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☆ Analysis: Soccer-Morocco success hands Arab world its first World Cup quarter-finalist
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In doing so, they became the first Arab nation to advance to the last eight, ensuring a breakthrough for the region in the first global tournament in the Middle East, and also became the fourth African side to go this far in World Cup history. The ear-shattering cacophonic combination of singing, drumming, jeering and whistling from Morocco’s supporters has created an atmosphere like no other in Qatar’s stadiums. They were again the vast majority in the capacity 44,667 crowd at the Education City Stadium, completely drowning out the Spain fans. But most of them shuffled from one side to another, rarely producing the penetrative pass Spain were looking for. They will however be mightily concerned to have lost centre back Nayef Aguerd, who limped off in tears in the second half, having just made the World Cup after ankle surgery kept him out for most of the season at his new English club West Ham United.

☆ Cameroon football chief Eto'o apologises for 'violent altercation'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Samuel Eto'o, the former Cameroon striker and current president of the country's football federation, has apologised after a "violent altercation" with a fan as he left a World Cup match on Monday. "After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter," Eto'o said in a statement on Twitter. "During this World Cup, Cameroonian fans have been harassed and pestered by Algerians on the same subject. Eto'o noted that all the appeals by the Algerian Football Federation over the result of the qualifier had been rejected. Cameroon exited the World Cup at the group stage despite beating Brazil 1-0 in their final match.

☆ Morocco's Hakimi up against country of his birth at World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid but will have little hesitation plotting the downfall of Spain when he and his Moroccan teammates take on the 2010 World Cup winners on Tuesday. The flying wingback is one of the key players in the north African outfit whose last-16 match in the Qatar World Cup against Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, gives them a chance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Hakimi could even have been on the opposite side, as he was called up when still a teenager for Spain's junior team. Hakimi was in the side that almost beat them in Kaliningrad in 2018, giving up an injury time equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the last World Cup in Russia. WINNING MENTALITY"Spain are a top five team and always come to the World Cup to win.

☆ Henderson, Kane give England 2-0 lead over Senegal at halftime
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AL KHOR, Qatar, Dec 4 (Reuters) - England midfielder Jordan Henderson and captain Harry Kane both scored just before the break to secure a 2-0 halftime lead in the World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal on Sunday. The first goal in the 38th minute by Henderson came from England's first dangerous attack of a game that took time to warm up and striker Kane was at his deadly best to add a second with the final kick of the half. Speedy Senegal striker Boulaye Dia, who looked dangerous on the counter, came closest for the African side when he brought out a sharp one-handed save from Jordan Pickford after England's defence carelessly gave the ball away just past the half-hour. The two sides are battling to set up a quarter-final clash against holders France, who beat Poland 3-1 earlier on Sunday. Writing by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dumfries delivers as Dutch head into last eight
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It was another Dutch performance at the Qatar World Cup that will not please their demanding supporters as they were unusually cautious at times, played at a slow tempo, and lived dangerously by allowing the Americans plenty of possession. The response from the Dutch was swift. The lively start was quickly replaced with a more languid passage of play, the Netherlands sitting back as they waited for counter-attack chances. Those misses were swiftly punished as the Dutch broke again down the right and scored a carbon copy of the first goal when Dumfries pulled back his cross for 32-year-old left back Blind to score in his 98th international. Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netherlands move to World Cup knockout stages with 3-1 win over U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Striker Memphis Depay got the first goal as the Netherlands advanced to a seventh World Cup quarter-final. “We also lost a lot of ball possession, and it is not acceptable at a World Cup, especially if you are playing a top-level team,” he said. ALMOST IDENTICALThe second Dutch goal, on the stroke of halftime, was almost identical. “They were fantastic goals, they had a beauty about them but they were also team goals,” said Van Gaal. “We talked about the game being about moments," said U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, whose country co-host the 2026 World Cup.

