Page 3 - Fifa World Cup

Fifa World Cup 2022 semi-final: Argentina take on Croatia tonight

Fifa World Cup 2022, Argentina vs Croatia, semi-final preview: It will be a test of Messi and co's attacking prowess against the midfield dominance of Modric and company

Messi will play for Argentina after Fifa World Cup, hopes coach Scaloni

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni is pinning hopes that Lionel Messi will continue to play for Argentina much after the FIFA World Cup is over

'Al Hilm' replaces 'Al Rihla' as the official ball for Fifa World Cup 2022

Al Hilm uses the same 'connected ball' technology as Al Rihla, which assists the match officials in determining offsides and other decisions

Morocco beats Portugal to become 1st African country to reach WC semifinals

Morocco became the first African country to reach the World Cup semifinals by beating Portugal 1-0 on Saturday, likely ending Cristiano Ronaldo's chances of winning soccer's biggest prize. Youssef En-Nesyri scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute to continue Morocco's improbable run that has generated an outpouring of pride in the Arab world during the first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East. The 37-year-old Ronaldo, one of soccer's greatest players, didn't start for the second straight game but came on as a substitute in the 51st minute. The five-time world player of the year is set to finish his career without capturing the World Cup or ever getting to the final. Morocco will play either France or England in the semifinals. It is a seminal moment in World Cup history, with an African nation finally advancing to the levels typically only reached by European or South American teams. Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) all reached the quarterfinals but got n

Fifa opens probe after ugly scenes in Argentina vs Netherlands quarterfinal

Both Argentina and the Netherlands face disciplinary action from FIFA as a result of some ugly scenes towards the end of their dramatic World Cup quarterfinal match at Lusail Stadium on Friday night

France beats England 2-1, advances to semifinals at Fifa World Cup

Kylian Mbappe and France made it back to the semifinals of the World Cup on Saturday by beating England 2-1. Olivier Giroud scored in the 78th minute at Al Bayt Stadium to keep France on course to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. Giroud raced away in delight when his header deflected off England defender Harry Maguire and sailed past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England striker Harry Kane had a chance to even the score late in the match but he sent a penalty attempt over the bar. It was his second spot kick of the match. He earlier scored to make it 1-1 after Aurelien Tchouameni had given France the lead in the 17th minute with a powerful drive from 20 meters (yards). France will next face Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday. The Moroccans became the first African team to reach the semifinals at the World Cup by beating Portugal 1-0. England had been looking like the team more likely to score when the match was at 1-1. But instead it wa

Fifa WC, ENG vs FRA Highlights: England head home as Kane misses penalty

Fifa World Cup, England vs France Quarterfinal Highlights: Harry Kane, the joint-highest goal scorer for England missed a penalty in the 83rd minute. It was game-changing as France eventually won 2-1

Fifa World Cup, MAR vs POR Highlights: Morocco create history, reach semis

Fifa World Cup, Morocco vs Portugal Quarterfinal Highlights: It was yet another surprising day in history as Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Fifa World Cup, NED vs ARG Highlights: Argentina in semis, win shootout 4-3

Fifa World Cup, Netherlands vs Argentina Quarterfinal Highlights: Even after two great goals by the Dutch in the 81st and 101st minute to send the game into extra-time and then penalties, they lost it

Fifa WC, CRO vs BRA Highlights: Croatia win shoot-out, send Brazil packing

Fifa World Cup Quarterfinal, Croatia vs Brazil Highlights: Once again, Croatia and penalty shoot-out have had a fairy tale ending and last edition's runners-up have sent five times champions back home

Fifa WC: France wary of England's pace, set-piece threat in quarter-final

The teams have not met at a major tournament since they drew in the group stage of Euro 2012 but the focus has very much been on the game between two countries that share a sporting rivalry

Bhaichung Bhutia optimistic about India qualifying, playing FIFA World Cup

'The prospect of professionally pursuing football and making a career out of it is bigger today than ever before'

