at the World Cup to take a 2-0 halftime lead against Ghana in their Group H decider with a double from Giorgian de Arrascaeta, putting them on the verge of qualifying for the last 16.
The South Americans’ breakthrough came after Ghana’s Andre Ayew had missed a penalty, hitting his shot softly at goalkeeper Sergio Rochet who was penalised for bringing down Kudus Mohammed.
De Arrascaeta, on his first start at the tournament, headed home from close range in the 26th minute after Darwin Nunez’s cross was missed by two defenders and found Luis Suarez, whose low shot was spilled by the keeper.
Uruguay, who famously knocked out Ghana in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final, struck again six minutes later, when Nunez flicked the ball to Suarez, who knocked it on to de Arrascaeta to volley under Lawrence Ati-Zigi at the Al Janoub Stadium.
South Korea and Portugal deadlocked at 1-1 by halftime
South Korea and Portugal were level at 1-1 by halftime in their World Cup Group H clash, with Kim Younggwon giving the Taeguk Warriors a lifeline in game they must win to stand a chance of reaching the knockout round.
Portugal, already qualified for the last 16 and needing only a draw to be sure of top spot in the group, had grabbed the lead with a fifth-minute goal from Ricardo Horta, who met a Diogo Dalot cross and hammered it home from close range.
Korea equalised off a corner with Kim pouncing on a bouncing ball in the goalmouth and hooking it into the net.
The Koreans, with one point so far, must beat Portugal and hope the result of Ghana’s match with Uruguay goes their way in order to reach the next round.
Argentina ‘bring out the best in Australia’, says coach Arnold
Australia coach Graham Arnold said his side were not intimidated by the might of football powerhouse Argentina before their World Cup clash, insisting the South Americans “bring out the best in us”.
Pointing to last year’s 2-0 Olympic triumph over Argentina as well as a 4-1 win in the Bicentennial Gold Cup in 1988, Arnold said underdogs Australia were “inspired” to face the two-time world champions.
“When I think back to my playing career it is one of the highlights of my life, being able to play against Argentina,” Arnold said.
“I just think that Argentina bring the best out of Australia. Our performances every time against Argentina have been very strong and very good.
“Playing against that type of talent, and that name I think resonates right across the world – It’s a football nation and it is inspiring to play against them.”
South Korea v Portugal: Who will win?
It’s the last day of the group stage at the World Cup, with South Korea and Portugal from Group H competing for a spot in the knockout stage. Who do you think will qualify?
It’s the last day of the group stage at #Qatar2022, with South Korea and Portugal from Group H competing for a spot in the knockout stage.
Who do you think will qualify? Vote below 👇 | #KORPOR
— AJE Sport (@AJE_Sport) December 2, 2022
Argentina will ‘break backs’ to beat Australia
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni complained about the limited recovery time ahead of his squad’s World Cup last-16 clash against Australia but promised his team would play out of their skins to ensure there are no more surprises at the tournament.
“Australia, who finished second in the group, played at 6pm [15:00 GMT] and we finished first [in our group] but played at 10pm [19:00 GMT]. We went to bed at 4am [01:00 GMT] and that has an impact when you have a game in 48 hours,” Scaloni told reporters.
“We will break our backs on this pitch to compete. We know how difficult this World Cup is; this is football.
“We saw what happened yesterday [when Germany and Belgium were knocked out in the group stage] but this is not surprising. When you say big national teams deserve to be in the next stage, that doesn’t always happen.”
Ghana fans look for revenge against Uruguay
Uruguay fans are optimistic that they will overcome the Black Stars. And they may have a reason.
Uruguay have never been beaten in their previous four World Cup matches against African teams. They have also won their last three final group matches at the tournament in Qatar.“We will win. I’m sure. I know we have not been playing well, but today is all that matters,” said Jorge Basso, his face painted in the national flag. “The coach needs to get the tactics right. Not play defensively like he did in the other games,” he added.
The South Americans have not failed to qualify from the group stage in a World Cup final competition since 2002.
Former Ghana captain says ‘nightmare’ 2010 loss still haunts him
Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah says the World Cup match against Uruguay in 2010 remains a raw and painful memory.
“I woke up this morning playing back in my head what happened,” Appiah told Al Jazeera.Ghana was about to earn a place in history as the first African team to reach the semifinals, when Uruguay striker Luis Suarez’s deliberate handball on the goal-line denied Ghana a certain goal.
Suarez on Thursday refused to apologise, saying Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan missed a subsequent penalty and Uruguay went through.
“He did what he had to do to help his team so I don’t see why he should apologise,” Appiah said.
Goalless Uruguay need a win to push through to next round
Uruguay head into the match with Ghana with a solitary point from their goalless draw with South Korea.
La Celeste lost their second match 2-0 to Portugal, meaning they have yet to score in this tournament.
Now, the time is up. Scoring will be essential in their clash with Ghana because they must win if they are to stand any chance of qualifying.With Edison Cavani, Darwin Núñez and Luis Suarez all available, Uruguay should be able to end this goal drought.
Read everything you need to know about the upcoming Uruguay vs Ghana match at 6pm (15:00 GMT).