☆ Beating Brazil tempers Cameroon disapppointment over World Cup exit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But a 1-0 victory over the five-time world champions, albeit fielding a second-string side, will temper the disappointment of yet another early exit for the Indomitable Lions, just as Tunisia beating World Cup holders France earlier this week softened the blow of their depature from the tournament. Cameroon might have been to more World Cups than any other African team but Friday's victory over Brazil was a first at the World Cup in two decades and only a fifth since they made the first of their eight appearances in Spain in 1982. Cameroon have long been riding on the reputation forged at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when they beat holders Argentina, Romania and Colombia on their way to the last eight, becoming the first African country to get that far. One win in 17 matches since that tournament showed stagnation and even with the win over Brazil, there is little left of the charisma that they created some 32 years ago. He won a tightly contested election one year ago to become the new Cameroon Football Federation president and has set about stamping out the foibles of old and adding a professionalism to their organisation that was missing when he was a player.

☆ England take unbeaten record against African teams into Senegal clash
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - England will take an unbeaten record against African opposition into Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash against Senegal – the first meeting between the two countries. It will be England’s 21st clash against an African team, the last coming in March against Senegal’s regional rivals Ivory Coast, who a second-string England easily beat 3-0 at Wembley. Morocco were England's first African opponents at a World Cup in 1986 when a 0-0 draw at Monterrey proved a breakthrough result for African football. England beat Egypt at the 1990 World Cup in Cagliari and Tunisia twice in the 1998 and 2018 editions. If any England players need advice on scoring against an African team ahead of Sunday's clash they need look no further than their manager Gareth Southgate.

☆ Tunisia fail to advance despite 1-0 win over much-changed France
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | Daniel Wiessner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Tunisia needed not only to beat the already-qualified France but to hope for Denmark to avoid defeat against Australia in the other Group D game to advance. Tunisia thus keep their unwanted record of not progressing from the group stage in six World Cup appearances. Tunisia's win also ended France's six-match winning streak at the World Cup. Khazri said Tunisia were ending their World Cup journey with a "bittersweet feeling" - delighted to have beaten France but heartbroken by the outcome of the other group game. Mbappe and Griezmann energised the French, who were aided by Tunisia sitting back in the hope of preserving their win.

☆ Colonial history adds edge to France clash with Tunisia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ten of the Tunisia squad at this World Cup are French-born, some of them youth internationals for France before switching allegiance. Another two have lived in France since a young age and are also dual nationals, adding a familiarity to the clash. Experienced Tunisia striker Wahbi Khazri was born on the French island of Corsica and on the books of Ligue 1 club Montpellier. "I try to represent Tunisia in France every weekend by performing well and I like to represent Corsica too, because I was born there. "It’s insulting for France, it’s insulting for the players of the French team, it should not be tolerated," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said at the time.

☆ Gakpo on target again as Dutch beat Qatar 2-0 to top Group A
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

PSV Eindhoven forward Gakpo proved the difference once again but he was keen to share the spotlight with his team mates. I think we were better on the ball than in recent games, we had a little more control," he said. In truth, the Dutch never had to get out of second gear against the hosts, who had their moments in a dull first half. We never thought at any time to set a goal of reaching the round of 16 or the quarter-finals. Our goal was to get here, to compete and see what we could do," he told reporters.

☆ PREVIEW-Soccer-Qatar depart their party looking to avoid third successive loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

They were the first country eliminated on Friday, less than a week into the tournament, after losing 3-1 to Senegal. That followed a 2-0 defeat by Ecuador in the tournament’s opening game last Sunday where the Qataris, the Asian champions, blamed stage fright for their poor showing. Four points, though, has the Dutch level at the top of group standings with Ecuador, with Senegal one point behind. A win for the Netherlands over Qatar puts them through as Ecuador and Senegal compete their first-round programme at the same time. But it's not in our game or the way we play,” said Van Dijk after Friday’s 1-1 draw.