Portugal is stepping out of Ronaldo's long shadow at FIFA World Cup

To Bruno Fernandes, World Cup teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous athlete in sports. Joao Felix has described Ronaldo as "irreplaceable." Gonalo Ramos, Portugal's new 21-year-old star, has never known his national team without Ronaldo involved in it. A future without the country's greatest ever player could be a daunting prospect to the up-and-coming generation of Portugal internationals. They aren't showing it at the World Cup. In fact, they showed they might even be liberated by stepping out of Ronaldo's long shadow given the way Portugal demolished Switzerland 6-1 in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Turns out there is life after the five-time world player of the year, even if that is hard for some to imagine. Portugal coach Fernando Santos wanted a team playing with a lot of fluidity against Switzerland and that invariably meant leaving the 37-year-old Ronaldo the player with more goals (118) than anyone in men's international soccer on the bench. It was a big call and

Fifa WC POR vs SUI Highlights: Ramos' hattrick leads Portugal to 6-1 win

Fifa World Cup, POR vs SUI Round of 16 Highlights: It was a night to remember for Portugal's Goncalo Ramos as he scored a hattrick, helping his team thrash Switzerland 6-1 and reach the last 8.

Fifa WC Highlights: Morocoo beat Spain on penalties, enter last 8 1st time

Fifa World Cup Round of 16, Morocco vs Spain Highlights: Morocco created history as they became the fourth African nation to qualify for World Cup quarterfinals after they beat Spain 3-0 in shoot-out

Samuel Eto'o filmed in altercation outside Fifa World Cup game

Cameroon soccer federation president and former star player Samuel Eto'o was filmed apparently kicking a man to the ground in an altercation outside a World Cup stadium early Tuesday. Eto'o had paused to pose for photos with fans near Stadium 974 after Brazil beat South Korea 4-1. Footage circulating on social media showed him then reacting to comments by a man holding a camera. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward was initially held back by people in his entourage then got clear and appeared to aim a kick at the man, who fell backwards to the ground. Eto'o has been in Qatar as president of the soccer federation of Cameroon, which was eliminated in the group stage last week. He also represents Qatar's World Cup organizing committee as a Global Legacy Ambassador since 2019 and is part of the FIFA Legends program that uses former players to promote soccer. It was unclear in what capacity Eto'o attended the game Monday night. Qatari organizers said Eto'o had not been their g

Fifa World Cup: A migration story of players shooting beyond boundaries

There are over 50 Africa-born or African-origin players in 11 teams; only 4 of 32 teams have all players born in their own country - Argentina, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea

Croatia beats Japan 3-1 in penalty round to enter World Cup quarterfinals

Croatia is going deep at another World Cup, and the team is taking the long route once again. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved three penalty kicks Monday in Croatia's 3-1 win over Japan in a shootout, securing a return to the quarterfinals for the runner-up in the 2018 tournament. On its run to the final four years ago, Croatia needed extra time in each round in the knockout stage and twice came through a penalty shootout. This time, Mario Pasalic converted the clinching penalty for Croatia after the teams were tied at 1-1 after extra time. Livakovic saved penalties from Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitomo and Maya Yoshida, and it was the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper who took most of the acclaim from the jubilant Croatia team after the shootout. Japan had been looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time but fell short again, just like in 2002, 2010 and 2018. The Asian team lost to Paraguay in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 in 2010. Croatia, which also reached the semifi

Neymar scores, Brazil beat S Korea 4-1 to advance to quarterfinals

Neymar scored a goal in his return from injury and Brazil beat South Korea 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Monday. Neymar converted a first-half penalty for his 76th goal with Brazil and move one shy of Pel all-time scoring record with the national team. The 82-year-old Pel said he was going to watch the match on television while hospitalized in Brazil to treat a respiratory infection. Vincius Jnior, Richarlison and Lucas Paquet also scored in the first half for Brazil, which made it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the eighth straight time. South Korea was trying to advance past the round of 16 for the first time since its historic run as a co-host in 2002, when it made it to the semifinals and ended up fourth. Paik Seung-ho scored South Korea's goal in the 76th minute.

Fifa World Cup, BRA vs KOR Highlights: Brazil into qf courtesy easy 4-1 win

Fifa World Cup 2022, Brazil vs South Korea, Round of 16 Highlights: Vinicious Jr, Neymar, Richarlison and Paqueta scored as Brazil thrashed South Korea 4-1 to make the last 8 where they play Croatia