Pele’s health is improving, say doctors, with no new complications
December 7 – Brazil great Pele’s condition is improving in hospital, according to his doctors.
Qatar 2022
FIFA cracks down on Uruguayans behaving badly and Serbia’s anti-Kosovan politics
December 6 – FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against both Uruguay and Serbia for a range of misdemeanours during their respective final group games at the World Cup which saw both countries eliminated.
Brazil turn of the style and the joy to cement their status as Qatar 2022 favourites
December 6 – Brazil danced their way to a 4-1 victory against South Korea and a last-eight encounter with Croatia after a barnstorming first half against the Asian team.
FIFA-stooge Wenger holds the company line, saying early exiting teams were too focussed on ‘politics’
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 5 – FIFA’s head of global development Arsene Wenger has claimed that teams who avoided political demonstrations have played better at the World Cup, taking a swipe at Germany and Denmark. He also praised the tournament experience as “unique”.
Dutch brush past USA to line up Argentina
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 3 – Spearheaded by Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands breezed past an inexperienced US side 3-1 to reach the last eight of the World Cup where they will meet Argentina.
Six of the best: Qatar 2022 sets record for group-stage survivors from outside traditional powers
By David Owen
December 3 – Qatar 2022, a World Cup of upsets? Well, actually yes, as the group stage draws to a close, the opening phase of this massively controversial tournament has indeed, by one objective yardstick, been the most surprising in recent history.
Japan star on a night of drama that sees Germany exit at group stage, again
December 2 – Once again, four-time world champions Germany departed the World Cup in the first round despite a 4-2 victory against Costa Rica in their final group E game with coach Hansi Flick saying that a reboot was needed.
The value of pitch time? Portugal tops ranking of World Cup teams by player minutes played
December 2 – Portugal’s players have on average had more playing time in 2022 than any other nation at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, according to a ranking of nations by average number of player minutes in competitive action.
Frappart makes World Cup history as first woman to referee a men’s finals match
December 2 – Stephanie Frappart made history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match, taking charge of the Germany vs Costa Rica final group E game at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Danes blame early exit on overbearing pressure of Qatar’s human rights issues
December 1 – Danish head coach Kasper Hjulmand has blamed the off-the-field controversies at the Qatar World Cup for his team’s failure at the tournament.
Green and Gold Aussies spearhead Asian challenge and a generational shift
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 1 – Do Australia have a new golden generation? Yes, at least in the view of Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, who hailed his players after a dour 1-0 victory against Denmark was enough to ensure passage to the last 16 of the World Cup, for only the second time in Australia’s history.
Collina defends decision to increase added time minutes
December 1 – Almost every game at this World Cup has exceeded 100 minutes in length, but FIFA’s head of referees has defended his referees for the vast amounts of injury time being added.
Iranians exit the World Cup as Qatari authorities clampdown on protesters
By Samindra Kunti in Doha
November 30 – With the backdrop of the most politically-charged encounter of the World Cup so far, the United States defeated Iran 1-0 to progress to the last 16. However, the encounter was marred by security incidents as Qatari authorities tried to prevent political protests.
Iran released jailed footballers on bail ahead of crunch US tie
November 30 – On the day of Iran’s exit from the World Cup in Qatar following a 1-0 defeat to the US, the Iranian regime released two former national team footballers who had been arrested for joining nationwide protests prompted by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police.
beIN Sports reports record breaking 1bn+ viewers for Qatar 2022 openers
November 30 – BeIN Sports, the broadcast rights holder for the MENA region for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, is claiming more than 111 million viewers tuned in for the Opening Ceremony, while a cumulative total of more than 900 million watched the first 16 group stage games.