☆ Morocco switch goalkeepers before kick off against Belgium
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Morocco switched goalkeepers at the last moment before kickoff in their World Cup Group F game against Belgium as Munir El Kajoui came on to replace Yassine Bounou, who appeared to be unwell. El Kajoui then appeared for the team photo before kickoff and took Bounou's place as the game at the Al Thumama Stadium got underway. There was no immediate explanation for the late change with a tweet, posted after kickoff, from the Morocco Football Federation, simply saying: "Munir El Kajoui replaces Yassine Bounou for this match against Belgium". Images from the stadium showed Bounou slumped over with his hands braced on his knees. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Doha; Editing by Simon Jennings and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Goalless draws at World Cup come from cautious approach
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A cautious approach from many teams in the opening round of the World Cup was behind a record-approaching number of goalless draws at the tournament in Qatar, FIFAs technical study group said on Saturday. At the last World Cup in Russia, there was a single goalless draw, when Denmark and France failed to produce goals in a group phase clash. "Clearly many teams are relying on a cautious approach," added colleague Alberto Zaccheroni, who won Serie A with AC Milan and the Asian Cup when he was coach of Japan. There have been 14 goals at the tournament in Qatar from crosses in comparison to three at the same stage at the last World Cup four years ago. "This is a very different World Cup in that players get to sleep in the same bed every night and each team has its own base.

☆ Crowd gives Tunisia lift as they hold Denmark 0-0 at halftime
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Underdogs Tunisia were drawing energy from a spirited crowd at the Education City Stadium on Tuesday and holding Denmark 0-0 at halftime in the opening Group D clash at the World Cup in Qatar. The north Africans enjoyed noisy support from a sea of red-clad fans, many of whom live and work in the Gulf emirate, and could have gone ahead three minutes before the break but Kasper Schmeichel made a superb one-handed save to deny Issam Jebali. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Doha; Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Infantino to serve another four-year term as FIFA President
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino will serve another four-year term at the helm of world soccer’s governing body after emerging as the only candidate for the next election in March. He will be re-elected at the FIFA congress in Rwanda in March for a third term. Infantino won the FIFA presidency in 2016 on an initial three-year term, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected in 2019. He thanked more than 200 members associations who FIFA said had offered him their backing for another term as President. Infantino was then re-elected unopposed, having won a second term at FIFA’s Paris Congress in 2019.

☆ Top 25 roundup: No. 11 Texas thrashes No. 2 Gonzaga
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Nov 16, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) reacts after scoring a three pointer during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Moody Center. 11 Texas connected on 13 3-pointers in a 93-74 blowout of No. Marcus Carr added 16 points and seven assists for the Longhorns (3-0), while Dylan Disu netted 12 points. Trevon Brazile registered 13 points and 10 rebounds and Davonte Davis also added 13 points for the Razorbacks (3-0). Florida Gulf Coast (2-2) was led by Zach Anderson, who had 11 points and five rebounds, while Dahmir Bishop added nine points.

☆ NHL roundup: Trevor Moore's first career hat trick carries Kings
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Nov 16, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman (18) and Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Moore (12) battle for a loos puck during the second period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY SportsNovember 17 - Trevor Moore scored all three goals for the visiting Los Angeles Kings in a 3-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night. It was the first hat trick of Moore's five-year NHL career and just his third multigoal game. Zach Hyman scored and Stuart Skinner stopped 29 shots for the Oilers, who have lost five of their past seven games. Buffalo goalie Eric Comrie gave up two goals on 24 shots before leaving the game late in the second period with an injury.

☆ NBA roundup: Late trey lifts Thunder over Wizards
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Jalen Suggs added 23 points and six assists. Fred VanVleet added 23 points, 13 of them in the third quarter, to help the Raptors win their second game in a row. Kyle Lowry added 19 points, and Gabe Vincent had 16 points. Dejounte Murray added 19 points for the Hawks, who scored the game's first basket then didn't have the lead after that. Donovan Mitchell returned from a one-game absence caused by a sprained ankle and finished with 23 points for the Cavaliers, matching the point total of teammate Darius Garland.

☆ Senegal's Mane ruled out of World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Senegal forward Sadio Mane has been ruled out of the World Cup in Qatar in a crushing blow to his team’s chances after officials confirmed on Thursday he would need surgery on a leg injury sustained in the run-up to the tournament. Mane had been a doubt for the west African side after injuring his right fibula playing for German club Bayern Munich. "Unfortunately, today's (Thursday) MRI shows us that the recovery is not as favourable as we hoped and we unfortunately resolve to declare Sadio's withdrawal from the World Cup," Senegal team doctor Manuel Afonso told reporters. The forward has been crucial to the recent success of Senegal, who are regarded as Africa's best hope at the World Cup. Mane has been the team's talisman, scoring the winning penalty at the Africa Cup of Nations final in Cameroon in February and six weeks later securing World Cup qualification.

☆ Dutch fans right to boycott World Cup-Van Gaal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DOHA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said Dutch fans who are boycotting the World Cup over human rights concern are right to do so but hopes that if his side get to next month's final they will at least watch the game on television. But he also said the anticipated 3,000 Dutch fans who will travel to the tournament would be important for his team. The Gulf nation has rejected many of the allegations about the treatment of migrant workers and said the World Cup had helped bring about better working conditions. "We have to play the World Cup in the most experienced football countries," added Van Gaal, but he was also full of praise for the organisation and facilities. The Dutch kick off their Group A campaign against Senegal on Monday with Van Gaal insisting they have a chance to be crowned world champions.

☆ Maddison pinching himself after England recall earns World Cup trip
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"We’ve seen in the past that (England manager) Gareth (Southgate) has brought players back if they are in form and thankfully that was me for this tournament." Maddison was in Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers’s office on the day of the squad announcement last week. He was just being a being a good manager and putting a close arm around me if I didn't get the call, taking about staying motivated and then enjoying the break. Now Maddison is relishing the World Cup experience"Every moment at the minute is almost like pinch me moment," he said. "England in recent tournaments like Russia and the Euros have been brilliant and coming back into the squad you get the same feeling of togetherness," Maddison said.

☆ Iran players can protest at World Cup says coach Queiroz
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Iran's players are free to join in the protests sweeping their country over women's rights while they are playing at the World Cup in Qatar but must do so within the rules of the tournament, national team coach Carlos Queiroz said on Tuesday. Iran said her death was due to pre-existing conditions and accused its enemies of fomenting the unrest to destabilise the country. “The players are free to protest as they would if they were from any other country as long as it conforms with the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game,” Queiroz told a news conference. The coach said Iran’s players had set themselves the target of reaching the second round, despite being paired in a tough Group B with England, Wales and the United States. Iran have failed in their five previous World Cup finals appearances to reach the second round.

☆ Ghana name uncapped pair who have impressed in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Kamal Sowah’s form for Club Brugge in the Champions League has won him a World Cup call-up for Ghana after the uncapped striker was on Monday included in the country’s squad for Qatar. The 22-year-old was a surprise selection as coach Otto Addo named his 26-man squad for the tournament, where the Black Stars face Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay in Group H.Sowah has impressed as the Belgian club reached the last 16 of the Champions League, knocking out Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen in the process. There was also a first call up for midfielder Salis Abdul Samed, 22, who has been a regular for Racing Lens this season as they have moved to second in the French Ligue 1 standings. The squad will be captained by Dede Ayew, who was part of the team that reached the quarter-finals in South Africa in 2010 – only the third time an African nation has reached the last eight of a World Cup. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Fleetwood defies illness for success again at Sun City
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SUN CITY, South Africa, Nov 13 (Reuters) - An emotional Tommy Fleetwood celebrated a first tour victory in three years on Sunday as he defied illness to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club. "It was touch and go on Thursday morning,” Fleetwood said. "All of us were there or thereabouts with three holes to play, but Tommy was the one who held it together. If you had given me second at the start of the week, I definitely would've taken it," he added. Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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